when this machine works it is great, but the quality control of the original p'stat is, how shall i put this, crap.
Positive Product Points
when it works it works really well.
Negative Product Points
it has a p'stat problem and often doesn't work (although this might have been solved in later models ...)
Detailed Commentary
i bought the ns oscar new from a local espresso shop here in the bay area. they were selling a few of them on ebay and i was able to pick it up for $700, and matched it with a rocky at the same time. for the first 6 months i was in love. fantastic shots once i had dialed in rocky. also plenty of steam (though i usually just drink espresso) and i was able to get good foam. howerver, after 6 months the machine started hissing and popping from time to time. at first it only happened occasionlly. i could turn the machine off and let it cool off for a while and then it would be ok for a few days. this lasted about one month and then it finally just started hissing and popping all the time. so reluctantly i packed oscar up and brought him back to the shop where i bought him which was also handling the warranty. it turned out the problem was the p'stat, but after a week or so i got oscar back and again he performed well, but again, 6 months later the hissing and popping started again, and again i packed up oscar and brought him back to have his p'stat replaced. this same thing happened again (3rd time), and this time i decided that i had better try something else. so, i checked on line and saw that there was a new oscar with a commercial grade sirai p'stat. i called up chris at chriscoffee and asked if he could retrofit my old oscar with a new a sirai p'stat. so once again i packed oscar this time shipping him across the country to new york to be fitted with the new p'stat. well, i just got oscar back and so far (2 days) it seems to be great ... i just hope it lasts.
Buying Experience
not great
Three Month Followup
so, 3 months later and my new p'stat is working great! it is a bit noisy, but as long as it continues to perform i can deal with the additional amount of noise. anyone who bought the original oscar (with the old p'stat) should really consider upgrading their p'stat because having to replace that thing every 6 months was ruining the whole home espresso experience for me.
