Honestly you’re so right!! I keep thinking “what about this, what about that”!
When you say the Liz is only a small jump from a Sage, does that mean I’ll get a decent coffee from the Sage? The reason I ask is because if the Sage can do coffee how well the Liz can, then would the Sage not be an easier machine to make good coffee?
Sorry I ment the visual looks.
The Elizabeth will likely have a little more longevity to it and it’s easier to find some one to work on the lelit too.
The sage will be good, but the built in grinder won’t.
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https://clumsygoat.co.uk/products/sage-the-dual-boiler-espresso-machine-silver
That’s bother sage dual boiler
But like I say the Liz is still better.
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Cuprajake Grinder aside, in which way is the Liz better, when compared to the one I’m looking at (the one that’s more expensive)?
2.58, the person he describes who the Sage is designed for, sounds like me.
I want great coffee, with absolutely minimal effort (which is why I now know I definitely want a dual boiler), and also pre-infusion for added extraction quality, and PID, all in making a great coffee.
Italy made Vs China made, temp control and pre infusion control, should have a quieter pump too and pretty certain more steam power.
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The sage will be a good machine too, but it’s really over priced imo. £300 more buys a Bianca 🤯
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Cuprajake The only reason I’m thinking the Sage any weight is because of the convenience. It grinds, into the portafilter, tamps automatically, automatically froths the milk without any real input from me etc etc. I just have to transfer the portafilter from underneath the grinder to the grouphead.
Agreed it’s overpriced and I’m under no illusion about the price. But if I’m going to consider the Bianca then I have no reason to jump to that over and above the Liz (as already established in an earlier post). The only reason I’m even considering the Sage is because it’s going to give me good coffee with the least amount of effort. Unfortunately (?) convenience is extremely high in my purchasing decision.
It’s because of the convenience aspect that I’m wanting a dual boiler, it’s because of that I’m wanting a PID etc etc.
The Sage also has temp control I’m sure? Steaming power won’t be an issue as the frothing is completely automatic?
Lelit Elizabeth and a pucpress 🤣
Part of the fun is learning to use the machine,
It won’t be as automated as you think hahha🤣🤣🤣
Where about are you based may be someone local to try a machine
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I would say that it really depends on what you define as ‘good coffee’ and how much ‘convenience’ also includes the ability to adjust coffee-making parameters quite finely. If you are a “one bean type, two-drinks-a-day, want to press a button and forget about the rest, it just has to be good enough” coffee drinker, then the Oracle is probably as good as it gets. If you enjoy (or think you may enjoy) experimenting with different types of coffee and different recipes/brewing parameters to get ‘better’ (often just ‘different’) results, then a more conventional set-up of an Elizabeth and a good grinder will serve you better, for less money (or the same money of the non-touchscreen version)
James Hoffman says it better than I can:
Cuprajake Agreed that’s part of the fun. But I know me, if I get coffee that I’m unsatisfied with I’ll end up getting frustrated and then want convenience instead (if I had the Liz). Believe me if I had the space for the puqpress I would have went for it.
But then if I get the Sage I’ll get frustrated “I can get better coffee than this”.
I’m torn between convenience and the Liz.
CoyoteOldMan I hear ya.
That’s the issue, depending on the day/my mood, I fall firmly within both of those categories.
I guess this is now for me to decide which will work better for me most of the time?
The limiting factor is the grinder. The built in grinder is just OK. My Niche is soooo much better. The grinder makes all the difference to consistent shots. I can make 4 in a row with my Niche and Liz, and all of the shots will run for the amount of time and volume I want. For example, right now I am going 2.5 to 1 volume in 30 seconds including the preinfusion of 6 seconds. That makes beautiful coffee, and each shot is about the same. It is the Niche that does that. My flow is so simple. I use the stock IMS basket that came with the Liz. It is a good basket. Once you get the flow down on the Liz it is quick enough. I froth and brew at the same time. That is what is nice about a double boiler. Now, it will take some time to learn any new machine, so give it a chance.
dndrich You’re fairly certain that the Sage I’m looking at isn’t anywhere near as good as your own setup, that’s good to hear.
I’ve just bought the SPTK38 so I’m not about to buy a second grinder just yet. Will it still do the job with the Liz?
DrForinor I’ve just bought the SPTK38 so I’m not about to buy a second grinder just yet. Will it still do the job with the Liz?
It should do, I tested one and it had no problems. I was using a quite expensive VBM rotary pumped pressure profiling machine…I forget the model now.
DavecUK That would indicate good grind quality? Is the reason it’s cheap because of small burrs?
DrForinor It’s cheap because it’s chiinese and small burrs, but the burrs seem to produce a decent result. It will do the job, is it the best no….but it allows you time to save up and think about an “end game grinder”, from your perspective/needs.
DrForinor From my point of view - and I tend to tinker with stuff a bit, then, once I find a way to get a result that I like, stick with that for a long time - there is minimal “added convenience” with something like the Oracle. Tamping is not difficult, and neither is steaming milk, and that’s all the Oracle does ‘extra’. On the other hand, you lose out quite a lot of ‘other stuff’ that you can do with a good ‘normal’ machine and grinder set-up.
If tamping is a worry buy a force tamper. They are amazing
For me I’d still go the Liz, just for longevity, better support,
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CoyoteOldMan Yup, I understand where you’re coming from. And I suppose that is very similar to what I’m like.
The Liz is back on top
