Before you spend many thousands of dollars on a machine better suited to a coffee shop, consider getting a minimalist lever machine.
I have (and love) my little Cafelat Robot [1]. It is small, draws no electricity, and relies upon my practiced hands to push preheated water through the coffee puck. There is nothing to get between me and the experience of making great espresso. I can feel the pressure, I can hear the stream of espresso, I can effortlessly adjust the flow in response to what the extraction is telling my senses.
Instead of a button press, pulling a shot is now a tactile experience that engages the senses. When the pull is done, I am primed to enjoy the results.
Yes, before getting an expensive commercial-style machine, consider what’s on the other end of the spectrum. Full manual has its benefits, both practical and aesthetic.
Plus, the money you will save will let you buy a better grinder. And that makes all the difference.
I agree but for different reasons. As a hardcore light/ultralight roast coffee nerd, I often recommend 'soup shots' over espresso. I've never owned an espresso setup, but the "soup shots" I've pulled with a $45 oxo brewer absolutely are in the ballpark of the best espresso shots I've had from the same roasts brewed with a traditional machine.
> Before you spend many thousands of dollars on a machine better suited to a coffee shop, consider getting a minimalist lever machine.
Agreed. I have a Pavoni Europiccola, and it's made approximately ~11,000 espresso shots (about half of those ended up as milk-based beverages). It makes excellent coffee, and I live in a place where there are a _lot_ of good coffee places around to compare to.
The maintenance is something I do myself, with a few small & inexpensive tools, and a few gaskets I need to replace. The machine will likely outlive me, which is a rare thing to say these days.
They are fun but at the end of the day the deal breakers are "preheated water" and no steamed milk without more machines/gadgets. Kind of kills the entire point. That said, there are more advanced lever machines that have boilers built in.
The practical benefit is having basically zero parts.
We got a Flair manual espresso maker after our Gaggia Classic crapped out after a year (hard water buildup, probably). I de-scaled, replaced some parts, still didn't work.
Exact same thing happened to me, I sold the Gaggia and now I'm considering getting a manual one. The only issue is hot water as well as needing a separate steam wand, I wish there was an all in one solution for that.
You've got to disassemble the boiler and remove the scale from there. I run a Gaggia Classic at home with really hard water and my machine literally stopped flowing due to scale buildup. Once I fully pulled it apart and scraped all the scale out of the inside of the boiler it started running flawlessly.
I have an espresso machine (or had, recently sold) as well as a moka pot as well as many other coffee making gadgets like a V60 and an Aeropress. They all make different types of coffee and are not comparable. Sometimes if you want true espresso you need to use an espresso machine.
Moka pots don't make espresso though. True espresso requires ~9 bars of pressure to make. Moka pots can create at max 1.5 bars (though optimally it would hover between 0.5 and 1 bar).
So while they make very good, rich, full-bodied coffee, it's just not espresso.
Before spending money on a good grinder, make sure you have access to reasonable good quality / priced beans in your area! Otherwise your OPEX really starts to go through the roof for shipping coffee (At least my area)
When I moved to Europe years ago from the USA I was trying to decide if I wanted an all-in-one or an old-style arm one like you link (they were bigger though with lots of brass and just one arm). I ultimately went with the all-in-one (with ceramic grinders) because I realized I was so tired of grinding my coffee, packing it in, waiting for the espresso maker to warm up, having to stand there while the pump runs (I know this step is different), take the filter off and empty the grounds... if I needed to make 5 coffees for guests it was a big long ordeal. But my Italian all-in-one is super convenient but expensive but worth it. It's been twenty years now and I had to services just once. Select what I want to make, go off to my computer to login while it grinds the coffee, makes the coffee, go pick it up. Simple.
For what it is worth, I realized that superautos could make good espresso when in Italy in 2000 and got consistently good shots from the commercial superautos used in autostrada plazas. But those machines were serious equipment. Most home superautos I've tried have had a hard time producing good shots. But it can be done.
I just overhauled a la marzocco sitting in my kitchen. People often inquire about whether it's worth buying an espresso machine for the home, or if it's a good investment as a coffee connoisseur.
