Decided to start a little thread, documenting my journey and the vertical learning curve i seam to have been on. Like most, i got furloughed when covid kicked off and got bored so decided to get more into coffee. One thing after another with lots of reading on various forums, YouTube tutorials and what not,i bought a gaggia classic. [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/ATQnfMS.jpeg] Along with that i decided to get a 1zpresso for my grinding as i have a wilfa svart for all my pour overs etc. Well after wasting a good 500g of beans on the gaggia, i decided it wasn't for me, and promptly sold it. Decided on the sage duo temp pro which i was initially going to buy in the first place,quick look and £249 later john lewis delivered my shiney new machine [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/TWUem7I.jpeg] Now as much as i loved the 1zpresso, my shoulder didin't so, that got sold in favour of an eureka mignon from [@Black Cat Coffee](https://www.coffeeforums.co.uk/members/16888/) Next up the upgraditus got a hold of me as i wanted a fancy looking machine, and i got a bit of a dark horse off ebay A la macatec elba one, e61 grouphead. [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/Pg6PmPa.jpeg] I had long lusted over a dual boiler, mainly the lelit Elizabeth, with its pre infusion, quick heat up times it really is a fantastic machine, but id also noted the acs minima, another machine along the more traditional looks, and the looks along with the bigger boilers swayed it for me. [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/uxgb5uM.jpeg] So in the never ending revolving door of grinders with me, after having a eureak zenith 65, a niche and another mignon i saw a lightly used 2019 mazzer major on ebay, i added a Daniel wong doserless kit at the time, since gone to a funnel, even added ssp redspeed burrs [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/4P2ynGd.jpeg] I was going to used bottled water, either ashbeck or longhill, but then i spoke to a few in the know and did a bit of digging and settled on using ro water, remineralised with potassium bicarbonate, this will never scale the machine and makes for a tastey espresso to. After only having the minima for a short while a lever machine caught my eye, a 2014 londinium l1 - that was it i was in love, i sold the minima to fund the l1 and that was me set, the londinium moved home with me. [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/NF46adN.jpeg] i had a stunning set of handles turned by nick, they really sent the machine to another level, and i was happy in my own little coffee world, id been toying with med/lighter stuff but always found then too bright, to acidic to my taste, then one day the pressure relief valve blew on the l1, scared me to death, and that set about a refurb of the machine, but id lost all confidence, and decided now we had a bit of equity, that i would buy my first propper new machine, i lusted over the top spec londiniums but at £3500 ish they were just too much. the next machine came from bella barista, a crem one profiler, very capable machine, but arrived faulty, so had to go back, i have an amazing wife who said just get the machine you want, so i did, an lr24 stunner it was too, but sadly again came with issues and i returned the machine, :( after a little search i settled upon the lelit bianca- id always fancied a vesuvius profilong machine, but they too were expensive, so the lelit was the machine of choice, (2months later the ves dropped in price!!) [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/xOGfGUS.jpeg] and there a sat, happy as a pig in mud, the lelit a fabulos machine, quiet rotary pump, flow control, great heat stability, tbh it was almost boring as it just did its job, i still longed for another lever machine, once there in your blood they stick, they just look amazing. and what should pop up but an acs leva…a machine id been quite skeptical about, any lever seems to be quite polarising, just seems to be that way. id heard rumors read stuff saying how the machine was a miss match of parts, no good etc. but they still looked amazing, id followed the machine for a while and at the price it came up, prompted by a life even i thought stuff it! we're here once, get it! and that leads me to now. [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/ErMqxfw.jpeg] its been an up and down journey, ive jumped on fads bought stuff that i totally didnt need, learnt less is definately more, when it comes to coffee, ive noticed that each step ive taken up the ladder, ive inproved my coffee, each machine has been better than the last, starting would i imagined id of spent so much for a coffee - hell no, am i glad i did - yes jake

@"Cuprajake"#p12617 That’s quite a quite a journey Jake! It’s amazing how much you persevered. A classic example for some one to learn and understand what it takes to keep the passion for coffee alive. The best part is your wife firmly supporting so that you get what you desire. Enjoy making coffee with Evo. She offers plenty of possibilities to keep you busy. Hope she stays with you for ever!

Unlike Jake, we mostly stayed pour overs - mainly the Indian filter for a good part of our life with occasional £100-£150 machines. When the last machine died on us in late 2020, we kept moving the goal post from Gaggia to Minima to Evo. The 150 quids to £2500 is indeed a massive upgrade. Sure, she is our end game machine.

Jake’s corner was great reading during the pandemic

Fabulous post @"Cuprajake"#144 most interesting. It's terrific to have that pictorial guide to your journey. Thanks for taking the time to share.

@"Cuprajake"#p12617 Great post, shows the journey for many of us. Some go there in one big jump, others take the longer road, which is probably more fun..

id of saved a small fortune going big first, but i dont think id of learnt or appreciated the subtle changes. ive had some fabulous products half not pictured haha

So with a great machine comes great responsibility 🤣 i mean gadgets and we all love new stuff True to form ive ordered a funnel, doesn't fit, ive ordered a ims basket, and a normcore 58.5mm push tamper, with a plan to machine it down to fit the basket, for a mrs safe tamp🤣 Few internal pic [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/8Yb02jB.jpeg] Then an arty one [upl-image-preview url=//i.imgur.com/E2J62vo.jpeg]

Great journey to finally end up where you are today. Best way to learn what you do a don’t like regarding machines and your coffee.

