Thanks!
Actually, I found a UK site doing a great deal on Ascaso i Mini...then I found out they do an Ascaso i2 also (for a better price than the rest are doing for the mini. Not sure what the difference is (size?) but I'll head over to the grinder threads for more info.

norfbech wrote:Thanks!
Actually, I found a UK site doing a great deal on Ascaso i Mini...then I found out they do an Ascaso i2 also (for a better price than the rest are doing for the mini. Not sure what the difference is (size?) but I'll head over to the grinder threads for more info.

If I remember correctly the i2 is the conical burr version. A lot of people prefer conical burrs but the i2 had a tendency to chew/crack the bean hopper neck, but that was a while ago maybe this is fixed by now.

Thanks Sylvian - I'll do a bit more research on that front then - I have a couple of weeks before I order one.
Cheers.

Well, I brought back the gaggia espresso pure and gave it a whirl. Looks wise, it isn't really anything to write home about. Plastic and black, it's far removed from the chrome industrial espresso machine I'd like to obtain a few years down the road. This takes a while longer to boil (the previous one had the thermoblock) but it is by no means a long time to wait. The major benefit is the non pressurised, standard 58mm PF. It's far heavier than the Dualit PF and feels solid and well made (chromed brass). As I'd already been practicing tampering etc with the previous model, I was doing ok filling it ready for the machine. Having no 'nice' coffee beans or indeed a grinder I had the choice of pre ground Lavazza espresso and some decaff (supermarket beans). The pre ground wasn't much cop at all. However, the beans (which I blade grounded...sorry folks!!) fared much better. I was able to get a 'genuine' crema (as opposed to the fake stuff I was getting from the previous models pressurised filter).

However...the 'on' button (for dispensing water to the head) intermittently turns itself on and off - it's faulty essentially...and I can't believe I'm going to have to take this one back too. What an exercise in frustration.
Not sure whether it's worth getting hold of another identical machine (aside from the fault I can see, once I've got a grinder, me getting some good results. Other options is going for an earlier Gaggia model, or for about the same price, a Gaggia Classic recon/nearly new from the Gaggia website.

Arghh!

Hi Folks,

Just a quick update to this thread:

I originally swapped my first espresso machine (the pressurised filter one) and swapped this for a Gaggia Espresso Pure. Much better machine and obviously had the Non pressurised PF 58mm. Whilst it had a cheap exterior I could tell the machine was much superior than the first model I chose (blindly).
But...this machine was indeed faulty and I guessed that if I took it back and swapped it for the same model the same thing would happen again (the exterior was really light plastic...you could lift it with one hand as you tightened the PF onto the group head). Basically the 'water on' button would automatically switch on shooting out hot water as you sat in the other room...

So...I took it back and got my money back (back to square one). Perhaps I should've left it there, but I'd got bitten by the bug at that stage (erm...thanks to everyone here!).
I decided to go for a Gaggia Classic - new at £250 or refurbished at £200...but in the end I took a chance on a 2nd hand one from fleabay. It arrived, I gave it a descale, backflush (purchased the necessary cleaning components/powders), cleaned the chrome and it looked brand new - for £100...which gave me a bit more to play with for a grinder. I have now ordered the Ascaso i mini (the new stainless steel Lelit looking model). This won't arrive till the week after next however.
In the meantime I've ordered some freshly roasted coffee (Hasbean in the UK) which arrived this morning.
Immediately I could tell the difference between this and supermarket beans - the smell, the crema, taste...

However, would I be right in saying that using I'm still not getting the full use from these beans whilst using the Krups blade grinder i.e. should it be the difference in quality be fairly noticeable once I started using (and calibrating correctly) the burr grinder? I did a rough 23 second test (although I really need to use a shot glass as I couldn't really ascertain whether the volume for a double was correct) and I've never produced so much crema and thick, black coffee...but I still couldn't love (nay - enjoy) it as a straight espresso (as a cappuccino it was the best I've ever made).
So, I'll pick up a few more 'toys' and 'instruments' next week if the missus notices the hints (ahem...email linkies) I've left her for my impending birthday (proper tamper, shot glasses etc).

On another note...I cannot for the life of me produce decent microfoam with the classic wand - I've tried taking the long nozzle off, the whole contraption (leaving just the short, stubby wand) to little avail. I know there's a dozen threads on this subject, so I anticipate picking up the longer Silvia wand when they're next in stock.

Folks - thanks for the initial 'direction' (however harsh when I purchased that initial machine) and the money you've 'spent' for me (which compared to the high end models is really a drop in the ocean)...I just love the 'pantomime and drama' of preparing coffee this way...a hobby for life I guess.

Cheers.

norfbech wrote:However, would I be right in saying that using I'm still not getting the full use from these beans whilst using the Krups blade grinder i.e. should it be the difference in quality be fairly noticeable once I started using (and calibrating correctly) the burr grinder?

No, the difference in taste will not be "fairly noticeable." The improvement in taste between a Krups blade grinder and Ascaso I-Mini will be dramatic.

Excellent...the use of the Classic and fresh beans has already made a difference, so anything else (and dramatic is nice) is good news.
Many thanks.