Barry: Buy the best machine you can for what you drink. If you do not drink espresso don't spend money on a 199 gaggia as you will want more machine. ginny |
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Here's something I know the list is good for. Help me spend money. The = problem is, I like an occasional espresso. My wife hates them (although = hopefully she might change in the future). Until I got into home = roasting I would get my espresso fix outside the house. Since home = roasting I virtually never drink coffee out. I have a 20 year old Bran = steam toy espresso machine in the closet. Results from said machine are = poor even using my own home roast. The question is do I spring for a = Gaggia ($199) for the occasional espresso. Or do I wait till I get to = Stump before I have my next one. Or do I wait till I win the World = Series of Poker and get a top of the line machine for maybe drinking = one or two shots a week. |
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Should be Stumptown |
You have to see this one coming, do you already have a good grinder! Reports say Gaggia very capable of good shots. BTW, steam toy wise if you treat and think of it similar to a moka pot you can get a decent cup. Not like espresso, but not bad very strong coffee either. Coarse grind, no tamp etc... Kona Konnaisseur miKe mcKoffee URL to Rosto mods, FrankenFormer etc.http://mdmint.home.comcast.net/coffee/Rosto_mod.htm |
If you can find a Krups Gusto, you will get a very good cup for not a lot of money and not a lot of space. It's not a steam toy, but a very decent espresso maker. I don't think they're made anymore, but you should be able to find one on eBay for well under $100. |
I have a Rocky and a Rocky extractor which I will demonstrate at Stumptown |
<Snip> Yeah, but a Bran has gotta keep you a regular coffee drinker, Barry... Gene Smith riding the wild learning curve, in Houston |
I claim temporary insanity caused by just returning from the smell of six racks of babybacks I'd just given another spritz of applecider-Meyers Dark rum mix while they be apple/maple/hickory smokin' for 4hrs so far with about an hour or so to go:-) Duh, you mentioned that off List! Still gotta see what your Rocky extractor can do my flux brush can't;-) mm |
<Snip> There are 4 on ebay right now, with 3 listed at under *10* dollars. The fourth is ridiculously priced at $10.99. Three of of them are new in box (tested customer returns) and two of those have a BuyItNow price of $35.00. Incidentally, the two I found with a "Completed listings only" search went for $15.51 and $39.99. Sounds like a pretty good possibility for an "occasional" espresso. Gene Smith riding the wild learning curve, in Houston |
I was wondering if someone would catch that. |
People think it's the Bran...but I'm pretty sure it's the steam. |
On Thursday 31 March 2005 18:57, miKe mcKoffee wrote: <Snip> I'm still settling a scrumptious vegetarian dinner that was topped off by a vegan chocolate cheese cake. I won't bore you with grazzings er ah menu - but it was delightful. Note to Alchemist John - do you remember the name of the restaurant where we ate after PNWG-1? I may even stay in the motel next to it if I can get all the data in time. We're on for part of my family joining us in Portland for at least that week-end. So lookout Stumptown! John - loving life in the slow lane! |
Thanks I just bid on one. For that price even one fairly good cup a week it's worth it. |
I've been thinking of getting a Gusto for travel. I believe but want to confirm your eBay ID is pokerbarry4 so I don't bid against you. mm |
--- Barry Luterman wrote: <Snip> week. Hi Barry. If money is the issue, I won a brand new Spidem (made by Saeco, like the $barista) on ebay for around 43 dollars. I'm not the seller, but they usually have brand new machines up for auction. I added a non-pressurized portafilter (bought from Saeco-usa) and for less than $80 I have a machine that makes me a very nice double each night. Like you, my wife doesn't touch espresso, and was willing to endulge my habit with this inexpensive purchase. good luck French Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Personals - Better first dates. More second dates. http://personals.yahoo.com |
That's me |
Of course my next question is how can one rationalize buying a Thor Tamper for an $11.00 espresso machine? |
It might be good to get ready and have bid ready to submit with 15 sec left Open two browser and sign in on one and make them small enough to sit beside each other Keep you bid ready to ship on one and keep refreshing the other to keep track of the time> I use a timer set 15sec ahead of time left on bid and when it beeps I hid the bid button that is If I really want the item and I know what I am willing to pay maximum bid. Good Luck RK |
Got it for 18.51 |
<Snip> To paraphrase a famous friend of mine... "The espresso machine is an accessory to the Thor Tamper, not the other way around." Gene Smith who loves his Thor, in Houston |
OK you have convinced me. Am more excited about the Thor Tamper than the machine. |
Barry, You saved so much on the machine you can certainly justify a decent tamper now. PeterZ Still waiting to justify one, here in LHC. Barry Luterman wrote: <Snip> |
--- Barry Luterman wrote: <Snip> Nice! I'm sure you will start drinking espresso a little more often now. <Snip> I decided if I got a machine for cheap, the Thor Tamper would just bring the cost of the machine up to closer to retail...you are still saving money over going out and buying a gaggia, especially considering you would probably still want to get a Thor Tamper for that machine. good luck French Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball. http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/ |
On Mar 31, 2005, at 8:18 PM, Barry Luterman wrote:
<Snip>
The espresso machine is an accessory to the Thor Tamper, not the
other way around.
