About to push the button on Expobar Pulser instead of Silvia...

[BigFrank]

Okay, I'm seriously close to pushing the button on a machine/grinder

Its my first machine, and I was originally going to get a Silvia, but I'm thinking that the fussiness of it would frustrate me.
so...
Im *this* close to getting an Expobar Pulser instead. Probably with a mazzer mini - or a rocky doserless (I originally wanted a doserless).

Any reason why I should reconsider this? I need a small footprint setup (i don't have a huge kitchen) and I feel guilty enough about spending *this* much money....

Thanks for the opinions

[HB]

I know, it's scary how quickly the upgrade slope rises...

Temperature surfing, impatience with the delay of the transition from brew/steam temperature, fussiness, and the hassle of serving three or more milk based drinks are what motivates most Silvia upgrades. The preconfigured PID installs available on the net are slick, but the combined cost is pushing $750, which puts they buyer within $50 of an Expobar Pulser or Bezerra BZ02S that will keep upgrade fever at bay for years longer than most Silvia buyers manage.

The Rancilio Silvia is one nicely constructed machine and makes a good espresso, if you're willing to work hard at it. But I am baffled why it remains popular price increase after price increase. Internet buyer inertia and great resale value, I guess. If I were in the market for a Silvia, I'd buy used. There's a good chance it would sell a year later for the same price. But buying it new? Let someone else have the first year of ownership and take the loss on resale.

PS: You may be interested in the poll What was your upgrade path?

[BigFrank]

Exactly.
So the Expobar pulser is a good choice then? Any significant negatives?
I decided against the bezzera due to its *considerably* larger footprint. Otherwise I thought it did look nicer.

Not to mention. WholeLatteLove is right here in Rochester - so its nice to be able to buy locally all else being equal.

[HB]

Expobar sometimes gets knocks for selecting "good enough" components, but I argue the Pulser is priced accordingly. The Pulser has minor usability issues like it's "stalk" steam wand and awkward driptray. While I only used it briefly during EspressoFest, by all accounts it's a price performer with an acceptable track record.

[jesawdy]

While I hesitate to push someone over the edge.... I'd say go for it, the HX and Mazzer both. With WLL in your neighborhood, you can always easily exercise the buyer's remorse policy. Do they have a retail location and can you bargain shop returns, etc there?

[BigFrank]

I don't think its a "retail" location exactly, but they will let you pick items up. I assume you can drop them off too.
I doubt they have a showroom though.

['Q']

Hi H-B, First post here, but been hangin' out for quite some time.

I got the Pulser w/Rocky combo from WLL in early December as my "upgrade" from my little Krups steam machine. While I'm currently looking at adding a new grinder to complement the setup I have been very satisfied with the purchase and it's been a great machine to get my feet wet on. While I'm not yet satisfied that I'm getting all I can out of the machine, I am able to be very consistent with it, which helps learn the effects of tweaking grinder settings and the PBTP (person behind the portafilter).

Funny thing is... when I started down the path of home brewing, I wanted to be able to at least replicate what I could get 1/2 mile away at Starbucks and maybe even Peete's. I accomplished that within a week or two of the Pulser arriving. But now I can't finish a cup from Starbucks anymore and am always disappointed when going out of town and can't easily find coffee like at home anymore. And I know I've still got plenty of room for improvement.

Anyway, I hope this helps in your decision.

[DaveC]

Okay, I'm seriously close to pushing the button on a machine/grinder
Its my first machine, and I was originally going to get a Silvia, but I'm thinking that the fussiness of it would frustrate me.so...
Im *this* close to getting an Expobar Pulser instead. Probably with a mazzer mini - or a rocky doserless (I originally wanted a doserless).
opinions?

Expobar Pulser is a very nice machine indeed...I reviewed one for a nearly 4 weeks (because I couldn't be bothered to move my own machine back on the counter, no rush). I pulled hundreds of shots from it and was very impressed with it for the money. It also doesn't need a huge cooling flush. I wrote a fairly complementary review on the thing. Sure it's build is to a price point, but you do get value for money and you don't get a machine that won't last.

