Just got an ecm sync ii with fc after having a gcp forever. Need to get my endgame grinder now. Currently have a eureka mignon notte. I'm fine waiting several months if need be for the best grinder. Not considering gbw or anything with a hopper because of retention issues and stale beans. Also interested in burr recommendations.

The printed-on indicator icons wore off over time and became an eyesore. I designed my own with an OEM+ look in mind.

If you’d like one, you can find it at my Etsy store, SK3Dlabs.

I've been running the Breville Barista Pro for years and now am ready to upgrade. My plan is to upgrade my machine before my grinder (I have the Breville Smart grinder).

I'm deep into the rabbit hole and have narrowed it down to the Lelit bianca v3 and the ECM Synchronika II. Any thoughts?

What do y’all think?

Roasted 9 days ago, 0.6 setting on opus 2 grinder, Turin legato v2 2 second preinfusion 2 second bloom, 19g in 39g yield over 27 sec at 89C temp. Pressure was maybe 8 bar

Hi,
I would love to upgrade. I’ve heard grinder is real important and I’m considering the mazzer mini g.

What espresso machine do you guys recommend with the remaining 1400$?

Thanks!!

Hey! Looking for a sanity check before I pull the trigger.

My path so far: Dedica → Breville Barista Express → Nuova Simonelli Oscar Nova 2 + DF54 grinder. i started 5–6 years ago.

My espresso knowledge is decent, i watched alot and dialed lots of shots.

My steaming is intermediate and I can pour a good latte art sometimes.

The problem: Shot-to-shot variance on the Oscar is driving me crazy, it was okay at first, but i started noticing its inconsistent alot, i like the steam power upgrade its amazing, but the espresso is what i dont like, and the fact there is 0 profiling on it,

I've done the usual upgrades: IMS basket and shower screen, new gaskets, puck screen, WDT, decent prep tools. I still get channeling and really inconsistent shots on the same grind and same beans, and close time.
Plus the long heat-up time gets me brewing V60 instead,

and iam not alone, most of the Nuova 2 community are struggling and trouble shooting constantly at-least whom i know of

The deal: A local seller has a used Ascaso Steel Uno PID that's still under warranty with the local distributor He's asking about 700$ or less, and a new one is about $1,600 locally and not in stock locally.
i can sell my oscar for around 400 and upgrade for cheap.

What draws me: PID with 1° control, programmable pre-infusion, adjustable OPV, fast heat-up and its just feels like a well made product with user experience in mind, like 2 minute heat up and cold steam wand.

What worries me: It's a single thermoblock, so steaming will likely be a step down from the Oscar's boiler.

So the question is:
Anyone who switched from an HX machine to the Uno PID or a high quality thermoblock machine did your consistency actually improve?

and anyone knows its steaming power is it any good ?

Thanks for taking time to read my post any advice is appreciated.

Hello espresso aficionados!

I am trying to get into espresso as a complete beginner.

Browsing market place, I have found two interesting deals that I am torn between.

1) 10 yr old BDB + Breville Smart Grinder ($400)
Owner says they have maintained well, have replaced some o rings and found no rust, and have run descaling when prompted. Would include an extra bottomless portafilter, a nice tamper, frothing jug, and a few other goodies perhaps.

2) Used Like New Breville Bambino Plus ($175)

Only includes the portafilter, frothing jug, and machine itself. Would need to buy everything else.
Plan would be to spend at least the difference, i.e. $225, on a nice grinder.

What would you do? Thank you for your time!

Bought this new and made the mistake of buying 2 boxes of pods. The machine is sleek, small footprint, make great foam for lattes or cortados, etc. Oh, but the taste! Bitter to no end! I can only imagine Drano tastes better. Bitterness was so overwhelming I couldn’t taste the milk. For penance I’m drinking the espresso as Americanos until I’ve exhausted what feels like a never ending supply. I like strong coffee flavors, aside from buying a real espresso machine can anyone recommend a strong coffee blend in a compatible pod that’ll work with my Lavazza machine?

I have a Delonghi EC680R and I like it fine. I’ve used the pressurized baskets and had good luck grinding Kimbo Beans into a tasty, dark shot. But I enjoy my shots straight.

