New to espresso but willing and wanting to learn the art (I adore coffee.) I’m on a budget and found this guy for under $100 (used but hardly, or so they say,) if I buy this, what else do I get to make it worthwhile until I can upgrade in a few months or so?
Thank you! 🙂
by 4ft10in
14 Comments
If you want to pay for shipping I have my old machine that I’d like to get rid of. I could do $100/work with your budget for shipping for it. Unless you already have a grinder
Mine is obviously not new but it has a ton of life and it was well loved and well taken care of reddit won’t let me link it but it’s the Calphalon Temp IQ with the grinder
https://preview.redd.it/az7ttsnvjgmf1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=67d442bdf36a272bb5969a1efce8ec29584d7813
Yeah, I got mine for very cheap about six months ago and I’ve really been loving it. The mandatory upgrades in my opinion are a new basket ($25-40), which also means a new, probably naked portafilter ($25-50), if you want to move up to like 18 to 20 gram dose. Also, replace the steam wand attachment. There’s some really great ones that just attach right to and replace the panorello sheath on amazon ($20-30). And a self leveling tamper ($25-50).
That’s really about it for mandatory and necessary upgrades. You will also very likely want in a espresso scale or some sort of coffee scale that will fit on there, but you would need that anyways and might already have something. Also, down the road, there is a PID kit. I don’t have it yet, but I hear good things about it.
Overall, for just absolutely necessary upgrades, I was under $80, I think.
My daughter bought this for me as a birthday present last year, and I’m just now deciding to upgrade it (after it made something like 6 cappuccinos per day for 10 months). We paired it with the 1zpresso J-Ultra and it did quite a nice job.
It’s cheaper to wait and buy what you want later. The next upgrade months from now would be $100 cheaper if you wait.
That was my first machine. It lasted about five years before it finally died on me. You need to be extremely vigilant about descaling and cleaning everything after each use.
Got mine for $44 on eBay brand new definitely worth it. Watch the Lance Hedrick video on the Stilosa if you’re not convinced
Short answer, kinda.
If you pair it with a decent hand grinder and something like a Normcore portafilter and basket, you’ll have a low cost entry into some of the aspects of espresso and be able to see if it’s right for you without blowing your wad on a bunch of shit.
I’ve got this machine. It’s good for beginners, just kinda works while you focus on learning about beans and grind settings and puck prep. The only thing I dislike about it is that it vibrates like crazy while it’s dispensing. I ended up making a separate platform so that my cup wouldn’t keep wandering out of the path of the stream.
No, I wouldn’t get it. This one would be better.
DeLonghi Manual Pump Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine EC702 – Fllorez https://share.google/LS8w9kRDKz0hALlAC
I have this one and like it. Was able to find it new for around that price.
Tom’s Coffee Corner on YouTube has some good videos on it/recommended upgrades
Install pid and dimmer, basically a better gaggia classic pro
I started with the same one and actually wish I would’ve started with the flair classic, which is what I’m using now. https://flairespresso.com/product/the-flair-classic/
No
Not for that price