After reading the lengthy thread on the M3 in The Bench I decided to give Versalab the benefit of the doubt and ordered an M3. That was in mid December, with shipment promised by the end of January. Now the delivery date has been pushed back 4 weeks, and I have been told that I should never have been told to expect the unit to ship by the end of January in the first place. I was wondering if anyone else out there is getting a similar runaround.

But that's just a rant, and not the primary topic of this thread.

I wonder if there is anyone who owns a recently manufactured M3 who could comment on the manufacturing quality (or lack thereof) of the machine. Specifically, does it appear to be maintainable in the event the manufacturer ceases to be in a position to support it?

Assuming the issues identified in the early units have been addressed, either by redesigned parts or by re-engineering the fastening mechanism used on the bearing assembly (use of shims and a tight nut; instead of a loosely torqued nut secured by Loctite), does the machine give you the impression it will last many years into the future? I would expect to have to replace the belt periodically, but does the rest of the machine appear to be robust enough to last 'forever' (figuratively speaking)?

And assuming I have the patience to wait for Versalab to manufacture another batch of machines, do you think I will be satisfied in the long run? Are you satisfied?

-dg-

I wonder if there is anyone who owns a recently manufactured M3 who could comment on the manufacturing quality (or lack thereof) of the machine. Specifically, does it appear to be maintainable in the event the manufacturer ceases to be in a position to support it?

Coffeebuzz:

I understand your frustration. I too had a similar experience. I ordered the M3 (and had to pay up front) and was told it would be delivered in two months. Well, after two months, no grinder. I spoke with Laura, of Versalab, and she assured me that the machine would be delivered in a few weeks. To make the long story short, it took approximately another six weeks, or so, to finally receive the machine.

Was the wait worth it? Absolutely. Prior to the M3, I was using a Rocky, purchased about three years prior. The Rocky never seemed to work for me satisfactorily, i.e., I was never able to get a handle on the channeling issue or able to arrive at a consistent extraction time and the espresso just didn't taste right. So I decided to invest in the Versalab M3. It was a decision I'll never regret. I've had the machine now for about 8 months and it still performs exemplary. The issues of channeling, extraction time, ease of use, consistency etc. are all behind me, The Espresso is rich in flavor full of crema and is consistent from day to day.

I also purchased the Portafilter holder and the Bean Hopper. The bean hopper is supposed to arrive next week (hopefully). With the portafilter, you simply insert it into the holder, push the button and grind away. After completion of grind just tamp and brew. There is no need to fiddle with the grind to try and improve the distribution or eliminate any clumping or other imperfections, since there aren't any.

As far as quality and maintainability is concerned only time can tell. The parts used in the machine are only obtainable from Versalab, except for the electronic parts on the small circuit board controller, controlling the RPM. Versalab has been around a long time and hopefully will still be here if and when we need them.

My recommendation?: if you can afford the price tag, go for it. The quality and look of the machine is right up there with the best of them. (It should be for $1,500.00).

Good luck

Ron