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Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Epoca S vs....  
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akema
Senior Member
akema
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Location: malaysia
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 10:05am
Subject: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Hi all !

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Akmal from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   :D       This is my first posting here and hope to get advise from experienced forumers here

My partners and I managed to get a good location for our first cafe which is due for opening middle next year. Our main menu is coffee drinks and will offer two sizes only (8 oz for hot and 12 oz for cold drinks - I am thinking 10 oz for hot instead of 8, what do you think?). At the moment we already started to choose beans supplier, designs etc. etc.  

My knowledge in coffee is hmmm....  basic compared to hardcore forumers here   :)    i enjoy milk based coffee and currently own an oscar simonelli and wega grinder

Currently I have 2 machines to choose from. Both are 2 groups, Epoca S (semi auto) and Appia V (auto). Please bear in mind we dont have much choices here in Malaysia :)   So far these 2 machines have met my basic criteria which are :

1)  Service available for these brands in Malaysia

2)  Both models are within our budget, the prices for both models are not far off  (for other brands or models, either they are much more expensive or even if within our budget, they are not available in Malaysia) - if our business do well, we can buy better machine in the future and the old machine can become our back up machine

3)  Could handle high volume (I hope to produce about 100 - 200 cups per day , could be higher during weekends)

4)  Coffee drinkers in Malaysia mostly enjoy milk based coffees and iced drinks (because of hot weather here), I assume these two machines should consistently do a good job (I assume, could be wrong here)

5)  Easy to maintain (I assume, could be wrong here)

I did some research from the website and there are a fair number of reviews on Epoca S. The reviews are mixed from being a sturdy machine, good entry level commercial machine with ugly plastic design.  I like Epoca S because it is semi auto and hence offer better control for espresso shots.

As for Appia V, there are no reviews from the website. I wonder whether automatic dosage in Appia V could be turned off and used manually instead ?

I've seen both machines and i feel Appia V is much better looking (but not sure about performance though) . But I like Epoca S because it is semi auto and perhaps because of that, cheaper repair & maintenance. But if I can use Appia V in manual mode, perhaps auto function breakdown is not much of a concern ?  

Anyway,  I am seeking your expert opinions, which one do you think is better and why ?

extra information : they are also throwing in free grinders ! options available are anfim caimano titanium, K6 or Mazzer Super Jolly. Which one you think is the best to pair up with the espresso machine ?  (i didnt own any of these but from the websites, reviews on Super Jolly seems very favorable)

Many many thanks in advance !  :o
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Coffeenoobie
Senior Member
Coffeenoobie
Joined: 11 Dec 2011
Posts: 2,320
Location: PNW
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: N S Oscar
Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 11:53am
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Hi,
Good luck with your business. Out of the 2 I would pick Appia because she is a NS and I own an NS and I like it a lot.  If she has a manual button then you don't have to use the autos.  Also there is an Appia semi auto see links below.  For business service after the sale is important and would figure highly into my choice.

Click Here (www.seattlecoffeegear.com)

Click Here (www.seattlecoffeegear.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fDCxvCyJIg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxh58f7UDfs

Training videos will help you get an idea how to make espresso and might help you get a handle on what machine will fit your needs better.

http://www.metropoliscoffee.com/university/training/

If all you plan to make is cold milk drinks you might want to consider making Cold brewed.  Cold brewed coffee takes longer but it is low tech and easy.  That makes very smooth iced coffee drinks.  I like my espresso milk drinks but for cold drinks the cold brew is easier and faster if you have made up the cold brew before hand.  I make a large double strong batch and keep it in a stainless steel water jug.  Also there is a Vietnamese iced coffee that is also low tech.
http://coffeegeek.com/guides/vietnameseiced

Both of these things I would consider if I was opening an iced coffee bar in a hot climate.

The super jolly had a lot of reviews because there are a lot of them that have been in service a really long time.  They are good solid work horse machines.  I believe there are far fewer anfim caimano titaniums or K6s.  The reviews I have read say they are also very good grinders.  I will let the experts guide you there.

 
Coffeenoobie

Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder.
My coffee treasure map...
Click Here (maps.google.com)
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Coffeenoobie
Senior Member
Coffeenoobie
Joined: 11 Dec 2011
Posts: 2,320
Location: PNW
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: N S Oscar
Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:01pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

I missed the part where you said you also had an Oscar.  I really like mine and it seems to be built like a tank.  Also, I would not have put in the part about the training videos, I am sorry.

 
Coffeenoobie

Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder.
My coffee treasure map...
Click Here (maps.google.com)
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akema
Senior Member
akema
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Location: malaysia
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:08pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

hey coffeenoobie thanks for your reply and tips !!!!

anyone else ?  :D
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akema
Senior Member
akema
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Location: malaysia
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:10pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

ermm  what is an NS ?
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akema
Senior Member
akema
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Location: malaysia
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:13pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

They sell Appia semi auto but unfortunately no free grinder with it,  so it's down to Appia V (auto) & Epoca S (semi auto)
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Coffeenoobie
Senior Member
Coffeenoobie
Joined: 11 Dec 2011
Posts: 2,320
Location: PNW
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: N S Oscar
Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:36pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

The company that made the Appia and the Oscar is nuova simonelli - NS.   For the cost difference can you buy the grinder? I would hate to see you get a machine you did not want for a "free" grinder.

 
Coffeenoobie

Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder.
My coffee treasure map...
Click Here (maps.google.com)
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akema
Senior Member
akema
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Location: malaysia
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:46pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Coffeenoobie Said:

The company that made the Appia and the Oscar is nuova simonelli - NS.   For the cost difference can you buy the grinder? I would hate to see you get a machine you did not want for a "free" grinder.

Posted April 18, 2012 link

oh ok  NS  - nuova simonelli    thanks !

I am ok with these two models (Epoca S and Appia V) . I am sure they are other better models out there but we just need to becareful of our budget. We still need to spend money on renovation, rental deposit, furnitures  etc.    :(

Good to know Appia V has manual button function (so i guess i can turn off the automatic dosing ? )

so far , i take it from coffeenoobie   current score is Appia V  (1)    -    Epoca S  (0)  

More opinions are welcomed guys !
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Coffeenoobie
Senior Member
Coffeenoobie
Joined: 11 Dec 2011
Posts: 2,320
Location: PNW
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: N S Oscar
Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:52pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

In the US it looks like the auto is 1k more than the semi auto.  For 1k you can get a very good new grinder. That was my only point about that.  Also most good coffee shops have more than one grinder going.

 
Coffeenoobie

Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder.
My coffee treasure map...
Click Here (maps.google.com)
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akema
Senior Member
akema
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Location: malaysia
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012, 12:57pm
Subject: Re: Epoca S vs. Appia V   Fighttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Coffeenoobie Said:

In the US it looks like the auto is 1k more than the semi auto.  For 1k you can get a very good new grinder. That was my only point about that.  Also most good coffee shops have more than one grinder going.

Posted April 18, 2012 link

hi !

we'll have a second grinder, most probably a Mazzer Mini   :)
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