What does high end espresso machine offer over "prosumer" espresso machine? - Page 2
- boar_d_laze
- Posts: 2058
- Joined: 17 years ago
Let Mark Prince explain.Gary S. wrote:I wasn't aware that a stock Speedster could pressure profile. What are it's capabilities in that regard?
Rich
Drop a nickel in the pot Joe. Takin' it slow. Waiter, waiter, percolator
- another_jim
- Team HB
- Posts: 13942
- Joined: 19 years ago
A two group Strada is good for 120 shots or about 60 12 ounce lattes per hour. Such overkill may be appropriate if you are building out a personal espresso space; it may also be required if you need two groups to do side by side shots for testing or competition.
But if you have the sneaking suspicion that your shots could be better, it is grotesquely inappropriate. If you want to spend a chunk of money well on improving your shots; I'd suggest buying a one on one espresso tutorial with Heather Perry.
Unfortunately, this results in nothing visible. It that will not astonish your neighbors, earn accolades for your superb taste, or raise you to the James Bond level of casual brand name dropping.
Espresso and coffee are a hobby to me; and I consider hobbies a necessary antidote to the very useful, but always very mindless world of consumerism. So I would be deeply saddened if advocacy of its pretentious vacuousness gains any ground on HB.
But if you have the sneaking suspicion that your shots could be better, it is grotesquely inappropriate. If you want to spend a chunk of money well on improving your shots; I'd suggest buying a one on one espresso tutorial with Heather Perry.
Unfortunately, this results in nothing visible. It that will not astonish your neighbors, earn accolades for your superb taste, or raise you to the James Bond level of casual brand name dropping.
Espresso and coffee are a hobby to me; and I consider hobbies a necessary antidote to the very useful, but always very mindless world of consumerism. So I would be deeply saddened if advocacy of its pretentious vacuousness gains any ground on HB.
Jim Schulman
- russel
- Posts: 778
- Joined: 13 years ago
(and +1, not that Jim needs it)
russel at anacidicandbitterbeverage dot com
-
- Posts: 1751
- Joined: 14 years ago
Although I don't own a high end machine I do own a one group "commercial"machine.
I used my Pompeii next to my Strega for a few weeks.
Thing that struck me most was consistency.
This was better with the Pompeii.
Then there was stronger steam and greater stability of the thing when pulling the lever.
There wasn't any improvement in shot quality.
I pulled shots on an Idrocompresso with my own coffee and I didn't taste any improvement compared to my Strega.
A few weeks ago I tasted one of the best shots in my life on my brother's Cremina.
That thing is almost 40 years old.
So I don't think you need high end machines to get the most out of your coffee.
Although a good grinder is of importancy.
I used my Pompeii next to my Strega for a few weeks.
Thing that struck me most was consistency.
This was better with the Pompeii.
Then there was stronger steam and greater stability of the thing when pulling the lever.
There wasn't any improvement in shot quality.
I pulled shots on an Idrocompresso with my own coffee and I didn't taste any improvement compared to my Strega.
A few weeks ago I tasted one of the best shots in my life on my brother's Cremina.
That thing is almost 40 years old.
So I don't think you need high end machines to get the most out of your coffee.
Although a good grinder is of importancy.
-
- Posts: 661
- Joined: 16 years ago
Absolutely nothing except bragging rights at the consumer level. The "high end" machines only become useful in commercial situations with skilled baristas, they are simply not designed or priced to pull 2 or 3 shots a day, or even 2 or 3 shots an hour. Domestic users considering buying them would do better to invest their money in high end grinders, and even there the ROI is dependent on the skills at the handle end of the portafilter.mdmvrockford wrote:What does high end espresso machine offer over "prosumer" espresso machine?
Alan