Right choice of espresso machine for milk-based drinks - Page 2

Recommendations for buyers and upgraders from the site's members.
Lonecloud (original poster)
Posts: 7
Joined: 7 years ago

#11: Post by Lonecloud (original poster) »

Thanks Eoin_G and Bluesman for your advise on the Oscar II. Although, i won't buy it because i don't like several aspects of the machine - no E-61/no knobs to turn/no levers to lift/less controls to play with ....doesn't have the retro industrial vibe that i am looking for...to my design sensibilities it smacks too much of a plastic box(Oscar 1) trying to look sexy by putting on a shiny jacket to gel with the in-crowd :D
BUT....thanks ....you confirmed that big boilers are indeed important for me - the 2ltrs 1300watt boiler helps to make the Oscar II a steam monster and good for foaming milk

Bluesman, thanks too for the tip on the Linea Mini. it's a bit out of my budget for now - also a little bigger than what my wife expects - but it does look mighty interesting and i surely need to explore that - visit some sellers - and prep my mind for a possible (near) future option.

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bluesman
Posts: 1594
Joined: 10 years ago

#12: Post by bluesman »

Lonecloud wrote:Thanks Eoin_G and Bluesman for your advise on the Oscar II. Although, i won't buy it because i don't like several aspects of the machine - no E-61/no knobs to turn/no levers to lift/less controls to play with
Enjoy it while you're young, Sen - the older you get, the fewer knobs you'll want or need. After a lifetime of manual transmissions, 36 band graphic equalizers, triamplification, manual machine tools and fully adjustable everything, life becomes more about the output than the machine and the process. Stuff just has to be fulfilling to make the grade: delicious, fun, beautiful, sensual, etc - it should take no more effort than necessary to achieve the desired result.

This frees up your time and energy for more creative outlets. I can make a lot more great stuff with a CNC-controlled lathe and mill than I ever could with my old South Bend and Jet equipment. I play a simple guitar thru a simple amp, and audiences seems to be OK with my tone. My music sounds fine with no EQ and no sub, and Oscar makes excellent espresso and cappuccino with the push of a button and the turn of a knob (OK - with a few pushes; I preinfuse by running the pump for 1 or 2 seconds a few times before locking the button in).

But I understand your approach - I did the same thing for many years, and I don't regret a minute of the time I spent on it or a dollar of the money it cost me. The education alone was more than worth it (although my wife may offer an alternate interpretation). Enjoy everything you can every chance you get!

Lonecloud (original poster)
Posts: 7
Joined: 7 years ago

#13: Post by Lonecloud (original poster) »

:D :D Thanks, bluesman, for the encouragement and the advice. You, Sir, have obviously enjoyed yourself ...inspiring... (now I gotta try the triamplification thing)

Thanks everybody for sharing your knowledge and making the decision easier for me - yesterday I got a Bezzera Magica (the Mitica is not available right now .....and I couldn't wait any longer. Under the hood both magica and mitica are the same ....2 lts, 1500 watts, E-61 ....and joysticks instead of dials ....sweeet). This is a vibe pump - but I understood from you guys that the pump doesn't matter much for my volume of consumption.

I just had to have an E-61 to play with for a while otherwise i would've always felt that i am missing out on something really important in this world of coffee.....so i am quite happy with the choice. Wifey likes the shiny steel and black accented industrial look of the machine - so that's a big plus too.

I will install an Eric's thermometer but Eric Svendson informed me that the wait time is about a month - I'm ok with that

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