domestic machine comparison

avitephen

just had a flash back of when i was out researching different machines to buy and thought it might be good to have a thread where members can post the features of there home setup along with the price and how happy they are with it.

if you agree please post what kind of machine you have (and grinder?) how much you paid for it and any trouble you have experienced (break downs or annoying hang-ups)
if your machine has already been posted and you want to add something just reply to that post, this way we might be able to make a users guide.

(retailers could maybe list the details of there best sellers and the most common complaints they get about them)

avitephen

I have a sunbeam EM6900 and a EM480 grinder I paid $499 for the machine and $160 for the grinder. my original machine broke after a couple of days use and its replacement did the same thing (was a problem with the fluting of a steam pipe apparently) The machine I have now works great, very impressed with the quality of coffee produced some of my main problems: 1.      the pressure gauge  is a bit gimmicky, its poorly calibrated so  i rarely watch it as I find the actual flow of the extraction tells me much more about the shot then the gauge can. 2.      it took about 3 months to get a machine that worked 3.      it gets pretty hot if you leave it on for 30 mins or so.. not really a problem  just thought i would mention it. 4.      the first 2 machines broke. (this is a biggy for me) 5.      the plastic shield in the portafilter makes it impossible to clean it effectively (I removed mine) 6.      filter baskets are NOT industry standard (I bought a double and single from coffeeparts.com)   7.      hot water comes out slowly 8.      though it indicates it is ready to make coffee in only a few minutes the portafilter is still quite cool (haven

admin

This is a great idea! Just a quick note: any retailers who do post here need to remember they cannot use this as a sales - type advertisement; they should only post if they do so in the way Avitephen suggested (ie genuine feedback). -A

Reschsmooth

Great idea. I have the Diadema/Unico Splendor and Macap M5 grinder (I got a great deal - below RRP). The main problem I have with the machine is the cooling flush required, however, I can remedy this by turning down the boiler temp a bit. Apart from that, I have no complaints whatsoever about the machine. My only complaint about the grinder is the lack of stepless adjustment, but again, this is only a small niggle. Would highly recommend HX/E-61 style machine for those with the budget for it. Here are some pics of naked shots poured: P

Lovey

I've recently acquired an ECM Giotto premium and an ECM Best grinder. I also got a good deal on the package, so I won't publish the price. They are very good looking machines, both being all chrome, and make a handsome addition to my bench top. The only fault I've had with the Giotto is a slightly ill fitting o-ring where the tank goes in. This was easily rectified with a wrap of plumbers tape, and then with a larger replacement o-ring. The only complaint that I have with the machine is the drip tray. It's a bit small, considering the cooling flush before each shot, and it was a bit awkward to remove until you develop your technique to get it out without spilling water everywhere. The grinder is not step less, but the gap between the steps is tiny. The doser feels nice and solid and it sweeps out very cleanly, requiring hardly any cleanup. The only thing to watch is that the hopper is not fixed to the body of the grinder, so the temptation to move the grinder around on the bench by grabbing the hopper is soon overcome by the cleanup required after the move.

mattyj

I've got an expobar office pulser. it's ugly, relatively cheap and simple, but I love it! See Pat's pics and comments re: hx machines. And my mazzer mini: my review on coffeegeek; I'm not as enthusiastic now (about 18 months on), and my coffee routine has changed HEAPS since I wrote that review, but I really do love my mazzer mini! Cue FC saying that the mazzer mini isn't the only grinder worth considering ...