In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hi Mona, if you search "Coffee machines" it brings up quite a few other threads - including this one. Worth a read
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Try a Gaggia or Saeco.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
My friend Roberto swears that Pavoni are the Rolls Royce of espresso machines.
Here's link for a peruse. :smile:
[url=http://www.lapavoni.com/]La Pavoni Official Website[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Moved to : Italiauncovered.co.uk
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=IRITALIA;99734]My friend Roberto swears that Pavoni are the Rolls Royce of espresso machines.
Here's link for a peruse. :smile:
[URL="http://www.lapavoni.com/"]La Pavoni Official Website[/URL][/quote]I have the LP Europiccola, which I think is their cheapest model, at €468 or £363. It's very basic, but built strongly, and seems to generate a good pressure, leaving a nice crema on the espresso. It has a steam pipe for frothing cappucino, but that's not something I've ever used.
I'm not so sure about "Rolls Royce". Maybe more Challenger Tank.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have had a Baby Gaggia Espresso machine [IMG]http://coreman.com/nucleus/media/1/20021114-gaggia_baby.gif[/IMG] now for six years and would definately reccommend it.
It is great and they still make the same model here at £274:
[URL="http://www.gocoffee.co.uk/coffee-machines/product_info.php?products_id=403&%24%24tid=DLHpuGhMxVi16C_DCd7G5aB08F_KPfgBkdswDEOo_LXIdU5tjcAAW8BkvzkGZfQt"][B]>Baby Gaggia in the UK<[/B][/URL]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have both an older la Pavoni Europiccola and a fairly new Saeco "Easy" machine.
The[URL="http://www.lapavoni.com/"] Europiccola[/URL] is lovely to look at, but is a machine for a really dedicated coffee lover, that enjoys the challenge of driving a steam train! It does look good though.
The Saeco Easy actually replaced an older Saeco Vienna and has proven to be very good. It isn't the most expensive machine in the [URL="http://www.saeco.uk.com/"]Saeco range[/URL], but makes an excellent coffee from beans. It really is incredibly easy to use and always makes a good cup. I think it has now been replaced with the Talea range - but all of the machines with a grinder built in are good - in my experience.
At the end of the day, it is all down to the beans.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Just to say the UK Saeco/Gaggia showroom and service dept is in the centre of Halifax, W.Yorks - so if you're in the north you could visit. They also sell reconditioned machines via the website. House of Fraser and Selfridges shops have a good selection set up for demonstration and coffee sampling. I'd also recommend the ones that grind beans make a fantastic crema.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I'd go along with the Pavoni recommendation, (they last about six years with daily heavy domestic use, based on having killed two of them and being on our third!)
Do not be persuaded by the sort of machine which empties the grounds inside itself. It's a very alluring option, nice and tidy etc., but it guarantees your coffee will always taste stale unless it is producing a cup every minute 24/7.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hi Mona,
If you want to know more about the different types of machine available then this is agood place to start
[url=http://www.espresso-coffee-maker.co.uk/espresso-machine-pump-boiler.html]Espresso Coffee Machine - Electric Pump Espresso Coffee Machine - Types of Pump Machine[/url]
Here is a very good site to get into the European coffee scene
[url=http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page]Main Page - TMC Wiki[/url]
It is worth mentioning that do do it properly you will need a grinder & a machine, and a good grinder will cost almost as much as the machine!
My personal favorites:
ECM Giotto
La Scala Butterfly
If you are really keen I have an Expobar & commercial (big) grinder I could sell for around your budget. I bought a La Scala Butterfly about two years ago.
