I had the Breville Touch for a few months and quickly got frustrated by the grind quality. Was going to just upgrade with a separate grinder, but then the Mara x went on sale. It’s a gorgeous machine, but I’m battling buyers remorse. Feels like I haven’t really “earned” this caliper of machine because I haven’t really perfected the process on a simpler machine like so many others have in this sub. It’s sort of like buying an expensive chef knife if I still can’t cut things properly.
Love this machine, but sucks that I don’t feel better about this purchase.
by blondebuilder
45 Comments
That machine is solid! I urge you to experiment with it, play around a little and enjoy your coffee. Stay away from reddit for a while (ironic I know lol) and focus on dialing in by taste. I’m sure you’re a few pulls away from making tasty shots!
You need to understand you’re not experiencing buyers remorse. You’re experiencing imposter syndrome. Just focus on getting better on the craft every time you use it. You got this
Honestly, relax. I went from a delonghi dedica to the Mara x a couple of years ago and can relate to what you are feeling. Takes a bit of time to experiment and get to know the machine. Once there, all your concerns will hopefully go away.
One of the key things for me was to set the right button to prioritising brew mode (instead of steam mode). The other thing I did was to tweak the brew pressure down to 8-9 bar. It was set at 11 bar when delivered.
It’s an espresso machine not a trophy.
There’s no need to earn these machines. It’s allegedly a solid machine.
Lelit IMO doesn’t have the best build quality ( I have a different Lelit Machine that stopped turning on lol) but their customer service is decent.
The only recommendation I have is use their water softener filters.
Enjoy the machine though!
Remember why you bought it. To enjoy a damn good cup of coffee at home, anytime you want, with any coffee you want.
Perfecting on a cheaper machine doesn’t mean anything. You now perfect it on the Mara.
Your feelings are your feelings, but they are not warranted. A better quality setup like yours is ideal for a beginner. So-called “beginner” machines are much harder to learn on, due to their inconsistencies.
On a beginner setup, you do the exact same thing 5 times in a row and get one great shot, one terrible shot, and 3 meh shots. You have no idea what you are doing right or wrong.
On your setup, you will get much more consistent results. If you get a bad shot, you know it was your fault, not the fault of your equipment. You can try to identify what you did wrong, so your next shot will be better.
I feel the same way when I purchase a machine that is a bit over my budget or a bit outside of my comfort zone. I hated the fact that I was feeling that “remorse” so I’ve been only purchasing used machines which made my frugal self feel better :p
You’ll grow into it. Supposed to be a great machine, and you absolutely deserve to have nice things!
Unless you’ve like disowned your child or something. Then maybe you don’t. But otherwise I think you’re ok.
Have you noticed a better or more consistent output? Stronger steam power?
I trained a lot of new baristas, and a lot of them felt the same way you do, granted they don’t own the machine like you do. Shop baristas don’t start with lesser machines (I’ve worked with various machines ranging from Astoria to LM Linea PB), and most of them learn while they are on the job. I’ve met some who still have imposter syndrome half a year into their job, and they felt like the machines are wasted on them, but I see otherwise. I saw the improvements they made, and despite what they say, they still made an effort to learn. So, don’t worry, you’ll get there when you get there.
It all will come, with practice and time. Just enjoy it, and the journey. And it *is* beautiful. 🙂
I have the same machine (it’s white) and I have so much to learn but hot damn, I love it! Not long in the game, had a Gaggia before, using my Mara X is highlight of my day.
Let yourself enjoy having it. It’s clear you appreciate it.
Hey, if you wanna feel better; I bought a Bianca based on vibes and having never pulled a shot until I picked it up. The salesman was nice enough to give me a run through on the floor model.
I love it though and I make at least two milk drinks a day. My wife is an ex barista and has really liked getting better at milk.
Don’t beat yourself up with comparisons. Most of the time you win the fight and the only person who loses is you. Beautiful machine you have there.
It’s a beautiful machine and I’m excited for all the amazing drinks you’ll make with it.
Congrats on the purchase! Your Mara X must be broken. Let me take that expensive paper weight off your hands 😜😂
How much you get it on sale for? And where?
Nothing wrong with perfecting on a sick machine! Especially one with a steam wand that’s better than a lot of the market. Plus, it’s aesthetic as hell lol
Went from Bambino to Silvia Pro X and absolutely have not regretted it. Makes drinks on the fly and they’re consistently consistent for 2 years. Easy to work with when issues come up (both pumps replaced) and gasket changed but that’s it. You’re missing nothing on cheaper machines but dodged headaches
Just get your butler to make it
This was one of the three machines I was considering when I upgraded from a BBP. I ended up with a Rancilio but this was a close second. It’s not like buying a Lamborghini and use it to go to the grocery store or race skis you’ll only use on intermediate runs. Once you get it dialed in, you’ll be loving it.
To use your metaphor: if the new chefs knife drives you to want to cook more, fuels passion, and improves your skills, then isn’t it worth it in the end?
Don’t trip. You’ll be feeling comfortable in no time!
