Looking for a new machine around the £1000 mark, the options don’t seem to be as great as they once were. Having previously owned a GC, Sage Barista Express, Rancillo and Elizabeth before the Mrs made me go to to a Ena8 bean to cup :( I am now on the lookout for a new machine. I have an espresso 1st thing (5:30am) then a couple of americanos, the Mrs will have 2 / 3 milk based drinks in the day. What sort of options am I looking at? I hated temp surfing with the GC, which seems like I would need to do the same with the Profitec Go that I looked at in Bella. I would love a Bianca but the budget falls short sadly and she would kill me :D

New machine options

capuchin

Sage Dual Boiler is probably the most logical choice here.

LMSC

Clumsy Goat sells the Sage DB with Eureka grinder for about £1100.

You may ask ACS if they are selling their Minima direct. I do not know what the cost would be.

There is a Bianca for sale here by @Cuprajake for £2K Iirc. It’s almost new.

What about the grinder and water?

dfk41

Slightly more than your budget

https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/heat-exchanger/products/profitec-400

https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/single-boiler/products/ecm-classika-pid-espresso-machine

Slightly less than your budget

https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/heat-exchanger/products/nuova-simonelli-oscar-ii-coffee-machine-black-nero

simplyme

I don’t like the Dual Boiler, my sister has one and not a fan. I also have the Specialita already.

I am going into BB tomorrow as I only live down the road and will test a few out, I like the Profitec / ECM looks and build quality, just haven’t reviewed them at all so will do this evening

MediumRoastSteam

simplyme I hated temp surfing with the GC, which seems like I would need to do the same with the Profitec Go that I looked at in Bella

Why do you say the Profitec Go needs to be temp surfed?

simplyme

MediumRoastSteam A few videos I have seen and read a few user experiences. It is one I will look at in BB tomorrow as they have a demo unit

MediumRoastSteam

simplyme - thanks. I’d be interested to hear your feedback, since the machine has a PiD controller, rather than a box standard thermostat with a huge dead band fitted in the Gaggia Classics/Silvias.

Cuprajake

BB have a used Bianca for £1400. It is 2 yes old though

But a bargain and give you everything you need

simplyme

I’ve been offered a used Elizabeth v3 £700, having had one I’m tempted. I could stretch to the used Bianca but would prefer to keep the cost lower

MediumRoastSteam

simplyme - Blimey! That’s pretty good value! If you were happy with the Elizabeth you had, and the one from BB is in great condition (I’d be tempted to open the machine up and inspect the insides, just in case).

simplyme

I loved my old Liz, sold it when I sold the house, the buyer literally bought everything I owned, even down to bedding :D

I will definitely open up and take a good look round it and pull a few shots. It isn’t from BB but someone ‘close’ to them who sells machines…..

Dual boiler is preferred for our (my use) here at home, now just to decide if the v2 Bianca id worth £700 more than the Liz

LMSC

simplyme Dual boiler is preferred for our (my use) here at home, now just to decide if the v2 Bianca id worth £700 more than the Liz

Liz is compact and lovely. But, you won’t regret spending another £700 on a Bianca. Worth it, IMO.

JHCCoffee

I kicked my myself after I bought the Liz, for a whole year, for being too thrifty and not buying the Bianca. I subsequently wanted the flow control of the Bianca, but the combination of the loss I would take selling the Liz and the addition $$ to buy a new Bianca was insurmountable. Then I lucked out with a fellow who was selling a used Decent at a fair price. So I sold one of the two Niches I have, sold the Liz and kicked in another $1,000 to buy the Decent and two year extended warranty. The Mrs gripped but lived with it. Lesson learned$: It pays to stretch to buy the right machine. You WILL end up buying the right machine in the end, and just pay more. Or be stuck with less than you wanted and not be able to upgrade for a long while.

HarveyMushman

Agreed with the others, the Bianca seems the way to go.

I’d say your usage more than warrants a dual boiler and £1400 for a Bianca is a bargain.

simplyme

Thanks everyone for all of the responses, picked up the V2 with 6 months warranty for a great price. Went to buy the V3 but they sold 3 overnight and had no stock!