cconti Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Sacramento Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Oct 18, 2012, 10:11pm Subject: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
3 things have happened recently: our old Barista Espresso machine has started leaking again. I fixed it once already and I will fix it again, but it's time to give the poor thing a rest and buy a new machine.
2) We discovered we have a credit at Sears.
3) it's my wife's birthday coming up
The result of this contingencies is that I would like to buy a good quality Espresso machine, but it has to be from Sears. Beside the credit we have, I simply don;t have the ability to buy a new machine cash at the moment.
Sears seems to have a pretty good selection. Certainly more than I expected. However, while I am Italian and I have been drinking espresso since I was 10, I am not an expert on the machines themselves. I actually am more familiar with the industrial ones than I am with the home use ones.
This link: Click Here (www.sears.com) will take you to the sears pag where the machines are listed.
This link Click Here (www.sears.com) will take you to the same page but I have already filtered it by what we can afford to buy which is between $350 and $1500. Of course, for $1500 I would like to buy something that my great-great-great grandchildren will be able to use in their old age.
I checked some of the more attractive machines and I read the Amazon.com reviews on some. Apparently, no machine is perfect, but a lot of the negative marks were due to people complaining that their machine did not make a good "foam". My guess is that they don;t know how to use it or were using Folgers.
in any event, I would be thrilled if someone can help me choose a good machine to give my wife for the b'day. She deserves it. She lost her job 4 years ago but she hit the books and now she has a brand new sparkling career. I really want to surprise her t I want this to be the last machine we buy.
qualin Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2012 Posts: 463 Location: Calgary, AB Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto 3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Elect. Type A Vac Pot: Looking to buy Drip: Manual Roaster: Considering?
Posted Thu Oct 18, 2012, 11:43pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
First of all, what is your budget?
I guess I'm somewhat stunned at the large variety of espresso equipment which Sears sells. The US version of Sears sells so much more stuff than the Canadian one!
Before I go any further, you say that you already have an espresso machine.. What kind of grinder do you have? Does your budget include one?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 1:33am Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
I am sure you will not find those in the stores. Maybe a breville or 3 but not the gaggias and stuff. They have to be doing an amazon type deal with vendors....
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 2:05am Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
The question which of those machines (if any) is the best for you is hard to answer, because we don't know what exactly you are looking for. In order to be able to help you we need more information, for example on what kind of coffee drinks you prefer (i.e. straight espresso or espresso based milk drink like cappuccino or latte). Also, do you have a grinder? What do you exept from your new machine?
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
johnboddie Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2008 Posts: 147 Location: Virginia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Mini Classic,... Grinder: Rocky, KitchenAid Pro Drip: Cuisinart (non-grinding)
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 12:45pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
We don't have much to work from here, but it sounds like something along the lines of a Gaggia Baby might be what you are looking for. Check out the consumer reviews here at Coffee Geek to get a clearer idea of what you're letting yourself in for. Many of the machines listed from Sears are reviewed here.
When you get your new machine, you should also consider a good grinder. What grinder are you using now?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 1:20pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
He had a barista machine I assume from Starsucks. I am guessing he would rather have a nicer machine this time. That means more money and a good grinder. In my mind that means over 1k. From only what is on that page, I would be looking at the 2 Vibiemmes in your stated price range of under 1500. Make sure your credit covers everything on that page and not just the sears only. I would expect them to make you stay on the sears only page. Because I suspect that money would then have to change hands behind the scenes. Sears only page has super autos at the high end and I would not buy those if you know how to make good espresso on an barista machine. Another used cheap barista machine will beat them almost every shot. If they make you get it from the sears only page I would get the Gaggia Classic. If you can get anything you want under 1500 on that page I would get:
They are both levers but if you have done the barista you should be fine on these. Learning to use the lever is probably easier than learning to temp surf. Even though I have an HX (heat exchange) and I love it I probably would get the 2b of the choices. (that means double boilers one for steam and one for brew) I would guess it still needs a flush to warm up the group head. But again no big deal.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,661 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 Fri Oct 19, 2012, 1:45pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
Helen, uh, those are both E61, levers are a little different animal :D We did both zone in on the same machines.
Given the very VERY narrow choice of vendors, my pick of your prefiltered list is Click Here (www.sears.com)
Don't forget though, you will NEED, WITHOUT EXCEPTION a good grinder to go along with that. There is NO way to get good espresso without a good grinder.
Then again, you have not told us anything about your habits, needs, fav drinks, how many drinks at a time, mainly straight shots or milk drinks and so many other things.
Please read our FAQ on how to buy an espresso machine.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 2:08pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
You are correct, I would not have suggested those if he was not limited to sears.com. But if he mastered temp surfing control on a barista machine I believe he will have no issue learning levers or e61.
And I believe it to be moot point because I believe he will be limited to sears only machines and that means Gaggia classic IMHO. If he can get the classic and a vario that would be a good mid step upgrade and both would be just under 1k. Not nearly as cool as the $1500 machine.... but good stuff. He will still be temp surfing and he will not be willing it to his grand kids.... I think he could keep the lever machine and never upgrade...... I know I would not....
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
cconti Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Sacramento Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 8:27pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
Thank you very much to everyone that answered. I had a heck of a day at work and just now I had a chance to sit and read, but I wanted to thank you all as soon as I could, which means so far I only read a couple of the posts, but I'll go through all your suggestions.
My proce rage, by the way, it between $350 and $1500. As I stated in the OP, for $1500 it better be lasting me into the next millennium.
Also, one of the posters was right: I would like something better than the Starbucks Barista I have. Doesn't mean I want to spend money for the sake of spending money, but if $1000 buys me a $1000 worth of machine, I'll go for it. If instead I am buying $1000 worth of repair headaches, I'd gladly pass.
I liked the Gaggia machines too, but the reviews I read on Amazon were not flattering. I did not read the reviews here yet, but I will. This post was my first real salvo in my purchase process because I know there is no better place for Espresso than this forum. Why waste time asking elsewhere?
Again, thanks to everyone and I'll post again if I have questions or need clarifications, but I'll go read the reviews here first.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Oct 19, 2012, 8:39pm Subject: Re: Buying a new machine from Sears (or sears.com) and need advice
There is nothing wrong with gaggia as such but as you spend a bit more it gets much easier to pull consistently good shots. When you read the articles this will make more sense, but it is harder to keep the temp stable on the starter machines.
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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