Beginner Espresso setup

floydpink · 01-21-2010, 05:18 PM

Personally, I'd never buy a superauto. Too little for me to worry about and too little control over the brew for my OCD ways. My friend has one and feeds it Illy beans. It is marginally good espresso at best and the machine cost a few thousand bucks. I have told him to head over to the local roaster or let me roast him some beans, but he's happy with the stuff he uses.

My espresso journey has left me convinced that you are not getting into the hobby properly without spending nearly the whole 700 budget on the most important part; the grinder. Not quite the whole 700, but not too far off either.

Lots of guys do nicely with the Rocky/Silvia combo, but are normally offering them up for cheap once they decide it's time to bite the bullet and upgrade.

I entered the hobby with a Gaggia Baby machine and Gaggia MDF grinder for about 600 total and grew out of it in under a year. Very inconsistent and unpredictable at the best of times.

01-21-2010, 05:18 PM	#9
floydpink crazy diamond Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: Orlando Posts: 1,955 Trading: (17)	Re: Beginner Espresso setup Personally, I'd never buy a superauto. Too little for me to worry about and too little control over the brew for my OCD ways. My friend has one and feeds it Illy beans. It is marginally good espresso at best and the machine cost a few thousand bucks. I have told him to head over to the local roaster or let me roast him some beans, but he's happy with the stuff he uses. My espresso journey has left me convinced that you are not getting into the hobby properly without spending nearly the whole 700 budget on the most important part; the grinder. Not quite the whole 700, but not too far off either. Lots of guys do nicely with the Rocky/Silvia combo, but are normally offering them up for cheap once they decide it's time to bite the bullet and upgrade. I entered the hobby with a Gaggia Baby machine and Gaggia MDF grinder for about 600 total and grew out of it in under a year. Very inconsistent and unpredictable at the best of times. __________________ "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane"