I’ve just spent nearly 40 minutes watching reviews of 5 espresso machines that I can’t afford. And I liked it.

@Avalk9724

3 жыл бұрын

Same here. And I even don't drink espresso 😅

@Weeem

3 жыл бұрын

eBay is your friend. I picked up a Sage Dual Boiler (new + boxed) for half retail price

@syedrehanfida

3 жыл бұрын

Same

@alexk6982

3 жыл бұрын

@@uqi1412 The moka pot has a place in every kitchen, imo. If you don't have an espresso set up, its gets you in the neighborhood and its enough of its own thing that it's worth having even if you do.

@addictofbrian

3 жыл бұрын

Same.

10:32 “9 Bars on the Gauge- 8 Bars on the Group Head” is the name of James’s upcoming hip-hop album

@venkatadinesh3495

3 жыл бұрын

Did you mean Jimseven?

@Philw94

3 жыл бұрын

@@venkatadinesh3495 Did you mean, Kingseven?

@HappyZappy

3 жыл бұрын

You could totally remix the " it's just' it's just, I feel like." at 35:28 for an intro or hook. Love it.

@ggusta1

3 жыл бұрын

Well when you say it like that it sounds a bit naughty doesn't it...

@ggusta1

3 жыл бұрын

First single off the album: bruteforce

What bothers me is that 1,500 is treated by manufacturers as if it was an IKEA building set. James, you are right, at this price point you should not have to dial in anything if you don't have out of the norm preferences that the manufacturer cannot guess. At this price point you can expect perfect settings and more.

@skylerpolendina7517

Жыл бұрын

At £1500 I'd expect a factory setting off 92° C brew temp, 9 bar pump pressure and a functional PID for temp control.... why, because these features are baseline for good coffee

@martifilipponi1024

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely, you know the more you spend on these machines the more you have to tinker with them to get them right.. I have a gaggia classic that works just fine.. also did you ever notice that the end result, no one shows what the coffee looks like in the cup. I'm sure a lot of them are flat without any crema.. that's why they never show them IMHO

@lc9245

11 ай бұрын

This price range is tricky. Since they are still manual machines, you would be expected to operate it yourself, which means you know coffee quite a bit, which means you know a good grinder > good espresso machine. At $2000 dollars, you probably have a decent grinder already, and you are invested in coffee whether it's professional or home. Since people know coffee at this price range, it makes no sense not to go the extra miles to make sure it works to standard out of the box. So all of these little adjustment make no sense, normally. From my experience however, pro-sumers machines at this price points are most often deployed at office. Someone in the process is a coffee enthusiast with enough influence to make the company buys a decent $2000 manual machines and a separate grinder. They are fuzzy, but not fuzzy enough to actually do something about the little problems needed to be ironed out as it is not their money at the end of the day and they don't want to touch company's property.

@TheDennzio

6 ай бұрын

Amen @@skylerpolendina7517

Is so refreshing to have an equipment review that doesn't sound like an infomercial, thank you for giving us such an honest take on these machines James.

Using a switch as a button is against the Geneva conventions.

@alexlazaridisf.7276

3 жыл бұрын

@@chriscoleman2489 And they all state that a switch is a war crime.

@Kats072307

3 жыл бұрын

@@alexlazaridisf.7276 πάρτε ένα Rancillio Silvia να σωθείτε. Κάνει παπάδες

A couple of points. The first, and most important is an error on my part: I didn’t discuss the two modes on the Lelit MaraX - its Brew Priority and Steam Priority. This was an oversight and my part and a mistake, which I regret. It is another strong positive for that machine, especially at its price point. I still prefer the Profitec in the HX category, but if I was space constrained then the MaraX would be an excellent choice. I’d still want the pressure to be correct though. Secondly, just for clarity again, is the discussion around pressure on a Scace device. You want the gauge to read around 8 bars (around 115psi) because the gauge is seeing both incoming pressure and the loss of pressure from water flowing out. Initially a lot of people misunderstood the gauge and were setting the machines for 9 bars on the Scace which is more like 10 bars at the pump. This is not recommended and 9 bars at pump is generally considered ideal (or lower in many cases). UPDATE 2: I also got unnecessarily annoyed about the lid on the Silvia Pro. This was user error and has been removed from the video. I am an idiot, and embarrassed by the error!

