sn_85 Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2011 Posts: 131 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill Andreja Premium Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Fri Mar 2, 2012, 11:49pm Subject: Re: Looking to purchase Silvia V3 and Virtuoso Preciso Grinder.
Rbrac Said:
Wow! I obviously still have some homework to do with respect to HX machines. Since you gentlemen are well versed in this field, would you be kind enough to point me in the direction of some reputable HX consumer models that I can investigate to determine if this is the right set up for me (taking my budget into consideration)? Are there any good technical write ups on the inner workings of the HX system I can read to educate myself? I've heard good things about the Preciso grinder, so I hope my choice here is a wise one.
There are plenty. What is your budget again? Is it $1400 for both machine and grinder?
Anyways, here's a list of HX machines in USD. Not sure what the prices are in Canada. There are plenty more HX machines but those are at least somewhere near your budget.
Also I wouldn't count out some other SBDU machines either. Check out the Quick Mill Silvano (which can steam and brew at the same time) and the Crossland CC1. Both machines have PIDs out of the box. I would give the CC1 the nod over the Rancilio Silvia if you end up going that route.
Secondly, although some of these have already been mentioned above, I would ask your indulgence for any repetitive nature of the following questions:
Standard Questions: 1) What kind of drinks do you like/want to make? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's capabilities.) 2) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself needing to make at ay one time? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's ability to work continuously.) 3) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself making in any given week? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's durability.) 4) Can you plumb a machine directly into the water supply, or do you want/need a pourover machine with its own reservoir? 5) Do you have a 20-amp circuit available, or only a (standard) 15-amp circuit? 6) What is your budget for a new machine? Does that also include a grinder? If not, what is your budget for a grinder?
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 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 Sat Mar 3, 2012, 11:44am Subject: Re: Looking to purchase Silvia V3 and Virtuoso Preciso Grinder.
emradguy Said:
Well, the Baratza model name issue is kind of funny to me. I'm, no expert on their product line, by any means, but if you look around there are a lot of people using the two terms combined as a single grinder. In fact, when I put bratza in google, I got a hit that show their own site with subcategory hyperlinks and one of those links actually says "virtuoso preciso". However, if you go to their actual product page there are separate listings for the virtuoso and the preciso.
The biggest mistake (IMHO) that Kyle and Baratza ever made was in upgrading their Virtuoso . . . the new machine was initially called the "Virtuosos Preciso," much like their "Maestro" and "Maestro Plus" models. This caused a great deal of confusion in the marketplace, and what Baratza eventually did was drop the "Virtuoso" name from their Preciso model -- so now there is a Virtuoso model and a separate Preciso model -- rather than two models of Virtuoso ("regular" and "Preciso").
click here will get you CC1 and precisio for just under 1K, plus tax. You have to factor in a tamper (can be ~$100) and milk pitchers (~$40) and cleaning supplies + cups.....so that might need to come off the budget too?....or are those things separate?
Figure out your budget. Then what luxuries you are willing to give up to try and make it fit. If you are like the rest of us, your initial $1400 budget will likely be closer to $2k by the time you are done....unless that is a firm ceiling.
That dealer above is close to you and great from my experiences.
Rbrac Senior Member Joined: 2 Mar 2012 Posts: 14 Location: Niagara Ontario Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 10:31am Subject: Re: Looking to purchase Silvia V3 and Virtuoso Preciso Grinder.
You are correct. My budget would top out at about $1400.00. I'm hoping to get the machine, grinder, tamper and frothing cup. I can skip the cup for now. Of the machines you listed, what order of preference would you recommend? That may be too general a question when you consider all the factors.
Rbrac Senior Member Joined: 2 Mar 2012 Posts: 14 Location: Niagara Ontario Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 10:45am Subject: Re: Looking to purchase Silvia V3 and Virtuoso Preciso Grinder.
I have infact contacted the company you linked below, over the weekend. I was inquiring at the time about the Silvia, but I will look into the CC1 with them as well. Does this company distribute HX machines as well? I'm hoping not to cross the $1400.00 mark if possible, but a few dollars over won't kill me.
cactus Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Vancouver Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 2:59pm Subject: Re: Looking to purchase Silvia V3 and Virtuoso Preciso Grinder.
I too was looking at the same combo as you initially, but once you take a look at HX machines and do some research up on them, you kinda want one and sacrifice the money to get one and you don't look back. I'm not there yet, as I am still looking, but I've upped my standards from a Silvia to a PID'd Silvia to now an HX machine to now an e61 HX machine. That's my goal for now. The more you look and research, the higher up you end up going. I say buy now, and forget the research!!!!
Rbrac Senior Member Joined: 2 Mar 2012 Posts: 14 Location: Niagara Ontario Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 6:26pm Subject: Re: Looking to purchase Silvia V3 and Virtuoso Preciso Grinder.
Its good to hear that someone else is experiencing what I am. Its sounds like you are a few steps ahead of me. So my obvious question would be; which HX machine would you buy today? Can you send me a link to the e61 HX machine you are looking at as well? The one thing I fear the most is buyers' remorse, and then having this large appliance on my kitchen counter with my wife standing next to it wearing a dirty look. In the end I just want to buy a setup that's right for me, at a price I'm comfortable with. So far, the responses and recommendations have been very helpful and I have plenty to read.
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