CoffeeGeek - Espresso: Espresso Machines, update: purchase made!-Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

Espresso: Espresso Machines
update: purchase made!-Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > update: purchase...

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samsom_tw
Senior Member

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Tue Jan 29, 2013, 10:18pm Subject: update: purchase made!-Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

Hello, Lots of great info here, so thanks for that. The more I read the more confused I become. Sad! Here is my situation: I'm an expat in Taiwan in need of an espresson machine and grinder. Gaggia, some Baratza, and Rancilio are available here at a premium. Machines available: Gaggia Pure: $300+ Gaggia Classic: $600+ Rancilio Silvia: $800+ Grinders: Baratza Maestro Plus and Viruoso: $200 and $300 Rancilio Rocky: $400 There are a number of Taiwanese made grinders in the $100 - $400 range. These include the Flying Eagle, Pegasus, and the Mazzer SJ knockoffs. I'm inclined to take the cheaper Gaggia Pure and get the best grinder possible (Rocky?). There is a bit of a used market and I wonder if this is the way to go. There are currently two offerings of a Silvia and Rocky combo for $700. These are older units and the Rocky is white. Thanks in advance. -M (Click for larger image)

Markarian
Senior Member

Joined: 27 Jun 2012
Posts: 474
Location: Seattle Area
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar
Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly
Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102
Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 5:04am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

I can state from experience that the Virtuoso is inadequate for espresso. I had to trade up to the Vario-W, though the Preciso is a cheaper and still decent option. You have me curious about the other grinders, though. I LOVE Chinese knockoffs of all sorts and find them deeply fascinating. Sometimes you get real winners, better in quality to the original, though albeit not often. Still, I'm inclined to believe a fake SJ is still going to give you better results than a Virtuoso, especially if you can use Mazzer burrs.

SStones
Senior Member

Joined: 24 Nov 2012
Posts: 209
Location: Canada
Expertise: Professional

Espresso: Giga 5, ECM Giotto, Rocket...
Grinder: Anfim Milano-Best
Vac Pot: No :(
Drip: Some $30 thing from Walmart
Roaster: I buy pre-roasted.

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 5:09am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

I have to point out that buying used means you can sell it for most of your purchase price down the road if/when you do want to buy something else.

samsom_tw
Senior Member

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 6:00am
Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

Markarian Said:

I can state from experience that the Virtuoso is inadequate for espresso. I had to trade up to the Vario-W, though the Preciso is a cheaper and still decent option.

You have me curious about the other grinders, though. I LOVE Chinese knockoffs of all sorts and find them deeply fascinating. Sometimes you get real winners, better in quality to the original, though albeit not often. Still, I'm inclined to believe a fake SJ is still going to give you better results than a Virtuoso, especially if you can use Mazzer burrs.

Posted January 30, 2013 link

Well, I may have found a winner that will intrigue your fascination with knockoffs. Perhaps these are more rebrand than knockoff, but here it is:

The GEE Espresso Coffee Machine NT15000. I believe this is a rebranded Crossland CC1. PID and other interesting features that are over my head.

The GEE: Click Here (gee-coffee.com)
The Crossland: http://www.crosslandcoffee.com/

I can get this machine for $500.

It's also offered with the 900N grinder (SJ knockoff?) for just under $800.
Click Here (web.tiamo-cafe.com.tw)

samsom_tw: e65166548-ac-1949xf9x0338x0600-m.jpeg

(Click for larger image)

samsom_tw
Senior Member

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 6:02am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

Sorry about the extra post. Not sure how to attach multiple images. (Click for larger image)

CMIN
Senior Member

Joined: 14 Jun 2012
Posts: 505
Location: South FL
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Crossland CC1
Grinder: Baratza Preciso

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 6:22am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

CC1 is based off the GEE, CC1 is basically the GEE on steroids lol. There is another company, Hey Cafe, that has their grinders that are copies of known ones (super jolly etc). Their grinders even fixed some issues/quirks that exists in others as well. Owners if then have been very impressed by the build quality and grinding. I actually almost bought one, think the hc-600.

samsom_tw
Senior Member

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Posts: 32
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 6:29am
Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

CMIN Said:

CC1 is based off the GEE, CC1 is basically the GEE on steroids lol. There is another company, Hey Cafe, that has their grinders that are copies of known ones (super jolly etc). Their grinders even fixed some issues/quirks that exists in others as well. Owners if then have been very impressed by the build quality and grinding. I actually almost bought one, think the hc-600.

Posted January 30, 2013 link

Do you know how the CC1 improves on the GEE? I can't identify a difference in specs. Is the GEE a better buy than the Gaggia Baby or Espresso Pure?

Thanks!

kboom1
Senior Member

Joined: 31 Aug 2009
Posts: 249
Location: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Alex2HX,Alex Duetto,Rancilio...
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky,Vario
Roaster: Behmor 1600x2

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 7:22am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

I remember looking a the gee a few years back it didnt have good reviews. But was said it had possibilities in later versions if some of the internal layout was reworked.

Iluvdabean
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2005
Posts: 1,058
Location: California
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra/Gaggia...
Grinder: Baratza Preciso/K-A Pro...
Drip: Capresso MT 500/Pour Over
Roaster: Nesco 1010/Behmor 1600

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 11:02am
Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

At Whole Latte Love right now Gaggia Classic 399.00 and Baratza Preciso 299.00 and thats your 700.00 well sepnt...free shipping and no tax.
I dont know about that shipping deal outside of U.S. though.

samsom_tw Said:

Hello,

Lots of great info here, so thanks for that. The more I read the more confused I become. Sad!

Here is my situation:

I'm an expat in Taiwan in need of an espresson machine and grinder. Gaggia, some Baratza, and Rancilio are available here at a premium.

Machines available:
Gaggia Pure: $300+
Gaggia Classic: $600+
Rancilio Silvia: $800+

Grinders:
Baratza Maestro Plus and Viruoso: $200 and $300
Rancilio Rocky: $400

There are a number of Taiwanese made grinders in the $100 - $400 range. These include the Flying Eagle, Pegasus, and the Mazzer SJ knockoffs.

I'm inclined to take the cheaper Gaggia Pure and get the best grinder possible (Rocky?).

There is a bit of a used market and I wonder if this is the way to go. There are currently two offerings of a Silvia and Rocky combo for $700. These are older units and the Rocky is white.

Thanks in advance.

-M

Posted January 29, 2013 link

Coffeenoobie
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Dec 2011
Posts: 2,320
Location: PNW
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: N S Oscar
Grinder: Vario W

Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 11:59am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder

He probably should buy local.

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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