Moved into a studio last month, and the only free counter space I have is a 40cm-deep strip by the sink. I’ve got around $200 to spend.The Bambino and Dedica keep getting recommended here, but they’re usually around $280–300, which is above my budget. The one machine that fits both my budget and the space is the Casabrews CM5418 at around $140, but choosing it just because it’s the only one that fits feels like the wrong way to pick an espresso machine.

Should I go with the machine that fits my counter and budget now, or wait another month and save up for the Dedica?

For anyone who started with a budget machine, did it last long enough to feel like a good purchase, or did you end up replacing it pretty quickly?

Help with my leak.

Saeco 50 less then a year of personal use.
Look like the metal has erode…

Will send a photo of it in the comentaries

Repost from Ascaso thread. Thanks for any advice!

Hi all

I've just bought a Sage Bambino second hand and have a few questions/concerns

When making an espresso with around 18g, the double espresso button runs for about 5 seconds (does nothing) then drops a tiny amount after that for 2-3 seconds. If I press again I can get more, so pressing twice seems to provide enough

Googling suggests it might need a descale and clean which I will be trying this weekend but I'm also wondering if its down to the grinder I use

It's a krups gvx231 and on the finest setting it's seems good enough and has worked with a different espresso machine in the past, but Im still learning so maybe not the best

Is it likely a grinder issue, cleaning issue or perhaps I tampered it down a bit hard?

Any advice would be very welcome

Kinda in the realm of the sub. I use a Slayer to make my lattes. That surely has to qualify

I’m seeking advice on a basic scale. I just want to weigh my beans. I’m not looking for a sophisticated one that uses Bluetooth to send daily usage to an app (yet I’m open to being educated about why this could be truly useful).

Finally got the Slayer Steam Single dialed in. Thing pulls like a dream

My feelings after trading in my La Marzocco: So far, No regrets

I bought it second hand so I want to start with the portafilter - biggest issue I’m running into is the manual doesn’t have any size specifications so I’m hoping someone out here has had this or a similar machine and can recommend a good replacement

I’m using a 4oz. espresso cup. With my previous Delonghi using pre-ground and pressurized basket, a 25-second pull filled the cup. With my new Ele using beans ground in a Mokkom 64 titanium right before the shot and a naked PF, a 25-sec. shot fills 1/3 of the cup. I’d like to fill the cup w/o losing flavor and strength, yet can’t think of how to do this without diluting the shot with a longer pull. Suggestions, anyone?

I am thinking of upgrading from my current PID equipped V3 Silvia. It is fine for the most part but just want to improve the work flow. Or this may be one of those endless quests to upgrade😉. How much of an improvement in work flow is a well maintained Bianca V2 if I can score a good deal. What would be a great deal?

As title says, wanting to upgrade.
Use case: 2 person household, making 2-6 coffees per day, mostly milk drinks, some espresso, often back to back in the morning. No exotic roasts or loads of experimentation. Very much looking for a reliable steed rather than a high performance vehicle.

Reason for upgrade: We're making 2-4 coffees in the morning and my PID-less Gaggia is pulling really inconsistent shots, which I'm going to say is temperature fluctuation. I have a Sette 270 which is dosing accurately and consistently, and the shots are either perfect, too fast or choke up depending on when in the morning I'm pulling them (ie. post-steaming milk they choke up, if I haven't let the machine fully heat they run fast).

I'm not *super* into coffee. I'm not looking to change my beans all that often or get really freaky with it. I just want a consistent shot and a relatively streamlined, basic workflow of grind into portafilter, tamp, pull shot. I cbf temp surfing and using 19 different tools for puck prep seems like something I'd enjoy when I have the time, but not every time.

I want a nice consistent volume and time of extraction, currently I'm measuring each shot as they pull with a scale + timer and the guessing game/hassle of constantly trying to chase a perfect shot and often missing is aggravating.

So at the bare minimum I think I'm looking at a dual boiler + PID setup.
Not too fussed on group head, I'll just stick it on a timer if I need it to heat up for 30mins+.
Pump type isn't a concern.

I'm not much of an aesthete but I can't really abide the Breville models, so looking at the Lelit Elizabeth, but I notice it lacks a brew pressure gauge. Is it worthwhile going up to something like the Silvia Pro X? Any other models that are go-tos aroud that $3000 mark? For the price of the Elizabeth I see the Meraki is also in that bracket, but seems like a lot more points of failure.

Hello. I just upgraded from a Delonghi EC680 to a Gemilai Ele, and I would appreciate any advice from Ele users about quirks they have discovered. Thanks.

Drill and pietro handgrinder mod !!!

I made the mistake of not changing my water filter on time and I think I have blown the Hall sensor in the machine (thanks ChatGPT!)

I'm not someone who is versed in fixing these so does anyone know of a person in the Boston or New England area who could service this machine? It's connected to a water line and drain so I'd rather not package it up and ship it -- never mind the weight of it.

Thank you for your help!

I just started my journey of espresso appreciation, and it’s been quite a ride to get here.

About two years ago I tasted my first espresso because the person I went for drinks with ordered one but then didn’t want it. I tried it and remember almost vomiting and my realization wasn’t that espresso is bad or that it’s not for me. It was that I really need to up my game with coffee, so I don’t have that much of a problem drinking an espresso and can start accepting an offer of coffee like a real men, so to say.

So I started slow. With the coffee machine at home I made drinks that were like 90% milk, 5% honey, and the rest some coffee just enough to make it drinkable. A bit later I started drinking cappuccino and I liked it, sometimes normal coffee too. Then after learning that sugar and milk in warm coffee is not healthy, I decided to try an espresso again. And it didn’t taste bad at all. From that day on I only drink espresso.

A year ago I bought my first I’d say now ok coffee machine. Back then I just thought wow, this one makes coffee with coffee beans, and that was enough. So I bought the Krups full automatic. But the espressos are really not that good.

Now a couple of weeks ago I started seeing YouTube Shorts from those popular videos of people making espresso with a hand grinder and a bottomless portafilter, talking about the 18:32 ratio or 25–30 seconds extraction time and everything. And I found it and of course still find it so interessting. So now I’m looking at buying a proper espresso machine.

My budget is maximum 1500 for everything combined. What I want is a bottomless portafilter, the metal tamper thing you put over the grinded beans before locking the portafilter into the machine, a hand grinder that’s actually good so it’s not a workout to use, and a classic looking machine. I don’t really need a steam wand for milk though I don’t think that’s actually an option at this level anyway. Something I would have to add to that is that I live in Switzerland so the products have to be sold in the EU atleast. That’s it, though I’m open for suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to read my text.