Jim Gundlach
"The espresso machine is an accessory to the grinder, not the other way
around." |
It is true. Without a good tamper a Mazzer major and a Giotto are not going to give you a good shot. It is all just part of the equation. So the real question is "how can you rationalize NOT buying a Thor Tamper". Sometime around 18:50 3/31/2005, Barry Luterman typed: <Snip> -- John Nanci AlChemist at large Zen Roasting , Blending & Espresso pulling by Gestalthttp://www.dreamsandbones.net/blog/http://www.chocolatealchemy.com/ |
You are so right. I bought a Thor Tamper Les is mailing it out Monday. This is going to be like driving a '47 Ford pick-up while wearing am Armani suit. |
<Snip> Agreed. Now, if it were a '48... Gene Smith who learned to drive in one |
Barry Luterman wrote: <Snip> Groovy! She's sweet. Ron and Zara can attest. I got mine, my first espresso machine from Ron. Debating about taking it to the office. Jason -- Jason Brooks jbrookshttp://members.kinex.net/~jbrooks/blog/blog.html------------------------------- Hanging Out in the Heart of VA, With HW Gourmet, Poppery, and soon arriving BBQ roasters, With Bodum Chambord, Cory DRU/DRL/DEO, Magister Home, and a Krups Gusto, Drinking good coffee with anyone that arrives! |
Hi Dave, (cc List 'cuz might be of interest to others) First no, technically I would not "like" any Gaggia myself! (Except maybe the Gaggia Factory Lever 'cuz, well, it's a cool looking full blown old school lever machine:-) Started with a Silvia years ago and since upgraded to rotary HX Bricoletta so any Gaggia pump machine would be a big step backwards. However, have considered a Gaggia as travel machine and yes would then "like" it for myself:-) But yes, I like Gaggias as a reasonably priced starter option for people. The Gaggia "Espresso" and "Carezza" are different models, virtually identical machines on the inside with different skins. Main difference between these and higher end Gaggias is neither have 3-way valve which means you must wait for PF pressure to reduce before unlocking PF after shot or risk hot spray all over, wait something like 30sec or so IIRC, and also means you can't back flush. Doesn't effect shot itself at all. I haven't personally used a Zass or Tosser for espresso but Alchemist John used a Zass with his Gaggia for years and I have compared his Zass grind shots to Rocky grind shots quite favorably. IMO buying a new Bodum Antigua targeted for espresso usage would be a mistake, just my opinion (though echoed by many others) and YMMV. Kona Konnaisseur miKe mcKoffee URL to Rosto mods, FrankenFormer, some recipes etc:http://mdmint.home.comcast.net/coffee/Rosto_mod.htmUltimately the quest for Koffee Nirvana is a solitary path. To know I must first not know. And in knowing know I know not. Each Personal enlightenment found exploring the many divergent foot steps of Those who have gone before. <Snip> |
miKe, Dave mentioned purchasing a giant tosser - probably a typo, and means the Giant Trosser. You may recall that Alchemist John has purchased a Giant Trosser too and reports that it is superior in performance to his Zass 169DG. Brian <Snip> <Snip> |