My reply is always that it was the best money I've ever spent and the worst investment I've ever made. It's a lifestyle choice, and a questionable one at that. But one I'd make again every time given the opportunity.
Just upgraded to the Linea Mini after dreaming about it for almost 10 years - I actually used to have a two group ex-commercial machine in my kitchen that I got 15 years ago, so people are shocked when I tell them this machine was a big downsize from my old one!
Part of the reason I bought new is that they are so expensive on the second hand market here - so I’m not too worried that I’ll get most of my money back if I upgrade to something else in 10-15 years.
I’m going to overhaul the old commercial machine and will probably get a bit more than what I paid for it so not complaining!
I love my La Marzocco Linea Micra. It’s exceptionally well-built and feels like an Apple product in its simplicity. The only downside is the app you have to use to use the programmed automated backflush.
But the user experience is remarkably simple. Turn the knob left to start the flow of water, turn the other way to stop. Move the dial to steam/froth milk. Fantastic default water pressure and even better tasting coffee. It’s a machine that will last a decade if not longer.
>The only downside is the app you have to use to use the programmed automated backflush.
Goddamnit, why the fuck can't we just have a machine that fucking does everything we need it to, on its own? An espresso machine requires a fucking app? Goddamnit.
Yes, I realize nothing about this comment is constructive.
You don’t actually have to use the app to backflush. You can just do it manually. The app is more convenient than flipping the lever a dozen times though.
I mean, my PSP from <20 years ago doesn't support WPA2 or 3 and therefore can't talk to my home wifi unless I made a hole for it.
But as we all know, Italian-made boutique home appliances are different. They have a rich history of having timely manufacturer-supplied technology updates provided as the decades press on.
We know this to be true, just as we know that sarcasm is a myth.
Just bought a La Micra last year. Big factor was knowing I can get parts and service for life. I had a lesser known brand machine for almost 15 years, but at some point I couldn't get parts or anyone to work on it, so it died when the pump gasket failed.
They must have machines that are not app-enabled right?
I sort of understand why their consumer machines would have that crap but I imagine that plenty of commercial places buying a $20k+ machine for a cafe that's supposed to run for 40 years would not accept having an app involved in maintenance.
Go into a service shop and see what they think of the computerised La Marsocco. Great coffee, amazing looking machine. But servicing…
I got awfully close to getting one then went for an e61. I’m very sure the coffee isn’t as good. I’m very sure the machine will have parts for a long time - it’s been 60 years so far.
I wasn't planning on buying one, but I'll add this to the list of app enabled coffee tech I refuse to buy. As someone who's blind I'm getting really tired of app enabled coffee equipment with no open source integrations or protocol documentation. Fellow also doesn't appear to make any effort to make there apps accessible. They have had there Aiden out for over a year and I still don't see any notes about accessibility in there app update. I'm not going to buy one and use the home assistant integration since that could break at any time. Luckily I'm more of a coffee drinker instead of espresso so the Ratio Four works well enough for single cups and half pots.
A decade seems good to you? We’re still just talking about heat and pressure, well-understood problems. There’s no excuse for a machine like this not to outlive the original owner. Anything else is planned obsolescence or a manufacturing defect.
I feel like this is where narrative/marketing does something independent of actual results. I mean, I'm sure a good engineer can figure out the fluid dynamics/pressures/seals/filtration reasonably easily.
A lot of the appeal of the older models, besides the brand name, is the beautiful design. It's like a functional work of art. As a brand that stood the test of time, LM's are also easy to restore too.
Yeah, you can get a cheaper machine, but it's not going to look as cool (this is subjective of course).
Vancouver also has a pretty nice La Marzocco showroom, the occasionally organize events, and can always go by to view the very nice machines and if you ask politely you'll get an amazing espresso
Somehow, the Bay Area, which is full of really rich coffee drinkers, doesn't have a La Marzocco showroom or even any big coffee equipment shop (Seattle Coffee Gear in Stanford shopping mall in Palo Alto closed a couple years ago).
Interesting, IME it's all beans. At my go-to place, the baristas are pretty bad but the two owners are super dedicated to roasting their own beans, you can always see them putting a lot of time and effort into it. Result is much better than places where the baristas are skilled but they use cheap pre-roasted bulk beans.
