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need advice on a new machine

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qualin
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Jun 2012
Posts: 496
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 Fri Sep 28, 2012, 12:27am Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

I'm really leery about the idea of buying a machine with a Thermoblock in it, like the Silvano. The reason being is that if your water is hard, scale will build up on the inside of the thermoblock. Eventually, if it gets thick enough, it will act as an insulator and cause the thermoblock to overheat. Since a lot of thermoblocks don't have a high limit trip, the heating element will burn out. So, from a reliability standpoint, I would personally stay away from thermoblocks. I'm speaking from my knowledge involving the steam generator found on LG washing machines, they're quite prone to failure after a few short years of use. They work on the same concept. However, If you use softened water all the time with it, it's not a big deal. From what I can tell, Rocket does make high quality machines. They're all handmade. Bezzera has a huge offering in the market which you are describing. Something like the BZ07 or the BZ10 will meet your needs and your pricing. However, if you can spend that little bit more and get the Magica, do so. Good luck!

IndianaBrewer
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Posts: 15
Location: Indianapolis
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Silvia
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Doserless
Drip: Cusinart Grind and Brew

Posted Sat Nov 3, 2012, 8:35pm Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

Hi Kray, If you decide to stick with another Silvia, I have a gently used PID'd Silvia, that was built by hightechespresso.com. I will be posting it in the classifieds section shortly, thanks!

kray
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Sep 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Twin Cities
Expertise: I live coffee

Posted Wed Nov 7, 2012, 8:12am Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

Still shopping,which is not unusual for my hyper-compulsvie personality ;-). However I think I've narrowed the choices a bit (primarily based on budget). Rocket Cillini Quick Mill QM67 I'm wondering if anyone has strong feelings about these two machines. The choice seems to be between a dual boiler PID Quick Mill, or, the HX Rocket. Do wither of these machines have a better reputation of the build quality, reliability front? My personal style preference is the Rocket... It just seems a little more polished, but I'm not sure if that makes up for the practical advantages of the Quick Mill. Thoughts?

hydrologic
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Expertise: I live coffee

Posted Sun Nov 11, 2012, 1:35pm Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

The Vivaldi is an excellent machine. Very consistent shots and I love the volumetric dosing.

smasha
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Feb 2012
Posts: 32
Location: Cambridge
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Mon Nov 12, 2012, 3:23am Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

Hi I have recently been through the decision process and my final choices were Rocket Celini, ECM Giotto and Quickmill Anita. I did not consider any double boilers. My reasoning for not wanting to go double boiler is I want my espresso water heated fresh and not left in a boiler for some time being heated and reheated many times before making an espresso. I am sure others will challenge this point, but it is my reasoning. So that meant I was only choosing between HX machines. The QM, ECM and Rocket were are similarly spec'ed and in the end my decision came to aesthetics. As someone mentioned to me here on this forum a machine like this is likely and has the potential to be in your kitchen for a few decades, get the one you like how it looks. So I opted for the rocket as I like the layout, it has quality controls and the panel work is very tidy. In the end as I will be moving house again and again I might come across times where I can plumb in so I opted for the evo V2 with rotary pump that supports plumbing and black dials. The black dials are sexy. just dont tell my wife how much I spent on it ....

coffee_no_sugar
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 344
Location: USA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: pavoni pub, brasilia club
Grinder: mazzer sj, mdf, infinity
Drip: melitta clarity
Roaster: popcorn

Posted Mon Nov 12, 2012, 4:12am
Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

kray Said:

After 20 bazillion shots of espresso, my nearly 20 year old Rancilio Silvia has died. While are many new machines on the market, due to the incredible longevity of old my Silvia, it is hard to not simply buy another Silvia. However I am also looking at a Pasquini Livietta T2. Please share your opinions. All advice is welcome.

Posted September 26, 2012 link

If you were happy with your Silvia, why not fix her up? She is a simple machine and new parts are available. What happened? BTW if you decide not to repair her, there is a good market for broken silvias on eBay.

qualin
Senior Member

Posted Mon Nov 12, 2012, 12:49pm
Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

smasha Said:

My reasoning for not wanting to go double boiler is I want my espresso water heated fresh and not left in a boiler for some time being heated and reheated many times before making an espresso.

Posted November 12, 2012 link

I've done some research on myself, this is a bit of a myth. Most brew boilers are fairly small and the water will get cycled through the boiler without any impact to the taste of the coffee. The water in the reservoir
is probably more prone to affecting the taste in your coffee than what is in the brew boiler. I make tea at work from water which has been reboiled and I can't discern any change in flavor from fresh water.

smasha Said:

in the end my decision came to aesthetics.

Posted November 12, 2012 link

Every vendor I've spoken to tells me that when you are getting into higher end prosumer machines, that's pretty much it. The feature set is fairly similar and it's mostly aesthetics at this point in time.

smasha Said:

in so I opted for the evo V2 with rotary pump that supports plumbing and black dials.

Posted November 12, 2012 link

I will admit, that is a nice machine. I've heard good things about it.

randychar813
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 41
Location: Louisiana
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: 95% of time: Izzo Alex...
Grinder: Mazzer Mini E type A;...
Vac Pot: french press
Drip: no
Roaster: SF 6 lber; Hottop

Posted Mon Nov 12, 2012, 1:46pm Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

If I were upgrading again I would get the following: Grinder: Versalab M3 Machine: 1st choice The 2 group Slayer for all variables of the shot process 2nd choice The black Speedster single group 3rd choice La Marzocco GS/3 , Paddle Version 4th IAD2 (own it)

BLrdFX
Senior Member

Joined: 29 May 2012
Posts: 201
Location: Seattle Area
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: L-I
Grinder: VL, Pharos, Kony,HG-One
Drip: Chemex
Roaster: Quest

Posted Sat Nov 17, 2012, 8:09pm Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

randychar813 Said: If I were upgrading again I would get the following: Grinder: Versalab M3 Machine: 1st choice The 2 group Slayer for all variables of the shot process 2nd choice The black Speedster single group 3rd choice La Marzocco GS/3 , Paddle Version 4th IAD2 (own it) Posted November 12, 2012 link Got the VL-M3 and the LM GS/3 MP, they produce great shots but I probably should have gotten a lever machine for pulling shots. Way more simple and so much less to go wrong with the lever machine. Whatever you get, try to simplify things.

So many toys and not enough time

qualin
Senior Member

Posted Sat Nov 17, 2012, 10:20pm Subject: Re: need advice on a new machine

The Londinium I Luxe machine fascinates me.. If only for the custom made group, quality and style. I suspect that one of these machines, after shipping, customs, taxes, etc would run probably somewhere around what an Elektra T1 would cost. I think it would easily last 20 years for home use, with no problems. Although, realistically it's just too large a machine for a standard kitchen. Lever machines don't work well if you plan on using them under counter, only because the lever is too tall. Realistically, the Alex Duetto is about as large a machine as I can fit into my kitchen at this time.

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