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Lose anything by going to the Expobar Control over the Pulser?

Postby NetJunkie on Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:00 pm

Looking to buy a decent semi-automatic machine and have pretty much settled on the Expobar. The Control is only $50 more than the Pulser. Do I lose anything by going to the Control if I only use the manual flow button? For $50 I wouldn't mind having the settable timing buttons for some things..but not if I give anything up.
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Postby erics on Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:22 pm

. . . and have pretty much settled on the Expobar.

Why? Considering your price range, you should take a good look at the Bezzera line here - http://www.1st-line.com/ . And, of course, there's always the grinder - this is a nice one - Baratza Vario - available from a variety sources.

But, to answer your question, the flow controls add a little bit of complexity to the machine's innards and to the electrical control scheme. Personally, I would prefer the single button and let my senses determine when to stop the shot.
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Postby NetJunkie on Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:33 pm

Why? Considering your price range, you should take a good look at the Bezzera line here - http://www.1st-line.com/ . And, of course, there's always the grinder - this is a nice one - Baratza Vario - available from a variety sources.


Well, I hadn't really looked at the Bezzera but I am now. Thank you for the recommendation. Any others? Wife drinks a lot of lattes so steaming is a big deal...

For a grinder I was planning on the Mazzer Mini. Have no problem buying a good grinder. It's just hard for me to get a handle on all the machine options out there.
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Postby mikekarr on Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:38 pm

I have the Control and love the espresso it produces, but have no use whatsoever for the additional volumetric controls. If I was choosing today I'd go with the Pulser, though my Control was purchased for next to nothing. My machine also steams like a champ, fast with quick recovery.
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Postby jmreeves on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:20 pm

bezzera,expobar,nuova simonelli oscar,quickmill silvano would be the entry level HX(well silvano is thermoblock) machines that interested me that hover around $1k. I ended up surfing for a used HX machine and landed on the pasquini livia but would have been happy with any of the above.
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Postby erics on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:32 pm

. . . but would have been happy with any of the above.

You did. The Pasquini Livia (90?) is manufactured for Pasquini by Bezzera, AFAIK. Check out the Bezzera website for the closest relative - http://www.bezzera.it/home_ing.html . Their parts "catalogs" reign supreme.
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