To take it to an extreme, I doubt the best barista in the world is going to get a good shot out of the default Starbucks beans. But maybe I'm wrong!
You're not wrong, bad beans are bad beans. But on the other hand, no matter how fancy single origin perfectly roasted beans you have, a crappy barista will most likely pull a terrible shot.
Two different machines, they make very different coffee.
The brikka is exceptional, if you like espresso.
I have a Brikka "Induction" with a stainless steel machined bottom part. Today I looked and apparently they decided to skimp and only offer the aluminum (non induction compatible) version. Pity.
Isn’t Kees van der Westen the ferrari of coffee machines?!
From TFA:
It’s why Sean Henry, the owner of Houndstooth Coffee in Dallas and Austin, Texas, was willing to drive across the state in 2009 to pick up a limited-edition La Marzocco machine that the company made in partnership with the Dutch designer Kees van der Westen.
I don’t have the plus, but the non plus still produces better espresso than I can get from the spots near me. As the proud owner of a 2008 Corolla, I approve.
No! I had this machine, the skeleton is made of iron (the black colored parts), it completely rusted away for me in a couple of years. Very bad design decision on Rancilio.
The Dedelonri I bought in Vietnam for $20. It’s a Chinese fake of a budget machine. But it has insanely high pressure and produces way better coffee than anyone finds reasonable.
But secretly, I think it’s all just the super fresh high quality beans that you can buy in Vietnam. They cultivate a regional variant of arabica in their highlands. And even using a standard Bialetti Moca cup produces exceptional results with that coffee.
If only hip cafes that get custom built ones knew how to pull an actual espresso shot.
New rule should be La Marzocco judges every barista on their skills before being able to flip a paddle, which requires a bespoke NFC card linked to their certification.
Yes I’m salty about the amount of aesthetic cafes that have no idea what to do about their coffee program because all they care about is being a hip third space.
One coffee shop near me (since closed) had a Group 3 Slayer paired with a Super Jolly (but they also didn't know how to pull a decent shot).
For those unfamiliar, Slayer is (imo the best) one of the top $$$ machines and pairing it with a budget grinder is a classic sign the owner doesn't know a thing about coffee. Often the grinder is more influential than the espresso machine.
And how I mention "Group 3" that means it has three brewing heads. They were using a ~$20-30k espresso machine paired with a run of the mill budget grinder.
> For those unfamiliar, Slayer is (imo the best) one of the top $$$ machines and pairing it with a budget grinder is a classic sign the owner doesn't know a thing about coffee.
The exception to that rule is Espresso Vivace in Seattle, with (at Capitol Hill location) a couple 3-group La Marzoccos at the bar and a collection of modded Niche Zeros on grinding duty. Nobody can accuse David Schomer[0] of "not knowing a thing about coffee".
Boy different world different meaning of "expensive." I'm opening a cafe in Jakarta and I'm thinking if I should get a used Super Jolly or something _cheaper_.
In my anecdotal experience of reacting to “wow this espresso is good” it’s often been a Slayer machine. It’s been a rough indicator of where to get good coffee for me.
I tend to look at the grinder and also the choice of the beans (roast level, consistency, chips). As another commenter pointed out you do occasionally get places that will buy a super fancy machine but have no idea what to do with it.
It's rarer to spend loads on a fancy grinder if you don't know what you're doing.
La Marzocco has such brand recognition that a lot of newbie coffee shops would buy one, but people who buy a more niche commercial machine like a Slayer or a Synesso probably know what they are doing. Still, there's nothing wrong with the machine itself and there are plenty of really great coffee shops with a La Marzocco.
> New rule should be La Marzocco judges every barista on their skills before being able to flip a paddle, which requires a bespoke NFC card linked to their certification.
The same La Marzocco that puts fake paddles on their cheaper machines when whats there is really just a button?
Unless your plan is to eliminate La Marzocco machines from the secondary market by rapidly buying up the old machines, at a substantial premium, and leasing all future machines I'm pretty sure you'd run into difficulty implementing any sort of mandatory certification requirement.
