A Plea for Intelligent, Adult Espresso Machine Discussions

#1: Post by **Marshall** » October 7th, 2008, 12:34 am

As the focus of hobbyist attention moves from $400 to $1,500+ espresso machines, I have observed a trend of posters to adopt the role of passionate defenders of their own machines, no matter what the actual subject matter of the thread happens to be. It sometimes degenerates to a "my machine beats your machine" level.

What is most amusing or annoying, depending on your point of view, is these people rarely have meaningful experience with competing machines, yet assume a posture of expertise about all machines based on second-hand technical data they have collected from the Web. I won't name names. You know who you are.

So, this is a plea to detach your egos from your beloved machines. An admiring comment about Machine A, does not mean the poster was trashing your beloved Machine B, and even if he was, he was not trashing you personally. So, let's grow up, people. Enough said.

#2: Post by **CoffeeOwl** » October 8th, 2008, 3:08 pm

System of a Down,... the song 'Cigaro'

In fact they have quite a few more on the topic and quite many a bit more poetic then the one I mentioned here.
We're all adult here, still childs in our hearts (I hope

)

#3: Post by **shadowfax** » October 8th, 2008, 7:57 pm

I don't know about the rest of you, but my plea for more maturity is way better than Marshall's. Its clarity is off the charts, and its unrivaled stability is unquestionable.

October 8th, 2008, 11:12 pm

As an aging Baby Boomer I refuse to grow up.

That said my $1694 MSRP espresso machine is a POC. (Though it can pull shots on par or better than a La Marzocco Linea) But I'm sure it's better than your POC.

What I really want is a more expensive new toy, I mean espresso machine, that I can call a POC.

#5: Post by **Randy G.** » October 8th, 2008, 11:53 pm

I wish you would all grow up.. First, it is quite obvious that Marshall was talking about me... Well, DUH! Who else?

And all this ridiculous talk about my machine vs. your machine, and my grinder can beat up your mocha pot... If you were all sensible about it, took the time to shop and compare all the various factors, specifications, and user reviews, I have no doubt that you would end up purchasing the best machine available today... Just like I did....

But just like espresso is part science and part art, our choice of machine becomes part intellectual and part emotional. It is not at all surprising that our discussions are very much the same. I don't think anyone could imagine someone's discussion not containing some emotional statements about their machine's qualities, or even its superiority, but if we all think about Marshall's post we can temper our comments.

And if all that happens, we can all just get along and discuss our machines with some level of balance and fairness. That will be the time when you will all finally realize that the machine I have is the best and I was right all along.

and for those who live beyond the outskirts of Humorton:

#6: Post by **sweaner** » October 9th, 2008, 10:03 am

Marshall, all I have to say is "Dalla Sucks, Dalla Sucks...."

(Philadelphia Eagles fans like myself will understand this)

#7: Post by **Dogshot** » October 9th, 2008, 10:14 am

Marshall wrote:As the focus of hobbyist attention moves from $400 to $1,500+ espresso machines, I have observed a trend of posters to adopt the role of passionate defenders of their own machines, no matter what the actual subject matter of the thread happens to be. It sometimes degenerates to a "my machine beats your machine" level...

I think it has always been this way, and not just over espresso machines, but for just about anything on an internet forum. It's really unfortunate that so many people use internet forums to boost or repair their self-esteem by developing downward comparisons to other forum participants. I suspect this is the source of so much misinterpretation and bickering over meaningless minutiae. It can take a lot of mental effort to figure out how to push someone's post into a statement that you can use to look down upon.

Another thing is that the truth of the matter over expensive espresso machines is that they all can produce excellent espresso. Full stop. The only differences lie in the areas of preferences and convenience, which are more subjective issues.

HB has very little of that meaningless banter, thanks in large part to Dan, for helping to keep this site well organized and on-topic as a place for sharing knowledge, rather than a huge dumping ground of scattered information. I still find HB to be a breath of fresh air compared to any other internet forums that I may stumble onto in an attempt to learn something.

Mark

#8: Post by **LeoZ** » October 9th, 2008, 8:29 pm

im the opposite. nothing ever satisfies me.

maybe ill just wind up building my own one day. :p

#9: Post by **IMAWriter** » October 9th, 2008, 10:52 pm

shadowfax wrote:I don't know about the rest of you, but my plea for more maturity is way better than Marshall's. Its clarity is off the charts, and its unrivaled stability is unquestionable.

Shadow...Marshall does make an interesting point, but your rejoinder is brilliant.

#10: Post by **IMAWriter** » October 9th, 2008, 11:02 pm

Marsh...whether you meant to or not (probably NOT..LoL) your righteous indignation has shattered the super seriousness of much of our coffee discussion, and unleashed a torrent of truly entertaining tongue-in-cheek humor.
BTW, my itty bitty Cremina can kick your Dalla Corte's butt.
However, as we say here in the South, "but I mean that in a good way."