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Recently several members have reported too good to be true prices on espresso equipment. The sites I've seen looked like a generic e-commerce package and they sold a range of equipment from consumer espresso machines for a few hundred dollars to multiple-group espresso machines...
Which espresso machine should I buy? What's the best coffee grinder? I have a budget of $500, what is the best espresso machine? This post summarizes my advice in question/answer format.
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Q. There are so many choices of espresso equipment. What general advice to you...
I'm considering switching to a self-leveling tamper. It seems to help to get an even tamp, also the tamping with the spring looks/sounds very satisfying to me :)
However, I haven't seen a choice I'm completely happy with:
Well, this was a topic that needed to be started some day, so it might as well be by me.
I have a La Spaziale S1 Dream and want to upgrade. Part of it is the impossibility to get it serviced and self servicing a plumbed in machine is not easy. Another part is that I'm having...
I have a QM Carola espresso only machine (850 watts) -- is there any reason I can't use a cheap timer like the one in the picture below (rated 15A - 3 prong with ground) to turn it on before I get up? I would use a similar timer for the Carola steamer as it has a separate cord.
I used a Crossland CC1 for a while several years ago. That machine made good coffee but had serious reliability problems. Within a year the steam boiler broke, that was fixed under warranty. A short time later the steam wand started to leak, I had to pay to fix that. Still other...
FWIW. I was on online chat checking availability of a machine model I wanted but not all vendors had. They did have it. I thanked the agent--said I'd think it over and get back if interested.
Then, before signing off, the agent offered 10% discount or $300+ off the listed...
I'm just starting to rebuild interest in espresso again. We used to own a Rancilio Silvia with an add-on PID kit a number of years ago, and it was my first and only foray into making espresso at home. I sold it when we cut way back on our coffee intake. Back then, the Silvia was...
