Recommended espresso machine?

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86 posts

Master Geek

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#810714 3-May-2013 11:42

Hey Sancho,

We got one of these a couple of years ago...

The Philips/Seaco Syntia. Still going strong. The logic board did fail while it was still under warranty which was lucky but apart from that it's been real good and we're real happy with it. It makes great coffee but the only niggly critism would be the water flows a bit too quickly for my liking but thats being picky.

If you havn't already you can have a play with them at Eden Coffee.

They usually do deals over xmas so you could try asking them to sharpen their pencil a bit.

Also we order our beans from Havana in Wellington. They do an amazing service. Ordered them at 1:20pm yesterday. They arrived this morning to Auckland. $41 incl shipping for 1kg. Like a boss!!

Hope you find what your after.

Cheers!

Fred99

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#810736 3-May-2013 12:36

Nudibranch: The logic board did fail while it was still under warranty...

There's probably no other domestic appliance which has a worse combination of high temperatures, steam, multiple valves and seals which will inevitably leak, vibration from the pumps, and complex electronics all in one package.
I was at Saxon appliances Chch the other day, waiting in line to drop off an appliance which was being repaired under warranty - there were three people in the line in front of me - all were either dropping off or collecting espresso machines (all Breville and Sunbeam).
When these machines are out of warranty - they'll end up at the tip when something goes wrong. I don't know how CGA would work with claims - even high end machines require regular maintenance, the expected life of a cheap consumer machine probably isn't more than a few years.
Just my opinion (which I expect will be disputed), but if spending that kind of money, I wouldn't consider anything less than a Rancilio Silvia - where at least the parts are standard, readily available, there's good support in forums etc, and working on them yourself isn't out of the question for a DIYer with reasonable skills.

Nudibranch

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#810822 3-May-2013 14:25

Just checked out the Rancilio Silvia.
That looks awesome. Probably will go for one of those sort of things when ours finally dies.

Fred99

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#810881 3-May-2013 15:34

Nudibranch: Just checked out the Rancilio Silvia.
That looks awesome. Probably will go for one of those sort of things when ours finally dies.

They are pretty much the gold standard in single-boiler home espresso machines. There's a trader on TM doing a deal at the moment here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/home-living/kitchen/tea-coffee-making/coffee-machines/auction-586182268.htm
That's a good price - I'm not sure is a retail outlet would match that.

There is a "gotcha" with the Silvia. The single boiler is used for steam, typically the boiler runs at 1 bar pressure, which is over 120 deg. But after steaming milk, that water is too hot for expressing coffee, so users need to run a "cooling flush" through the group (which will flush the boiler with cool water from the tank) then wait a little while before expressing. The tank element is controlled by a conventional thermostat. Some owners modify the machine, replacing the thermostat (which has a wide "dead zone") with a PID controller, which has a very low dead-zone, better accuracy, and user-set temperature. Googling "silva temperature surfing" and "silvia PID modification" should yield plenty of links.
A Silvia can produce espresso as good as anything else at any price. If not making milk drinks, then there's even fewer advantages to paying more for a machine.

Above that, there are various machines, some with a boiler and thermoblock, some with dual boilers, some with heat-exchangers (typically the "rocket" etc style "e61" machines). Quite a few single group commercial machines also come up on trademe at low-ish prices, often with rotary pumps, relatively large boilers, and automatic volumetric dosing. They usually need to be plumbed in. They are potentially very good, but could be a can of worms if they haven't been maintained.

lchiu7

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#811091 4-May-2013 08:25

I was thinking of getting a machine for my daughter who is in the US now. Does anybody have any views or know about the machines (espresso obviously) on sale here?

Daily Steals for Coffee Machines

I think I have found a local version of the Syntia SS Automatic Espresso Machine for $1399 so the US price of US$510 is pretty good but the others I can't find being sold here.

The Saeco Odea Giro Plus Fully Automatic Espresso Machine looks coo with its svelte BMW design but of course it's the coffee that counts in the end.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Edwood

218 posts

Master Geek

#813304 7-May-2013 21:45

Hmmm... I purchased some Countdown pods for my shiny new Nespresso U, and I'm getting some pretty crappy results. The tinfoil seal seems to be a little too tough for the U piercing ram. My wife had one pod not get pierced, and subsequently get stuck... now she forks the countdown pods before sticking 'em in.

Is it 'normal' behaviour for the Nespresso U to snob the countdown pods in this manner? ...or do I have a pansy ram in my U? I'm not sure how I'd get on telling Nespresso that their machine is faulty 'cause it doesn't pierce the knock-off pods very well.

Hmmm...

