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Main
Date: 09 Oct 2006 00:00:04
From: James Jeffrey
Subject: Which machine for this newbie?
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Hello,
I'm looking to upgrade my Kenwood Retro to something a little more
serious as it is proving difficult to obtain consistent results.
What I'm looking to achieve (and perhaps I am dreaming) is something
approaching french-cafe quality coffee, fairly reliably, and without
messing about too much. Dosen't have to be earth shattering. I like
both straight espresso and milkier drinks, tending to go for the
no-milk-after-midday theory (except for an evening Mocha on occasion).
I currently have a Krups burr grinder which I imagine may also need to
be replaced with something like a Rocky. I obtain beans in small
quantities from a mail order roasting company - when I get them they
have not been roasted for more than 36 hours, and I use them within a week.
If it matters I'm in the UK. My initial thought was a Gaggia Classic but
after reading online I'm concerned that it may not reliably provide the
quality of coffee I want, then I considered a Silvia but I'm worried
that might be too fussy and too much hard work for a lazy bod like me.
Temperature surfing does not appeal and neither do afterket PID mods.
Then I considered something like a Gaggia Syncrony Compact, but that
just seems too soulless - i want some limited involvement in what I'm
going to drink.
I'm prepared to pay Silvia money however at the moment I'm leaning
toward the Classic as it is inexpensive yet seems likely to do most of
what I want...
Suggestions at all?
thanks,
James
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Date: 10 Oct 2006 21:06:24
From: mb
Subject: Re: Which machine for this newbie?
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From James Jeffrey, on 10/8/2006 4:00 PM:
>
> If it matters I'm in the UK. My initial thought was a Gaggia Classic but
> after reading online I'm concerned that it may not reliably provide the
> quality of coffee I want, then I considered a Silvia but I'm worried
> that might be too fussy and too much hard work for a lazy bod like me.
> Temperature surfing does not appeal and neither do afterket PID mods.
> Then I considered something like a Gaggia Syncrony Compact, but that
> just seems too soulless - i want some limited involvement in what I'm
> going to drink.
>
> I'm prepared to pay Silvia money however at the moment I'm leaning
> toward the Classic as it is inexpensive yet seems likely to do most of
> what I want...
>
> Suggestions at all?
I'm enjoying the heck out of my Venus. I like the brass boiler, lot's
of steam power, plus it's solid and consistent. And it's forgiving in
many ways a machine really shouldn't have to be, including my not
backflushing for its first year, and leaving it turned on for a week
while I went off on vacation.
-kB
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Date: 10 Oct 2006 15:25:00
From: Mud Pup
Subject: Re: Which machine for this newbie?
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James Jeffrey wrote:
>
> I'm prepared to pay Silvia money however at the moment I'm leaning
> toward the Classic as it is inexpensive yet seems likely to do most of
> what I want...
>
> Suggestions at all?
I think the consensus is that, if you really want to make good
espresso, it's easier with Silvia, but certainly not impossible
on the Classic. They both require careful technique to produce
great espresso. However, the Classic will be favored for milk
drinks due to the quicker temperature change (and the plastic
wand is easy to work around.) Otherwise, they have the same
features: 3 way solenoid, standard portafilter, ... I've never
heard the Classic aluminum boiler be an issue.
Something to consider: Get the Classic and spend the difference
on a better grinder, or PID.
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Date: 10 Oct 2006 03:23:46
From: Brian Colwell
Subject: Re: Which machine for this newbie?
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"James Jeffrey" <altcoffee@jgj.org.uk > wrote in message
news:M4adnTExLIFkH7TYRVnyvw@eclipse.net.uk...
> Hello,
>
> I'm looking to upgrade my Kenwood Retro to something a little more serious
> as it is proving difficult to obtain consistent results.
>
> What I'm looking to achieve (and perhaps I am dreaming) is something
> approaching french-cafe quality coffee, fairly reliably, and without
> messing about too much. Dosen't have to be earth shattering. I like both
> straight espresso and milkier drinks, tending to go for the
> no-milk-after-midday theory (except for an evening Mocha on occasion).
>
> I currently have a Krups burr grinder which I imagine may also need to be
> replaced with something like a Rocky. I obtain beans in small quantities
> from a mail order roasting company - when I get them they have not been
> roasted for more than 36 hours, and I use them within a week.
>
> If it matters I'm in the UK. My initial thought was a Gaggia Classic but
> after reading online I'm concerned that it may not reliably provide the
> quality of coffee I want, then I considered a Silvia but I'm worried that
> might be too fussy and too much hard work for a lazy bod like me.
> Temperature surfing does not appeal and neither do afterket PID mods.
> Then I considered something like a Gaggia Syncrony Compact, but that just
> seems too soulless - i want some limited involvement in what I'm going to
> drink.
>
> I'm prepared to pay Silvia money however at the moment I'm leaning toward
> the Classic as it is inexpensive yet seems likely to do most of what I
> want...
>
> Suggestions at all?
>
> thanks,
>
> James
Have you checked out www.coffeegeek.com they have some pretty good
equipment reviews.
Regards, BMC
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