xlr8tion Senior Member Joined: 15 Dec 2011 Posts: 7 Location: South Carolina Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Dec 15, 2011, 6:51am Subject: Most reliable Superautomatic Brand?
Hi!
My name is Greg and I am a long term CG reader; new member.
Just had my Gaggia Titanium crash(pump leak) after 3604 doses (2.25 yrs) and that was preceded by Saeco Magic Deluxe and a Krups Super auto before that.
Machines in 9 years.
It is getting pricey to be dropping 1000+ dollars every two years so the question I have for the forum to opine on is....
What is the more reliable brand......Gaggia Titanium has been knocked (by the repair center in NC) as highly unreliable and my friend has a Jura C9 that he claims is bullet proof but I don't have 2400 to spare.
What brand has the lowest repair frequency and what is the forums thought of the best machine in the 1000-1500 dollar range.
We drink coffee 90 per cent of the time but the wife insists on a sleek looking superauto.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,099 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Thu Dec 15, 2011, 8:05am Subject: Re: Most reliable Superautomatic Brand?
Greg, welcome to CG!
If you're a long-term reader of this site, you'll know that super-autos don't get much respect around here. And -- no offense -- deservedly so. This is Coffee Geek, after all, and a super-auto trades quality in the cup (which is where, for us, it counts the most) for convenience. It's certainly a trade many people are willing to make, but rarely are they true "geeks."
You already know about this super-auto from the 2011 CG Holiday Gift list. While I have no direct experience with this model, I'm guessing that it's going to be "the lesser of most (super auto) evils."
Bitches_Brew Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2009 Posts: 764 Location: indiana Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: yes Grinder: yes Vac Pot: no Drip: no Roaster: yes
Posted Thu Dec 15, 2011, 8:18am Subject: Re: Most reliable Superautomatic Brand?
super-auto bashing aside, the more parts you have, the more likely something will go wrong. if you are looking for something more durable, look into commercial equipment. (super-auto or not) it will cost more, but might save money over the long term.
"You can write down how to make the perfect cup of coffee. But to make it really good, you have to play something fictional, you have to dress up, you have to think, This is the most important thing."
takeshi Senior Member Joined: 12 Oct 2002 Posts: 731 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Super Jolly Roaster: Amaya Roasting
Posted Thu Dec 15, 2011, 9:34am Subject: Re: Most reliable Superautomatic Brand?
Bitches_Brew Said:
super-auto bashing aside, the more parts you have, the more likely something will go wrong. if you are looking for something more durable, look into commercial equipment. (super-auto or not) it will cost more, but might save money over the long term.
^ This. A superauto that produces god shots and never breaks down for cheap is a unicorn (i.e. does not exist). If you want reliability then your best bet for mitigating breakdowns (the odds are highly stacked against you with a complex machine with so many moving parts) is to go with a better built machine using better parts and those come at the cost of a higher price tag.
I have no direct experience with any superautos but from what I've seen the Quickmill Monza seems to get favorable feedback. However, it's well over the OP's $1,000-1,500 range. Chris Coffee even claims that the Monza is seeing commercial use in a number of McDonald's locations in Italy.
You probably won't see much difference among the consumer machines in the OP's range as they're built to that price point. Getting feedback on superautos here is going to be difficult as they're not popular as this is CoffeeGeek. Good luck with it.
xlr8tion Said:
We drink coffee 90 per cent of the time but the wife insists on a sleek looking superauto.
If by "coffee" you mean "not espresso" then could you use something like a Keurig/Nespresso/Tassimo/etc? They may offer better reliability for less cost than a superauto -- on the equipment as you'll pay a premium for the cups/pods.
xlr8tion Said:
It is getting pricey to be dropping 1000+ dollars every two years so the question I have for the forum to opine on is....
What is the more reliable brand......Gaggia Titanium has been knocked (by the repair center in NC) as highly unreliable and my friend has a Jura C9 that he claims is bullet proof but I don't have 2400 to spare.
xlr8tion Senior Member Joined: 15 Dec 2011 Posts: 7 Location: South Carolina Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Dec 15, 2011, 9:49am Subject: Re: Most reliable Superautomatic Brand?
Hey Guys...
Thanks for all the replies!
Totally understand the "superauto" no respect theory-I am not an afficianado I just don't want the hassle(I am lazy) of a Semi Auto.
Ironically...The Krups suggested in the CG 2011 guide has no removable brew group which seems to be a death sentence maintainence wise.
Regarding the Saeco Costco unlimited returns...Does that extend beyond the warranty of the unit? Or are exchanges only allowed during the warranty period.
Posted Thu Dec 15, 2011, 9:59am Subject: Re: Most reliable Superautomatic Brand?
xlr8tion Said:
Regarding the Saeco Costco unlimited returns...Does that extend beyond the warranty of the unit? Or are exchanges only allowed during the warranty period.
If what you say is true then theoretically I could bring back a unit after 3-4 yrs and get a new one?
Please LMK as they just opened a Costco in town and I showed the wife a Semi setup (with grinder and scale) and she said better to be looked down upon than go through tat hassle...LOL.....
Please LMK as they just opened a Costco in town and I showed the wife a Semi setup (with grinder and scale) and she said better to be looked down upon than go through tat hassle...LOL.....
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