Review here:
[url]http://snipurl.com/4ixv3[/url] [www_google_co_uk]
Pip pip
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Charles Phillips;99773]IDo not be persuaded by the sort of machine which empties the grounds inside itself. It's a very alluring option, nice and tidy etc., but it guarantees your coffee will always taste stale unless it is producing a cup every minute 24/7.[/quote]Not in our experience, Charles. Just think - the traditional way that most people make coffee here is by using a caffettiere - the one you put on the hob, not the glass plunger type. They are never, ever washed as that destroys the full flavour of the coffee - according to every Italian mama I have ever come across. In fact, I'm sure I would be run out of Italy if I ever washed one of ours (we always take one with us when we are travelling).
[IMG]http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:pYSLjLK_9ypqnM:http://immagini.cris-sas.it/2180A.jpg[/IMG]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Nardini, I assume you use then the same blend always if you don't wash out the pot???
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Loathe as I am to agree with Nardini today (he's currently on parole) I feel I must. Never ever wash your Moka with anything more than luke warm water. If you use very hot water or any type of detergent you will remove the oils that build up and destroy the flavour of the coffee you produce. My Moka is about 20 years old and has never been more than rinsed. Produces excellent coffee.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Sally Donaldson;99778]Nardini, I assume you use then the same blend always if you don't wash out the pot???[/quote]No, Sally, not at all. We tend to use Illy in our caffettiera most of the time - but not exclusively.
In point of fact - to continue with the theme of how to make a "real" coffee here - whilst we never wash the caffettiera at all (save, as Jules helpfully points out to rinse it with plain water), when it hasn't been used for a while, we always start it up again with a "brew", which we throw away. This gets the caffettiera back into working order very quickly again. Also, watch the seals as they deteriorate fairly quickly when the machine isn't used for a while.
[IMG]http://www.bialetti.it/files/catalogue/attachments/CdM%20RIT.010.jpg[/IMG]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Nothing but the very best coffee blend eh Nardini. Mine is one from IKEA (where else, lol) but made in Italy and the coffee it makes is great.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Illy? Illy? Utter rubbish - try Kimbo black label for a taste (and a hit) that will make you dance all day. :Dancing_biggrin:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Oh I don't know J+C. Two cups of M&S's would you believe had me dancing and singing along with Vasco Rossi all afternoon!!! lol
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=juliancoll;99779Never ever wash your Moka with anything more than luke warm water. If you use very hot water or any type of detergent you will remove the oils that build up and destroy the flavour of the coffee you produce. My Moka is about 20 years old and has never been more than rinsed. Produces excellent coffee.[/QUOTE]
Ours too and our favourite is a similar vintage, though we now have a selection depending upon how many of us there are drinking and the occasion. We check the seals periodically, replacements are available everywhere. For me, seeing the machine on the stove is one of the symbols of the Italian kitchen.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Ah I see this Kimbo coffee emminates from Naples. Here's a website where you can buy it from - [url=http://www.aromatico.co.uk/kimbo-coffe-espresso-c-34.html]Kimbo Coffee Espresso - Aromatico.co.uk[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Actually Sal, Kimbo "emminates" from high-grown Arabica beans from Central and South America. But lets not nit pick. :bigergrin:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Sure, as coffee is not of course grown in Italy. lol I meant the actual way the beans are roasted in Naples.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Good job I knew what you meant, even if you didn't eh? Anyway, don't knock it 'til you've tried it, honestly, I'm not telling you it's a great blend because it "emminates" (why does that word remind me so much of Rap rather than Rossi?) from Naples - it simply is gusto, delizioso e piacevole. In fact, I'm going to make myself one right now.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I'll join you shortly then.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We've seen Nardini's illustration but may I re-inforce that if you want to make coffee using a Moka on the stove, then the one to own is one made by Bialetti. Their Cuore di Moka has a little red heart inside when you open the lid and is supposed to take away any bitterness...seems appropriate re Juliancoll and Nardini's recent differences!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
No bitterness harboured between Nardini and I Noble, but tell me more about this little red heart - I've never heard of it before. How does it work?
PS. Is this the track you've been dancing too Sally? D'ya want the words?
