Why did you buy that machine...?

UNM · February 2014

had kinda forgotten this thread. Regular readers will know that I have been through a few espresso machines. Current weapon of choice is an Arrarex Caravel. Took me a while to decide to invest in this. Partly due to having several machines already. I decided to sell one of my commercial machines and put the money toward something smaller. My real goal was to get a machine that was designed to make espresso coffee, with no compromise, no extra bits and bobs to go wrong. Having something small and user friendly was important too. The sticking point was that I could not actually try before buying, so I had to take a leap of faith and trust others recommendations on this. I figured if it didn't work out, I wouldn't lose much as these machines are quite popular. The fact it is near enough the same age as me is kinda nice - perhaps we can grow old together as it is definitely a keeper. As I use it, I am learning that different beans feel different during the extraction as the flow rate/pressure changes - you can only get that feedback with a manual (non-spring) lever (or are there other machines with that level of feedback and pressure control?). It is a very different experience to a pump driven machine. The caravel is quite literally a hands-on machine and I enjoy that. It does have the limitation that it is a small (15g) filter basket, so only single shots.

C-man · February 2014

A Manual lever has more appeal to me rather than one with a spring But I would like a bigger full size one that steams milk too.

UNM · February 2014

on 1391897668:

A Manual lever has more appeal to me rather than one with a spring But I would like a bigger full size one that steams milk too.

The caravel is full size. Just no bigger than it needs to be for the function it performs. Because 58mm baskets are the commercial de facto standard for non lever machines, we might assume that they are in some way superior. I am not convinced. Would be interesting to examine the geometry of different baskets as this is bound to affect extraction. Steaming milk is unimportant to me, but for those that like coffee flavoured milk beverages, the caravel is not suitable. For espresso though, it avoids the inevitable compromise of running at higher than ideal extraction temperature just to produce unnecessary steam. Multi boiler machines seem to be the best option for those wanting ideal extraction and steam temperatures. More to go wrong though and obviously more cost to make. Everyone has different requirements, but too often someone buys inappropriate appliances and ends up regretting it, or selling and upgrading. I think that's a good reason for this thread as it gives people useful background to purchase decisions. Should probably add notes for a couple of my other purchases.

C-man · February 2014

Agreed, some good points made there

Journeyman · June 2014

I have been a coffee drinker (sort of) for decades, but a storm in Columbia way back when started me on the upgrade path. I noted the short supply of coffee meant the Nescaf

Cuir Beluga · March 2015

I have a little DeLonghi Icona, an upgrade is just over the horizon :P. Anyway, Master 16 had been bugging me for a coffee machine for a while having had the pleasure of playing with a commercial Faema during home ec classes at school. Wandering through Target one day I spotted the little Icona for the princely sum of $149 and quickly snaffled it up. The next week I went and bought a Smart Grinder Pro and the rest is history. I know the coffee is no where as good as on the bigger machines but hey, it has to be an infinite improvement on Blend 43 ^-^. So I guess, in short, I bought because Junior had been asking for one and the price was right for an impulse purchase.

FreshCoffee2 · March 2015

on 1425686632:

I have a little DeLonghi Icona, an upgrade is just over the horizon..... the price was right for an impulse purchase...

This type of machine serves a useful purpose in different ways. a) it sorts out whether a consumer is prepared (or not) to learn how to use it and persevere with this form of espresso making and b) the consumer will then either give it away (put it in the cupboard along with the bread maker and the rice maker and numerous other previous "good ideas at the time" applicances OR c) will have his/her interest piqued to upgrade to something better. Some of these very low end budget machines work quite well, its just that the "fiddle factor" or "ease" of use is very very fiddly (one of the points that will make some people give it away). Probably the biggest part of the "fiddle factor" is that they are so small and light...you will know what I mean. That said if you persevere the coffee is ok. Those that graduate to a "better" class of machine wont regret it because the coffee isnt the only thing that is "better". The ease of use factor increases significantly through the roof. So, upgrading will usually get you better coffee and its easier to make and therefore also quicker (although in home use speed doesnt need to be a worry)...it doesnt get any better than that

Cuir Beluga · March 2015

That it is Fresh Coffee, I don't mind the fiddling when I can just be left alone to do it, no interruptions. It has definitely learned from it so it has been a good little "learning tool" I guess. As for putting her away, at the moment I feel as there will always be a place for her on the bench as long as she is running. Of course that could change but she will always have a special place in my heart :P. It definitely is a light weight machine. My interest has been sufficiently piqued enough to move on and search for bigger and better

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C-man · April 2015

with a single floor baskit most cheap entry machine will produce a drinkable shot just flavor wise the temp will never be right.

Cuir Beluga · April 2015

Hi C-man, it has served me well, it is a bit fiddly and I am forever messing with grinder settings but it was a start. I have depressurised the baskets but then one of the filter gaskets went and ripped on me the other day. I have ordered a replacement but in the meantime I have taken the gasket out of the double basket and put it in the single basket. Problem now is the rubber from the bigger basket is smaller than the one from the single basket so there is now more room in the single basket for coffee. I have 2 choices, add extra coffee to compensate for the lack of rubber in the single basket which is leading to a too strong coffee or put the same amount of coffee in which is leading to messy, soggy pucks. The coffee still tastes ok though ::)/. Thankfully an upgrade is just a few short weeks away :P.