@Shottty101

3 жыл бұрын

Is it perhaps possible that these machines are being calibrated (mis)using a similar device to the Scace? Where perhaps they aren't accounting for the drop in pressure, so are overshooting on the valve? I have a Breville DB and it had the same issue of hitting 10.5 bars out of the box.

@BlasphemousTomato

3 жыл бұрын

​@@Shottty101 You think all these companies are doing it wrong? 10 bar at pump and 9 at group head is industry standard.

@toddredlin5634

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update on Mara X other control feature A great video with detail on selected machines

@Mxoderberg

3 жыл бұрын

The odd variances in steam pressure would probably be fixed if it was running in steam priority (full h/x mode)

@stevensullivan642

3 жыл бұрын

Hi James, Thanks for the video. Quick tip on the MaraX in brew priority mode. The machine will build boiler pressure automatically to ~1.5 bar after pulling a shot to give you good steaming performance. If the machine has been idling in brew priority mode and you want to steam milk, you can just flush the group head for a second and the steam will build back to 1.5 bar pretty quickly. It's definitely a confusing machine but it has some nice features once you get used to it. Lelit definitely did not include very good instructions to explain how this all works.

I drink coffee out of a $40 Mr Coffee and I’m on my 20th James Hoffman video. Balanced humor, articulate, extremely informative, entertaining. I’ll have a coffee, eggs over easy, with a Hoffman video, please.

@wantapgt

Жыл бұрын

I’ve binged his videos as well and use a drip coffee machine too😂

@chemistrykrang8065

Жыл бұрын

So who did you ask to buy you a burr grinder for Christmas? It's ok, it starts like that for all of us. You can talk about it, you're amongst friends.

@baron1c

Жыл бұрын

I did the sane a few weeks ago. I just got a hario v60 and I have always had a blade grinder but now am looking to get a burr grinder.

@vitaly6312

Жыл бұрын

You can get a sweet setup for $100 that’ll do 100x better coffee than most coffee makers. A v60 or a chemex or an aeropress, and then an oxo burr grinder (goes on sale for $60 every few months) or a baratza encore (usually found for $90 on sale) and you’ll have a basic setup that will never fail you in terms of texture and taste.

@zylbygdfn6542

Жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂me 2

We have had our Rancilio Silvia for almost 20 years. It has made our Lattes every morning and never had a problem. It makes a great cup of espresso or Latte with ease. I like the fact that it's built like a tank and will probably last far longer than we'll be around to use it. I appreciate equipment that's built to last rather than the iPhone approach where you have to change it out every few years the cost of 1000 dollars. The Rancilio Silvia that we have is obviously an earlier model. I believe we paid ~$500 USD for the machine in execelent condition. I purchased a PID kit from Aubern at $150 USD that eliminates the need to temperature surf the machine. It could probably also benefit from a "competition" filter basket at $50 USD. I don't mind making these mods because the machine has a very solid basis to build from. I would much rather have a Sylvia and make the mods than have another machine that had perhaps a tighter temperature bandwidth but did not hold up. My vote is for the Rancilio Sylvia as the best prosumer" espresso machine. At a total cost of ~ $700 USD. We also have a Rancilio Rocky grinder that has been just as reliable as the Sylvia and does a great job grinding. It was only $500 and is a great match for Sylvia. Most vendors offer the current Sylvia with a PID. When you add a high end filter basket to the porta-filter you end up with a world class competition machine that will last you almost forever. Simply put it's Reliable it makes a great shot it's a joy to use and it steams the crap out of milk.

"I can forsee someone making a terrible mess of their kitchen counter" Yes. Me. I have the regular Silvia and I ended up with one such mess to the point where I had to move the machine and mop everything up. It's the one thing about the Silvia I actively hate.

@slicedtoad

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, Rancilio is a weird company. I don't know if they just don't do enough testing or if they lack UX person on their design teams but all of their products have weird quirks. Kind of like I'm buying a prototype. Very high-quality components, but confusing execution.

@FlorianLinscheid

3 жыл бұрын

Well yes but on the regular silvia, the lip is much smaller. I can see that it still could go wrong, but usually then you're so close to the brim that it probably would go wrong anyway (at least for me).