[ame=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8ymDcLLYCSs&feature=related]YouTube - Sally - Vasco Rossi[/ame]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Noble;99841]We've seen Nardini's illustration but may I re-inforce that if you want to make coffee using a Moka on the stove, then the one to own is one made by Bialetti. Their Cuore di Moka has a little red heart inside when you open the lid and is supposed to take away any bitterness...seems appropriate re Juliancoll and Nardini's recent differences![/quote]
Bitterness? I see no bitterness...
And, yes Noble, it is the traditional "best" pot - although the more trendy have an Alessi pot on show.
[IMG]http://images.ciao.com/iit/images/products/normal/189/product-1079189.jpg[/IMG]
Although, I am quite intrigued by this one...
[URL="http://www.designbuzz.it/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/macchina-caffe-snail.jpg"]http://www.designbuzz.it/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/macchina-caffe-snail.jpg[/URL]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
"Although, I am quite intrigued by this one..."
[url]http://www.designbuzz.it/wp-content/...affe-snail.jpg[/url]
I want THAT one!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I just adore Guzzini products.
[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/screenshot_01-45.jpg[/IMG]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Funny Nardini! When we had a robbery, they stole the Aldo Rossi designed Alessi coffee maker which you illustrated. The local carabs decided that the thieves were really rather nice people, because to steal a caffetiera meant that they wanted to give a little present to la nonna!!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[ATTACH]2153[/ATTACH] [COLOR="white"]XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX[/COLOR]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=juliancoll;99855]No bitterness harboured between Nardini and I Noble, but tell me more about this little red heart - I've never heard of it before. How does it work?
PS. Is this the track you've been dancing too Sally? D'ya want the words?
[url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8ymDcLLYCSs&feature=related]YouTube - Sally - Vasco Rossi[/url][/quote]
Not easy to sing along to, expecially as I have a cold!!! This one is easier.
[ame=http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=SdVhLWhT_bM]YouTube - Vasco Rossi - Basta Poco[/ame]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Mi dispaiace per il tuo raffreddore. Spero che presto vada meglio. Listen to some decent music and you will feel better instantly.
Coffee Machines
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 07:26In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We bought a Rancillio Silvia - looks very industrial and is very heavy, based on their commercial machines, so the internal parts are long lasting [boiler is copper] and handle is heavy. [url=http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia]CoffeeGeek - Rancilio Silvia[/url]
Depends what you are looking for, good coffee, and a machine that feels like a proper one a barrista would use, or a sexy looking design statement that can still make good coffee, maybe even grinds the beans for you. Do you want one boiler or two.... etc etc
Gaggia's machines for the domestic market don;t have commercial grade boilers.
sites like [url=http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer]CoffeeGeek - Consumer Espresso Machine Reviews[/url] and others are the home of the coffee spotters brigade! There are numerous reviews......
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=juliancoll;99944]Mi dispaiace per il tuo raffreddore. Spero che presto vada meglio. Listen to some decent music and you will feel better instantly.[/quote]
Ah how kind. Thank you. It's now almost gone.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I should ruddy well hope so, I posted my wishes 5 days ago. Was it a just a cold or something far nastier?
Anyway, back to coffee and coffee machines - was at a friends last night (yes, I do have one or two) and we had coffee at the end of the meal. It was fantasic! I was very impressed with her efforts as she usually serves up Putrid Blend or dishwater. She informed me that she had bought this coffee on a greatley reduced special offer at Asda (or was it Tesco?) for only 50p for a 500 gm packet and even though she was sure it would be crap as it was so cheap, she bought 10 packets of the stuff!
Needless to say, I convinced her to place 5 packets into a carrier bag for me to take home. Guess what it was? Yes, it was Kimbo (Blue label - but hey - it was free!)
I don't have one as I love the natty little espresso thingies that come in various colours and sizes and you just pop on the stove. (Just bought a shiny new 4 cup lime green one!) But perhaps something to bear in mind also with the electric ones is the price and easy availability near where you live of the coffee refills.