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#813322 7-May-2013 22:08

The Countdown pods and the Warehouse pods use a plastic capsule. It's too thick and heavy compared to the Nespresso aluminium capsules. Don't blame Nespresso if the cheap capsules are... cheap.

Also the coffee is poor, bitter. Just use the Nespresso Capsules and be done...

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TheUngeek

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#813370 7-May-2013 23:09

Countdown pods have a foil cap. Warehouse ones are all plastic.
They both work fine in my Citiz. The Warehouse ones need a firm push to close though. Countdown ones just slip closed easily. So maybe there's a difference in they way things work with the U and Citiz
The taste, as always with coffee is down to personal taste.
As I stated earlier I can't see myself buying Nespresso pods again unless they drop the price and freight.

hatchi

65 posts

Master Geek

#813385 7-May-2013 23:28

We use the Nescafé Alegra system for our coffees... Gives 6 different styles with upto 120 cups out if one canister. The only thing is the coffee and machine are supplied by office max and the canisters are $15+gst for the coffee. Can get 120 espressio shots, upto 90 americanos or others.

Edwood

218 posts

Master Geek

#813437 8-May-2013 07:50

TheUngeek: ...They both work fine in my Citiz. The Warehouse ones need a firm push to close though. Countdown ones just slip closed easily. So maybe there's a difference in they way things work with the U and Citiz...

Yup, the major difference is the fact that the U does everything for you. ie. you don't have to push anything to pierce the pod, you don't even have to take the pod out when you're done.

I bought three boxes of Countdown pods just to see how they would compare. So far the stand-outs are that the machine doesn't pierce the foil cap as well, and it also leaves the machine with a lot more residue.
Despite what the Nespresso lady said about not having to clean it, I always 2 x fresh waters between coffees. ie. one after, and one before (heat cup). I notice a LOT more coffee residue coming through after the countdown pod - come to think of it, it also seems like the grain is a lot coarser.

In other news... how can I tell what the max power draw is for the Nespresso U? I want to know if I could have it on a boat where things like kettles, hairdryers, etc are no-no's. (my AC/DC understanding really only relates to music).

freitasm

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#813460 8-May-2013 08:15

Edwood: Despite what the Nespresso lady said about not having to clean it, I always 2 x fresh waters between coffees. ie. one after, and one before (heat cup).

I usually do one flush before to warm the cup. And yes I let the machine run water through the system every month of so.

mrphil

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#813498 8-May-2013 09:14

mrphil:
Edwood:
mrphil: Anyone here use the nespresso lattissima en520? Thinking to get one since they are offering a $75 cash back

Also How much discount would a retailer normally give on this machines?

I haven't really used it, but this is the machine that the 'bartender' at the Nespresso showroom uses.
(I had them use the Nespresso U for me, but the one they use for everyone else is the en520)

If you're using it in a small office or making for a few people at once this would be worthwhile.
It also made a much hotter beverage than the Nespresso U + Airheadcino milk frother

I don't know about discounts, but as I said earlier - check warranty info when price hunting. I couldn't get Nespresso to reduce their price on the U any more, but it does seem that they are selling it at the lowest price point of anyone anyway.

thanks for that, will ask about the warranty when shopping

wish we had a nespresso showroom down here

update

picked up a lattissma en520 during the weekend.

took the machine home, followed the instructions on rinsing the machine before first use and found out that i got a faulty unit!

I took it back to the retailer and they wanted to replace it with a new machine on the spot but had no stock of the colour i wanted so they have to order one in for me.

not a great start and abit worried if i should of purchased a extended warranty on it or not

TheUngeek

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#813536 8-May-2013 10:05

Extended warranties are a scam

Edwood

218 posts

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#813809 8-May-2013 16:46

TheUngeek: Extended warranties are a scam

Thats what Mister Economics taught me in fourth form... he said that "unless a warranty states that 'this warranty does not reduce your statutory rights', then it is probably actually limiting your rights as opposed to helping your cause... something else about statutory rights and consumer guarantees act giving you 2-3 years... I always remembered that, but never tried forcing the issue.

richms

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#813947 8-May-2013 20:19

Edwood:
TheUngeek: Extended warranties are a scam

Thats what Mister Economics taught me in fourth form... he said that "unless a warranty states that 'this warranty does not reduce your statutory rights', then it is probably actually limiting your rights as opposed to helping your cause... something else about statutory rights and consumer guarantees act giving you 2-3 years... I always remembered that, but never tried forcing the issue.

If the warranty doesnt state that and does attempt to limit your rights then it will have issues with the act saying that you are not allowed to misrepresent peoples rights under the act.

Richard rich.ms

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