thanks for all the help, thoughts, suggestions (and a little drama 😉)

dfk41

You’re right and I think the requirements I’m trying to hit are:

  • Much more consistent than my SBE
  • Built to last (as much as anything can be)
  • Can grow with me and my coffee interest. I don’t want to be changing machines or upgrading often at all
  • Looks good and fits in my kitchen

I don’t know if I need a dual boiler for my needs, was kind of asking the much more experienced folk here.

What I do know is that the more I look, the more I’m drawn to the looks and features of the Bianca. I can see Bella Barista getting a chunk of my money soon.

Thanks for the help everyone. More posts incoming when I can’t use whatever it is I go for 😂

      dfk41

      Good point. For me I think it depends on what one perceives as a limitation of what one has on one’s counter that is seen to be holding one back in the pursuit of a good cup of espresso or latte or cappuccino. If the current machine does everything that one wants a machine to do well enough, then there is no real need to change.

      I changed to the vibiemme a long time ago because I wanted more stability in temperature control. Was happy with it till I found myself intrigued by the spring lever and when I had the chance to get an izzo pompei, I went for it and found an immediate improvement in smoothness and flavour. I was very happy with the izzo for many years till I began trying out lighter roasts and then I found the task of changing the temperature of the grouphead of the izzo to be increasingly onerous. So therr arose the need for a hybrid lever and then I saw the photo of a white painted Nurri with zebrawood panels and handles and I knew that if I could fit it unto my budget and it was available locally through a dealer, I needed to get one just like that on my kitchen counter. And so I did and I have been enjoying the best espresso based drinks I have ever been able to make since! As well as a machine whose good looks elevates my entire kitchen too as proven by my wife’s non objection to it! :)

        dfk41

        I didn’t know about that so thanks for mentioning it. I hope the vibiemme is available through other uk based dealers. One factoid about vibiemme - it was set up by the three patent holders for the e61 patent and therefore had the original rights to the “true” e61 grouphead along with Faema. To this day their e61 groupgead is slightly different form the clone e61 grouphead used by every other manufacturer.

            BrewLiam Here is a curve ball!

            https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/heat-exchanger/products/ecm-mechanika-max-espresso-machine

            If you have any questions ask them on this thread as @DavecUK will be able to answer them. In simple terms, it means you do not need to leave a steam boiler running all day as the system gets ready for steaming milk in just a few seconds. If I was in the market for a new machine, I would certainly have a closer look at this, even if I did not buy iy

            https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

                same price as the bianca nearly though

                Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

                chlorox One factoid about vibiemme - it was set up by the three patent holders for the e61 patent and therefore had the original rights to the “true” e61 grouphead along with Faema. To this day their e61 groupgead is slightly different form the clone e61 grouphead used by every other manufacturer.

                Which actually makes their group the odd one out that only OEM spares are suitable for many repairs/maintenance. In a way it’s a little Ironic 🙄because as you say…theirs is the only genuine E61.

                Contact me

                    DavecUK

                    Hmmm, that does look interesting.

                    Whilst similar to the stainless steel Bianca in price, I’d highly likely spend the £600 extra for a coloured one however stupid that might be.

                    Dave, I think my only question on the ECM Mechanika Max if you have experience with it would be, what would I be losing out on by going for this HX machine over a Bianca? Other than the obvious flow control and stuff that comes with the LCC on the Lelit.

                        BrewLiam Whilst similar to the stainless steel Bianca in price, I’d highly likely spend the £600 extra for a coloured one however stupid that might be.

                        It’s not stupid at all. You’ve gotta look at it every day in your Kitchen, it’s important you like how it looks.

                          BrewLiam Dave, I think my only question on the ECM Mechanika Max if you have experience with it would be, what would I be losing out on by going for this HX machine over a Bianca? Other than the obvious flow control and stuff that comes with the LCC on the Lelit.

                          It’s a use case specific machine…which if I’m honest suits the majority of home baristas.

                          • Very Economical on energy usage
                          • always ready for steaming (no 5-7 minute steam boiler warm up, no wasted energy, no constant high temps as in a dual boiler if the steam boiler is left on all the time)
                          • good brew temperature control, which is selectable and PID controlled
                          • can’t forget and leave it in steam mode

                          One downside is very quick shots one after the other for 4 or 5 people, where in a dual boiler you have a little more capacity. You can do it, but you would need to use the ECM Barista Max in a different way and have much less temperature control. Or simply pull the shots a little slower. It’s a machine I loved using and have done a video, just need to edit it and upload it.

                          Contact me

                              DavecUK

                              Thank you Dave, appreciate the detailed answer.

                              I’ll do a little more research into this one and maybe you’ll have a video on it before I pull the trigger on a new machine.

                                Yeah there’s not much online yet as it’s pretty new

                                Personally I’d say a dual boiler may be more future proof in terms of temp stability, but if most your stuff esp back to back to back gets dumped in milk it’s not the be all.

                                Ecm make some nice machines

                                Bella barista have a discount on the Elizabeth and a profitec 700 atm

                                Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

                                  Cuprajake I think at this point the Elizabeth is out.

                                  I’ll have another look at the Profitec 700. I think I originally dismissed it on the basis of looks. But the discount seems decent 👍🏻

                                    dfk41 now you say that, I’m sure I read someone comparing ECM/Profitec with Lelit - saying it’s like a reliable German car vs the fun of an Italian sports car. Not that I have the experience of either in my Spanish car.

                                      The build on Bianca can look a bit poor, as in the reflections on the panels from the press are not mirror perfect like an ecm, but the build quality is fine with them, and very well thought out.

                                      Just take your time and ask as many questions as you need to

                                      Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

                                        Cuprajake The build on Bianca can look a bit poor, as in the reflections on the panels from the press are not mirror perfect like an ecm, but the build quality is fine with them, and very well thought out.

                                        As he wants a coloured Bianca, it doesn’t much matter…

                                        Contact me

                                          Cuprajake The build on Bianca can look a bit poor, as in the reflections on the panels from the press are not mirror perfect like an ecm, but the build quality is fine with them, and very well thought out.

                                          This was exactly my experience. As well as an incredibly sharp edge behind the drip tray under the group. I sliced my finger pretty bad while servicing it.

                                          As above thought inside it’s brilliant and the build issues are only cosmetic.

                                          Really it’s funny because we all talk about build quality, and I especially harp on about how the LM is built like a tank, but it’s not like we’re carting them around each day. They get put in place and left, so you could argue the case quality is a bit of a non-issue.

                                            DavecUK

                                            True true…..Another example of that is flow control kits that will fit most e61 clones won’t fit the vibiemme grouphead.