Can I get away with a single boiler espresso machine? - Page 3
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I have owned both first and second generation Europiccolas and agree that they're great machines, with fairly good steampower especially on a 2-switch model that can crank up the pressure or at least with an aftermarket steam tip. Just be aware that they're a lot more finicky to use than a Robot. The very best shots were probably better than what I get with the Robot - they're just more challenging to use.
On the other hand, it's the perfect use case for a second generation Europiccola. You can fire it up, pull two shots and steam a small pitcher of milk within 10 minutes. Subsequent shots are more of a headache.
On the other hand, it's the perfect use case for a second generation Europiccola. You can fire it up, pull two shots and steam a small pitcher of milk within 10 minutes. Subsequent shots are more of a headache.
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But the kettle willJonk wrote:Simple levers like Robot and Flair won't have any issues with scale.
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Hard water...
I get RO water from Target for 0.75$/gal and add a skitch of baking soda so the sensors will work. You might try that with the Jura.
I continue to be amused by the repeated recommendation of manual espresso machines and manual grinders. Get a semi-auto. get a powered grinder. unless you are in to self abuse.
Exactly what is annoying you about the Jura? Taste, or wanting to try to belong to the imaginary geek club? If taste, can I ask what you are using for coffee?
I see people here with expensive grinders recommending manual grinders. Funny. Plan on 3 min grinding /dose.
Be well!
I get RO water from Target for 0.75$/gal and add a skitch of baking soda so the sensors will work. You might try that with the Jura.
I continue to be amused by the repeated recommendation of manual espresso machines and manual grinders. Get a semi-auto. get a powered grinder. unless you are in to self abuse.
Exactly what is annoying you about the Jura? Taste, or wanting to try to belong to the imaginary geek club? If taste, can I ask what you are using for coffee?
I see people here with expensive grinders recommending manual grinders. Funny. Plan on 3 min grinding /dose.
Be well!
Life is too short for bad espresso! - Thunk-ed, NOT stirred!
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Agree with above, you will get tired of a manual grinder very quickly. Plus with so many good electric grinder options in the $500-$700 range right now ( niche, df64, used Mazzer or Eureka if you don't like single dose) I don't think it makes sense to save a few hundred for a grinder you will be tired of in a few months (weeks?)
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As far as water goes, what I do is use a Brita filter pitcher and mix half tap water with half filtered water roughly. The Brita pitcher came with a TDS meter so I try to aim for 80ppm. Minneapolis publishes monthly water reports so I know the chemical composition is decent, just a little high total hardness. I bet you can find water reports for Chicago.
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your approach to water sounds good, and, perhaps more importantly, easy!
Life is too short for bad espresso! - Thunk-ed, NOT stirred!
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With a $10 ceramic hand grinder, that sounds about right. A quality hand grinder in the $100+ range can often grind a dose in 30 seconds.kris772 wrote:I see people here with expensive grinders recommending manual grinders. Funny. Plan on 3 min grinding /dose.
It's usually no fun with very light roasts, if you don't know your grinder well enough to estimate a suitable setting or when there are guests.. .
I was quite happy with a Kinu M47 for a year pulling 2-4 shots a day. Was it worthwhile to buy a Niche despite an absence of flavor improvement? Sure.
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You have vastly more energy focused in that direction than I!!! Enjoy
Life is too short for bad espresso! - Thunk-ed, NOT stirred!
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If you're at all handy, as buying used always involve small risks, something like this might be your best choice:
[FS] Expobar Brewtus IV (New York)
That's a dual boiler e-61 machine with plenty of support and great parts availability for about what you'd pay for a Silvia. Now you're in Chicago and it's in NY which might pose an issue, but dual boilers do really make life easy. My first machine was a Brewtus II and while I often wanted something else, I both never regretted that purchase and always appreciated how easy it made it to make espresso. Now I have a Decent, but the Brewtus still lives at the shop in case the world ever gets back to normal and I need employees there again.
[FS] Expobar Brewtus IV (New York)
That's a dual boiler e-61 machine with plenty of support and great parts availability for about what you'd pay for a Silvia. Now you're in Chicago and it's in NY which might pose an issue, but dual boilers do really make life easy. My first machine was a Brewtus II and while I often wanted something else, I both never regretted that purchase and always appreciated how easy it made it to make espresso. Now I have a Decent, but the Brewtus still lives at the shop in case the world ever gets back to normal and I need employees there again.
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I think you mentioned the Robot as a stopgap -- it's not a bad choice period.