Theres no gauges on it, just an on off switch and a brew switch, but the steam valves are the same non compression type as on the Andreja Premium (I actually think they are the same ones exactly), but the plastic knobs to open the steam/hot water wand valves feel better than the ones on the Andreja although they look similar (less flexible, feel more expensive).

If you want to read the 11 page review (with pictures), it's the UK model of course, but I don't think that will matter much.
http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/Exp...encrypted%20v1.pdf

Dave

[BigFrank]

Excellent!

Thats exactly what I'm hoping for. I went to New Zealand last year and was very spoiled by the coffee culture there. When I got back I realized what I'd been missing. Occasionally Starbucks will serve up a good coffee, but more often than not its disappointing.

[Beezer]

I would also say to go for a Pulser over a Silvia. HX machines are much easier to use and much beefier than even a Silvia. Plus, if you look on eBay you can get a great deal on a Pulser that's been refurbed or returned for buyer's remorse. There's one guy on CoffeeGeek who got a refurbed Pulser from WLL for about $400, and he loves it. If you can get a deal like that, there's no reason to settle for any single boiler machine.

[HB]

If you want to read the 11 page review (with pictures) pm me and I will send you the URL of the UK site where you can read/download the review. It's the UK model of course, but I don't think that will matter much.

For those who don't know, Dave wrote a series of reviews for Bellabarista. You can access the PDFs by going to Bellabarista's Coffee Machine page for the specific model and clicking the "closer look" link at the bottom.

[RegulatorJohnson]

the voice in my head 16 months ago -->
"get the pulser. you know you want to. and you know that you will have to upgrade the siliva soon anyway."

@ $4 per drink you break even on the machine at about 200 drinks. 2-3 a day..14-21 a week. 56-84 a month. wont take too long to get there. thats how i justified it to mice elf.

this pulser is my first espresso machine. if i upgrade it will probably be to a dual boiler and probably the brewtus II.

jon

[BigFrank]

Okay... I did it.

I decided to splurge and get the Mazzer Mini with it.

I should be picking it up from WLL tomorrow.

[DaveC]

Well done...I'm have my fingers crossed that you got the Mazzer Mini E (not the doser one). Great grinder, you will love it for a very very very long time....

[BigFrank]

The E? Thats like $695! No I got the regular Mazzer Mini - which unfortunately has a doser.
They didn't have a doserless one.

[Cathi]

Don't be bummed by the doser. If it bugs you too much, you could probably find a way to adapt it. Tim Eggers has some posts he did on a Mazzer Super Jolly and a 2 litre soda bottle - brilliant!

Personally, I prefer the doser. But different strokes .......

I'm sure you'll really enjoy your kit. Great set up.

[RegulatorJohnson]

i have the doser version mazzer mini. and it is great.

one thing i dont understand is why the more simple equipment (doser less, its just a funnel IMO) costs more than the more complex and very well engineered doser (flour sifter basically). whats the deal.. i know the E has the buttons and the old type phone cord on the lid. but the other one doesn't, why is it $200 more for what is basically a chrome funnel?

plus you have to have something to catch the grinds coming out as they come out. either in the PF that you hold there or into something else that you dose out of.

it was a bit of a shift i technique but in the end i love the doser. at first i hated it because i was using a doserless grinder. to each his own.

enjoy.

jon

[jggall01]

one thing i dont understand is why the more simple equipment (doser less, its just a funnel IMO) costs more than the more complex and very well engineered doser (flour sifter basically). whats the deal.. i know the E has the buttons and the old type phone cord on the lid. but the other one doesn't, why is it $200 more for what is basically a chrome funnel?

I struggled with that, too. Maybe some of the difference is related to the larger burr size (Mini E has same burrs and rpm as the Super Jolly).

Jim

[RegulatorJohnson]

hmm true..i did not read close enough.

is it the larger housing or the one the mini uses?

so is the mini E doserless really just a super jolly doser less? why is it called mini E and not something else?

either way it still costs more than a doser super jolly.

hrrmmmmm.

jon

[danblev]

Good choice.
I have the Pulser-Mini combination for over 3 years already.
No problems and excellent coffee.
I also bought it from WLL.
--
Danny