I use this as a daily timer for my La Cimbali, and it works just fine.

It's a good idea to ask dealers whether the machines you find interesting can be turned off at the "mains," or whether they need something else -- as does the La Spaz.

Some people make a much bigger thing of it than it actually is, but learning to control an HX's temps by judicious flushing is not that hard. Not even first shot of the morning. It can be a bit of a confidence shaker if you don't know what's actually going on and lack faith in your ability to get it right going in. But that's all. My opinion -- and it's just an opinion -- is that "I can't really think well enough to pull a shot until I've had one" is more not understanding how to do it at all, rather than any AM specific limitations. If you can pay attention and listen, you can and will do a fine job.

Try and remember that you'll probably have whatever machine you buy for a long time, and the first couple of weeks won't mean much a couple of years from now.

You tend to get a little extra build and component quality dollar for dollar with HX machines; that's not surprising they're simpler to build than DBPIDs, and manufacturers can put their money elsewhere.

If it seems like I'm pushing HXs over DBPIDs, my bad. Each has its constituency.

I did a lot of thinking and plenty of research before calling a dealer with my short list to discuss my purchase. Like you, I was open but leaning DBPID. As it happens, I called Chris Coffee and spoke to Mary and -- far more than anything else -- that conversation shaped my decision. It's a decision I'm delighted with. There's no question in my mind that the Casa was the right machine for me. The more I use it, the more I maintain it, the more different types of coffee and roasts I jam through it, the more I think so.

You seem to do a lot of steaming, and that argues either for a DBPID, or an HX with a large boiler. Some otherwise very good machines have a rep for not being great steamers, Brewtus e.g., and you want to keep them off your list.

Otherwise, looks count for more than you think and should be a very important part of your considerations.

With your decision to plumb-in, you won't have to worry about reservoir and drip tray sizes.

A plumbed-in HX is a lot easier to run than one which is not. Being able to use an abundance of water you don't have to schlepp encourages you to use water abundantly, and abundant water use makes solving temperature questions simple. That doesn't mean an HX is the right answer for you.

Grinder, grinder, grinder. Don't skimp.

The Vario is very much the grinder du jour, and you're strongly considering it. I don't know it well enough to comment on it specifically, but have a couple of general observations. It's been my experience that any high-end hobbyist equipment which has been initially adopted as the one to save the world, has never held on to that exalted position. And right on cue, we're starting to get some revisionist opinions on them. Whether those are just the odd, problem individual or more representative is still an open question. There are very few great bargains in this game. The Vario is designed with an ability to produce a very wide range of grinds, quickly and without a lot of fiddling. If that's a feature you need, consider it. If all you really need is "espresso only," bet your ass that the Vario's adaptability comes with a price. Not that I know that as a matter of personal experience, but it's a bet I'm willing to make because that's the nature of the world. Just think about it.

If it wasn't just a little bit too far out of your stated price range (we always exceed THOSE, don't we?), I'd recommend my La Cimbali Casa / La Cimbali Max Hybrid setup. Screw it! I do recommend it -- extra money and all.

Recommended with the reservation that DBPID or HX is a question you must and only you can answer. By the time I bought the La Cimbalis, operating an HX had been in my second nature for decades. An HX is not something you have to want, nor a learning curve that will make you more manly to climb.

Well, maybe a little more manly.

The Max Hybrid not only isn't cheap, it doesn't really come into its own without a timer. A decent darkroom timer -- or any other machine timer which will turn the grinder on and off at a precise, preset interval -- doesn't come cheap either. At least not new it doesn't; you're looking at close to two bills for something pretty damn necessary. Used on ebay... more like $50, if you're lucky.

Talk to at least a couple of dealers on the HB short list. They have some very knowledgeable people who are really good at matching machines (grinders and espresso) with people.

Good luck,
BDL