OK, purely a hypothetical - if you were buying a second machine for a second location... say you already had a machine (with which you were quite happy) at a weekend place and were now buying one for home (or vice versa) - would you buy the same machine for the second location (for greater consistency of practice, technique & results; for potential interchangeability of parts; etc.) or would you go for a different machine (for greater variety & comparison; for experimentation experience with a different make/model; for cost savings or greater extravagance at one location or the other; etc.)? I think I know what I'd do, but am curious as to the opinion of others...

(BTW, "home vs. office" would probably involve totally different considerations - e.g. potential for theft or damage @ workplace, difficulty/ease of use &/or abuse by & for co-workers, etc. - and I'm not really very interested in that hypothetical, though interests & responses of others may take this thread in that direction...)

(Also, BTW, I'd ask about hypothetical opinions on "second location" grinders here too, but that would be off-topic for this forum, so instead, I may parallel post this query on the Espresso Grinders forum asking for hypothetical opinions on "same grinder or different grinder" at second location - Hopefully Dan finds it an appropriate way to do it...)

Thanks,
r-gordon-7

I would go for something totally different. Great for experiment and experience.

I use an Anita and a Cremina in my home. I take a Solis on vacation with us. I've had the Solis longer than the Cremina, if you're wondering why. I wouldn't be too heartbroken if the Solis were damaged or stolen while on vacation, but I'd be most unhappy were the same to happen to the Cremina. Both are portable and I think travel well. No so for the Anita: too large, heavy, etc. I take my KA-Pro grinder (doing double duty for drip and espresso). It works fine for the Solis (would NOT for Anita, not sure about the Cremina).

If your other location is a second home, I'd still be hesitant to put a large investment in another high-end machine unless you spend enough time there to justify the outlay. If money is no object, then ......

HTH

Personal preference I guess Gordon- (I may be the extreme one here but...) I have an A3 at our main home. We have a couple of "second homes" as well. I have a Cimbali DT1 at one and an Andreja Premium at the other. Why? I had the Junior before I bought the A3, so I use it at one place. As for the Andreja at our third home, Chris Coffee gave me a great deal on a demo unit Andreja.

Don't forget: you'll need a grinder to do your machines justice at each locale as well-

Cathi is right, I do have to sharpen my skills for a day or two when bouncing from my A3 to one of the other machines.

Another option would be to follow the lead of HB himself and have a nice lever machine that you carry with you in a stylish metal case when vacationing or traveling!

Richard,

This question -- as with the grinder, actually -- is not so hypothetical. I have had, for a long time now, a La Valentina at home and a Coffee Gaggia in the office; the Gaggia is now replaced by the Olympia Cafferex NT. I did not get a second La Val.

So for me the question then becomes, "What do I do with the La Valentina when I finally succumb to 'upgrade-itis' and get a machine that is plumbed-in?" Most likely, that will be either an Elektra Sixties T1 or a Cimbali Junior DT/1, as there is simply no way I can justify a GS/3 or Synesso. So. Do I keep the La Val, moving it to the office? I don't think so. I think I keep the Olympia there. So the La Val will -- eventually -- be sold . . . or, depending upon how long it takes to succumb, maybe i just give it to our daughter when she goes away to college.

Cheers,
Jason

One has to decide certain attributes / characteristics that are wanted for the 2nd location.

You mentioned a couple such as 'theft' and portability.

For me the 2nd location I'm planning for is the office.

I wanted a 'stealthy' setup. One that doesn't make a lot noise - my initial machine was an Estro Vapore i bought from Starbucks - definitely not a quiet one. I bought an NS Oscar since I wanted more oopmh and the price was right (<<50% off). Unfortunately it also was loud due to its vibe pump. So, i opted for a manual lever, waited / stalked eBay and got a Europiccola. I would've preferred a Cremina or Elektra leva but one does what they can with resources available.

In terms of grinder - since I wanted a stealthy setup - it became a manual old-fashioned hand grinder - PeDe Mokka.

For all intents and purposes this combo was meant for the office. But... now I find I enjoy it so much on the weekends I don't think I can part with it. Plus I still haven't quite gotten the PeDe dialed in for the europiccola.

Hmmmm...... maybe I need to do some more stalking for that Cremina / Elektra Leva?

At home my principal machine is a cimbali jr with a cremina for lever pleasure. For secondary machines I keep a cremina at the cottage and take along a pasquini livietta (olympia maximatic) as well to boost the output. I've made do with a hand crank though this summer will be upgrading on the grinder. This set up works really well and it's a treat to get first rate coffee at the cabin. The cimbali was originally at my business, under used so last christmas (06) I brought it home for the festive season and it never left.
-Ian

I'd get Elektra either a Leva or Semiautomatica..., but due to cash choice between La Pavoni and Elektra a Leva may be more possible.

Caesar,

How quiet a machine has to be for an office environment is all relative, of course, depending upon the office. For me and our very small law office (ranging from two to four people, plus clients), having a vibe pump machine in the kitchen/break room is fine . . . plus the fact that the Olympia is surprisingly quiet for a vibe machine (definitely quieter than my La Val at home, for example). But I never would have thought to opt for a lever machine, even though I'm the only one using it! Interesting choice.

Cheers,
Jason

FWW
A LaPeppina is my usual travel machine. If I want milk drinks I add a battery milk foamer and I do use a hand grinder. A cheap Electric Moka pot and an electric cordless hot water pot are often included. Depends where I'm going and for how long. The Conti also has traveled in my car with a Mazzer SJ for a 4day charity venue away from home.
YMMV
Richard / espressme

zin1953 wrote:Caesar,

How quiet a machine has to be for an office environment is all relative, of course, depending upon the office. For me and our very small law office (ranging from two to four people, plus clients), having a vibe pump machine in the kitchen/break room is fine . . . plus the fact that the Olympia is surprisingly quiet for a vibe machine (definitely quieter than my La Val at home, for example). But I never would have thought to opt for a lever machine, even though I'm the only one using it! Interesting choice.

Cheers,
Jason

For the moment, it is all but a plan ....
I have yet to execute the plan.

I am in an office with a forest of cubicles and do not have the honor of having door. We do have a kitchen in the office but I dare not leave a machine in there. Others have lost something as 'trivial' as their lunch in the refridgerator