Currently using ( once or twice daily) Silvia with PID and Rocky with inconsistent results, planning to buy new HX machine and better grinder. I have a budget of $3000.00. What would be the best combination? Kitchen cabinets heights is no issue but machine should be a pourover.
Opinions and advise welcome.

You could start by shopping for a grinder. Mazzer Super Jolly is a really solid baseline grinder used by many forum members. While you are enjoying / learning from a superior grinder, you can take your time shopping around for a machine. Since you are accustomed to the luxury of a PID, you may even want to hold out for a double boiler.

Within your $3000 budget, you could pair a La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II with any of the following grinders:

Mazzer Super Jolly
Mazzer Major
Cimbali Max Hybrid
Macap MXKR

Your budget would cover every reviewed espresso machine on this site except the La Marzocco GS/3. Have you read some of the reviews? Given your budget, I would pick the Elektra Semiautomatica and the Mazzer Super Jolly, but it's a particular choice that not everyone would appreciate.

Other pairings for your consideration in no particular order:

Choice 1:
La Spaziale Vivaldi II
Cimbali Max Hybrid

Choice 2:
Vibiemme Domobar Super (or Quickmill Vetrano if plumbed-in)
Mazzer Super Jolly

Choice 3:
Elektra Semiautomatica
Compak K10 WBC

Choice 4:
Ponte Vecchio Lusso
Le'Lit PL54 (small footprint) or Mazzer Mini

Hi Dan,

I guess I was updating my post as your were publishing yours. I wonder if your pairings carry a particular significance, for example whether you think that E61 + Flat Burr is a good combination where as the La Spaz pairs better with a conical?

As long as you have a bit of patience waiting for the grinder, a Versalab M3 and Dalla Corte Mini fit your budget if you get a little "give" in the price of the Mini in your negotiations. I used the combination for several weeks before getting the Super Mini with great results.

portamento wrote:I wonder if your pairings carry a particular significance...

There's no deep meaning in my pairings. Generally speaking, the conicals are more consistent and thus a better choice, but they may not fit within everyone's budget and size constraints. In my opinion, the Mazzer Super Jolly represents the cusp of the cost/value curve.

HB wrote:Your budget would cover every reviewed espresso machine on this site except the La Marzocco GS/3.

I think the Elektra A3 is out on that budget, too, (obviously I've spent too much time reading the reviews) but it seems like there are lots of amazing choices in that price range.

One option I have some experience with would be the Astra Gourmet paired with either a Mazzer Super Jolly or Major. American-made built like a tank, prosumer espresso machine with nice quality components. Large 4.2L boiler and a BIG steamer, uses Sirai pressurestat, Procon pumps and Gicar controllers.

This is a pourover but also can be converted to a plumbed model with no trouble at all. Another bonus is it uses US fittings rather than British Parallel Pipe Thread so a little easier to work on and finding parts is no problem as they are based in CA.
The Mazzer SJ grinder enjoys a great reputation as you undoubtly know if you've read much here so you might even have enough left over for that 58mm Desert Ironwood Burl custom-made tamper from Thor Tamper!

Also look at Macap MXK

From Titan Grinder Project: Can it Beat the Mazzer Robur? - Page 2

Running Score Sheet

    Grinder          Score       Rounds Won-Tied-Lost
    -------------------------------------------------
    Nemox Lux         -7              1-0-3
    Mazzer Mini      -15              0-0-4
    Versalab M3      -10.5            2-0-2     
    Macap MXK         +3              2-0-2
    Macap M7K         -3              1-1-2
    Fiorenzato Doge   -0.5            1-1-2
    Compak WBC        +1              1-1-2
    Cimbali Max       +4              2-0-2
    Pede Manual      -13              0-0-4
    Mazzer Jolly     -1.5             2-0-2


vetrano by quickmill and a mazzer kony.

i can get a better shot from the vetrano than my la marzocco GB/5. it is probably the pre-infusion of the E-61 on the vetrano.

kony rocks! quiet and you jsut hear the sound of beans falling to their destiny between the burrs. if you add a doser silencer a rubber door stop from a kitchen cabinet door. you can have a really nice clicking doser.

mmm tasty shots

jon

Here's a contrarian view.

- $500 on the Silvia to do other Silvia improvement things to it
OR
- Sell Silvia for $400 and use the $900 to get something with a boiler
- $500 for a used Super Jolly and some burrs
- $2000 for Barista School
http://coffeeschool.org/classes/four_day
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeschool/

You probably can't sell the Rocky for enough to get a plane ticket and 5 nights of hotel but I'll keep thinking about it. What else do you have to sell/barter?

You won't have any kitchen bling but if you can do latte art at the end of it like in those photos, you could probably show up most anyone with a $10,000 setup. Portland ain't bad if it's gotta be vacation.

WES