Delonghi Magnifica S.
My wife purchased back in October. I was upset because I felt it wouldn’t be used, but then COVID-19 happened…I was wrong.
Makes excellent and consistent coffee. We both like Cappacino’s and it does and excellent job.
Obviously not cheap and requires some maintenance, but very happy with the purchase.
Haha, wow this speaks to me
Started off the same, happy with a decent JB machine until I started going down the rabbit holes of reviews, online advice etc.
Ended up buying an Elektra Micro Casa machine and Macap grinder, both second hand. Cost me about $1,800.00 (over twice the original budget) but couldn’t be happier with the quality of coffee I get.
I prefer milk drinks so went the heat exchanger machine
Had coffee lovers come to my house and get jealous that their breville at home can’t get close to this machine
I can live with the quality of my De Longhi at a third of the price.
Saw the thread and came in to mention the same thing. Brilliant machine and great value for money.
We bought one during lock-down to save on takeaways (and because it is fun to make your own). Super happy with it.
Short of unloading the multiple thousands on Italian shiny, it’s a no brainer. Thing is sensational. In the 5mths we’ve had ours the only place I’ve had a better coffee is Seven Seeds and we use their beans.
Good for you I guess. I find fully automatics to be dog ■■■■. But power to you.
…but the Italian shiny is so…shiny…
Two points I want chip in on.
Breville smart grinder. I’ve had mine for 6 years making about 2 pour overs every day.
Leaving espresso while you wait for milk. I you get the opportunity it’s stark the difference between a freshly made espresso and one thats sat for even a minute. Basically my theory on it has been that with espresso baskets being fairly bad at keeping particles out of the drink, those particles continue to give up flavour as the drink sits. This also works in unison with an effect that temperature has on coffee, whereby the cooler it gets the more acidic it tastes. So, an espresso that sits gets more noticeably sour the longer it sits. I have previously extended this theory to explain part of the reason traditional espresso culture involves ordering and drinking immediately rather than sitting and savouring.
If it’s for a latte or cappuccino you’d have to be a 1%er to notice imo. Good point on a short black tho.
If it’s for a latte/cappuccino you’re doing it wrong anyway… 
I’m looking for a machine in Vietnam, which is a little difficult, but they are around. I found the Gaggio classic for about $900 and the Breville 870xl for about 1.1k. Is the much difference between them?
I wouldn’t with that breville. I don’t like the idea of having beans stored in the coffee machine
Is that a good price for the Gaggio?
Sorry can’t say cos I don’t know how much things usually cost in Vietnam.
When I was looking a couple of years go 600 aud was possible.
under absolutely any circumstances, this should never ever be done.
Good guys[quote=“choppsuey, post:252, topic:1471, full:true”]
Breville dual boiler. Do it.
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The good guys has a promo where you get a 100 dollar gift card if you buy a breville coffee maker at the moment.
Devils advocate on buying a espresso machine.
You need to be prepared for the mess and cleaning.
A lot to be said for simple equipment(like an aeropress/stovetop) or a pod machine because of this.
If you don’t like cleaning an espresso might not be for you.
Thanks
This is a vastly under rated part of owning an espresso machine.
I got a Caffitaly pod machine with a milk frother. Churns out a pretty decent latte. Even better though, I ordered 1 milk frother and got 2 on my delivery! Spare one in case this one stops working or would use it as a gift…