If You Were Buying a Second Espresso Machine for a Second Location...

[r-gordon-7]

OK, purely a hypothetical - if you were buying a second machine for a second location... say you already had a machine (with which you were quite happy) at a weekend place and were now buying one for home (or vice versa) - would you buy the same machine for the second location (for greater consistency of practice, technique & results; for potential interchangeability of parts; etc.) or would you go for a different machine (for greater variety & comparison; for experimentation experience with a different make/model; for cost savings or greater extravagance at one location or the other; etc.)? I think I know what I'd do, but am curious as to the opinion of others...

(BTW, "home vs. office" would probably involve totally different considerations - e.g. potential for theft or damage @ workplace, difficulty/ease of use &/or abuse by & for co-workers, etc. - and I'm not really very interested in that hypothetical, though interests & responses of others may take this thread in that direction...)

(Also, BTW, I'd ask about hypothetical opinions on "second location" grinders here too, but that would be off-topic for this forum, so instead, I may parallel post this query on the Espresso Grinders forum asking for hypothetical opinions on "same grinder or different grinder" at second location - Hopefully Dan finds it an appropriate way to do it...)

Thanks,
r-gordon-7

[Cathi]

I would go for something totally different. Great for experiment and experience.

I use an Anita and a Cremina in my home. I take a Solis on vacation with us. I've had the Solis longer than the Cremina, if you're wondering why. I wouldn't be too heartbroken if the Solis were damaged or stolen while on vacation, but I'd be most unhappy were the same to happen to the Cremina. Both are portable and I think travel well. No so for the Anita: too large, heavy, etc. I take my KA-Pro grinder (doing double duty for drip and espresso). It works fine for the Solis (would NOT for Anita, not sure about the Cremina).

If your other location is a second home, I'd still be hesitant to put a large investment in another high-end machine unless you spend enough time there to justify the outlay. If money is no object, then ......

HTH

[k7qz]

Personal preference I guess Gordon- (I may be the extreme one here but...) I have an A3 at our main home. We have a couple of "second homes" as well. I have a Cimbali DT1 at one and an Andreja Premium at the other. Why? I had the Junior before I bought the A3, so I use it at one place. As for the Andreja at our third home, Chris Coffee gave me a great deal on a demo unit Andreja.

Don't forget: you'll need a grinder to do your machines justice at each locale as well-

Cathi is right, I do have to sharpen my skills for a day or two when bouncing from my A3 to one of the other machines.

Another option would be to follow the lead of HB himself and have a nice lever machine that you carry with you in a stylish metal case when vacationing or traveling!

[zin1953]

Richard,

This question -- as with the grinder, actually -- is not so hypothetical. I have had, for a long time now, a La Valentina at home and a Coffee Gaggia in the office; the Gaggia is now replaced by the Olympia Cafferex NT. I did not get a second La Val.

So for me the question then becomes, "What do I do with the La Valentina when I finally succumb to 'upgrade-itis' and get a machine that is plumbed-in?" Most likely, that will be either an Elektra Sixties T1 or a Cimbali Junior DT/1, as there is simply no way I can justify a GS/3 or Synesso. So. Do I keep the La Val, moving it to the office? I don't think so. I think I keep the Olympia there. So the La Val will -- eventually -- be sold . . . or, depending upon how long it takes to succumb, maybe i just give it to our daughter when she goes away to college.

Cheers,
Jason

[caeffe]

One has to decide certain attributes / characteristics that are wanted for the 2nd location.

You mentioned a couple such as 'theft' and portability.

For me the 2nd location I'm planning for is the office.

I wanted a 'stealthy' setup. One that doesn't make a lot noise - my initial machine was an Estro Vapore i bought from Starbucks - definitely not a quiet one. I bought an NS Oscar since I wanted more oopmh and the price was right (<<50% off). Unfortunately it also was loud due to its vibe pump. So, i opted for a manual lever, waited / stalked eBay and got a Europiccola. I would've preferred a Cremina or Elektra leva but one does what they can with resources available.

In terms of grinder - since I wanted a stealthy setup - it became a manual old-fashioned hand grinder - PeDe Mokka.

For all intents and purposes this combo was meant for the office. But... now I find I enjoy it so much on the weekends I don't think I can part with it. Plus I still haven't quite gotten the PeDe dialed in for the europiccola.

Hmmmm...... maybe I need to do some more stalking for that Cremina / Elektra Leva?

[wildbwilson]

At home my principal machine is a cimbali jr with a cremina for lever pleasure. For secondary machines I keep a cremina at the cottage and take along a pasquini livietta (olympia maximatic) as well to boost the output. I've made do with a hand crank though this summer will be upgrading on the grinder. This set up works really well and it's a treat to get first rate coffee at the cabin. The cimbali was originally at my business, under used so last christmas (06) I brought it home for the festive season and it never left.
-Ian

[CoffeeOwl]

I'd get Elektra either a Leva or Semiautomatica..., but due to cash choice between La Pavoni and Elektra a Leva may be more possible.

