Best coffee related purchase of 2024

Iilluminarttea · 27 Jan

@pjw Hello, I am new on my espresso journey and am in the decision making process for deciding on an Espresso machine. It will be my first!

I realize that these questions may not be related to this post but I’ve seen several of your comments regarding the Londinium R24 and the Streitman C2V2. I believe you have both and was wondering which one you gravitate or use or prefer more? Is there a percentage perhaps, like 50/50 or 90/10? I am trying my best to research as much as I can so I don’t make a mistake while making these huge purchases. Any feedback would be appreciated. I’m sorry if I am posting these questions on the wrong thread. I just wanted to find a ways to ask you directly. Thank you!

Adrianmsmith · 28 Jan

illuminarttea

ACS machines should be on your list ,😎

Not that im biased. But the new evo has all the convenience features and a better buy than londinium or Nurri 🤭

dfk41 · 28 Jan

Adrianmsmith Giphy - Flashing Lights GIF by Alex Sheyn

LMSC · 28 Jan

illuminarttea ? I am trying my best to research as much as I can so I don’t make a mistake while making these huge purchases. Any feedback would be appreciated. I’m sorry if I am posting these questions on the wrong thread. I just wanted to find a ways to ask you directly. Thank you!

Considering you have mentioned just two, can we take it other machines are not under consideration? I think, ideally a new thread setting out your budget, how do you currently make coffee at home, your coffee preference,…. would help.

Good luck with your purchase! 😊

dfk41 · 28 Jan

Without trying to be controversial, but I will start with a question. What exactly are you after? I have no experience of the Strietman so on that I cannot comment. I have had 4 Londinium L1’s which of course are different to the LR24 but what exactly do Londiddly offer? They used to be hyped up in a terrible way on CFUK by a person with a vested interest.That relationship does not seem to be going still and this is the reason that apart from a few enthusiastic owners you barely hear a word about them. The machines are made by Fracino in Birmingham who supply a packaged box that is in turn sent to the customer. This is the reason they are so expensive and outdated. They do not have their own r & r department. They have a website taking orders, a man on the end of a phone in New Zealand and a very expensive outdated product. When the Vectis hit the streets they used to claim that this was the finished product. There would be no Mk 2 or improvements……that did not last long……..LOL The first product was woefully under tested and besieged by problems…….so my question to you, is why would you want a slice of that pie?
There is a lot of forum debate between ACS and Nurri owners…..in short they both think their product is superior……what I will say is that ACS sell directly to the public and Nurri, not owning a factory sell through the established but far more expensive dealer network system. This seems to suit the US market and with the distances involved understandable but I believe there have been changes of distributors after QC issues and again one US distributor is actually helping Nurri develop problems with their own product! Nurri and Londinium suffer from the same issues by not outright owning thir own factory and production line and therefore everything that goes with it. And before the Nurri Police jump all over this, I am not criticising the product. I am pointing out differences for consideration of the way different companies operate which may effect the end user. If you are in America and quite happy to pay the dealers 30 to 40% mark up then that is fine but I do not think there is a UK distributor though I maybe wrong of course. The Nurri and the ACS Vostok/Evo are similar machines but the r&D done by Paolo and Dave in recent times (please note the word done, not going to do) leaves a clear gap…….I wish you luck in your quest matey

Ppjw · 29 Jan

illuminarttea

As I paid for both, I use them both. ;)

CT2 I use 4 times per week when I wake up around 6 AM, as it has very short warm-up time, and it is fully silent.

I use it mostly for classic Italian espresso, 14-15 gram dose, with medium to darker roasted blends, usually from Saka.

LR I used over weekends and once during the week day, with lightly roasted coffees, more “modern” style, quite often with High Extraction basket.

And if you ask me which one I would choose, I can’t really answer but IMHO you will be super happy with both.

Iilluminarttea · 31 Jan

Adrianmsmith

Thanks for the suggestion! I have spent the last several days looking into different machine that I hadn’t heard of, one being the ACS. You have an extremely nice set up!

