Any espresso enthusiasts here?
What kind of setup/equipment do you have? Preferred roasts? Maybe you don't have equipment, but a favorite drink or place?
My setup isn't anything special, but it works for me. I have an Expobar Office Lever that I bought in 2017. Daily use and a bit of minor maintenance along the way, and it's been a solid machine. Paired with a Quamar M80E grinder.
Also have a second, more entry-level machine at our cabin - Gaggia Classic Pro (which is having some issues right now) and a DF64P grinder.
For beans, I've been using a subscription from Bottomless for the last 1.5 years and have been super happy with it. I enjoy trying different roasters from all over the country and the service has been super reliable and not all that expensive for the fact that you get just-in-time freshly roasted beans at your doorstep.
Anyway, what are you guys drinking?
I have a Sage(/Breville) Bambino Plus and a Niche Zero. The Niche is probably overkill since I'm generally a milk drinks person but it's SO beautiful and eminently useable. The Bambino Plus is fantastic and I don't think I could upgrade without keeping it for it's auto-frother. My only issue is that it's light so it's a little annoying to put in the portafilter, and the drip tray's a little small.
I almost bought the Bambino Plus instead of the GCP for our cabin. But at the time, it was like $125 more expensive so I ended up going with the GCP. I've heard great things about the Bambino, though. Instant and adjustable brew temperature and the auto frother sound amazing.
It's definitely earned its reputation as a good starter machine, especially when paired with a good grinder. The auto-frother is the only reason my non-coffee-drinking wife can make me lattes lol
I've got the Niche Zero too! It's such a beautiful piece of hardware! I was a bit apprehensive about ordering that expensive a grinder but it has paid off!
It's definitely the most expensive kitchen appliance I own but it's also one of the most used. My previous grinder was a Melitta Molino that cost 45€ so suffice it to say it was a huge upgrade.
The Bambino perfectly satisfies my needs right now, but I agree about the tray. Every time I do a cleaning/descaling cycle, water gets everywhere. I’m thinking of modifying it so excess water could drain out a pipe and directly into the sink.
I’m quite fond of the auto frother actually. It took a while to get it to work the way I wanted, but now I can do latte art without thinking about it too much.
LOVE my Bambino. I am a fan of the Intelligencia Black Cat, but lately I've been buying the house beans of a nearby coffeeshop. One day, I'll need to ask where they source them from. Generally, I go with frothed whole milk, but the Califia Oat Milk Barista Blend is also amazing! Not only is it the first oat milk I have a taste for, but I like it so much that I drink it by the glass!
You like what you like! Plenty of people spend enormous amounts of money buying every new gadget the minute they're available, constantly upgrading and hey, maybe that brings 'em joy. Finding joy doesn't have to be expensive, new, or popular. There's only so many ways to grind a bean, ya know?
Nothing wrong with that at all! If you like it, don't let anyone else criticize your setup or methods. Lavazza actually makes decent espresso beans, I've used them before and they're popular with commercial espresso shops as well.
I've got a De'Longhi workhorse so nothing fancy but I'm prepared to make people even angrier since I actually drastically reduced my caffeine intake a few years ago. I'm unable to give up my lifelong espresso habit entirely though so it's Lavazza Decaffeinato for me.
Me! I have a Breville Barista Express (big shock, I know), and a JX-Pro. I do more pour over these days, but my wife loves Americanos so the espresso machine gets plenty of use. I’ve been eying some options for new grinders for awhile now, but it doesn’t seem like there’s much that would be a significant upgrade over the hand grinder without pushing $1000.
I would also really like to pick a gaggia classic to try to mod. I feel like that could be a really fun hobby to get into, and I know that is a popular choice as the base machine to add a timer, opv, etc to (or is it the silvia?)
My local roaster, Borealis, has a subscription service and really delicious coffee, so I use them.
Nice! The BBE is a super popular and well-regarded machine, and it sounds like you've already somewhat upgraded by using your own grinder.
The Gaggia Classic is definitely super moddable. I think the Silvia might be too, but those often come with PIDs and a reasonable OPV setting. The only modification I've added to my Gaggia has been the 9-bar OPV mod. I've thought about doing a PID or the "Gaggiuino" project on it, but It's actually been pulling decent shots as-is. Just wish that the boiler was a bit larger for better steaming.
Nothing wrong with the BBE. Had mine for probably 7 years now and no issues with it at all. Always use great beans and take care of it with regular cleaning and it will give you really good espresso.
I just recently got into it after doing just pour-overs for years. I've got a Gaggia Classic Pro with the 9 bar spring mod and a DF83v2. I'm just waiting on a PCB to arrive before I do the Gaggiuino mod. I've been enjoying learning the process manually for now. Excited to automate it a bit more soon.
