I have been looking to upgrade my home machine for a very long time. I've read post here and other websites and still had not come to a conclusion until now. I was on a business trip to Germany and entered a cafe and saw these immaculate machines sitting there. They were ECM machines but they were not made in Milan but instead made in Heidelberg Germany. The store owner spoke very good English and she knew I would not be able to purchase the machine at her shop because I had no way of taking it with me, so I believe she was sincere in her following statement, "Wherever or whenever you buy your machine, you must buy the ECM machines made in Germany, they have the manufacturing logo on them that shows they were built in Heidelberg. These machines are of much better quality than the machines made in Italy. The ones from Italy I have quality problems with returns but not the ones made in Germany" My question is can anyone tell me about these machines? This is a newly separate company that still builds under the ECM name? These are not the ECM Giotta, Rocket, Premium etc. This is ECM-Technika, Mechanika, Clasika, Replika. At last, if anyone knows where or how to purchase such a machine in the states, I would be very interested to know, I cannot find them on the web for purchase. I've written the company but have not received a response.
Thank you

My friend in Denmark recently got one of the German made ECM machines, and he has said the machine is a dream. I have been trying to find one here in the states, but I have not had any luck yet.

In short the story goes like this: The original factory is the one in Milan. Then some years ago it seems there was this German company that sold the ECMs in Germany, who licensed the right to make the machines in Germany.
After some years the two companies broke up and then you had ECM, and ECM Manufacture, the German version. They started to improve on the original design and out came the Technika, Mechanika etc. They are indeed gorgeous, immaculate, and seem to be very good. And expensive.
Only a few months ago the original ECM stopped making the Giotto and Cellini, and now ECM/Rocket makes these.

Here is the website of ECM Manufacture: http://www.ecm-espresso.de/en/ecm...cture/company.html

This is the ECM website: http://www.ecm-espresso.it/who.htm

wow.. thats interesting.
wonder how long until they are marketed in the US

Two of my work colleagues in Germany own the ECM Technika III. It's a dream ...

http://www.ecm-espresso.de/en/products/espresso-machines/technika/technika-stainless-steel-polished.html

In case you want to buy one, you can get them here:
Burgess Enterprises

1000 SW 34th Street, SUITE A
Renton, WA. 98057
Phone: 206-763-0255 ext 203
Fax: 206-763-8039
http://www.burgessenterprises.net

E-Mail-Kontakt: Robert S. Burgess [bburgess@burgessenterprises.net]

Regards
Christian

I can't speak to the quality of the ECM pro-sumer machines, Italian or German, but the commercial machines, which are made in Italy, are excellent. Beautifully engineered and assembled. I'm fortunate to have a one group Michelangelo in my kitchen. It produces beautiful espresso. Lots of steam too, thanks to a massive 8L boiler.

1st-line has ecm Rocket machines as well.
They do not list the technika but call Jim at 1st-line direct I am sure he would be glad to help you.
Thanks
Jason

Uhm, let's be clear: ECM/Rocket (Giotto, Cellini) is not the one you're after. It's ECM Manufacture (Mechanika, Technika). They are completely different factories now. I did not see Burgess list these, nor do I know if 1st-line can import them.

not like the giotto is a bad machine, though!