GeekKopi · May 2015

I bought the VBM Junior due to its small footprint as initially it was on the kitchen bench. I knew eventually it would make its way to a dedicated home coffee bar and I thought,,,, hrmmmm..... if the e61 unit has a small footprint it would leave me space for a little lever down the track... now I'm looking at sourcing a vintage lever that I can restore and put to good use next to the e61.

Cuir Beluga · May 2015

I bought the Unico Splendor for looks, it is all about the looks and great coffee of course :thumb:.

Brett H · May 2015

That the Splendor is also a phenomenal machine with small footprint makes the deal all the better!! Congratulations!

Cuir Beluga · May 2015

Thank you Brett, she doesn't take up a whole lot of space

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GeekKopi · May 2015

I have 2m of bench space now. Anyone willing to lend us a 2 or 3 group so I can test how it would look like on my bench? [emoji41]

Brett H · May 2015

on 1432725726:

I have 2m of bench space now. Anyone willing to lend us a 2 or 3 group so I can test how it would look like on my bench? [emoji41]

Nah mate, you've already nailed it! Your glorious wooden bench woulndn't look so clean with the plumbing, filtration and occaisional external pump required for a multi-group. Keep it lean and mean I reckon!

askthecoffeeguy · May 2015

Ive got a Rancilio Epoca semi commercial single group machine which ive modified myself - stripped off the plastic sides and front panel and replaced them with custom stainless, and replaced the steam wand with a Synesso tip - which makes for plenty of power, and nice micro foam as well! I got the Rancilio because my Cimbali S20 was starting to look a little rugged around the edges - I mean I threw that machine along with a generator in the back of a trailer and took it camping type-of-rugged-around-the-edges! But man was it a workhorse - never broke down, and made fantastic coffee time and time again! Internally the machines are practically identical - the only difference I can see is the insulated boiler on the Rancilio - which is great for heat retention and thermal efficiency Otherwise the plastic sides on the Rancilio snapped off the first time that I picked it up (admittedly it was second hand but only about 18 months old and clean as a whistle inside) - thus the upgrade to custom stainless! The machine doesn't seem to miss a beat when it comes to coffee - pump pressure is great and I get excellent extractions, and with the modifications to the steam wand the steam pressure is on par with any commercial machine I've even managed to knock out 60 quality hot chocolates and coffees in an hour on my own on this machine on several occasions, yes, its hard work, and you have to keep topping the water tank, but no, it doesnt miss a beat and the extractions remain spot on and consistent Not the prettiest machine Ive ever owned, but its still a solid workhorse, and has plenty of grunt, it gets the job done, and its cafe quality in terms of the coffee that it produces Plus it cost a lot less than a lot of higher 'specked machines which I doubt would give it a run for its money in terms of shot quality and sheer pulling power P

GeekKopi · May 2015

on 1432792963:

Ive got a Rancilio Epoca semi commercial single group machine which ive modified myself - stripped off the plastic sides and front panel and replaced them with custom stainless, and replaced the steam wand with a Synesso tip - which makes for plenty of power, and nice micro foam as well! I got the Rancilio because my Cimbali S20 was starting to look a little rugged around the edges - I mean I threw that machine along with a generator in the back of a trailer and took it camping type-of-rugged-around-the-edges! But man was it a workhorse - never broke down, and made fantastic coffee time and time again! Internally the machines are practically identical - the only difference I can see is the insulated boiler on the Rancilio - which is great for heat retention and thermal efficiency Otherwise the plastic sides on the Rancilio snapped off the first time that I picked it up (admittedly it was second hand but only about 18 months old and clean as a whistle inside) - thus the upgrade to custom stainless! The machine doesn't seem to miss a beat when it comes to coffee - pump pressure is great and I get excellent extractions, and with the modifications to the steam wand the steam pressure is on par with any commercial machine I've even managed to knock out 60 quality hot chocolates and coffees in an hour on my own on this machine on several occasions, yes, its hard work, and you have to keep topping the water tank, but no, it doesnt miss a beat and the extractions remain spot on and consistent Not the prettiest machine Ive ever owned, but its still a solid workhorse, and has plenty of grunt, it gets the job done, and its cafe quality in terms of the coffee that it produces Plus it cost a lot less than a lot of higher 'specked machines which I doubt would give it a run for its money in terms of shot quality and sheer pulling power P

Great post mate, If money wasn't in the equation which of the current (domestic or commercial 1/2 groups) would be your ideal home machine? There are a few fancy profiling units that I have been reading up on and I'm really liking the Vesuvius by Ambient Espresso

GeekKopi · May 2015

on 1432762898:

Nah mate, you've already nailed it! Your glorious wooden bench woulndn't look so clean with the plumbing, filtration and occaisional external pump required for a multi-group. Keep it lean and mean I reckon!

Good point Brett, can't do a plumbed machine on the bench. I've got my wiring neat and out of the way and looks clean - unless you put your head under the bench.

Cuir Beluga · May 2015

Wipes drool off chin :coffee2:.

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