Like you I've been using Bottomless for years (just went and looked it up, it's been more than 3 years now) and I love it. I get various light roast beans delivered fresh without having to even think about it. It's great.
Ahh so similar Gaggia setup as me! I also did the spring mod, but that's all so far. Have been pondering the Gaggiuino mod but it looks rather involved.
Glad to hear you're also having a great experience with Bottomless!
I've also got a GCP, 9-bar spring, and a Niche. I've resisted doing anything more than the spring mod, including PID and especially the Gagguino, because I'm only starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of the machine and I don't want to mod away my ability to actually use it.
That being said, it could still be something I look at doing down the road when I feel like "alright, I've really got the hang of this, now I just want my damn coffee."
That's makes sense. I figure if I brick it for a few weeks while I try to do the mod I can just go back to V60. I have definitely been learning a lot in the meantime and I'm glad I'm doing it manually for now.
Yesss, totally agree. It's hard to find a place that actually puts some care and effort into espresso.
I've got a De'Longhi Dedica EC680 and honestly it has served us perfectly for 4-5 years now. No nonsense pull, 15 bars, easy to clean. Literally not one complaint. Paired with a decent burr grinder and beans from Pilot in Toronto, I'm pulling cafe quality every time ;)
Nice! You certainly don't need a $2k machine to pull good shots :) It's satisfying when you're able to achieve the results you want without dropping stacks.
😂 Gaggia classic is what I look forward to long-term. If that's entry level I don't know what this Delhongi 4200 I have is.
We had a Gaggia and eventually upgraded but truthfully would have been content with the Gaggia long term too. It’s a great machine. We just found the single boiler a little tedious sometimes for making multiple drinks at once, the heat exchanger machine we have now makes switching between pulling a shot and steam wand seamless. But the Gaggia is probably the best you can get in that price range.
Ahhh I shouldn't have called that entry level. A lot of espresso equipment sellers and reviewers put that I to beginner category, but they're great machines and very moddable. I started with a Saeco Poemia which is way more entry than either the Gaggia or the one you have!
I got a flair pro a few years back! I love the coffee I get from it, but brewing with it is always a bit of a hassle, so I use it less than I'd like. Currently it's paired with my niche zero and hario v60 for coffee gear I use on the regular.
How long does it take you to pull a shot with the Flair Pro? Can you describe the steps you use? What do you use for heating the water?
I’m mainly an Aeropress user but I give the Flair espresso makers an occasional glance. I use an 1Zpresso JMax for grinding and have a Zojorushi boiler for the water. If I ever get an espresso maker it will likely be a Flair.
My Expobar weighs like 60 lbs and I still have to hang onto it to insert the portafilter, so you're not missing out on much there 🙂
My daily driver is a La Pavoni lever machine and i use a 100% arabica bean with a Mazzer Mini. Both machines are starting to get old, probably 15 years, and the only real issue has been that the pressurestat malfunctioned once causing a bit of a leak. Other than that i replace the gaskets and lube up the moving parts every now and then.
Sometimes i mix it up with a Moka pot or French press.
I've got a Breville Barista Express and a Niche Zero. The Barista Express has an integrated grinder but I got to a point where I felt like I was struggling to get consistent espresso results so I ended up buying the Niche.
One day I'll be able to justify a Decent DE1 but until then my little Breville does okay!
In terms of other tools, I use a 3D printed dosing funnel and WDT tool.
Lately I've been drinking Fazenda Resplendor which is a Brazilian single origin. I really like the nutty flavours, it works with milk and straight espresso!
Yeah, I think outgrowing the Barista Express grinder is to be expected eventually. It's definitely the weak link in an otherwise great machine. But it's convenient and a good start while you learn the process before the grinder becomes your limitation.
Yeah I used it for a few years but I got in to REALLY light roasted coffee which it started to struggle to go fine enough for.
I’m rocking a Rancilio Silvia + Rocket Faustino, both picked up second hand. I’ve worked as a barista in the past, and can honestly say this setup produces coffee just as tasty as the commercial machines.
For beans I really love experimenting with different local roasters! I guess that really depends where you live (it’s great in Vancouver), but I’d imagine most large cities have a few options! I tend to experiment a lot, which can lead to some awful stuff, but sometimes nice surprises!
Breville Barista Pro owner, and man do we put that thing to work!
I’ve also got a small home roasting setup (Huky 500) that is basically a scale model of a commercial roaster. It can do about a pound at a time. I order 60lb bags of green coffee at between $3 and $5 USD a pound and it’s usually enough to get my family through close to a year. Enjoying a coffee from a farmer coop in Chiapas right now — it’s full-bodied, chocolatey, nutty, and a touch sweet at a medium roast. The crema on fresh-roasted beans is incredible!