I have the Mara X and it’s a great machine! Stop thinking about where you are, and focus on where you’re going. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on pulling shots and can make consistent latte art, but will see friends in the industry who absolutely run circles around me. Everyone looks up to someone, so get around people with more knowledge and absorb it like a sponge. You’ll be there one day.
You did yourself a favor; test your palate on the flavor: don’t burden yourself with anything but the determination to sing with your new machine.
The decision to upgrade already demonstrates your “worthiness.” You seek an improved espresso experience. Many of us do. I say good for you for taking the leap.
Don’t question your self this way, rather, ask yourself, “Once I’ve mastered this machine, what next will I choose to improve?”
Go forward, friend, with curiosity and wonder and the desire to define your highest order.
Enjoy your process. And share the results of your efforts with us.
Progression not perfection bro.
You got it op! It’s a learning curve but you’ll kill it with practice.
Your Mara X was a very smart choice. It is reasonably priced, has great quality and is beautiful. You should be delighted every time you walk into your kitchen. It’s great for someone who has some experience with espresso and it is an easy machine to use. Making coffee with a quality machine is a necessity or you will be driven crazy. Just make sure you buy a good grinder. You will laugh at yourself someday when you contemplate upgrading to a $3,000 machine.
Brother, I went from a Casabrews Ultra to a Bianca. Don’t worry about not being able to use it to its fullest. Have fun, and one day you’ll see how far you’ve come.
caliber
I’m on the same boat, I had my barista touch for about 4 years, never really perfected the grind because I was mostly drinking milk based drinks, but then reading this sub got me the “upgrade” itch, I ended up getting a nice setup, Bezzera duo and a Eureka mignon zero, I’m getting there but I do feel like an imposter too, TBH some days I feel like I wasted 3 grand because I listened to “get the dual boiler” crowd when I could’ve gotten the same results with a cheaper setup, I enjoy the process of making Expresso and at the end of the day I’m getting good shots, and I see it this way, If I drink 3-4 drinks a day, that’s 20 bucks at a coffee shop, in 200 days of daily drinking it should pay itself 😂.
learn how to use it you’ll get over that real quick once you enjoy the coffee. I went from a breville to a bianca it’s a hell of a machine.
Congratulations for the machine, use it daily, improve every day and you’ll get rid of that remorse. It’s a beautiful machine.
The other part of this is… everyone on this sub talks like they are the barista champions that pull perfect shots everyday all day, and I’d be willing to bet even the ones with $6,000 machines pull A Lot of shitty espresso. Enjoy your machine it will take work and effort to get it right but at least for me that is a big part of the fun. It’s really that simple.
To be fair you can’t perfect the process on a machine that gives inconsistent or subpar results. You have exactly the tools you need just keep at it
My first impression was that the setup was so small and accessible. My setup takes up so much more room. I love what you have going there. Keep improving every day and the setup you have will prove to be magical! May all your cups be good!
Where’s the kitschy coffee bar sign.
That’s a weird feeling to have?
If you’re able to afford the machine fine, and pull shots from it that taste like something you enjoy, then great! You’ll get better with practise.
I’d absolutely love to have a $3000 88 key electric piano/keyboard, and I can barely play piano anymore. If I could afford it, I’d get, and I’d be enticed to learn to play more because it’d be so much fun to use!
Enjoy your new toy 🙂 you’ll be fine.
I have the Bianca – the nicer machine can absolutely compensate for other bits 🙂 Just ignore the fancy bits for now and keep it simple. The nicer machine gets you at least consistency in all the other parts of the process
Don’t build an identity around the things you own. I know it’s oh-so easy to do so, but it leads to either posts like this or the other common flavor here, showing off a fancy new setup. They’re opposite sides of the same coin.
Take pleasure in savoring good coffee, not the machine. Definitely enjoy the machine too, but don’t get insecure (or vain!) about having it. Be a good friend, keep your commitments, spend time in nature, etc. Make that your personality, not living up to some standards imagined scorecard of expertise versus what you’re allowed to own.
Three years ago, I spent $2k on a machine + grinder, having never pulled a shot of espresso in my life.
Who cares? Go pull a shot and enjoy its beauty.
There are people all over the world pulling their first shots on $10-30k+ commercial machines.
You’ll get over it.
But you didn’t upgrade the grinder?
I went bbe -> df64 -> ssp -> realized I was wasting money on junk -> de1, niche zero and lagom 01
Bruh this is a fine machine. I personally don’t like the breville and would never own one. I have a rocket btw. Practice pulling shots and have fun.
Ya…I know what you mean…I threw out the Mara X and got the Bianca. Then I thew that out and got the ECM Synkro, then decided the software will make me good coffee, so I got the Decent…but that had plastic, so I recycled that, and got the Windugui, but it had dark walnut wood, and not French oak rift cut, so threw that in the chipper….
Now I just have drip coffee
😉
Keep at it man…it will happen. Just keep in mind your variables, and repeating the same exact thing and expecting different results might not be a good idea. Make sure the machine is hot enough so do some purges before hand. Most machines require this to stablize temp to repeat shots. Take notes, measure twice, and take care with what you are doing.
Trade you my breville touch for it
Lol – it’s a Mara X. It’s not like you bought some prosumer level machine.