Beginner Espresso setup

[TheGentleman]

Heck, forget $700 and just get a Nespresso. I got one for Christmas and it's been unbelievable. I'm probably an amatuer, but it works!

[e-man67]

I got a Cuisanart espresso/cappicino machine for Christmas and love it...it was about $40...doesn't grind the beans or anything like that but tastes just as good as StarBucks...actually I use there espresso blend.

[floydpink]

Personally, I'd never buy a superauto. Too little for me to worry about and too little control over the brew for my OCD ways. My friend has one and feeds it Illy beans. It is marginally good espresso at best and the machine cost a few thousand bucks. I have told him to head over to the local roaster or let me roast him some beans, but he's happy with the stuff he uses.

My espresso journey has left me convinced that you are not getting into the hobby properly without spending nearly the whole 700 budget on the most important part; the grinder. Not quite the whole 700, but not too far off either.

Lots of guys do nicely with the Rocky/Silvia combo, but are normally offering them up for cheap once they decide it's time to bite the bullet and upgrade.

I entered the hobby with a Gaggia Baby machine and Gaggia MDF grinder for about 600 total and grew out of it in under a year. Very inconsistent and unpredictable at the best of times.

[0002S]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Personally, I'd never buy a superauto. Too little for me to worry about and too little control over the brew for my OCD ways. My friend has one and feeds it Illy beans. It is marginally good espresso at best and the machine cost a few thousand bucks. I have told him to head over to the local roaster or let me roast him some beans, but he's happy with the stuff he uses.

My espresso journey has left me convinced that you are not getting into the hobby properly without spending nearly the whole 700 budget on the most important part; the grinder. Not quite the whole 700, but not too far off either.

Lots of guys do nicely with the Rocky/Silvia combo, but are normally offering them up for cheap once they decide it's time to bite the bullet and upgrade.

I entered the hobby with a Gaggia Baby machine and Gaggia MDF grinder for about 600 total and grew out of it in under a year. Very inconsistent and unpredictable at the best of times.

Pete,

I'm that Illy Superauto guy too. While I'm more than satisfied, I would like to try other espresso beans. Can you recommend me a local roaster and bean?

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by 0002S

Pete,

I'm that Illy Superauto guy too. While I'm more than satisfied, I would like to try other espresso beans. Can you recommend me a local roaster and bean?

You're in Orlando, try the Whole Foods on Turkey Lake. They roast right on premises and have some great stuff.

I love their Ethiopian Yirga Cheff and they seem to get better results than I do roasting it myself.

Their houseblend Espresso is good too.

If you really want to see something good, order up some Intelligencia Black Cat or Stumptown Hairbender online. They'll roast it when you order it and give UncleBeanz a try as well.

Not trying to sound like a snob, and if you love Illy, great! I like my beans no older than 10 days post roast max.

If all else fails, meet up with me at Corona and I'll let you try some of my home roast.

[0002S]

Originally Posted by floydpink

You're in Orlando, try the Whole Foods on Turkey Lake. They roast right on premises and have some great stuff.

I love their Ethiopian Yirga Cheff and they seem to get better results than I do roasting it myself.

Their houseblend Espresso is good too.

If you really want to see something good, order up some Intelligencia Black Cat or Stumptown Hairbender online. They'll roast it when you order it and give UncleBeanz a try as well.

Not trying to sound like a snob, and if you love Illy, great! I like my beans no older than 10 days post roast max.

If all else fails, meet up with me at Corona and I'll let you try some of my home roast.

I don't take it the wrong way. You have more experience with different beans. I use a Jura Machine with Illy beans because its fast, easy, has little mess and little maintenance. It is by no mean the best coffee I've ever had. It's delivers a consistent taste for me.

The downtown Publix is spotty on the Illy supply so I'm looking for a more reliable solution.

I'll try the Intelligencia Black. How long do they take to ship?

Have you ever tried the Nicaraguan coffee that they serve at Corona? Does anyone from the area meet downtown at Corona on a regular basis?

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by 0002S

...I'll try the Intelligencia Black...

They're fast. If Black Cat doesn't do the trick for you, nothing will. It is a consistent, exceptional blend that shines in espresso machines.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by 0002S

I don't take it the wrong way. You have more experience with different beans. I use a Jura Machine with Illy beans because its fast, easy, has little mess and little maintenance. It is by no mean the best coffee I've ever had. It's delivers a consistent taste for me.

The downtown Publix is spotty on the Illy supply so I'm looking for a more reliable solution.

I'll try the Intelligencia Black. How long do they take to ship?

Have you ever tried the Nicaraguan coffee that they serve at Corona? Does anyone from the area meet downtown at Corona on a regular basis?

I have and it isn't bad, but not great either. (sorry Alex!)
I attribute some of it to the fact that they fill the doser and dispense all day it seems from the full doser which I don't know when the beans were ground. More than 20 minutes, I don't want it. Never once saw a crema on top of an espresso there, nor a microfoam on a latte. (snob alert!!)
I stick with the green tea when having a beverage at Corona.

I'm at the Sand Lake Corona once or twice a week.
The problem with the beans at Publix is there is no telling how long they have been on the shelf, which is bad.
If you go to Whole Foods, they have the roast date on them.
Get some Black Cat. If you order today, you'll probably be drinking it by Wednesday.

My buddy in Winter park has the same Jura setup with Illy beans and seems very happy as well.
I'm a bit overboard I guess and won't even buy orange juice at Publix and spend a couple hours a week squeezing the stuff I buy at the packing plant down the road from where I live.

Life is short, drink fresh is my motto.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by TheGentleman

Heck, forget $700 and just get a Nespresso. I got one for Christmas and it's been unbelievable. I'm probably an amatuer, but it works!

I got a Cuisanart espresso/cappicino machine for Christmas and love it...it was about $40...doesn't grind the beans or anything like that but tastes just as good as StarBucks...actually I use there espresso blend.

Fine machines for making coffee, I'm sure, but this discussion is about pressurized espresso machines which are a different category gear.