Really enjoyed reading about the journey! That’s quite a few machines! Some very nice looking machines too! I love the turned handles on the first lever machine.

nick didnt, they were a very hard thing to make, had to design and make special mandrels due to the way the londinium handles are made,

My Coffee Journey

MediumRoastSteam

Cuprajake I decided to place an order for a decent de1pro

Very nice. I think between a LMLM and a Decent, I’d definitely go for the Decent.

But Jake, honest question: you always said you are a rather noise-sensitive person, saying in the past vibe pumps annoyed you quite a bit.

You know the Decent isn’t a quiet machine. Was that the compromise in the end?

Edit: I typed my post as LMSC submitted his above.

LMSC

MediumRoastSteam Was that the compromise in the end?

Giphy - come on no GIF by VodafoneIreland

HarveyMushman

Sorry to hear about the experience. I think you’ve been more than reasonable about it. I do read about a lot of people putting up with far more than I would be prepared to with what are expensive, brand new machines.

Exciting news about the Decent! I must admit that video that Sprometheus did made me appreciate how nicely designed they are and the perfect machine for anyone wanting to play with different recipes. Some nice touches with the finishes too. And you’ll also reclaim some work surface space!

Also seems like the support network from Decent and the wider community is very good. Definitely looks like the most fun espresso machine for sure.

I know the struggle though. I’m not too bad with coffee machines but I’ve had similar situations with motorbikes over the years. You see one you want, get it, it’s not quite right, you get another, then miss the old one, then there’s problems…. Ultimately, you end up with the one you love and really enjoy, and the only way you get there is by trying them!

Cuprajake

Decided that I’ve always fancied one, there’s nothing else I’d like.
No machine is silent unless your the pump, and I’ve just bought shares in eardefenders.com

MattH

Ohhh nice as mentioned the Prometheus video made me interested again… i admit the cool packaging was enticing…. But I also am still coming to terms with making good coffe from the lm Micra - so the decent would be lost on me 😀

Amberale

Good luck Jake.
That was quicker than I would have guessed but the are no rules.
I have one mate who turns over motorbikes like that and a cousin who is the same with wives.
It is cheaper with espresso machines. 🤑

DavecUK

Hope you enjoy the Decent….

Adrianmsmith

DavecUK

@Cuprajake

I went to see a guy the other month.
He had 2 Decent coffee machines.

I had a demo of both.

Wasn’t impressed with the one that was branded Decent 😜😎. Very strange noises from it, no tactile feed back, looked like it was made in china!! 😎😜☕

On the other hand……

I had a very strange dream least night. ……

I took a long diversion on my way home from work.

Went to see another guy who showed me his all new all singing and dancing one arm bandit! It seems to make a decent Latte

When I arrived home there was coffee machine in my van.
An Evo 2, 2.
Just been outside to check and yes, there it is!!
🫣☕

Let the fun begin, when I manage to get the great lump of a thing out of the van 🏋️ (you dont get that issue with a Decent I’m sure!!)

Thanks Jake

I am currently on a ban from buying a New coffee machine this year. Not sure what went wrong!!

Adrianmsmith

DavecUK
He won’t 😜☕

JammyDodger

Adrianmsmith looked like it was made in china

Like your iPhone you mean? 😉

Close but they’re made in Hong Kong. Decent are pretty open about their factory and you can take a look at videos showing each machine being hand-built and John’s commitment to producing a very high quality product. The aesthetics are certainly different from a more traditional machine, but I rather like that - to each their own!

https://youtu.be/EUOZxaiHPQc

EDIT - not sure why I can’t embed that video, but it’s linked if you want to take a look

JammyDodger

Cuprajake I decided to place an order for a decent de1pro

Ah exciting times! I think you’ll like the DE1 Jake, it’s a fun machine. You should be able to access Diaspora now you have ordered you DE1, if not, contact John or Mirjam and they’ll be able to hook you up. I’m not sure where you’re based but I’m in Bristol. Very happy to meet up and give you a run through of the machine and how it works if you like. It’s quite different to most other machines I’ve used but worth the learning curve!

I know you jokingly mentioned about getting into filter coffee, one of the cool things about your new DE1 is Scott Rao and John have just come out with the Filter 3 basket and new profile, which should play well with your Duo if you did want to explore that further.

Amberale

JammyDodger

He will be banned on the Diapers forum within a fortnight.
Just a prediction but he does have form.
Sorry Jake but I would love to be a fly on the wall in that forum for the next few weeks.
😜

Adrianmsmith

JammyDodger
Please do not insult me!!
What is this iPhone you speak of.

You also need to realise some comments are tongue in cheek, not literal. Hence the little picture thingys after the comment.🤬

P.s I have never owned an iPhone. That is true.

Adrianmsmith

JammyDodger
Just for you, I am thumbs up number 209
Interesting video.
We are all different and some things do it for one but not for another……
Still, they do look Decent 😎

HarveyMushman

Also doesn’t really matter where they’re made if they’re made well…

JammyDodger

Adrianmsmith it wasn’t meant as an insult Adrian!

Adrianmsmith

JammyDodger I know, hence your emoji also!!

Hope we all stay friends on the forum.

There’s room for every taste on here ☕

JammyDodger

Adrianmsmith I agree Adrian, there’s always room for good discussion on this forum. That’s the reason I like it so much, it rarely descends into hostility. People seem to respect others opinions even if they differ from their own. Im looking forward to hearing about your new machine too once you’ve got it set up 🙂

Cuprajake

@JammyDodger appreciate it, ive been cramming,

tbf the pump noise has been the only thing thats put me off over the years, but thought feck it, there a clever machine, they look complex, but once you get used to reading it, they are not actually that bad.

MattH

Cuprajake So what colour / side panels etc did you go for - and how long til you get it? - are they built to order ?

« Previous Page Next Page »