samsom_tw Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 32 Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 11:02pm Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending (Edit:more than) $700 on a machine and grinder
The wonderful folks at Baratza have provided a way to purchase the Vario locally. It should ship on Friday. Yay!
The Vario cost over half of my budget. What should I do for a machine?
- Buy a Gaggia Pure locally for $350 (brewing next week) - Try to find a way to get a refurbed Gaggia Classic from the States (brewing who knows when) - French press it until I can get a better machine
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,371 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 11:19am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder
The Baratza folks rock. I love them. I would get the classic over the pure. I would probably do french press while I saved and watched the classifieds in your area.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
samsom_tw Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 32 Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Feb 11, 2013, 9:31am Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder
I now have a beautiful Baratza Vario on the counter. All I need now as an espresso machine.
I'm still considering the Gaggia Pure. It's not a great value at $300, but I can walk out my door and buy one.
A new option is a used Pasquini Livia 90. It looks like a lot of machine for the money. Shipped from the states it will be more than double the price of the Gaggi Pure.
Should I get started with the pure and upgrade in the future? Is the Pasquini a long term solution worth the extra money and effort?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,371 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:19pm Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder
Based solely on what I have read here I would buy no Gaggia but the Classic. I got a used HX for $475 and felt like that was a better long term solution.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
MikeReilly Senior Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Vancouver Island Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Cimbali Junior D, Gaggia... Grinder: Mazzer Mini Drip: Cuisinart Roaster: Behmor, I-Roast 2, Popper
Posted Mon Feb 11, 2013, 7:23pm Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder
Coffeenoobie Said:
The Baratza folks rock. I love them. I would get the classic over the pure. I would probably do french press while I saved and watched the classifieds in your area.
This is good advice (especially the watch and save). In a few years with a Gaggia you will likely want to upgrade, so if you can get a used HX or DB off ebay or craigslist or whatever they have in Taiwan for that, you are way ahead. My first machine was a Gaggia Espresso (very similar to the Pure in function) and the lack of an adjustable opv or a 3 way valve were definitely disadvantages.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,222 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Mon Feb 11, 2013, 8:18pm Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder
A little additional info on the Gaggia. You may already know the differences in Gaggia machines and be familiar with this. The Classic has an aluminum boiler with the elements on the outside, plus a 3 way solenoid and OPV. Look here
A totally different machine. The element is on the inside of the boiler, and probably one of the new stainless boilers. Not trying to debate aluminum vs stainless, just noting that whole machine is a different configuration. Gaggia name, inside, not so much, a very different machine. Per the internet, Gaggia was purchased in 1999 by the Saeco, a subsidiary of Philips. Gaggia still has a separate line but now is using Saeco designs in some espresso machines.
The partsguru site is a good reference for many different machines.
samsom_tw Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 32 Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Feb 11, 2013, 9:21pm Subject: Re: Newbie needs help spending $700 on a machine and grinder
It's listed on the forum.
"I am offering my well used and much loved Livia 90.
It is recently descaled and has a new portafilter gasket. The OPV valve is set to 10 bar and modded slightly to vent back to the tank. It has a new heat exchanger, newer vacuum breaker, re-built pressurestat, new 51 watt pump, plus a handful of various new boiler fittings. I also went through and deadened all of the squeaks and rattles. It's very quiet compared to what it originally sounded like.
It looks pretty good save for minor scratches, one small ding, and minor discoloration in the sheet metal lacquer. I did try to polish it with marginal success. I thought about having it electro polished or powder coated, but in the end, I laid a towel over the top, pulled a bunch of pretty swell shots, and called it good. "
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