U own Espresso Machine?

Chicklet said:

I am trying to find a very simple way to make cappuccinos and lattes.
There are so many machines out there, some of which are very involved
and expensive.

Can someone who knows about these things recommend a simple machine
that will produce good results with very little fuss?

You have a choice between a steam driven or a pump driven machine, and
the latter are more expensive. I have tried several reasonably priced
home machines that didn't last, but have had pretty good luck with my
Krupps pump driven machine.
Having been to the repair shop many times with machines, I was advised
that they all break down and parts are hard to get, so if you treat
yourself to a deluxe machine you may find yourself with an expensive
piece of garbage in a year or two.

Chicklet said:

I am trying to find a very simple way to make cappuccinos and lattes.
There are so many machines out there, some of which are very involved
and expensive.

Can someone who knows about these things recommend a simple machine
that will produce good results with very little fuss?

Thanks,
Miss Chicklet

You want simple? Find the old fashioned stovetop design.... it's the
best way to foam milk.
--

Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

Chicklet said:

Can someone who knows about these things recommend a simple machine
that will produce good results with very little fuss?

I know a lot about it and you're not going to find a simple machine
that makes good espresso. About the cheapest you're going to get off
for is $600 (price includes grinder) and it will require considerable
effort to learn how to use them. Actually, you can knock off $130 if
you buy a hand grinder.

nb

Dave Smith said:

You have a choice between a steam driven or a pump driven machine, and
the latter are more expensive. I have tried several reasonably priced
home machines that didn't last, but have had pretty good luck with my
Krupps pump driven machine.
Having been to the repair shop many times with machines, I was advised
that they all break down and parts are hard to get, so if you treat
yourself to a deluxe machine you may find yourself with an expensive
piece of garbage in a year or two.

I've had both steam-driven and pump-driven espresso machines. I bought the
pump-driven one because the steam-driven one makes HORRIBLE espresso. It
forces superheated water through the grounds, which brings out all the
bitterness. My pump-driven machine (a Starbucks "Barista"😉 heats the water
to a lower temperature for making espresso, then uses a pump to push it
through the grounds. It uses a separate compartment to generate steam for
the steam tube.

http://www.directbuyimporters.com/products.asp?product_id=4428833168 shows a
picture of the unit I have, though it cost less when I bought it several
years ago. I haven't had any problems with it breaking down; maybe I'm just
lucky in that respect.

Bob

Dave Smith said:

Chicklet said:

I am trying to find a very simple way to make cappuccinos and lattes.
There are so many machines out there, some of which are very involved
and expensive.

Can someone who knows about these things recommend a simple machine
that will produce good results with very little fuss?

You have a choice between a steam driven or a pump driven machine, and
the latter are more expensive. I have tried several reasonably priced
home machines that didn't last, but have had pretty good luck with my
Krupps pump driven machine.
Having been to the repair shop many times with machines, I was advised
that they all break down and parts are hard to get, so if you treat
yourself to a deluxe machine you may find yourself with an expensive
piece of garbage in a year or two.

Our Krups is still going strong after 8 years. My onlyh complaint is
lack of space under the nozzles - room for espresso cups but regular
coffee cups are too tall.

Peter

Bob Terwilliger said:

I've had both steam-driven and pump-driven espresso machines. I bought the
pump-driven one because the steam-driven one makes HORRIBLE espresso. It
forces superheated water through the grounds, which brings out all the
bitterness. My pump-driven machine (a Starbucks "Barista"😉 heats the water
to a lower temperature for making espresso, then uses a pump to push it
through the grounds. It uses a separate compartment to generate steam for
the steam tube.

I had good results with my steam driven machine but preferred the pump machines
because it is a PITA to make more than a few cups of espresso with the steam
machines because of the water supply, too much pressure to open when hot and
vacuum when cold. I had several of those Italian espresso pump machines.
Luckily I bought them at Canadian Tire where they have a one year replacement
policy and I was talking them back every 6 months or so after they died. I had a
Braun, and when the pump burned out it was cheaper to replace it with the Krupps
than to repair. I had considered a more expensive machine, but the repairman
who I had come to know well would not recommend any of them, showing me a $4500
machine someone had brought in that he could not get parts for. Another supplier
sold reconditioned machines starting at $2500, which is a little steep for home
use.

Quoted message said:

http://www.directbuyimporters.com/products.asp?product_id=4428833168 shows a
picture of the unit I have, though it cost less when I bought it several
years ago. I haven't had any problems with it breaking down; maybe I'm just
lucky in that respect.

Bob

P.Aitken said:

Our Krups is still going strong after 8 years. My onlyh complaint is
lack of space under the nozzles - room for espresso cups but regular
coffee cups are too tall.

My Krupps is at least 5 years old and still going strong.

Bob Terwilliger virtualgoth@die_spammer.biz said:

I've had both steam-driven and pump-driven espresso machines. I bought the
pump-driven one because the steam-driven one makes HORRIBLE espresso. It
forces superheated water through the grounds, which brings out all the
bitterness.

Right on the money, Bob. These "steam toys" (Krups, DeLonghi, etc)
are junk and a complete waste of money. Stay away.

Quoted message said:

My pump-driven machine (a Starbucks "Barista"😉....

This is about the bottom of the true espresso machine line and is that
$400 mark I mentioned. Anything less and the consumer is going to be
disappointed with the final results. I advise spending another $100
and getting a Rancilio Sylvia which has a better group head and
porta-filter.

The other expense is a true burr grinder which provides the proper
grind for espresso (there's nothing "easy" about espresso, folks!).
That whirly blade grinder you got for Christmas is useless for
espresso. Adequate grinders run about $130-200. As I said elsewhere,
there is a German hand grinder (Zassenhaus) that will do the job, but
they are in short supply, lately. Without a good burr grinder, you
will never get "good" espresso, regardless of what anyone else may
tell you.

Now, I will qualify what I've previous written by saying we are
talking about "good" espresso. Most folks don't even know what good
espresso is, it being that elusive and difficult to produce. Anywhere
but in Italy, I'd say the chances of buying a "good" espresso, even in
a cafe using the best commercial equipment, is no better than one in
twenty. I've never had a good espresso from Starbucks (never had a
good anything). If one is just looking for really strong coffee, one
might be better off trying a moka pot. These are very easy to use
....waaay cheaper!... and produce a very strong coffee that is often
called espresso (but is not). Some links below;

http://www.starbucks.com/retail/espressoMachines.asp
http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.brewers.mokapot.shtml#mokapot

nb

Quoted message said:

P.Aitken said:

Our Krups is still going strong after 8 years. My onlyh complaint is
lack of space under the nozzles - room for espresso cups but regular
coffee cups are too tall.

My Krupps is at least 5 years old and still going strong.

my wife bought a POS DeLonghi on sale for $20 two years ago and it's
still sputtering along

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 22:46:39 -0500, Chicklet
<[email hidden]> rummaged among random neurons and
opined:

Quoted message said:

I am trying to find a very simple way to make cappuccinos and lattes.
There are so many machines out there, some of which are very involved
and expensive.

Can someone who knows about these things recommend a simple machine
that will produce good results with very little fuss?

One word: Capresso. I have their Ultima machine and it makes espresso
in seconds and ready to go again as soon as the first two cups are
filled. Also has a frother. Couldn't be simpler.

Satisfiedly,
Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
AAC(F)BV66.0748.CA

"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

-- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "spaminator" with "cox"