Coffee Expresso Machine - hints and tips please

janem2

I am going to buy an expresso machine...this will be my first one so would like some hints and tips please. The DeLonghi that I first looked at says it has to be heated up for 30 mins before each use. That is too long as it is for my early morning coffee!
Any tips would be appreciated so I don't buy the wrong one.

Oh, and I am only interested in expresso - it doesn't have to make cappuccino but if it does I wouln't rule it out...

TIA


J

jenny-wren

The sort of machine you buy depends (like a lot of things) on how much you want to spend. Make sure it is pump driven. The really cheap ones rely on the pressure of the water in the boiler and the water is forced too slowly through the coffee producing a bitter brew. The key to good espresso is properly ground coffee. It's best ground as needed. Invest in a good burr grinder. They use two vaned metal cones - one inside the other. The smaller the gap between them the finer the grind. You need a fine grind for espresso. The blade grinders are only good for french press (cafetiere) coffee.
Good luck.

arealbasketcase

I hate to say this but I am going to anyway - don't bother. I have had about 3 of these machines over the years:

the first was used almost constantly, it was a present from my parents so no idea what it cost but it was brilliant for making coffee. Lasted about 18 months before the seal went, no steam build up therefore no pressure therefore no coffee. Knowing my mum she will have paid a small fortune for it!

the second was a delonghi cost about £140 quid, too much phaffing, too much mess, too long to make a coffee. Seal went in just over 12 months.

the third is on top of a cupboard, we don't even use it, cos.... don't know why except to repeat too much phaffing, etc.

Stick to a cafetiere made with fresh ground coffee and drink expresso from the coffee bars, may not be the money saving way (although it you take into account the amount the machine costs?????).

Good luck, give me moooore caffffffeine NOW!:D

jenny-wren

Forgot to add ....

It looks like the DeLonghi you're looking at must be a steam driven machine given the time it takes to warm up. We have a basic Gaggia that is pump driven and ready to go in about 10 minutes. It wasn't cheap compared to some of the machines on the market (£130ish when we bought it) but it produces a mighty fine espresso with home ground Starbucks coffee beans.
www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0502962/Trail/searchtext%3EGAGGIA.htm

We also have a filter machine that has a timer and an insulated jug (no hotplate). Pop the coffee and water in the machine, set the timer on the machine and hey presto, the coffee is ready when you get up. I know it's not the same as espresso but if time is an issue it's another option.

basill

janem2 wrote: »

The DeLonghi that I first looked at says it has to be heated up for 30 mins before each use.

All espresso machines need time to warm up before use. A double shot of espresso is only about 2 fl oz. So if the machine, the filter holder and the cup are not nice and hot the coffee will be cold by the time it reaches the cup.

Once the water reaches temperature you can speed up the pre heating process by running hot water through the empty filter holder into your cup.

As Jenny said an adjustable burr grinder is a good investment so you can change the grind to suit the coffee you are using. A search for Espresso brings up a mass of information on the web to help you get the best out of your machine.

As for recommendations I started with a Krups Vivo and pre ground Illy coffee and got good results.
The next step was a good quality burr grinder and coffee beans from Whittards, really fresh beans from http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ and now a rather more expensive machine!

arealbasketcase is right making espresso at home is a messy business but very enjoyable. The seal between the filter and the machine gets very hot and will fail after a while. Spares will be available for a good quality machine.

A friend of mine has rescued a leaky 20 year old Gaggia from his mum, it turned out to have a crack in the boiler, Gaggia were able to supply a new one and gaskets. pretty good for such an old machine.

B

debbie42

I love espresso: my Gaggia Classic and Starbucks burr grinder gets daily use. My espresso is pretty damn good and beats the likes of Starbucks hands down. I got my coffee machine for £150 when it was on sale, and the burr grinder for around £25 (also on special). I did have deLonghi before, but that really doesn't make "proper" espresso. (I confess to being a wee bit of an obsessive, though not as much as some who post on the toomuchcoffee forum!)

There is a dedicated discussion forum on this site:
http://www.toomuchcoffee.com

I'll second the recommendation for https://www.hasbean.co.uk. Their coffee is fantastic, and the service second to none.

daveyjp

Gaggia know how to do it - I wouldn't buy any other make. Mine is about 5 years old and is used daily, I admit it's abused and has never been properly maintained, but it just keeps working - no sign of any seals giving up the ghost.

10 minutes is long enough for pre heating. I use Gaggia coffee pods in mine - it saves a lot of mess and cleaning the machine after each use isn't required!

MrsE_2

daveyjp wrote: »

Gaggia know how to do it - I wouldn't buy any other make. Mine is about 5 years old and is used daily, I admit it's abused and has never been properly maintained, but it just keeps working - no sign of any seals giving up the ghost.

10 minutes is long enough for pre heating. I use Gaggia coffee pods in mine - it saves a lot of mess and cleaning the machine after each use isn't required!

I want a Gaggia one:p

I keep waiting for an offer somewhere...

I want the pod one.

arealbasketcase

Did I sound grumpy in my earlier post, sorry, I reckon I must have been short of a caffeine fix!

Machine on top of cupboard is a Gaggia, cost a small fortune from Whittards too!!

I reckon our machines sulk at us for moving house so much, I think they get used to being in a certain place and if you move them they get touchie (well even machines have feelings you know)!!!

My biggest problem though is that expresso is so tiny - I need to have my coffee in a bucket. Does anyone know the name of a machine than can do expresso style coffee BUT in huge measures!!!!

chickmug

arealbasketcase wrote: »

Does anyone know the name of a machine than can do expresso style coffee BUT in huge measures!!!!

Costa, but at their prices, a bucket will be about £50.

arealbasketcase

chickmug wrote: »

Costa, but at their prices, a bucket will be about £50.

The sad thing is....... sometimes I would pay the price! Do you think I need to start a "Quitting Caffeine" thread?