Help me pick a low end machine

[birv2]

My Via Venezia just kicked the bucket after about 15 years. It was a great machine and I certainly got my money's worth out of it. Now I'm looking for something even less expensive and smaller (tiny kitchen counter space).

I'm looking at the Casabrews 20 bar machine(https://www.amazon.com/Espresso-Pro...e-garden&sprefix=casab,garden,120&sr=1-4&th=1)

, the Wirsh machine(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2GV7T2..._=aa_maas&tag=highlightreviews-217348-20&th=1), and the DeLonghi Stilosa(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C96BG9H?tag=tccmedia-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1).

I realize they're all low end but I"m ok with that as long as they heat up and you can pull a decent shot from them. Thanks!

 

[shadow745]

Hilarious how much marketing B.S. is involved, especially on Scamazon. 'Professional and 20 bars' is just misleading at best. People tend to think a stronger pump means more capable, but higher pressure is usually the result of cheap/undersized plumbing that affects pressure with less flow rate. Kind of like a pressure washer in that GPM (flow rate) is more important overall than just high PSI.

Instead of those options have you considered an actual quality machine used at a fair price? I have scored some fantastic deals as most people don't know what they have and/or grow tired of the process and practically give it away.

 

[birv2]

Hilarious how much marketing B.S. is involved, especially on Scamazon. 'Professional and 20 bars' is just misleading at best. People tend to think a stronger pump means more capable, but higher pressure is usually the result of cheap/undersized plumbing that affects pressure with less flow rate. Kind of like a pressure washer in that GPM (flow rate) is more important overall than just high PSI.

Instead of those options have you considered an actual quality machine used at a fair price? I have scored some fantastic deals as most people don't know what they have and/or grow tired of the process and practically give it away.

Thanks for the reply. I've considered buying used but would like to get a warranty.

 

[shadow745]

Thanks for the reply. I've considered buying used but would like to get a warranty.

Understand that and with those lower tier machines you'll likely need it. I'm not one for pushing crazy priced equipment, but a decent setup isn't dime store cheap to be honest.

 

[Buskers Brew Coffee]

I had a Gaggia Classic for about 10 years and it was GREAT. I know that there have been some issues with the Newer EVO model. If you can, wait until they resolve that issue or find a Classic model up until about 2020.

 

[birv2]

I went even more low end and ordered a Bialetta moka pot. We'll see how this goes, stay tuned.

 

[shadow745]

I have Casabrews 20 bar machine

Pay no attention to the idiotic B.S. marketing with the '20 bars'... excess pressure means nothing for espresso and is like having a car capable of hitting 200 mph, but being restricted to 65 mph... POINTLESS!

 

[vomaxa]

Hilarious how much marketing B.S. is involved, especially on Scamazon. 'Professional and 20 bars' is just misleading at best. People tend to think a stronger pump means more capable, but higher pressure is usually the result of cheap/undersized plumbing that affects pressure with less flow rate. Kind of like a pressure washer in that GPM (flow rate) is more important overall than just high PSI.

Instead of those options have you considered an actual quality Espresso machine used at a fair price? I have scored some fantastic deals as most people don't know what they have and/or grow tired of the process and practically give it away.

If you’ve bought a budget coffee machine or if not a machine but have found a way to make a really nice coffee or even if you use an instant coffee but you think it’s amazing please tell me about it.

I’m a Costa addict but I’ve got to stop, I really can’t afford it anymore.

 

[shadow745]

If you’ve bought a budget coffee machine or if not a machine but have found a way to make a really nice coffee or even if you use an instant coffee but you think it’s amazing please tell me about it.

I’m a Costa addict but I’ve got to stop, I really can’t afford it anymore.

Well that sort of question is very general as in it depends on what type of coffee/concoctions you prefer, how much time/effort you're willing to invest in order to achieve what you like, etc. I started with instant yrs ago, then went to buying/grinding whole bean, all for drip for the most part. Then a steam 'wannabe espresso' machine that was quite fine for awhile, in which case a moka pot and decent grinder can accomplish a lot for the price point. Then I started into purpose built espresso setups and it just snowballed. For me no brew method known to man will ever come close to matching espresso and my main focus for quite a few yrs now is home roasting. As in sourcing quality green and dial each batch in to give me exactly what I want/expect as I have a very capable machine/grinder that will cover the bases for me the rest of this lifetime.