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Espresso: Questions and Answers
Bang for buck on budget machine?

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Discussions > Espresso > Q and A > Bang for buck on...

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justin57
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Nov 2004
Posts: 35
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Expobar Pulser
Grinder: Mazzer Mini P
Vac Pot: Hellem, Sunbeam
Drip: Cuisinart BrewCentral...

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 2:11pm Subject: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Hi Everyone, Here is the situation that I could use some help with (and would really appreciate it!) I got back from Europe this summer hooked to good, quality espresso. The moka pot I used to use--and was actually content with back in the day--just doesn't cut it anymore. I have a pretty good setup for American drip coffee: the cuisinart brew central and the cuisinart burr grinder (plate though, not conical). I also (don't laugh) am a fan of my old Pyrex stovetop percolator, and talked my girlfriend into buying a Bodum electric Santos vacuum pot after falling in love with it in France. Anyway, I certainly am not a pro, but I know what a good cup of coffee should taste like, and my tastes are more discriminating than the average drinker (but probably underdeveloped compared to most people here). I want to get an espresso machine. I don't want to waste money on a cheap one that won't give good results. (One of my friends loves his Mr. Coffee for $35, but I am not a fan). Now, the catch: I'm in school now, living on student loans, so for the next few years, I don't have that much money to throw around. I can justify the purchase b/c it will be used a lot in keeping me awake, and it's going to cost less in the long run, and hopefully taste better, than coffee in Dayton, Ohio. So what machine should I get? I'm not setting a specific price limit on things; I want to know what is the minimum that I can spend to get a quality result. Keep in mind though, the less expensive, the better. If I have to save up a bit to reach that point, fine. I do not need a top of the line model that this point in my life, just something that will make a cup that all of you would find acceptable. Also: the grinder. I'll probably have to upgrade that to get better results. Any thoughts? My thanks. Hopefully I'll soon be able to help others answer their questions.

CoupePlus
Senior Member

Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Posts: 289
Location: Little Rock
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Pulser/Classic/EPC8
Grinder: Mini/SJ/Virtuoso
Vac Pot: Yes
Drip: Technivorm
Roaster: GC/Behmor

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 5:01pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Minimum? Think (I use an Espresso and Classic) Gaggia Espresso and SMP, and if you have a "spare" student loan floating around somewhere--think Pulser and Rocky. I understand about being a starving student, and I had three kids in college at the same time. Luck, Larry

expobar
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 3,003
Location: .

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 5:19pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

High School student here. My setup is a Gaggia Espresso I got used on ebay for $50 - well worth $250. I'd get a Gaggia Carezza if I were you - same machine pretty much for $50 less.Get it at Whole Latte Love Also, I'd get an Innova Conical. Cheaper than a flat burr (i have a flat burr) and about as good. Great grinders. Get it at EPNW Another good way to save money would be to roast your own coffee. There's a blend on the Green Coffee Co-Op that's actually pretty good: 4 parts brazilian:3 parts indonesian (preferably sumatra, I only have Sulawesi): 2 Parts Kenyan: 1 part Harrar/Yemen/Sidamo (I'm using harrar). While it isn't as good as a lot of the best roasters in the nation, it gets pretty close and costs about $3 per pound, so you can't lose there. Do you have enough time to have a job? I'm sure if you explained your experiences, you'd be pretty close to having a coffee shop hire you, and then you could make higher quality coffee for free, probably.

CoupePlus
Senior Member

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 5:30pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Actually, the Carezza and Espresso machines are the same price on the WLL website. I really would stay away from Ebay--your mileage may vary. The Innova is a decent grinder, and is probably a step up from the SMP--especially if you just do espresso. Do you have an apartment? Then you probably aren't into roasting, yet. It is something I wish to do, but after the cabin gets a new roof and foundation, kids are out of college, and I can make REALLY good latte art. Larry

