Isomac Millennium ... experience?

[TD]

Someone local is selling an Isomac Millenium machine. The few reviews out there and the specs (E61, 1.4l HX boiler; http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/store/product374.html), suggest it should be good but I hesitate to buy since it seems rare in the US ... my concern is that the parts and the experience of others might be limited, both of which I will likely depend on.

Anyone have any experience with it?

TD

My bottom line: I am long time espresso drinker, but novice home brewer ... looking to invest time and money in my first home machine, trying to stay under $1000 but don't want to end up with a dud. Leaning, like many, to the Rancilio Silvia as my first, but looking for higher throughput (HX) and better temperature stability) The guys is also selling throwing in the Isomac Granmacinino grinder ... both for $650.

[cannonfodder]

The Millennium use to be a Chris Coffee special but the company went to another importer and since fallen out of favor. I have been using one for two years with no issues. I even hacked the machine to add a HX preheat loop around the boiler, an onboard brew pressure gauge and insulated the boiler. Two years of service with 0 problems.

Chris Coffee still sells Isomac parts and services the units so parts and service should not be an issue. As long as the machine has been cared for (backflushed regularly, descaled the HX and boiler) and there are no leaks, $650 is a heck of a deal with the grinder. The machine was $1300 new. The Granmacinino will do the job, not the best espresso grinder on the market but more than adequate. If it has a couple of years of use on it you may want to replace the grinder burrs before you use it.

[jesawdy]

both for $650.

No personal Isomac experience... I considered a Zaffiro and a Millenium used when I started, ended with a PID/Silvia used. Have since upgraded. The Silvia is fine, but I think you would be much happier with the above deal, especially considering you'll have a passable grinder to start out the gate.

You may also be able to get parts from 1st-line.

The grinder is $219 new, the new Isomac Tea-II, a similar machine is $1100 at introductory pricing.

[jesawdy]

Here is some more info on the Isomac Millenium if you haven't found this yet... at CG.

[HB]

The few reviews out there and the specs (E61, 1.4l HX boiler; http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/store/product374.html), suggest it should be good but I hesitate to buy since it seems rare in the US ... my concern is that the parts and the experience of others might be limited, both of which I will likely depend on.

Not long ago, Isomac was the darling of the espresso Internet. They fell out of favor during a ruckus over the company's handling of the distribution network (let's not go there). Chris' Coffee subsequently partnered with Quickmill, who leveraged their keen knowledge of the US market and serviceability issues to introduce new-and-improved models (Andreja Premium, Vetrano, Anita, and Alexia). 1st-line pursued Fiorenzato, Whole Latte Love pursued Expobar, etc. In the end, Isomac was left holding the (empty) bag.

If you google for more than 5 minutes, you'll find plenty of stories about Isomac's less than impressive attention to workmanship. Nonetheless I think they're among the more stylish "chrome boxes" and hoped they would make a comeback. Based on the improvements that 1st-line describes in the Isomac Tea II, they've done their homework. If you decide to buy used, there's comfort in knowing that the majority of the parts are ubiquitous, 1st-line now carries the line, and Chris' Coffee has an Isomac Repair Parts page.

[TD]

Fantastic help from all of you, many thanks.
Sounds like a worthy gamble, even if it takes a little fixing up and tinkering ...

TD