Espresso machines?

**zeocen** · 15th August 2011, 22:54

Hey all,

Has anyone here got experience with espresso machines? I've taken a belated liking to coffee and am looking at one for home. Not looking to spend much and not expecting the world from it but one requirement would be a good steam wand for nice steamed milk! (I also have a love for hot chocolate. Actual hot chocolate not any of this powder crap!) Has anyone got any suggestions? Up to and around. 300 to 400.

Thanks!

Alternatively just a dedicated milk steamer would be awesome but I don't think they exist

Thanks a lot!

**ducatilover** · 15th August 2011, 23:09

I have found ariete machines to make amazing coffee

**Urano** · 15th August 2011, 23:12

listen... if you want a good coffee in the simplest way, i can tell you that "nespresso" machines make a good coffee even for italian standards.

you can choose one with steamer too: http://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/coffee-maker-list-Nesp

the down side is that you then need their capsules (which as i said are pretty good), and the chocolate is out of question.

if you'd prefer something more "traditional", Gaggia (http://www.gaggia.com/index.asp?) offers good machines at a good price.
obviously, if you get caught in the search for espresso excellence, you'll need too a grinder, cause, as you should know, the grinding has to be different with humidity and temperature condition day by day...

**Mental Trousers** · 15th August 2011, 23:14

We got a Nespresso (gay flash website) as a wedding present.

Best
Wedding
present
ever

Just pop a capsule in, press a button and you have coffee!!! No fucking around grinding beans blah blah blah blah blah and then having to clean the damn thing. It's coffee for the normal (lazy) person.

**Berries** · 16th August 2011, 00:04

Sounds easier than instant.

**zeocen** · 16th August 2011, 09:20

Thanks for those links guys, I don't think that's really what I'm after though as they don't seem to have steam wands? Some of them froth milk but I'm looking for steamed milk rather than aerated.

**Urano** · 16th August 2011, 10:47

look again: http://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/produ...-machine-en660

by the way, Giulia (still my wife...) has opened some time ago a facebook page "fan of aeroccino"

**george formby** · 16th August 2011, 10:55

Breville do a reasonable one, then you have a Rocket which is pretty good. They are steep in $$$ but you get what you pay for. Your paying for a good steam boiler, cheap machines will froth one cup (badly) then need a little rest before the next one.

Look on trade me & get a good quality second hand one. All the spares are readily available.

**zeocen** · 16th August 2011, 11:12

Originally Posted by Urano

look again: http://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/produ...-machine-en660

by the way, Giulia (still my wife...) has opened some time ago a facebook page "fan of aeroccino" :D

Thanks man but for a steamer I meant a steam wand directly into the milk, stretching it and changing its flavour by breaking down the sugar inside the milk. Frothers like that don't really stretch the milk, they just kinda heat it and froth it.

I know I'm being a bit pedantic on this side of the espresso (when most people would be more hard up about how good of a shot it produces) but stretched milk compliments true and Belgium dark chocolate the best. I'm a choco fag, I know :D

If it was just for single shot coffee, the Nespresso definitely looks like the ideal machine!

George: While I'm prepared to pay slightly more than I suggested, the Rocket is well over and above that!!

**george formby** · 16th August 2011, 11:20

Originally Posted by zeocen

George: While I'm prepared to pay slightly more than I suggested, the Rocket is well over and above that!!

Have a look around... I own a 2 group La Marzocco commercial machine. It was half the price of a new Rocket.

Your spot on with the milk, that's what gives you the texture so you need enough grunt to get your milk swirling & rolling properly rather than just frothing angrily.

**Tony.OK** · 16th August 2011, 11:25

The breville 800es from Briscoes is what I ended up getting. $399 on special.
I looked at all the reviews and that was the only cheapish one that didn't crap out after 6 mths, well less than others anyway.

Don't go too fine on the coffee or it'll struggle, Robert Harris pre ground works great if tamped firm.

Steams milk well (throw away the froth enhancer tube), just get a better jug. I find a smaller jug works really well as ya can get the milk spinning better and get nice micro foam with a little practice.

I got hooked at work when a mate bought his one in..............trouble is ya can't go back to horrible instant ever again haha.

**slofox** · 16th August 2011, 11:40

I have a Breville "cafe roma". I've had it for a gazillion years. It must have made thousands of cups of coffee and has never once faltered. It was cheap and makes better coffee than some commercial swill I have had before today. Temperature is always bang on, simple manual operation (I like that). It steams milk up just fine as well.

Having said that, it is not a commercial machine so doesn't make "the best" coffee I have ever tasted. But it is sufficient for my own needs.

Quality of the coffee produced depends on using top quality beans. I use a variety of the "single origin" beans produced by the Rocket coffee company here in The Tron. I used their standard blend for a long while but was eventually seduced by the myriad of different flavours available in their single origin range.

EDIT: One thing I did do was lose the crappy plastic tamper and get a "proper" one. Was well worth $50.00.

**george formby** · 16th August 2011, 11:50

Originally Posted by slofox

I have a Breville "cafe roma". I've had it for a gazillion years. It must have made thousands of cups of coffee and has never once faltered. It was cheap and makes better coffee than some commercial swill I have had before today. Temperature is always bang on, simple manual operation (I like that). It steams milk up just fine as well.

Having said that, it is not a commercial machine so doesn't make "the best" coffee I have ever tasted. But it is sufficient for my own needs.

Quality of the coffee produced depends on using top quality beans. I use a variety of the "single origin" beans produced by the Rocket coffee company here in The Tron. I used their standard blend for a long while but was eventually seduced by the myriad of different flavours available in their single origin range.

EDIT: One thing I did do was lose the crappy plastic tamper and get a "proper" one. Was well worth $50.00.

A connoisseur sir. I roasted for a while & was, still am, fascinated by the subtleties of coffee. I'm eking out a bag of Jamaican Blue Mountain beans I was given recently. It is glorious in a traditional flavour way but well overpriced.

Oh, OP, get a proper milk jug for your frothing, the ones with the fat bottoms. They are designed to fold the milk in on it self to get the dense foam.

Jug

Coffee porn

**slofox** · 16th August 2011, 12:02

Originally Posted by george formby

A connoisseur sir. I roasted for a while & was, still am, fascinated by the subtleties of coffee. I'm eking out a bag of Jamaican Blue Mountain beans I was given recently. It is glorious in a traditional flavour way but well overpriced.

Never had real Blue Mountain...read all about it though.

Once upon a time I loved the African coffees. I used to get a "Kilimanjaro" from some roaster in Cashel St Chch way back in the mid 60's. Loved that coffee.

Nowadays I prefer the Central American product, especially some of the "Cup of Excellence" award winners. They tend to be "brighter" in flavour - less earthy, less dense in the mouth. I had one called "La Illusion" some months ago. Best damn coffee I ever had. I'd grind some up and you could smell it throughout the entire house within seconds. Brilliant lively zingy tightly-focussed flavours. But then the crop sold out the the friggin' Japannies bought the entire next crop for themselves the greedy fuckers...

The latest one is an El Salvador product called "La Batalla". Will taste that tomorrow...