Suggestions on ECM Technika IV Pro?? - Page 2
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- Posts: 543
- Joined: 11 years ago
No worries...
Both machines have great build quality (as BDL suggests though I think there is little difference between most E61s). Having said that I have a preference for the ECM form factor. It's truly beautiful and is slightly smaller than the Profitec, the form factor just fits the eye better with the ECM, although it's marginal.
I liked the levers for the steam wand and hot water tap a lot on the ECM and agree that they are aesthetically preferable to the daisies on the Profitec. Having said that, the valves on the Profitec work really well (much better than I expected).
The machine can be configured to show "proper" units.
With regard to taste in cup... my ECM had been configured such that brew temp was quite high (96*C). I figured that I'd want control over this and didn't want to muck around with the PStat... so I can only blame myself for being quite lazy and being happy to pay for that laziness. There is a huge difference in flavour between 96*C and 92*C and I was able to demonstrate to myself that setting the Profitec at 96*C produced the same flavours as my ECM. So if you're happy that the PStat is set correctly on the HX then I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference.
Cheers.
Both machines have great build quality (as BDL suggests though I think there is little difference between most E61s). Having said that I have a preference for the ECM form factor. It's truly beautiful and is slightly smaller than the Profitec, the form factor just fits the eye better with the ECM, although it's marginal.
I liked the levers for the steam wand and hot water tap a lot on the ECM and agree that they are aesthetically preferable to the daisies on the Profitec. Having said that, the valves on the Profitec work really well (much better than I expected).
The machine can be configured to show "proper" units.
With regard to taste in cup... my ECM had been configured such that brew temp was quite high (96*C). I figured that I'd want control over this and didn't want to muck around with the PStat... so I can only blame myself for being quite lazy and being happy to pay for that laziness. There is a huge difference in flavour between 96*C and 92*C and I was able to demonstrate to myself that setting the Profitec at 96*C produced the same flavours as my ECM. So if you're happy that the PStat is set correctly on the HX then I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference.
Cheers.
LMWDP #602
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- Posts: 23
- Joined: 10 years ago
I have had an ECM Technika IV Pro now for five months and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I do still go back to Dan's review of this model under the "Bench" forum and study the flush routine video occasionally. I am very satisfied with the build quality, looks, and performance. I still consider myself more of a newbie, but I pull 3-4 shots a day. Since I am retired, my routine is different than those who are pushed along by the clock in the morning. My first drink is typically a cappuccino. I don't rush the second drink. After about an hour I pull an espresso and then another one late morning, and occasionally a fourth in the early afternoon. I clean the basket and PF after each drink. I have pulled shots in closer proximity and have had no trouble with recovery time. I enjoy virtually every shot; some are a little sweeter than others, but all suit my tastes. Even the time I got distracted and didn't even tamp the coffee before pulling the shot, the machine handled it well and the drink was acceptable. I understand why some might prefer a DB, but I like the HX. Plans are to add Eric's Grouphead Thermometer sometime in the future, but overall I am very pleased with my ECM. Good luck with your decision.
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: 10 years ago
Thank you Terence. Now I am giving some serious thoughts into Profitec 700. I guess I will speak to the vendors here for their suggestions too.
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: 10 years ago
Thank you Roger. I am glad that you love it. Eric's thermometer was something I was planning to get given all the raves. I was so close to pulling the trigger, but now Profitec 700 got into me... Ahhhhhhh
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- Posts: 255
- Joined: 11 years ago
I think the best analogy of HX vs DB is the automatic vs manual transmission. As BDL said, quality in the cup between any of these machines should be the same, how you get there or it's ease of use for you could be of influence though. I'm not sure I quite get the "technika almost on par with DB's for temp stability," but I will say that the machine is easy to use and understand if you pay attention and listen to the flushes. I decided to use the Technika as is, thinking I can always add Eric's thermometer later if I'm having trouble, but I don't know that I will at this point - I can easily replicate results day after day. I might be a degree or three off of the target temp, but the shots taste good to me, and I can use taste as feedback for pulling my next shot(s) hotter, colder or the same.
Build quality is one of the reasons I chose the Techinka over others, and it doesn't disappoint. It is a beautiful machine with a lot of attention to detail and quality. Recovery time is not an issue, for me, making multiple drinks in a row. If you are leaning towards the "manual" transmission and the price of the Technika is the sticking point, have you looked at the Bezzera Mitica? It's nearly identical to the Techinka, save for a few cosmetic details and the boiler material for hundreds less.
Build quality is one of the reasons I chose the Techinka over others, and it doesn't disappoint. It is a beautiful machine with a lot of attention to detail and quality. Recovery time is not an issue, for me, making multiple drinks in a row. If you are leaning towards the "manual" transmission and the price of the Technika is the sticking point, have you looked at the Bezzera Mitica? It's nearly identical to the Techinka, save for a few cosmetic details and the boiler material for hundreds less.
Versalab
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- Posts: 543
- Joined: 11 years ago
In the case of the ECM I'm going to add some more information. I bought a Scace to try and work out a flush routine that would alter the brew temp... I was hoping to build some flexibility in this regard. I found that it took an enormous flush to change the temp (why I commented on high level of stability) and was not as amenable to temp surfing as I was hoping. That was largely the reason why I switched.gophish wrote:I think the best analogy of HX vs DB is the automatic vs manual transmission.
LMWDP #602
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- Posts: 497
- Joined: 12 years ago
Same here. I got tired of flushing $1/gallon Crystal Geyser down the drain trying to get to a particular temperature on the Technika IV. I sold it, used a PID'd Silvano for a year (sweet machine for the money), and now have the Profitec, which I love.
On the subject of build quality, please take a look at the video showing the *inside* of the Profitec. It exudes a design philosophy of "fewest possible parts, intelligently arranged." I went inside it once to recess the pump microswitch a little, and it was trivially accessible. This was not the case with the Technika.
On the subject of build quality, please take a look at the video showing the *inside* of the Profitec. It exudes a design philosophy of "fewest possible parts, intelligently arranged." I went inside it once to recess the pump microswitch a little, and it was trivially accessible. This was not the case with the Technika.