c.£1500 - what espresso machine to buy?

HarveyMushman

It’s hard to put a blanket statement out that says E61s take longer to heat up as there’s too many machines with other variables that impact that. Some are quicker than others but yes, in theory waiting for a big chunk of brass to fully heat up is likely to take longer than some other group types.

I may have remembered this incorrectly but I think the Lelit Elizabeth heats up fairly quickly? Perhaps some owners can advise.

Uncletits

HarveyMushman 20 mins and good to go

smallblueplanet

Cuprajake You know the worst thing is it always seems that whatever I’m looking for my chosen price point is midway between top and bottom! I never know which way to jump and in this case as soon as I think, be sensible I then think oh but you might regret not being able to ‘play’ with the settings.

I suppose I should look at HX machines to be fully in the middle. What about a ECM Mechanika Max? But am so not sure I want to spend that much. It looks cool though.

Uncletits

smallblueplanet look at Dave’s comments on this forum just search for the machine

DavecUK

smallblueplanet I suppose I should look at HX machines to be fully in the middle. What about a ECM Mechanika Max? But am so not sure I want to spend that much. It looks cool though.

It’s a good machine, I have one and I like it, I think I did a review on it on my YT channel…I also advised a bit on it’s development. I just checked I didn’t do a review…I really thought I had?

What I like about the Mechanika Max:

Almost dual boiler brew temp control
Minimal energy use and energy used for steaming isn’t wasted in a separate boiler that cools down
Runs at almost dual boiler brew boiler temps
ready to steam in 20 seconds e.g. put the steam boiler on at the start of a shot and it’s ready to steam by the time the shot finishes.

A clever and quite excellent machine.

Uncletits

smallblueplanet this was the day the Elizabeth arrived so the Classic went. We’ve since gone to an ECM Mechanika Max as I wanted a traditional E61 with extras

smallblueplanet

Uncletits

So from Classic to Elizabeth to Max. I can’t help but believe you will have upgraded your grinder too?

dfk41

Cuprajake the liz is a vibe pump - one reason i never bought a liz, the noise

the vibe pump in it is the ‘quiet’ vibe pump Lelit produce. It is certainly noisier than a rotary but much quieter than the usual. She over heats to 116 degrees then drops back down to in my case 93 meaning 15 mins and is ready to go. A feature I do like is if I decide I want to steam, it takes 5 maximum minutes to come to 140

Uncletits

DavecUK I think you did a little review on here or spoke about you using it anyway that and Marco turned me towards it

Uncletits

smallblueplanet yes a Niche Zero for me as I use medium to medium dark beans - never missed a beat

Uncletits

smallblueplanet actually had a Mechanika Slim too so a basic HX machine but built very well hence stayed brand loyal

smallblueplanet

Uncletits I think I’d better stop looking at the Max it really looks great, but I think too much cost for us #sensibleheadon

I’m looking at the Classika PID, but might checkout the Slim. Too much choice, lol!

Cuprajake

May have missed it but do you do milk?

If not jve always liked the look of these

https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/single-boiler/products/ecm-puristika-1

But e61 groups can swing

The ring groups that are attached to the boiler seem to do better

smallblueplanet

Cuprajake We mostly do americanos, but that is because of the old Classic. Not sure what we’ll mostly drink when we get a shiny new machine. :) (PS can’t deal with the funny water tank of the Puristika :D )

smallblueplanet

I’ve had a think and I think we can’t afford the machine I’d like the Mechanika Max, so I think I might get the Profitec Go. But (unknowable question) will I be happy with it, because I won’t be trading up any time soon…?

dfk41

smallblueplanet You are buying a machine where I do not think anyone on the forum owns one. If there are any owners they are in the minority. Does that mean anything? Not in the slightest! If you think the Go has your name on it, buy it and be damned!

Cuprajake

With the go

Personally i wouldn’t

What about the mara x

smallblueplanet

Cuprajake

Why wouldn’t you? It’s probably top of it’s class?

Edit: But anyway I won’t atm as they are out of stock!!!

Cuprajake

Because its lower end of your budget unless you’re not wanting to spend that

For me personally i dont want the faff of having to purge multiple times to get the steam to work,

Temps all over the shop,

I always say if you can afford a dual boiler go for it as its future proof. Offers vetter temp stability.

Dusk

Not sure where you’re located but if you can get to somewhere like Bella Barista then you can have a look at loads of machines and get an idea of what floats your boat and what doesn’t.

smallblueplanet

Dusk We’re down in Wiltshire so a bit of a hike. I’ll watch lots of videos though.

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