As unfeasible as the original post is, I do empathize. There is a trend of expensive coffee places spending all this money on everything but training the actual employees.
Since the thread is full of coffee enthusiasts: I recently stepped outside my espresso-only routine and started appreciating V60 and Origami pour-overs. It's been great realizing how much depth there is outside of espresso. Where does the rest of HN crowd land on pour-overs?
Fruity Kenyans and Ethiopians by V60 or Chemex, classic Italian on the espresso machine, the way $deity intended. Acidic espresso is gross, but the juicy acidic coffees shine as pour-overs.
My espresso routine is a strong Americano made with two doubles and a little bit of water (I think I may get some hate for the Americano?). I like it, but it does take a little while to measure, grind, pull, clean, etc. If I don’t feel like going through the whole routine, then a strong V60 pour over is a great substitute. 25-30 grams of the same beans, fairly finely ground, at a 1:13-1:15 ratio works well. Not quite as rich or as pleasant a mouthfeel as the Americano, but good.
I use a Melitta pour over cone, a Baratza grinder, a kettle with a temp control, and a spoon. Once in a while, I'll get out the French press. Good coffee doesn't really need to be complicated. You just need decent fresh beans and a little care.
I like the idea of a no bypass brewer, like the ceado hoop. It's somewhat more efficient with coffee and more consistent, plus it doesn't benefit from any specific type of kettle or any type of technique. You just pour the water and wait. The shape prevents it from fitting on every mug/carafe, and that's annoying.
I've been eying a hario switch to try something new. The chemex gets marks from me for design & size when I need to make a big pot for guests.
Italian design from some of these eras is unmatched. A new LMLM is beautiful, but even the budget home espresso machines from Gaggia used to take it more seriously. A Gaggia classic pro [0] that you can buy today looks clean but boring, but previous era Gaggia Baby [1] would look amazing on any countertop or even as an objet d'art. The lines of the Gaggia Espresso [2] are reminiscent of a Ferrari Testarossa.
GS3 3 times a day :) it’s got a timer to auto start every morning and the iPhone app is super convenient to switch on and pre heat the machine ..the Olympia is the Leica of espresso machines, beautiful but limited .. it’s really designed for Italian style espresso (dark roast) and even the Olympia grinder works best for dark roasts
Before you spend many thousands of dollars on a machine better suited to a coffee shop, consider getting a minimalist lever machine.
I have (and love) my little Cafelat Robot [1]. It is small, draws no electricity, and relies upon my practiced hands to push preheated water through the coffee puck. There is nothing to get between me and the experience of making great espresso. I can feel the pressure, I can hear the stream of espresso, I can effortlessly adjust the flow in response to what the extraction is telling my senses.
Instead of a button press, pulling a shot is now a tactile experience that engages the senses. When the pull is done, I am primed to enjoy the results.
Yes, before getting an expensive commercial-style machine, consider what’s on the other end of the spectrum. Full manual has its benefits, both practical and aesthetic.
Plus, the money you will save will let you buy a better grinder. And that makes all the difference.
[1] http://www.cafelat.com/robot.html
[delayed]
I agree but for different reasons. As a hardcore light/ultralight roast coffee nerd, I often recommend 'soup shots' over espresso. I've never owned an espresso setup, but the "soup shots" I've pulled with a $45 oxo brewer absolutely are in the ballpark of the best espresso shots I've had from the same roasts brewed with a traditional machine.
> Before you spend many thousands of dollars on a machine better suited to a coffee shop, consider getting a minimalist lever machine.
Agreed. I have a Pavoni Europiccola, and it's made approximately ~11,000 espresso shots (about half of those ended up as milk-based beverages). It makes excellent coffee, and I live in a place where there are a _lot_ of good coffee places around to compare to.
The maintenance is something I do myself, with a few small & inexpensive tools, and a few gaskets I need to replace. The machine will likely outlive me, which is a rare thing to say these days.
They are fun but at the end of the day the deal breakers are "preheated water" and no steamed milk without more machines/gadgets. Kind of kills the entire point. That said, there are more advanced lever machines that have boilers built in.
I have the same and love it. Another bonus of the Cafelat is no microplastics in my hot coffee. :)
The practical benefit is having basically zero parts.