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 6:17pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Thanks for the tips so far guys, I've been trying to find the difference between the two gaggia machines. What makes the Espresso superior to the Carezza? Does the Espresso Deluxe have any benifit aside from the aluminum front? Even gaggia's website doesn't really seem to clear up the differences... Any other brands worth looking into, or do you all think gaggia is my best bet? I have no arguments/questions about the grinders. Both the SMP and Innova got rave reviews. Larry, yes, I'm in an apartment now and not into roasting yet. Don't know how much time it would involve but pretty sure I don't have it. Same with the job deal... I wish I had more spare time, but such is life. It's only going to get worse when clinical rotations start. Whatever machine I end up with will be getting a real workout those years. :) The $200ish range for the machine is a very acceptable/affordable/justifiable price. As much as I'd love the Expobar, I would need to eat generic pasta without sauce for every meal to afford it... I think I can wait a few years. Thanks, Justin

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 6:27pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

I know you reccomended against it, Larry, but I just wanted to see what was avaliable on eBay. Some guy is selling refurbed FF! X1 for about $200. For that price, would this be better than the gaggias? Justin

EOnore
Senior Member

Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 23
Location: Hartford, CT
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Isomac Amica, Gaggia Tebe
Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo
Drip: Krups Moka Brew

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 6:30pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Dear Justin, I am not sure that this is the best way to do it, but my approach was to buy a good grinder first (in my case the Cunill Tranquilo for $175.00). I then haunted ebay looking for a deal on a Gaggia. The reason I chose Gaggia is that they are capable of making a great espresso but seem to show up on Ebay a lot, very discounted. I ultimately spotted a Gaggia Tebe, new in a shopworn box, which I won for $225.00. This a a rather odd looking model with the same insides as the Gaggia Classic. I think your best bet is to read the reviews on this site and make a list of some inexpensive models that do a good job. Then continuously watch Ebay for these models, or visit the various vendors that advertise here and see if any of the models are available as a return. This will guarantee you the best possible price. Eric

espressophile
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Dec 2001
Posts: 370
Location: Bottom of the Bay
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Isomac Venus
Grinder: Innova
Roaster: iRoast

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 6:37pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

justin57 Said: Any other brands worth looking into, or do you all think gaggia is my best bet? Posted November 3, 2004 link Gaggia machines are pretty well known and pretty well-trusted. You pretty much cannot go wrong with one; you can buy a machine that you will hate that is another brand, but maybe the Solis SL70 is worth looking at for comparison. Instead of ebay, try one of the major retailers, e.g. wholelattelove or 1st-line and seeing what they have in refurb/return stock. Electra-craft has a Gaggia Gran for $110 and an Espresso for $150 as of the time of this posting... http://www.electra-craft.com/refurbished-machines.htm -Tim

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CoupePlus
Senior Member

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 7:51pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Justin, A quick look seems to indicate that the Deluxe has an automatic frothing attachment--thanks but I will do it myself. I think the internals of both Gaggia's are the same, and there is no operational benefit to a metal case. My limited experience with an X1 led me to the Classic, and then the Espresso--I like straight shots. I really don't think there is a real benefit to (on a limited budget) going that next little step up from the Gaggia. I would save my pennies until I could get at least an HX machine. Yeah, the Pulser blows the Francis, Solis, and Silvia away. At least I think so, but I do enjoy what the Classic and Espresso can put out. I prefer the Classic because of the three way valve, but for the price difference the Espresso (or Carezza) seem a better value. I hope that answered your questions, if not--email. And you may have good luck with espresso stuff on Ebay--I have not. Yeah, Raman noodles get old REAL quick. Best, Larry

Posted Wed Nov 3, 2004, 9:48pm Subject: Re: Bang for buck on budget machine?

Well, folks, After doing some serious looking and comparing, I think I am sold on the Gaggia Espresso. At the $150 price that Tim found it for (THANKS!), it seems pretty hard to beat. ... And then, just out of curiosity, I checked out the Expobar Pulser. It's $600 now on WLL, less than I thought it was before. I looked at my budget. I looked at the expobar. I thought and thought. Hmmmmmm. Well, it comes down to this: I can "afford" the expobar, but it is with money that I will be paying back 4 years down the road. I would probably have to wait a bit to upgrade my grinder. So it all comes down to you guys. Is the difference in the drink going to be that much worth it? I do "entertain" (if by entertain you mean host study groups) a lot, so the quick brewing features would be handy... But I could live without those if the quality of the shot in both were about equal in taste and consistancy. Plus, I am a newbie to brewing espresso: would it be stupid to jump in and spend that much? But will the Gaggia machine leave me wishing I had spent that extra chunk? Again, thank you! Justin

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