From my own experience, I can say that DeLonghi makes the best coffee machines. At work, DeLonghi Magnifica, at home, DeLonghi Dinamica. They work flawlessly, consistently produce excellent coffee, are reliable, durable, and easy to repair.
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The online coffee/espresso culture mirrors the subjectivist audio crowd.
- Thread starter fieldcar
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I'm totally a Bialetti snob. Their moka pots are literal perfection, regardless of whether others are better.
one old Lance Hedrick video about a manual lever machine "on the cheap" got me into espresso brewing, for the last couple of years -
i mostly watch his and Hoffman's videos for the entertainment aspect, though i do appericiate their specific equipment reviews.
my personal subjective conclusions:
get a decent electic grinder that is suitable for espresso and capable of grinding fine enough while being easy to use and doesn't make too much of a grinding mess. rentention is quite important because good coffee is expensive.
a maual modern lever machine with heated grouphead. why lever? because of the endless possibilties of getting a better tasing shot (to your liking only) every time. you control all the parameters, if the beans are good and the shot somewhat sucked - it's on you.
get a small inexpensive unbranded weight with a timer , as water/coffee ratio plays a huge role in a good tasting shot
the money you save by buying a relatively cheap machine (standard Flair58 go on sale a couple of times a year and is about 500$), can go to a grinder that answers to your functionallity needs - for example, i find useful the "fines knocker" on my Timemore Sculptor 064s, and its small footprint (bought on Kickstarter for 300$. took a year to arrive)
f$ck the (blind) tastings. the charts. the 40 minutes videos. the only thing that matters is what it tastes like
i mostly watch his and Hoffman's videos for the entertainment aspect, though i do appericiate their specific equipment reviews.
my personal subjective conclusions:
get a decent electic grinder that is suitable for espresso and capable of grinding fine enough while being easy to use and doesn't make too much of a grinding mess. rentention is quite important because good coffee is expensive.
a maual modern lever machine with heated grouphead. why lever? because of the endless possibilties of getting a better tasing shot (to your liking only) every time. you control all the parameters, if the beans are good and the shot somewhat sucked - it's on you.
get a small inexpensive unbranded weight with a timer , as water/coffee ratio plays a huge role in a good tasting shot
the money you save by buying a relatively cheap machine (standard Flair58 go on sale a couple of times a year and is about 500$), can go to a grinder that answers to your functionallity needs - for example, i find useful the "fines knocker" on my Timemore Sculptor 064s, and its small footprint (bought on Kickstarter for 300$. took a year to arrive)
f$ck the (blind) tastings. the charts. the 40 minutes videos. the only thing that matters is what it tastes like
For a cheap solution - never underestimate what a simple Aeropress can produce. It take's a pretty good espresso machine to do better and even then there are real differences in the end result so there is a place for both.
Of course it also helps if you have a ridiculously good grinder, really good beans that you have blended and roasted yourself, dechlorinated water with the right sort of mineral composition and a manual lever machine lurking there for when you want the full theatre
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Of course it also helps if you have a ridiculously good grinder, really good beans that you have blended and roasted yourself, dechlorinated water with the right sort of mineral composition and a manual lever machine lurking there for when you want the full theatre
.
Colonel7
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I have a Lavazza Classy Plus. It just works and no need to mess with froth and steam for my wife who loves milk drinks. It is super convenient for a doppio between meetings compared to my moka. I use a French press occasionally when I want something different. I can understand why people get obsessive about making their own espresso and roasting beans but my obsessions lie elsewhere. And I’ve enjoyed instant too - if the choice is between that and none.
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