We got a Flair manual espresso maker after our Gaggia Classic crapped out after a year (hard water buildup, probably). I de-scaled, replaced some parts, still didn't work.
Exact same thing happened to me, I sold the Gaggia and now I'm considering getting a manual one. The only issue is hot water as well as needing a separate steam wand, I wish there was an all in one solution for that.
You've got to disassemble the boiler and remove the scale from there. I run a Gaggia Classic at home with really hard water and my machine literally stopped flowing due to scale buildup. Once I fully pulled it apart and scraped all the scale out of the inside of the boiler it started running flawlessly.
https://greatinfusions.com/blog/great-infusions-coffee-blog/...
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Or just get a Moka pot, which is what most Italians use at home anyway. You can get a decent one for $30-50.
I have an espresso machine (or had, recently sold) as well as a moka pot as well as many other coffee making gadgets like a V60 and an Aeropress. They all make different types of coffee and are not comparable. Sometimes if you want true espresso you need to use an espresso machine.
Moka pots don't make espresso though. True espresso requires ~9 bars of pressure to make. Moka pots can create at max 1.5 bars (though optimally it would hover between 0.5 and 1 bar).
So while they make very good, rich, full-bodied coffee, it's just not espresso.
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> a tactile experience that engages the senses
> make sure you have a good grinder first
The mercurial success of Hot Dog on a Stick has taught us that the choices of uniform and workers are factors!
No milk though
>consider getting a minimalist lever machine
Before spending money on an espresso machine, make sure you have a good grinder first.
Before spending money on a good grinder, make sure you have access to reasonable good quality / priced beans in your area! Otherwise your OPEX really starts to go through the roof for shipping coffee (At least my area)
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When I moved to Europe years ago from the USA I was trying to decide if I wanted an all-in-one or an old-style arm one like you link (they were bigger though with lots of brass and just one arm). I ultimately went with the all-in-one (with ceramic grinders) because I realized I was so tired of grinding my coffee, packing it in, waiting for the espresso maker to warm up, having to stand there while the pump runs (I know this step is different), take the filter off and empty the grounds... if I needed to make 5 coffees for guests it was a big long ordeal. But my Italian all-in-one is super convenient but expensive but worth it. It's been twenty years now and I had to services just once. Select what I want to make, go off to my computer to login while it grinds the coffee, makes the coffee, go pick it up. Simple.
What machine did you get?
For what it is worth, I realized that superautos could make good espresso when in Italy in 2000 and got consistently good shots from the commercial superautos used in autostrada plazas. But those machines were serious equipment. Most home superautos I've tried have had a hard time producing good shots. But it can be done.
I just overhauled a la marzocco sitting in my kitchen. People often inquire about whether it's worth buying an espresso machine for the home, or if it's a good investment as a coffee connoisseur.
My reply is always that it was the best money I've ever spent and the worst investment I've ever made. It's a lifestyle choice, and a questionable one at that. But one I'd make again every time given the opportunity.
Just upgraded to the Linea Mini after dreaming about it for almost 10 years - I actually used to have a two group ex-commercial machine in my kitchen that I got 15 years ago, so people are shocked when I tell them this machine was a big downsize from my old one!
Part of the reason I bought new is that they are so expensive on the second hand market here - so I’m not too worried that I’ll get most of my money back if I upgrade to something else in 10-15 years.
I’m going to overhaul the old commercial machine and will probably get a bit more than what I paid for it so not complaining!
I love my La Marzocco Linea Micra. It’s exceptionally well-built and feels like an Apple product in its simplicity. The only downside is the app you have to use to use the programmed automated backflush.
But the user experience is remarkably simple. Turn the knob left to start the flow of water, turn the other way to stop. Move the dial to steam/froth milk. Fantastic default water pressure and even better tasting coffee. It’s a machine that will last a decade if not longer.
>The only downside is the app you have to use to use the programmed automated backflush.
Goddamnit, why the fuck can't we just have a machine that fucking does everything we need it to, on its own? An espresso machine requires a fucking app? Goddamnit.
Yes, I realize nothing about this comment is constructive.