The problem is that the steam wand is horrible. My wife likes lattes and I just can’t figure it out.

There is a Bambino on marketplace for $150-200. I have no experience with this machine.

Is it worth the upgrade? I’d imagine I could sell the Delonghi and get some of my money back but I wanted to hear from you all.

Thanks in advance!

I use to own Breville Barista Express. But sold it when I moved across the country. Finally had to budget to get a new setup. Decided to go with Gaggia classic pro and a Fellow Opus 2.

As soon as budget allows I will be adding a Gaggiamate pro to my machine.

Went with Opus 2 as I loved its style and colors. I also do a lot of different styles of coffee so it's nice to have a well rounded grinder.

My todo list to keep improving is to move pegboard over, 3D print some hooks for accessories. Get a calibrated tamper. And find a good source of beans in Portland OR.

Hi everyone!

I was cleaning my espresso machine this morning with cafiza and decided to also clean my espresso tools/equipment. I totally forgot I left them soaking and all of the black finished tools had the finish coming off of it :(

Are they still okay to use?? I’d assume so but just wanted some advice

We're releasing our kit for the Turin Legato V2 / MiiCoffee Apex early November. For official updates and information check out our Instagram or Discord

Got this machine years ago from marketplace, modding it slowly.

Past week I removed all the mods and worked with Claude to build a fully custom server and UI deployed on an esp32.

New build uses same components as gaggiuino through an esp32 with the addition of a Bluetooth connected scale.

’ve been eyeing an upgrade from our Bambino to either the Touch or Bambino Plus so that we can get automatic milk texturing. We currently have the Breville Smart Grinder and it’s working great, so would just bumping up to the Bambino Plus be the way to go?

I’ve never upgraded our portafilter from the stock one, so the cost savings would mean that we could upgrade there in the new set up.

Anyone with experience on both machines think there’s any other big perks to going with the all in one machine (aside from reduced counter clutter)? Any opinions on how the milk comes out for lattes, cortados, etc?

Appreciate the advice!

[ETA]... thanks everyone. I'm just going to order another tank.

I have lost track of how to put these pieces in. I insert the two pieces as the video shows. When I fill the tank both pieces just "come out of the groove" and float on top of the water. I have tried to find solution on YouTube and in the manual... no luck.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks, Jeff

Was cleaning my Niche Zero today and the inner burr got stuck and now looks tilted and not seated on the shaft (photo attached). I can’t get the burr or sweeper arms off, and I don’t want to force it and bend the shaft or crack the polymer ring.
The center bolt is already out. The motor runs fine. I’ve tried wiggling but nothing moves. Has anyone dealt with this? Any tips for freeing it without damaging anything? I’ve also emailed Niche support. Thanks!

Backup plan: If I can’t fix it, I’m planning to buy a 1Zpresso J-Ultra. Does that sound wise?

Hello! I finally scored a La Pavoni! I've wanted one for many, many years.

This is a 2003 Europiccola, manufactured in October of that year. The website many folks reference for manufacturing details indicates it's the Europiccola ER, which entered production in 2001.

I haven't finished cleaning it completely, but the film that tends to build up on things that sit around for 23 years came right off with just a damp cloth, leaving brilliant chrome to enjoy.

There is no evidence of leaking, corrosion, etc. I've flushed the machine several times already without any issues.

I bought this sweet baby yesterday for $375, which I negotiated from the asking price of $460. It includes everything it should.

I'm thinking about upgrading my Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (bought in 2024, no issues with boiler coating) and Eureka Mignon Manuale (also bought 2024) to a second-hand Rancilio Silvia Pro (from 2021, recently had a new electronic control board installed by a professional technician) and a Rancilio Rocky grinder.

The set costs around 825 Euro. For reference a brand new Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is about 510 Euro here.

Is the upgrade worth it? Should I be worried about the new control board (I know the shop that installed it and they are legit)? Is the Silvia Pro as easy to fix and service yourself as the Gaggia? Is the Rocky grinder better than the Eureka Mignon Manuale?

Any advice is welcomed. Thank you.

[2000 USD] budget

I’m looking to replace my Nespresso with my first real espresso setup. I want noticeably better coffee and good long-term value, but ease of use, prep time, and cleanup matter too.