That's quite the roaster! Even though it can only do a pound at a time, which is about all you'd want for freshness anyway, that thing looks serious.
I considered doing my own roasting at one point, but I severely doubted my ability to produce coffee at the level of professional roasters, so I never did it. But I know a couple of people who do (with much simpler equipment), and they're super into it. Very cool!
It is very fun, and it doesn’t have to be too daunting! I had similar reservations and was really particular about getting every single step of the roast just right for my first year or so of roasting, but honestly you lock into a flow and your own way of doing it after a while and it turns into a nice, calming weekend activity. Plus you just can’t beat the taste of coffee you roasted in your garage!
I started out on a Behmor which is definitely a cheaper option, but with a little less control over the roast (which is a blessing for your first couple dozen roasts!)
Hmm, maybe I'll check it out at some point. I need to wrap up a few projects though before I get started on the next one 😆
Yep!
I'm an oat milk latte kinda guy, though I also use a plunger, an aeropress, and have thought about dabbling in the pourover world...but for now I'm happy with my Sunbeam EM7000 paired with a Baratza Encore, though I have a Mahlköning Vario on the way. Hopefully the burrs are in decent shape. The Encore is great, but it's a pain dialling in new beans. Plus the Vario means I can use a little masking tape to list settings for plunger/aero etc.
Oh yes an if anybody out there is on the fence about bottomless portafilters - do it! It helps check your extraction, but honestly it's also just fun to watch.
I've got a Lelit Bianca V2 paired with a Niche Zero. I love them both! Expensive, but definitely makes me feel super spoiled anytime I drink coffee anywhere else!
Haven't got a setup yet, but the best I've ever had was in Naples. One Euro for delicious shots via lever machines. I'd replicate those.
Lever machines are super cool!
I have a De'Longhi Stilosa as my machine - it's cheap for sure and the quality is relatively minimal, but I got it for around $100 so I wasn't complaining. I depressurized the portafilter, got a new basket and puck screen for it, and since then I've had no problems.
I pair it with my Fellow Opus and after some dialing in I've got it nailed down to a spec I really like. I usually brew from specialty roasters local to me, and I've been really excited recently because I actually went to some of their cafes and found that my coffee at home was almost exactly the same as theirs!
All in my investment was around $400 for everything and I've made enough espresso (typically cappuccinos, I just love them for a morning coffee) to make back my investment. It's also been really exciting when I've made coffee for someone else and they've enjoyed it - definitely one of my favorite hobbies to have invested in.
We started out with a refurbished Gaggia Classic some years ago and it was great, upgraded to a Lelit Mara X and it’s wonderful. But I’m pretty lazy on making drinks - I prefer just an Americano every morning, whereas my other half does a cappuccino every time.
For coffee beans, we’ve ordered from Happy Mug for years now. They aren’t the most high end but still better than anything local to us, and they roast to order so it’s always very fresh! Flat rate shipping too.
How do you like the Lelit? I almost got an Elizabeth since it sits at a decent price for a dual boiler.
I actually came across Happy Mug a while back, and was pleasantly surprised at the pricing. I was mainly looking for green coffee when I was looking at getting into roasting (which I never ended up doing).
I purchased a Lelit Mara X after a long time with Rancilio Silvia + Rocky. I found it was a step up in quality of shot.
The price of the heat exchanger machine was a bit cheaper than a double boiler, so that was an advantage for me. I don't make a huge number of coffees so frothing milk after the shot isn't a big deal for me.
Yeah the reason we upgraded was mostly the Gaggia is a single boiler. The Lelit has a heat exchanger so we can switch between pulling espresso and using the steam wand instantly which is great. It works really well and I don’t have any complaints - sometimes when you turn it on the water tank sensor thinks there’s no water, but if you just jiggle it around it kicks back on. Not a huge deal that’s the only annoying thing I can think of.
With that said, my husband is the one that does all the maintenance for it hah, it’s more his hobby than mine. About once a week he does a pretty good maintenance cleaning of the machine to keep everything going, whatever is in the manual. I guess I don’t know if NOT being that consistent would lead to issues over time or if he’s just overly cautious.
Yeah, the single boiler is a pain. My main machine (the Expobar) is a HX, so going back to a single boiler is interesting. Especially since the Gaggia has an absolutely tiny boiler. That's part of why people do so many mods to it.
The weekly maintenance is probably backflushing. and it's definitely necessary. I can definitely tell a difference in how the machine runs before and after doing that.