SamTonin Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2009 Posts: 13 Location: Sydney, Australia Expertise: Professional
Posted Fri May 25, 2012, 5:32pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
This grinder is best suited for home use, grinding by weight, in and out, 7-21 grams at a time, for a maximum weight of around 50g. After that, I suggest you let it cool, as the grinds will become hot.
Many have suggested the Vario, which is a pretty great grinder, and although operation may be easier, the results are not as good for the drip as the newest designed upper burr found in the Virtuoso 586 which has a conical burr set. Just because its cheap, doesn't mean it's of poor quality (even though it usually does).
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 12:44pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
Sorry to keep this going - but haven't pulled final trigger yet.
As of now, I think I going with Veratza Preciso grinder.
What I want to know is: what do I lose going with Rancillo Sylvia V3 vs Breville dual broiler? I've watched the Seattle Gear video with the head to head on these machines (although the Sylvia was modded with a PID controller. Vidwo didn't really say much. Specifically, quality/toughness of machine, maitenance costs, consistency, etc.
Is there more to the double boiler than the ability to do multiple shots quickly?
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 1:19pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
Temperature control and stability is a big one. Being able to steam and pull shots at the same time. The BDB is going to be less finicky and more consistent, without needing to be familiar with the machine. There are a lot more programmable options with the BDB, like the programmable pre-infusion and pressure.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 2:01pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
The BDB has a lot of nice bells and whistles on it. There are lots of people very happy with BDB machine right now. Time will tell what will happen when they are all out of warranty. There is a wait and see how well this model performs over the long haul attitude from people that have seen junk machines sold under that brand name. If you are willing to risk your money then it is got a lot of nice features on it. I did was not willing to go there, for the money of the high end one I was looking at I wanted a long term machine heavy duty machine and the BDB did not feel like that to me. I have been burned on machines that are great under warranty but when they break they are considered trash. The manufacturers make them to be disposable not to be serviced for years. (not talking espresso just general manufacturer's mindset to build stuff not to be serviced or last one day after warranty)
I went old school, light commercial because I knew it could be serviced and was built to provide years of service. And I wanted lots and lots of steam power. I must admit the light steam of the BDB is easier for me to make microfoam on.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 3:22pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
Nebber, mate, you're nuts if you get a Silvia in 2012. True that is of the old skool robust construction that you will probably be able keep it running forever. But that is worthless if even Silvia experts cannot make great shots time after time EVEN with a PID. It's not a win, for the money even though it's cheaper than the BDB. ON EDIT: An anvil is a more durable flotation device than an inner tube--but it wouldn't be my first choice if I were drowning.
Coffeenoobie Said:
Time will tell what will happen when they are all out of warranty. There is a wait and see how well this model performs over the long haul attitude from people that have seen junk machines sold under that brand name.
This is absolutely true. BUT what has been proven and is no longer up for debate is that there is basically no limit to how well this can make espresso, save for manual pressure profiling capability, like the $6500-up-class of single groups. And even at that, instrumented testing has shown that the BDB is at LEAST as temperature-stable as the those saturated group machines. IOW, this thing has mind-blowing capability for the price. Just unreal.
But again, there is that wildcard about how long it will last. I know you have to take with a grain of salt what the horse says from his own mouth, but Phil McKnight of Breville, (a pro barista that they headhunted only a couple-three years ago, not a lifelong Breville shill), says the BDB's have been tested repeatedly to a mean 14,500 shots without failure. Since I'm one of the ones who took the risk, my fingers are crossed for that kind of durability. If I can get that, whereupon my BDB drops dead, then my $1200 ($839 at the WS 30% off sale), will have been well spent.
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 5:22pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
dagoat Said:
Nebber, mate, you're nuts if you get a Silvia in 2012. True that is of the old skool robust construction that you will probably be able keep it running forever. But that is worthless if even Silvia experts cannot make great shots time after time EVEN with a PID. It's not a win, for the money even though it's cheaper than the BDB. An anvil will last longer as a floatation device than a air-filled float, but it will not be as good for flotation.
This is absolutely true. BUT what has been proven and is no longer up for debate is that there is basically no limit to how well this can make espresso, save for manual pressure profiling capability, like the $6500-up-class of single groups. And even at that, instrumented testing has shown that the BDB is at LEAST as temperature-stable as the those saturated group machines. IOW, this thing has mind-blowing capability for the price. Just unreal.
But again, there is that wildcard about how long it will last. I know you have to take with a grain of salt what the horse says from his own mouth, but Phil McKnight of Breville, (a pro barista that they headhunted only a couple-three years ago, not a lifelong Breville shill), says the BDB's have been tested repeatedly to a mean 14,500 shots without failure. Since I'm one of the ones who took the risk, my fingers are crossed for that kind of durability. If I can get that, whereupon my BDB drops dead, then my $1200 ($839 at the WS 30% off sale), will have been well spent.
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 5:37pm Subject: Re: Moving to the bigger leagues, suggestions welcome
SamTonin Said:
As for the grinder, the new Baratza Encore is the only way to go. With its new upper burr and gearbox design, espresso is ready to grind out of the box..
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