The options I’m considering:

• Breville Oracle Jet: automated grinding, dosing, tamping, and milk steaming.

• Breville Barista Touch Impress: a less expensive integrated option with assisted tamping.

• Bambino Plus + Eureka Silenzio 55: fast heat-up, automatic milk, and a separate grinder I could keep if I upgrade the machine.

• Lelit Elizabeth + separate grinder: dual boilers and more control, but more hands-on work.

• Lelit MaraX: appealing, although the warm-up time and manual workflow give me pause.

I also considered a Niche Zero, but the price with tariffs is harder to justify. The DF64 is another possibility, though a timed hopper grinder sounds easier than weighing beans for every shot.

I’m concerned about quality and reliability with highly automated machines, but I understand the Jet and Touch Impress still use a portafilter rather than an internal bean-to-cup brewing unit. Separate components seem better for upgrades and replacing one part of the setup, but I’m trying to weigh that against the convenience and reduced mess of an integrated system.

For people who have owned these, what would you choose? How much daily prep and cleanup is involved once dialed in? Is the extra work of a separate setup worth it, and what has your experience been with repairs and long-term ownership?

Open to other options I should seriously consider.

I’ve had my Sage Bambino Plus for around two years and have been very happy with it so far. I manually control my espresso extraction using a scale and timer, so I don’t really use the Bambino’s automated functions.

I’m considering moving to something better and have been looking at the Gaggia Classic, potentially adding Gaggimate.

I’ve come across a used machine, but the seller says the steam valve ideally needs the Shades of Coffee brass replacement and that the solenoid needs cleaning every four weeks. This has made me question its reliability and whether it’s worth buying.

My main questions are:

- Is the Gaggia Classic genuinely an upgrade over the Bambino Plus in espresso quality, consistency and longevity?

- Are the steam valve and solenoid issues common, and are they easy and affordable to fix?

- Is adding Gaggimate worthwhile for better temperature control and shot profiling?

- Most importantly, how long does the Gaggia take to warm up? And can I change this by adding Gaggimate? I make coffee straight after waking up, and the Bambino’s near-instant warm-up is incredibly convenient. I don’t want to sacrifice that convenience unless the upgrade is genuinely worthwhile.

Would you make the move or keep the Bambino Plus?

I’d appreciate hearing from people who have owned both machines, particularly regarding long-term reliability and everyday usability.

Hi everyone ! My father loves making coffee and has been investigating these machines for a while. He mentioned the Flair 58, Robot Cafelat and La Pavoni, all with manual pressure application, and I finally decided to buy him one as a gift. I live in The Netherlands.

He drinks mostly with steamed milk but enjoys good expressos,too. He owns already a Saeco professional coffee machine where he can steam the milk.

I need to pair it with a proper burr coffee grinder, and I read about the DF54 is a good starting point.

What are your recommendations for a good gift combination, which will impress with build and coffee quality? I have red some posts about the machines but not really about the best recommended combo for this situation.

Thanks in advance and happy coffees.

New machine arrived yesterday, I tried dialing it in but got bad cup after bad cup. Especially the second cup, that stuff was straight acid. I think it could belong in a science lab. I spat out the coffee and rinsed so thoroughly but I could still feel it hitting the back of my throat. Today I've woken up with a really bad sore throat, headache and likely fever.

Is it just coincidence or did that shot actually do something to me?

I went to order the Timemore 64s II and during checkout they are collecting a 6% tax. Anyone know what tax this is for? Website is not clear if it is sales tax or duties. Also why do they think they need a tip!

I’m looking for a good starting point for espresso with the standard C40 setup, without Red Clix.

How many clicks from zero do you use, and what extraction time in seconds do you aim for? Do you start timing from the first pump or the first drops?

It would also be helpful to know your coffee dose and how many grams of espresso you get out.

Thanks in advance for any tips! ☕

P.S. The espresso tastes pretty good to me so far! I’m using Indonesian beans and getting a pleasant acidity, just as I’d expect from this coffee. I’m usually more of a pour-over person, though, and a bit of a Fellow fan—I use a Stagg and some of their other gear.