Date: 15 Nov 2006 17:47:46
From: rockbeer
Subject: HX machine & cheapo burr grinder deals - UK/Ireland
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Hi all,
just a heads up for anyone in the UK or Ireland looking for a decent
deal on a light commercial HX.
Pennine Tea & Coffee are currently knocking out the old-style Wega
MiniNova semi-auto vibe pump pourover for =A3525 sterling. They also
have the old-style automatic rotary for =A3625.
http://www.pennineteaandcoffee.co.uk/caaa608.htm
IMHO those are giveaway prices for a lot of machine. I say this after
six weeks intensive researching and searching for the best deal on a
decent portable HX available to me here in Ireland. My MiniNova vibe
semi-auto arrived today and I couldn't be happier with it. Shots are
way better than with Silvia - richer, with thick reddish brown crema
rather than Silvia's wonderful but paler crema.
A lot of people didn't seem to like the old MiniNova's looks with the
ABS top plate and drip tray, but I think it looks brilliantly
industrial on my stainless counter, and it will sort out the mobile rig
for way less than half the cost of the LaCimbali Junior I nearly
bought, and 500 notes less than the new model (exactly the same machine
but with all-stainless panels). In my book there would need to be an
awful lot of stainless to justify an extra 500 Euro. If you were really
mad for it, you could probably order up the stainless panels from Wega,
fit them to the 'old' model and still be quids in.
I think the new model also has a 1500 watt boiler as opposed to the
1300 watt in mines. I haven't noticed a problem with steaming power so
far, but I'll have a better idea after Sunday when it has it's first
real workout. Either way, it must have more steam than I'm used to.
So... happier customers, and a happier barista. Hopefully.
I'm still slightly overcome by the joy of relentless steam. I had no
trouble with the much-criticised steam wand either. Great microfroth at
the first attempt - in less than half the time the Silvia would have
taken even after getting it up to temperature.
I feel slightly disloyal to the Silvia, but all those cappucinos were
really asking a lot of it, and it'll still have plenty to do in its
ongoing role as the 'second group'.
Also, for anyone on a hopelessly tight budget who wants a bottom of the
range burr grinder, Boots are doing the Russell Hobbs 10934 for a
stupidly cheap 30 Euro in Dublin.
The sticker on it also lists the Sterling price at 17.99 or something,
so that sounds like it should be available in the UK too. Seems to me
that Boots must have got something wrong here, as their web site only
shows one grinder, a Russell Hobbs whirly blade model - at =A317.99.
Meanwhile Amazon list the 10934 at =A330.00 sterling, which would
usually translate to 55 or 60 Euro here, so I reckon this weird little
grinder is about half price. Maybe someone down at Boots ordered up the
wrong grinders, who knows... but this is a burr grinder for the price
of 2 CDs. I picked one up today as a specialist (i.e. decaff) grinder
for the market. It might also see duties as a desperation backup for my
Innova I-2, & for occasional use of the mocha pot, since the I-2 is so
unfriendly for significant resetting of the grind. Or I might just use
it as a spice grinder. The quality isn't up to much, although not
hideous, and on the plus side it's finished in stainless. We'll see how
long the motor lasts. It's trying to be like a pretend proper grinder,
with a little mini hopper (which for some reason they tell you not to
fill more than about a third full), and the strangest, most useless
little chute and catch-box arrangement. The out-of-the-box finest
setting is a bit too coarse for the Wega, but there is a very simple
tweak that will get you an espresso-fine grind. If anyone wants to know
I can post the details/photos.
After tweaking it to one click back from the burrs touching, I pulled a
couple of shots from it through the Wega and managed to get a 30 second
pour with a decent head of crema. Taste was OK, a bit washed out but
quite drinkable and better than a lot of cafes serve up, in these parts
at least. Then again, right now I think the Wega would make good coffee
out of sawdust.
The RH grinder is not a classy piece of kit by any means, but it would
do great for a mocha pot, in an emergency, or for anyone who really
needs a grinder that will just about make them espresso despite being
totally cash-strapped.
Hope some of this helps or entertains somebody.
Cheers all, I'm off to dream about steaming endless 5-hole-tip
cappucinos, each finished with a perfect heart.
Bruce
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