Iilluminarttea · 31 Jan

LMSC

This is a good point! I had narrowed it down to two but I ended up adding several more machines to my research list after the responses I received. I think I might have a front runner but I will sift through the information a bit more before I either pull the trigger or open a new thread. Thanks for your help!

Iilluminarttea · 31 Jan

dfk41

Wow, thanks for taking the time to explain all of that to me. I feel very ignorant saying this, but it was all new to me and eye opening. I am located in the US so, some of the logistics would impact me directly.

You also introduced me to Nurri machine, so I added it to my research list several days ago.

Lastly, I followed the link and read your article. Thanks for sharing your experience. I am sorry you had to go through that. I did not know the difference between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest before reading your article. When I finished reading it, I sent it to my spouse to read it as well. I keep thinking about the chance events of you making the maderia cake that you brother asked for, and then having him there for you at the exact moment that you needed him. It is astounding!

Thanks again for sharing of if this information with me.

Iilluminarttea · 31 Jan

pjw

Thanks for your honest feedback on these machines. These two machines were the only two that I was considering a week ago. Although I am still considering them, I have now added to several more to the list.

It is reassuring that you use machines regularly. A few people have mentioned that they use their Streitman more occasionally when they have more time. So it was nice to hear that you use it weekly. Though I am wondering if I should get a machine that might be a little easier for someone to starting on their espresso journey.

Either way, I am planning to do a little more research and then open a new thread with questions.

Thanks for answering my questions. It was very important to me, as you are one of the few people I have come across that has both machines. Your responses were very helpful to me!

Ppjw · 31 Jan

illuminarttea Though I am wondering if I should get a machine that might be a little easier for someone to starting on their espresso journey.

Strietman is really easy to use, but expensive.

Another option to try manual levers (but this machine requires more skills then CT2 IMHO) is Robot - https://www.cafelat.co.uk/products/cafelat-robot-barista

GGrahamsphillips · 31 Jan

I too had an L1. I bought @dfk41 L1 and then a newer model in better condition came up so I sold one bought one. I loved them both. Then @Cuprajake decided to sell his ACS EVO1 and well it would have been churlish to refuse. So I sold Londium1 no 2 as well. I Londium1 do come up for sale from time to time and they are hugely enjoyable machines. Very simple. Built like tanks and with free lifetime support. What’s,not to like. It’s horses for courses really. The EVO is much more expensive and complex. Much more to go wrong and much more expensive to fix. But in the cup? Significantly better.

Adrianmsmith · 31 Jan

Grahamsphillips

I never purchased a Londinium, was talked out of it by various opinions on this very forum 😎. I had a ecm synchronika, ACS vesuvius pressure profiler and an ACS evo1.

Then, similarly to Graham,

@Cuprajake decided to sell his Evo2 end it was a opportunity not to be missed 😘 and certainly not regretted.

It gives the freedom to use the spring lever as you want, from fully manual though to fully automatic.

I think , as of now, the ACS evo 2 or vostok gives all the options anyone could wish for, short of a robot arm to pull the lever for me!!

Systemic · 31 Jan

Last autumn got the itch for a new grinder for espresso. Had a look at a near new EG 1 but @DavecUK guided me away from it. So decided to pull the trigger and order a Kafatek Flat Max which dropped through the letterbox in November. It’s better than my EKs for espresso but it’s a close call when making pour over as the EKS is fitted with Silver Knight burrs which give good clarity. I had intended parting with the EKs when the Max arrived but will probably hang on to it as I would probably regret parting with it.

Oodor4fun · 2 Feb

oddbean

The use of the puck screen for me is absolutely necessary. In addition to the fact that the group remains clean, it ensures a better distribution of water over the entire surface of the coffee puck.

Of the two models I tried, the one on the right offers better results and is easier to clean.

Just a simple rinse with water. You can reuse it immediately when brewing more coffees, it doesn’t clog with coffee.

My coffee residue cleaner is in danger of expiration.

51/53/58mm Espresso Puck Screen Double Layer Metal Coffee, For Portafilter | eBay

Adrianmsmith · 2 Feb

odor4fun

Looks kike someone found a second use for a shower screen.

GGrahamsphillips · 4 Feb

Adrianmsmith · 4 Feb

Testing tomorrow? 🥰