You don’t actually have to use the app to backflush. You can just do it manually. The app is more convenient than flipping the lever a dozen times though.
Oh, it's fine.
I mean, my PSP from <20 years ago doesn't support WPA2 or 3 and therefore can't talk to my home wifi unless I made a hole for it.
But as we all know, Italian-made boutique home appliances are different. They have a rich history of having timely manufacturer-supplied technology updates provided as the decades press on.
We know this to be true, just as we know that sarcasm is a myth.
Just bought a La Micra last year. Big factor was knowing I can get parts and service for life. I had a lesser known brand machine for almost 15 years, but at some point I couldn't get parts or anyone to work on it, so it died when the pump gasket failed.
They must have machines that are not app-enabled right?
I sort of understand why their consumer machines would have that crap but I imagine that plenty of commercial places buying a $20k+ machine for a cafe that's supposed to run for 40 years would not accept having an app involved in maintenance.
It’s bad.
Go into a service shop and see what they think of the computerised La Marsocco. Great coffee, amazing looking machine. But servicing…
I got awfully close to getting one then went for an e61. I’m very sure the coffee isn’t as good. I’m very sure the machine will have parts for a long time - it’s been 60 years so far.
I wasn't planning on buying one, but I'll add this to the list of app enabled coffee tech I refuse to buy. As someone who's blind I'm getting really tired of app enabled coffee equipment with no open source integrations or protocol documentation. Fellow also doesn't appear to make any effort to make there apps accessible. They have had there Aiden out for over a year and I still don't see any notes about accessibility in there app update. I'm not going to buy one and use the home assistant integration since that could break at any time. Luckily I'm more of a coffee drinker instead of espresso so the Ratio Four works well enough for single cups and half pots.
A decade seems good to you? We’re still just talking about heat and pressure, well-understood problems. There’s no excuse for a machine like this not to outlive the original owner. Anything else is planned obsolescence or a manufacturing defect.
Certainly like a apple in terms of price.
I feel like this is where narrative/marketing does something independent of actual results. I mean, I'm sure a good engineer can figure out the fluid dynamics/pressures/seals/filtration reasonably easily.
A lot of the appeal of the older models, besides the brand name, is the beautiful design. It's like a functional work of art. As a brand that stood the test of time, LM's are also easy to restore too.
Yeah, you can get a cheaper machine, but it's not going to look as cool (this is subjective of course).
[dead]
If you're ever in Florence, Italy and love coffee (and La Marzocco) do yourself a favor and visit the museum https://lamarzocco.com/mktcenter/visit-us-in-italy/
Vancouver also has a pretty nice La Marzocco showroom, the occasionally organize events, and can always go by to view the very nice machines and if you ask politely you'll get an amazing espresso
Somehow, the Bay Area, which is full of really rich coffee drinkers, doesn't have a La Marzocco showroom or even any big coffee equipment shop (Seattle Coffee Gear in Stanford shopping mall in Palo Alto closed a couple years ago).
If you're ever in Seattle you can visit the La Marzocco US headquarters and actually try out their machines.
I actually hate coffee, but I go by their building every day and the machines are very impressive looking.
I used to have a decent espresso machine at home, and try , from time to time, supposedly "barista quality" espressos from cafes around here.
I agree wholeheartedly with those who say the coffee beans, the grinder and the barista are more important than the machine.
Nowadays at home I use a very simple Bialetti Brikka with exactly 200 ml of water and 20 g of coffee. God shots every single time.
That's not espresso though. It makes good coffee, sure, but so does an Aeropress, they're not really comparable when one wants a true espresso.
Interesting, IME it's all beans. At my go-to place, the baristas are pretty bad but the two owners are super dedicated to roasting their own beans, you can always see them putting a lot of time and effort into it. Result is much better than places where the baristas are skilled but they use cheap pre-roasted bulk beans.
To take it to an extreme, I doubt the best barista in the world is going to get a good shot out of the default Starbucks beans. But maybe I'm wrong!
You're not wrong, bad beans are bad beans. But on the other hand, no matter how fancy single origin perfectly roasted beans you have, a crappy barista will most likely pull a terrible shot.
