tomi Senior Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Posts: 1 Location: calif Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Jul 15, 2012, 9:20am Subject: What to buy for cappuccino
I have read far too many reviews and have no idea what to purchase. I loved cappuccino in Italy, France and New York; except for Starbucks. Wish to buy my own machine that is not complicated but makes good cappuccino with a nice layer of crema. Please advise. The machine will be for one.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,684 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Sun Jul 15, 2012, 11:06am Subject: Re: What to buy for cappuccino
hi and welcome. are you sure you want to get involved with this rabbit hole? LOL!
on this site we tend to want to go for excellence over ease of use and basically be easier the machine is to operate meaning less user input the lower the quality of the espresso in the starter class and home use machines under 1000 dollars.
At about1000 dollars for the machine only you move into the semi commercial or commercial grade machine and things get easier from there for better consistency and high quality espresso.
it is not hard to get better quality than starbucks but in the lower price ranges you really need to hone your skills as the machines have smaller boilers and are more temperamental to maintaining high quality regulation of temperature and this also includes machines with p I d temperature controllers. please read our FAQ on how to buy an espresso machine.
All of this is fine and good but without a good grinder for espresso use you will not have much luck in espresso making. New, espresso grade grinders start at about $400 and they go way up from there.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,462 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Sun Jul 15, 2012, 12:17pm Subject: Re: What to buy for cappuccino
calblacksmith Said:
All of this is fine and good but without a good grinder for espresso use you will not have much luck in espresso making. New, espresso grade grinders start at about $400 and they go way up from there.
Wayne, old friend, not exactly true. :>D A refurbed Baratza Preciso (I own one) can be had for around $250, I believe, as can a LeLit, used Rocky Doserless (not my choice, but others are fine with it). Even the Baratza Virtuoso with Preciso burrs ($199) will do a more than adequate job. A few manual grinders would get the OP started.
Wayne, and then others are correct that the grinder MAKES the machine, not the other way around. Freshly roasted less than 2 week old coffee, good water, grinder, machine does it. Some skill from you as well, but NOT a deal breaker. You'll do fine.
Many here have been very pleased with an NS Oscar HX as their first machine. Also models by Bezzara, all priced in that $1k-ish range US. Check our BST Forum for preowned grinders and machines. You can often get a very nice gear at very fair prices. Many here upgrade from time to time, so you never know what might pop up.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,684 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Jul 16, 2012, 6:20am Subject: Re: What to buy for cappuccino
Well Rob, yep you are correct. I did spec NEW though and NEW there are few below that price point but the two you reference are pretty much the exceptions to the rule guideline :P Used, I can pick up used SJs and have new burrs included for under that price point. The used market is what you can find where you can find it.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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