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I used to own a Saeco RIo Vapore and then an Estro (Starbucks'
precursor to "Barista" as their rebadged Saeco) Profi. I got very
good espresso from both till the pump and burrs finally croaked on
the Estro. FWIW, when I went to replace it, I wanted to upgrade to a
Gaggia (Rancilio was not availiable in Chicago at the time and
Internet marketing was in its infancy); only thing that kept me from
getting a Gaggia was that the shop owner (a master roaster and
barista whose judgment I trusted) had just himself bought a Capresso
Ultima and was raving about it. In retrospect, had I stuck with my
original intent and bought a Gaggia, I might never have discovered
the Silvia and gone straight to an HX machine like my Livia 90A when
upgrade fever eventually struck.
One other factor that is different today: apparently, the quality of
available non-automatic Saecos has nosedived, but the cost of Gaggias
has plummeted without compromising quality. In 1998, there was no
Gaggia available under $500 (more like $700). Today, you can score a
Gaggia Carezza brand new for $200 or so--$150 less than that Capresso
Ultima I bought (a superautomatic sans grinder that looked like R2D2).
On Nov 26, 2006, at 2:18 AM, Jeremy DeFranco wrote:
<Snip>
Sandy
www.sandyandina.com
www.sass-music.com
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I used to own a Saeco RIo =
Vapore and then an Estro (Starbucks' precursor to "Barista" as their =
rebadged Saeco) Profi. I got very good espresso from both till the pump =
and burrs finally croaked on the Estro. FWIW, when I went to replace =
it, I wanted to upgrade to a Gaggia (Rancilio was not availiable in =
Chicago at the time and Internet marketing was in its infancy); only =
thing that kept me from getting a Gaggia was that the shop owner (a =
master roaster and barista whose judgment I trusted) had just himself =
bought a Capresso Ultima and was raving about it. In retrospect, had =
I stuck with my original intent and bought a Gaggia, I might never have =
discovered the Silvia and gone straight to an HX machine like my Livia =
90A when upgrade fever eventually struck.
One other factor that is =
different today: apparently, the quality of available non-automatic =
Saecos has nosedived, but the cost of Gaggias has plummeted without =
compromising quality. In 1998, there was no Gaggia available under $500 =
(more like $700). Today, you can score a Gaggia Carezza brand new for =
$200 or so--$150 less than that Capresso Ultima I bought (a =
superautomatic sans grinder that looked like R2D2). =
On Nov 26, 2006, at 2:18 AM, Jeremy DeFranco =
wrote:
The Magic is a semi-auto, but yes I'm sure all Saecos =
would make good shots w/out crema enhancer and w/good technique. I guess =
the trick is to find a plain portafilter. Then, after that, is there =
really a big price difference between Saeco and Gaggia? I would still go =
with the Gaggia, just because its got that nice 58mm portafilter (not =
the "Saeco size"), and the entry level Gaggia has most of the same high =
quality internals as the higher priced Gaggias. The Saecos just seem to =
be designed for use with the rubber layer, not for true non-rubberized =
portafilters. I don't like the small diameter of the Saeco basket, =
either- probably pretty tough to go bottomless, unless you are a skilled =
metal worker. The Gaggia, on the other hand is designed for use with the =
true 58mm portafilter in mind. I think it's a good entry level machine, =
because if you upgrade in the future, you'll already be used the 58mm =
portafilter, and, if you want to spend the extra $$ on a bottomless 58mm =
portafilter in the future (for the Gaggia), you can have room to get =
some real good technique down with a very inexpensive machine. =
---I'd also like to add that not all Saecos are superautos =
like the
"Magic;" with a plain portafilter and proper grind and =
tamp, they can
make good espresso (though their steaming power =
doesn't do good
microfoam).
Sandy
www.sandyandina.com
www.sass-music.com
---Howeve=
r, you can buy an aftermarket non-pressurized portafilter from =
Saeco or Starbuck's--it lacks the rubber layer (I think it's =
53mm),
is heavy stainless steel and can make halfway decent =
crema--at least
on the original Saeco Rio Vapore/Estro =
Profi/Starbucks Barista
Classic machines. =
Sandywww.sass-music.com
=
=
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