Beans can't compensate for the lack of skill.
That can't really be called a shot anymore tho, you're not even in a lungo territory if you're pulling a 200ml shot.
Or do you mean an Americano? Are you adding water afterwards?
> 200ml shot
It's not an espresso.
Americano? I would not touch that with a ten-foot pole.
No... no water. The Brikka has a pressure valve and the 200 ml of water yield about 125-150 ml of coffee.
You might call it a double lungo, but with a bit of crema (yep) and no acidity or sour taste. Just sweet coffee with nice chocolate notes.
I use coffee beans from Papua New Guinea, roasted locally at the coffee shop.
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How do you like the brikka vs the classic?
Two different machines, they make very different coffee.
The brikka is exceptional, if you like espresso.
I have a Brikka "Induction" with a stainless steel machined bottom part. Today I looked and apparently they decided to skimp and only offer the aluminum (non induction compatible) version. Pity.
Isn’t Kees van der Westen the ferrari of coffee machines?!
That's more like the Spyker of coffee machines. Incidentally I went to a random coffee shop that had a Speedster in it. It was great.
Isn’t Kees van der Westen the ferrari of coffee machines?!
From TFA:
It’s why Sean Henry, the owner of Houndstooth Coffee in Dallas and Austin, Texas, was willing to drive across the state in 2009 to pick up a limited-edition La Marzocco machine that the company made in partnership with the Dutch designer Kees van der Westen.
So... what is the Corolla of espresso machines?
Gaggia Classic Pro, modded with Gagguino or Gaggimate. Only downside - single boiler.
My Breville Bambino Plus was cheap and produces a pretty reliable shot.
I don’t have the plus, but the non plus still produces better espresso than I can get from the spots near me. As the proud owner of a 2008 Corolla, I approve.
The Rancilio Silvia.
https://coffeegeek.com/reviews/firstlooks/rancilio-silvia-pr...
No! I had this machine, the skeleton is made of iron (the black colored parts), it completely rusted away for me in a couple of years. Very bad design decision on Rancilio.
100% stainless steel or bust.
Good machine, and you can upgrade it with a PID.
And you will have enough money left over to get a great grinder.
I am being told by my local coffee geeks that it's Gaggia
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I've bought Corollas for less than that ...
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The Dedelonri I bought in Vietnam for $20. It’s a Chinese fake of a budget machine. But it has insanely high pressure and produces way better coffee than anyone finds reasonable.
But secretly, I think it’s all just the super fresh high quality beans that you can buy in Vietnam. They cultivate a regional variant of arabica in their highlands. And even using a standard Bialetti Moca cup produces exceptional results with that coffee.
I've got a DeLonghi Dedica Duo which makes much better coffee than it has any right to... And it's very cheap.
Even can adjust temperature and shot water volume...
Gaggia.
Delonghi Dedica!
Breville Barista Express probably.
I've definitely seen these in more homes and offices than anything from La Marzocco.
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putting milk in your coffee haha
If only hip cafes that get custom built ones knew how to pull an actual espresso shot.
New rule should be La Marzocco judges every barista on their skills before being able to flip a paddle, which requires a bespoke NFC card linked to their certification.
Yes I’m salty about the amount of aesthetic cafes that have no idea what to do about their coffee program because all they care about is being a hip third space.
One coffee shop near me (since closed) had a Group 3 Slayer paired with a Super Jolly (but they also didn't know how to pull a decent shot).
For those unfamiliar, Slayer is (imo the best) one of the top $$$ machines and pairing it with a budget grinder is a classic sign the owner doesn't know a thing about coffee. Often the grinder is more influential than the espresso machine.
And how I mention "Group 3" that means it has three brewing heads. They were using a ~$20-30k espresso machine paired with a run of the mill budget grinder.
> For those unfamiliar, Slayer is (imo the best) one of the top $$$ machines and pairing it with a budget grinder is a classic sign the owner doesn't know a thing about coffee.
The exception to that rule is Espresso Vivace in Seattle, with (at Capitol Hill location) a couple 3-group La Marzoccos at the bar and a collection of modded Niche Zeros on grinding duty. Nobody can accuse David Schomer[0] of "not knowing a thing about coffee".
