HB wrote:The good news is that "top end" is a lot closer to earth than in many other hobbyist ventures (audio, autos, biking, etc.). A Silvia/Rocky combo would leave change for accessories; a nice no-frills HX machine (e.g., Expobar Pulser, Bezzera BZ02) plus a Mazzer Mini would only put you a couple hundred over your cash stash, with little reason to upgrade anytime soon.

Yeah, I was just droooling over the Colorado Cyclist catalog a coupla days ago, and figured that one could spend $10k for a road bike now if one were so inclined. Sigh.

-Greg (guess I'll keep riding my outdated 8-speed spaced Columbus SLX frame for a while. And I still use sewups!) Scace

You may want to consider a grinder from someone like Iberital; a true conical grinder on a gear drive that grinds to order with a timed doserless chute.

It is every bit as good (grind quality) as my Cimbali 64mm, my Casadio 84mm or my Ditting. This means that it will be equal too or better than the mini Mazzer; for at least a third the price. I think Fidalgo Bay carries them in Seattle for $185.

http://www.fidalgobaycoffee.com/espressoGrinders.cfm

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Michael

Hi Steve,

I can relate to obsessions. After having an almost life long and keen interest in coffee it wasn't until recently that I found forums like this that made good coffee easy and accessible. From just researching a new drip maker it's been a quick upgrade fever adventure to roaster, grinder and espresso machine.

I was scared too to get into espresso. A couple months ago I went with a Silvia/Rocky combo. The Silvia is a very challenging machine and sometimes I think it might have been better to go with a good HX machine. On the other hand getting a good shot out of the Silvia demands that the operator have a very good knowledge of espresso and good barista technique. I have no other machine to compare my experience to but I think starting out with a Silvia is like going to a foreign country to learn a language by total immersion. It's frustrating, and seemingly impossible at first but with no other choice but to learn quick you can progress to a faster more complete understanding and fluency in the language than by any other method. I don't think I could be learning as much about espresso and barista technique with another machine.

As a single boiler non HX machine the Silvia can only do one thing at a time so indeed she's slow when you're pulling for lots of people who want milk drinks. I'm living with that. Still higher end HX machines are catching my eye already. Watch out for upgrade fever

HB wrote:Only if the host country is Switzerland (i.e., not knowing what language you might encounter at any moment ).

Yeah, what's up with that? One day I think I understand her and the next day she's talking a different language again. She's got no mercy for newbies.
Oh well, it's not fun unless it's a challange

Hi Steve,

I recently bought a Rocky Doserless, and although I like the looks and smaller footprint, I have to say that the immediate access to the slot that the grinds come out of with a doser version is a big plus. You just lift the lid on the doser, brush out the slot with a small brush, then brush out the doser area, and you've got 99% of the coffee out of the machine. Meanwhile, those of us with doserless are looking at removing the external chute to access the slot (there's a mod to make that slightly quicker here), or a mod like the stainless flip chute that snoboy did, or using a click-clack lid to blow out the grinds (both documented in the 'uber mods' link that Dan posted earlier in this thread), or sticking a vaccuum up the chute, or....

As I said, I like the looks and smaller footprint of the doserless, but given the above, and the point Dan made about the vanes in the doser helping to break up clumps, I think I might go doser if I were to make this decision again. Sounds like you're going with the Mazzer Mini anyway, which has a doser -- I think that's a good call. Avoids upgrade-itis by going stepless adjustment right off the bat.

Chris

steves wrote:Lever machines look really cool and fun to use.

Resale value is important when I have those conversations with the wife.

Check out the Ponte Vecchio Lusso at Vanelis. If you ever need to sell it, check back here. You might also want to check out the Ponte Vecchio Export (but I won't take that off your hands--interested in the thermosyphon model with the pressure gauge).

Regards
Timo

ya'll are a terribly bad influence on poor Steve here...

...wavin' all that fancy equipment under his nose.

Ann
who, me, 3 espresso grinders?

Steve,
Good luck with your purchase. I am in the same situation you were and I was planning on spending more money and getting a real nice machine, unfortunately I'm not willing to wait to save the cash for that kind of rig (~1.5 years) so I'm probably going to go with one of the gaggia machine and grinder sets from WLL.

As for expensive hobbies...
I've been playing the guitar for quite a while now....and in total I must have spent somewhere between 6k and 7k (5 guitars..3 amplifiers...various accessories...obsessed? nah!) over the past 6 or 7 years (since I've been old enough to take it seriously). I have a high end guitar that was about $2500 and any further upgrades in gear could easily cost more than a nice BMW. The good news is that this type of upgrade is not necessary in ANY way whatsoever for your average guitar player...however as no one here is an average coffee lover or hobbyist in other things....i think you see where I'm going with this

-Jeff

Wave, wave, flaunt and grin...