[zin1953]

Caesar,

How quiet a machine has to be for an office environment is all relative, of course, depending upon the office. For me and our very small law office (ranging from two to four people, plus clients), having a vibe pump machine in the kitchen/break room is fine . . . plus the fact that the Olympia is surprisingly quiet for a vibe machine (definitely quieter than my La Val at home, for example). But I never would have thought to opt for a lever machine, even though I'm the only one using it! Interesting choice.

Cheers,
Jason

[espressme]

FWW
A LaPeppina is my usual travel machine. If I want milk drinks I add a battery milk foamer and I do use a hand grinder. A cheap Electric Moka pot and an electric cordless hot water pot are often included. Depends where I'm going and for how long. The Conti also has traveled in my car with a Mazzer SJ for a 4day charity venue away from home.
YMMV
Richard / espressme

[caeffe]

Caesar,

How quiet a machine has to be for an office environment is all relative, of course, depending upon the office. For me and our very small law office (ranging from two to four people, plus clients), having a vibe pump machine in the kitchen/break room is fine . . . plus the fact that the Olympia is surprisingly quiet for a vibe machine (definitely quieter than my La Val at home, for example). But I never would have thought to opt for a lever machine, even though I'm the only one using it! Interesting choice.

Cheers,
Jason

For the moment, it is all but a plan ....
I have yet to execute the plan.

I am in an office with a forest of cubicles and do not have the honor of having door. We do have a kitchen in the office but I dare not leave a machine in there. Others have lost something as 'trivial' as their lunch in the refridgerator

[Fullsack]

I'd get Elektra either a Leva or Semiautomatica....

I agree with Pawel on this one, but have the Elektra at home. Assuming the machine at the second location will be used less frequently, it makes more sense to have a better familiarity with it.

[zin1953]

So, Doug, I have a question:

Equipment: Semiautomatica, Astoria lever, Cremina, Lusso . . .

Are these four machines all set up in your home? If not, which is located elsewhere? If so, which is your primary "go to" machine for daily use?

TIA,
Jason

[Fullsack]

So, Doug, I have a question:

Are these four machines all set up in your home? If not, which is located elsewhere? If so, which is your primary "go to" machine for daily use?

TIA,
Jason

The machines are set up in 3 different locations, my home, the company owned condo and the office/roastery. The Semiautomatica at home sees more use than all of the other machines combined.

[zin1953]

Thanks.

[seattlesetters]

My espresso-making habits changed within five days of getting my Alexia. If I were to get another set-up, I'd first get a MACAP M4 and pair it with Alexia, who would move to the cabin. Then, I'd keep the Max Hybrid at home and buy a brand new Vibiemme Domobar Super Double Boiler from Stefano to sit on the counter with it.

[CafSuperCharged]

The second location is a temporary (project) office where I would work for months or longer. The office coffee would make me sick. So I would bring a simple, easily transportable coffee machine. Also, I would not bring a grinder. My coffee vendor, next to their professional espresso bar bean products, also has pods: individually sealed (under nitrogen?) These are very good. My 2nd machine does not heat cups (too small and curvy). But it runs a bit too hot. Short pre-flush into cup solves that and heats cup. Throw water away, pod into machine, brew espresso. Pod out. No mess.
My current project facility does not allow me to bring the machine. It sits at home next to Andreja.
My wife uses it when I am not around. She feels it does good espressi. Mine (Andreja) are usually better, but she would argue the pods are the same all the time - between 7 and 8 on a scale of 0..10 - and occasionally I would screw up a cup that would be rated a 6 maybe. My current beans are more forgiving and I am consistently over the pod score, now.
My coffee vendor charged me around €100 for the machine (SGL or essegielle), if I remember well, although it might sell in shops somewhere in the world for 200 or more. Even though it does not have a vacuum breaker valve, it does not build vacuum when cooling down, so it could be on a timer. It only suffers from internal air if the pump is run dry (no protection), which is solved by opening the steam valve after which additional heating time is needed.

Interesting alternatives in my circumstances, IMO, would also be, but maybe not imported into the USA, a Quick Mill Cassiopea (http://www.quickmill.it/MyIndex.p...rodotto&id_prod=31) or its pod-only version Meissa (http://www.quickmill.it/MyIndex.p...rodotto&id_prod=78). Small enough to only have 4 demitasse cups on top. These have two heat exchangers: one for coffee, the other for steam. The steam part can be switched off (energy saving). The group is an interesting design that seems like a water spiral and heating element spiral were cast into a metal block integrated with the group. It might even be possible to PID that. To me these machines were even more interesting if they had no steam section at all (cheaper).

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe