Re OP's criterian #5: I've always been frustrated by scheduling timers. Can you really predict preferred on and off times? I'm using a Kasa wifi switch. Wake up. Turn on machine from bedside. Cheap.

Primacog wrote:I agree that a spring lever is a great upgrade path and the new generation of hybrid levers (the Vesuvius evo, the Nurri L-type SA Leva and the Vostok) give precise temperature and pressure control that traditional levers do mot have and match almost all of the capabilities of such high priced ultra machines like the LEVA X. Within the set budget of 4k, the Vesuvius Evo Leva would seem to be a great option - while I have not tried it out, it has been on the market for a couple of years and there are many owners of the evo who are pleased with it and it is due to be upgraded with nhe capabilities of the Vostok soon and is considerably smaller than the Vostok. For the Vostok and the vesuvius evo, you would need to comfortable with maintaining the machine yourself without dealer support as they are sold direct from manufacturer like the Londinium machines but i believe both fit within the OP budget.

I have mixed experience with the dealer model. My house is about 40-min. drive from a well-known dealer. I bought my E61 from them a few years ago and picked it up in person. Last year the machine started to act up. I brought it to the dealer for repair. They only agreed to fix one of the two issues I found by replacing the pump and pressurestat (and the bill was quite high). But they refused outright, for whatever reason, to fix the low group head temperature problem (the temperature never rose over 175F, while the normal idle temp should be around 200F-205F). I ended up buying E61 group head replacement parts to overhaul the group head myself (and fixed it).

Most of these espresso machines are so heavy that it is almost impractical to ship it to a dealer for repair. And in my case, even I am able to bring it to their shop, they still refused to fix all of the problems that I found.

From what I heard about Lodonium support and my own experience with ACS, they are much more responsive to customer concerns and issues. To people who can't bring machine in person for repair, the dealer model doesn't have much advantage.

Sure, for users who have the time and inclination to fix their own machines, they can save some money and scratch that DIY itch by doing so and that model works well for them. It also depends on the dealer and how good their support is - some dealers would even go to your house to fix your machine there. My e61 dealer would be prepared to do that though it woukd obviously cost more, which would be even more useful for those machines which weigh a figuraive ton.

Martin wrote:Re OP's criterian #5: I've always been frustrated by scheduling timers. Can you really predict preferred on and off times? I'm using a Kasa wifi switch. Wake up. Turn on machine from bedside. Cheap.

Not even close. Google Home controlled my E61, but there were many times I just never had a coffee because of the warm up times. I since resolved that issue by buying a Decent DE1. Heats up in 5 minutes and no longer do I need Home to control it. A used DE1 off here and a DF83 fits in the OP's budget and would be hard to beat for a home setup.

Martin wrote:Re OP's criterian #5: I've always been frustrated by scheduling timers. Can you really predict preferred on and off times? I'm using a Kasa wifi switch. Wake up. Turn on machine from bedside. Cheap.

Over 15 years or so, I've had very few issues with a machine on a timer (other than the timers crapping out once every several years), but I keep a pretty regular schedule. These days, I'm using a smart switch, too; it's still on a schedule, but I have the option to switch it on/off via Alexa or app and I have additional routines that I can flick on/off for stuff like extra early warm-ups (mostly for days when I'm traveling and need to get out the door before the crack of dawn).

Waking up, turning it on, and then having to wait for it to warm up, sounds like nightmare fuel, to me.

Your budget is for you to decide so I won't quibble with that.

I had pretty much the same wants as you and after a lot, and I mean a lot, of research I bought an Izzo Alex Duetto IV and a Baratza 270Wi. Choosing an Espresso Machine Rationally

I'll start with the grinder first. You don't focus on it much but the reality is that it has a massive impact on workflow, for more than volumetric dosing, which I think will be key for your better half. At your budget level the 270Wi is the only grinder that allows very precise (though not exact) direct dosing into the portafilter while also having a hopper. This means you don't need to do single dosing which is a huge simplification in workflow. The 270Wi also has the added benefit of completely clump free grind, greatly reducing the benefit of WDT and simplifying workflow further. It is however cheaply built and extremely noisy. Who knows how long it will last - that's the downside. You can't have everything.

On the machine, at this budget you can afford a dual boiler and so you should. The people recommending levers here I think are on another planet - your wife is almost guaranteed to hate that IMHO. You'll find that in the E61 dual boiler space the Biancas and ECMs of this world have a massive marketing footprint and installed base so lots of people recommend them. But if you look inside a machine the Izzo Duetto IV is far better designed on some key considerations and in my opinion is a far better buy at the same price level, and is likely to far exceed the Biancas and ECMs in terms of longevity. I could be wrong.

But a year into owning my set-up I have been absolutely delighted with it.

Finally I'd recommend the Normcore tamper as well when you do take the plunge - I found getting a level tamp to be almost impossible and consistency has improved a lot since I bought the Normcore.

Be sure to read up on water before your purchase otherwise longevity is not guaranteed.

Good luck!

LittleCoffee wrote:The people recommending levers here I think are on another planet - your wife is almost guaranteed to hate that IMHO.

There's also the possibility that a) different people have different ideas of "simplicity" and b) you don't know what you don't know.

I was left scratching my head at the lever recs as well.

Remote timers are sold by machine purveyers--Ex., WLL. I get how cutting power at the wall on a machine that's drawing power can theoretically cause problem. But remotly starting power when machine is off? Please explain, but OK if you don't because it's only 50/50 that I'd understand.