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Schomer
Boy different world different meaning of "expensive." I'm opening a cafe in Jakarta and I'm thinking if I should get a used Super Jolly or something _cheaper_.
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In my anecdotal experience of reacting to “wow this espresso is good” it’s often been a Slayer machine. It’s been a rough indicator of where to get good coffee for me.
I tend to look at the grinder and also the choice of the beans (roast level, consistency, chips). As another commenter pointed out you do occasionally get places that will buy a super fancy machine but have no idea what to do with it. It's rarer to spend loads on a fancy grinder if you don't know what you're doing.
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La Marzocco has such brand recognition that a lot of newbie coffee shops would buy one, but people who buy a more niche commercial machine like a Slayer or a Synesso probably know what they are doing. Still, there's nothing wrong with the machine itself and there are plenty of really great coffee shops with a La Marzocco.
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> New rule should be La Marzocco judges every barista on their skills before being able to flip a paddle, which requires a bespoke NFC card linked to their certification.
The same La Marzocco that puts fake paddles on their cheaper machines when whats there is really just a button?
Unless your plan is to eliminate La Marzocco machines from the secondary market by rapidly buying up the old machines, at a substantial premium, and leasing all future machines I'm pretty sure you'd run into difficulty implementing any sort of mandatory certification requirement.
As unfeasible as the original post is, I do empathize. There is a trend of expensive coffee places spending all this money on everything but training the actual employees.
All that effort to serve lemon juice. Sigh...
Since the thread is full of coffee enthusiasts: I recently stepped outside my espresso-only routine and started appreciating V60 and Origami pour-overs. It's been great realizing how much depth there is outside of espresso. Where does the rest of HN crowd land on pour-overs?
Fruity Kenyans and Ethiopians by V60 or Chemex, classic Italian on the espresso machine, the way $deity intended. Acidic espresso is gross, but the juicy acidic coffees shine as pour-overs.
I've been doing espresso for years and just mixed it up with a V60 this year as well. My favorite right now is Japanese iced pour over.
My espresso routine is a strong Americano made with two doubles and a little bit of water (I think I may get some hate for the Americano?). I like it, but it does take a little while to measure, grind, pull, clean, etc. If I don’t feel like going through the whole routine, then a strong V60 pour over is a great substitute. 25-30 grams of the same beans, fairly finely ground, at a 1:13-1:15 ratio works well. Not quite as rich or as pleasant a mouthfeel as the Americano, but good.
I use a Melitta pour over cone, a Baratza grinder, a kettle with a temp control, and a spoon. Once in a while, I'll get out the French press. Good coffee doesn't really need to be complicated. You just need decent fresh beans and a little care.
I like the idea of a no bypass brewer, like the ceado hoop. It's somewhat more efficient with coffee and more consistent, plus it doesn't benefit from any specific type of kettle or any type of technique. You just pour the water and wait. The shape prevents it from fitting on every mug/carafe, and that's annoying.
I've been eying a hario switch to try something new. The chemex gets marks from me for design & size when I need to make a big pot for guests.
Italian design from some of these eras is unmatched. A new LMLM is beautiful, but even the budget home espresso machines from Gaggia used to take it more seriously. A Gaggia classic pro [0] that you can buy today looks clean but boring, but previous era Gaggia Baby [1] would look amazing on any countertop or even as an objet d'art. The lines of the Gaggia Espresso [2] are reminiscent of a Ferrari Testarossa.
0 - https://coffeegeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gaggia-Cla...
1 - https://live.staticflickr.com/5749/20930782499_f47f18391a_b....
2 - https://preview.redd.it/i-call-your-oldies-and-raise-this-19...
La Marzocco GS3 and Olympia Express owner here. LM isn't the Ferrari ... that title really should go to KVW and Slayer :)
Nice! Which one do you use most often?
GS3 3 times a day :) it’s got a timer to auto start every morning and the iPhone app is super convenient to switch on and pre heat the machine ..the Olympia is the Leica of espresso machines, beautiful but limited .. it’s really designed for Italian style espresso (dark roast) and even the Olympia grinder works best for dark roasts