Hello there

I am a newbie and have been using my Breville Cafe Roma for about 7 months?

http://www.brevilleusa.com/produc...D=108&pID=8&pvID=8

I just found this site and am wondering if it is possible to get good shots from this machine. I know it has the pressurized portafilter which is said to be bad and I only have a blade grinder right now. Any hope for me until I can save up for some better stuff.

I use a cafe roma while I'm waiting for my silvia.
I got a good hand grinder (kyocera) and drilled the back of the basket with a 1/8" bit to depressurise it
Be careful while drilling, not to get through both layers.
Just that, along with fresh beans, will make much better coffee from your roma.

-Hugo

erictski wrote: . . . Breville Cafe Roma . . . I know it has the pressurized portafilter which is said to be bad and I only have a blade grinder right now. Any hope for me until I can save up for some better stuff?

First of all, welcome to HB, Eric.

To start with, you already know that a pressurized portafilter gives you artificial crema, In other words, it's not "said to be bad"; it is bad. But it's better than nothing, right? The same is true for a blade grinder: it is next to impossible to produce quality espresso using a blade grinder. Period. You don't mention what sort of beans you're using, but (presumably) you already know that using beans is better than getting coffee pre-ground (as it stales very, very, VERY quickly once it's been ground), and thus the blade grinder.

OK, the first (quick) step is to make sure you're using fresh beans. The second step is to get rid of the blade grinder. That should be a much higher priority than replacing the Breville. There are a number of burr (vs. blade) grinders that will improve your coffee -- ranging (new) from $199 on up. Do that sooner rather than later, and you will notice a significant improvement -- even with the Breville and its pressurized portafilter. And keep in mind that you can often find an even better grinder used on places like eBay and craigslist.

Then you can start saving for a better machine.

Cheers,
Jason

erictski wrote:I am a newbie and have been using my Breville Cafe Roma for about 7 months?
I am wondering if it is possible to get good shots from this machine. I know it has the pressurized portafilter which is said to be bad and I only have a blade grinder right now.

If you have been using it for seven months, I guess you are enjoying it. "Good" is totally subjective and depends on what your needs, desires and expectations are.

I had a similar espresso machine for years and I stopped using it and stopped drinking espresso because of my dissatisfaction. When I got a setup that could achieve what I wanted, I began drinking 6+ cups a day. I am not sure if that is a good thing, but it reflects the idea that "good" means that it "works for you."

drdna wrote:If you have been using it for seven months, I guess you are enjoying it. "Good" is totally subjective and depends on what your needs, desires and expectations are.

I had a similar espresso machine for years and I stopped using it and stopped drinking espresso because of my dissatisfaction. When I got a setup that could achieve what I wanted, I began drinking 6+ cups a day. I am not sure if that is a good thing, but it reflects the idea that "good" means that it "works for you."

You know, this is so true. If you are enjoying the coffee you make, then that is all that really matters. It's like wine, in that regard. If Almaden makes you happy, then more power to you.

I started drinking espresso around 30 years ago, made on a Pavoni lever style machine with fresh beans . It was GOOD. When that housemate situation dissolved and that machine moved on with its owner, I went through a series of lesser machines, as my finances didn't permit a Pavoni level of machine.

As happened with DrDNA (who I quoted above), I gradually drank less and less espresso over time, as the modest machines and little blade grinder I had really didn't make a very special cup.

When the last machine died, just recently, I actually first replaced it with a Breville Cafe Roma. However, I had not done any research. So, I got the machine home and then started researching. I soon found the many wonderful coffee sites, such as this one, and began reading about all of the machines now available. I found a lot of negative feedback about the Cafe Roma (as well as a fair amount of positive) but I realized that I was now in a position to afford a really good machine. I cleaned up the Cafe Roma and returned it. I thought, what the heck, and after a little more research, picked up a Rancilio Silvia, and shortly thereafter a Rancilio Rocky grinder.

I have really been enjoying my return to espresso. My caffeine tolerance is fairly low these days, so I have to limit my intake, but I still enjoy it tremendously. As I gradually zero in on the proper grind, beans, and tamping pressure, my new machine rewards me with what I consider to be very good espresso. Head and shoulders above what my old Krups or any of its predecessors (save my old buddy's Pavoni) made.

So, for me, it was worth it to upgrade. This is one of those questions that you can only answer for yourself, though...

Bob

erictski wrote: I just found this site and am wondering if it is possible to get good shots from this machine.

Welcome, Eric! Once in a while you might get a shot that resembles "good," but, by the standards of this forum or of any reputable coffee bar, most of your espresso will be pretty bad, especially with a blade grinder.

That doesn't mean you won't like it or that your friends won't tell you "it's the best espresso they ever had." It just means that it won't be "good" by any meaningful standard. (Any more than my liking my own singing makes me a good singer. Most people tell me they would rather hear a buzz saw cutting through sheet metal ).

drdna wrote:If you have been using it for seven months, I guess you are enjoying it. "Good" is totally subjective and depends on what your needs, desires and expectations are.

I had a similar espresso machine for years and I stopped using it and stopped drinking espresso because of my dissatisfaction. When I got a setup that could achieve what I wanted, I began drinking 6+ cups a day. I am not sure if that is a good thing, but it reflects the idea that "good" means that it "works for you."

Yeah I have been using it and its fine for a latte or put into my morning protein shake, however. I have tried many times to drink a straight shot and it is so bitter and bad its ridiculous.

Well, I'll put my personal experience that is a little similar to yours...

I have an espresso machine from Electrolux (Chef Crema) nearly 7 months, also. It came up with a double wall filter basket that looks like very, very much with basket from Cafe Roma. I started using all the standard procedures at the manual and the coffee was under acceptable for a few weeks.

So I started research and after some days, I realized that I'd need a decent tamper. Bought a tamper and replaced the ordinary stock (plastic). I started to see some improvements, but realized that double wall basket was stucking my progress, so I cut off the bottom wall (that on with one hole) from on of the baskets (single) and things were even better.

Few weeks later I bought a hand grinder, to test what looks like a coffee just grinded. I realized a big change as coffee would have more aroma and overall quality.

Now I bought a Breville grinder, unfortunately without advice, and I'm having some issues, but I can tell you that it works reasonably with pressurized basket from my Electrolux.

Well, from all this bull, I can tell you that buying a good grinder maybe is the most important factor in a isolated analysis. Only with good control of grinding you will be capable of brewing good shots. Make it first, and after that you can think about removing the pressurized bottom of your filter basket...

Hope it helps.

My experience with Breville and $bucks pressurized portafilter machines is echoed by those here...your potential for producing good espresso (and by that I mean that which makes you happy when compared to something you got at a real espresso shop), is extremely limited. Considering their relatively high retail costs, they are not machines anyone should own, when better ones are available for the same or a little more. Likewise, the grinder...not that you must have the absolute best, but minimally acceptable is at least $230 or so, and for just a little more, you could have a "keeper" i.e., the Baratza Vario, which can produce nice espresso grinds and is adjustable.