@benanderson89

3 жыл бұрын

@@slicedtoad I'd say it's because their priorities are different compared to other manufacturers. Other manufacturers place emphasis on design where Rancilio appears to prioritise the engineering and componentry. I had my Silvia V6 open recently and it's no contest; it's easilly the most beautifully engineered and well built in its price class, but the UX is clearly done by one of the engineers and not a design professional, or a design professional with many constraints placed on them. There's a weird sort of elegance in its brutalism.

@benanderson89

3 жыл бұрын

@@FlorianLinscheid the lip on my V6 is around 5mm tall like the pro. If the drip tray goes even a little over halt full you're almost guaranteed a mess.

@FlorianLinscheid

3 жыл бұрын

@@benanderson89 To be honest I don't know which version I have. Probably V3 or something. The lip is also 5 mm high but I'm quite sure the angle is smaller than shown in the video. Anyway I tried it and had more difficulty carrying it to the sink than pulling it out. But hey that's just me and I fully agree with your other points.

"Just stay down, be on!" 😂 That tiny rage over the rocker switch. I can feel the frustration through the screen!

@ninovulkan9815

3 жыл бұрын

That’s exactly what I often say to my wife.

@azozj7

3 жыл бұрын

@@ninovulkan9815 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@frankfan2763

3 жыл бұрын

@@ninovulkan9815 wait what?!🤔🤨😅

Something I really quite like about the MaraX after having the Breville/Sage Dual Boiler is how much quieter it is. Even with a brass brew pump and OPV fitted instead of the default plastic parts, that thing was loud! The MaraX is super quiet.

@bigglyguy8429

Ай бұрын

I've had 2 Breville machines, inc the Bambino, both of them shat the bed within 18 months. They're disposable trash. Got the Silvia Pro and it's been fine for about 3 years now. He's right when he says the Breville/Sage stuff just doesn't have the longevity.

ECM Synchronika owner here for over a year, which effectively has the same innards as a Profitec Pro 700. Gets used every day, love it. Build quality is rock solid.

Words can't explain how much I appreciate 40 minutes of James talking about espresso machines.

@relarras

3 жыл бұрын

Same!!! Made a coffee and started watching. Such a treat.

15 years from now: Best Espresso Machines Under $50,000

@simonhopkins4878

3 жыл бұрын

#ChasingTheDragon

@yakovhadash

3 жыл бұрын

Best Espresso Machines Under 5 DOGE

Happy new Year James. Great to see how all the machines work. I’m on my second Sage (first lasted years and years) I’m really pleased with results and happy to hear Sage was one of your top choices 😊☕️

I am on my 2nd ECM machine, the first being a Giotto. Simple, built like a tank and easy to DIY repair with a screwdriver and a wrench. Needed a few parts over the 20 years that I used it. It's probably the same as the other E61 machines. BTW: Thanks for the great videos!

Regardless of the fact that it will attract fingerprints. Can we just admire the reflection on the side of the Profitec Pro 500. It's just perfect.

"Feet are not always done well. I quite like the feet."

@LastAphelion

3 жыл бұрын

Not beautiful but adequate feet XD

@notme123123

3 жыл бұрын

Really disappointed that feet didn’t play into final decisions.

@Bonno95

3 жыл бұрын

Hoffmann feet comment super cut when

@KP-mz6li

3 жыл бұрын

James is dangerously based

@oteeec

3 жыл бұрын

So James is that type of weirdo that likes feet?

Have had the Breville/Sage for six years and love it; excellent brew and easy to maintain.

I'm recently purchased the Breville Dual Boiler (Sage). I came here for the education and affirmation, and left feeling confident in my machine and where I sit in the world of espresso. I see myself probably upgrading in 1-2 years, but in the between time, I'm making great drinks with my machine. I'm obsessive about cleaning and flushing my machine and feel its durable enough to stand the test of time. I want to thank you for such a thorough review of the machines listed, its refreshing hearing someone that understand the intricacies of espresso talk about machines.

It would be great to see the Hoffmann do a comparison of spring lever and manual lever machines - who wants to see this?

@MrJhchrist

3 жыл бұрын

LEVER LEVER LEVER LEVER

@HermitianAdjoint

3 жыл бұрын

LEVER LEVER LEVER LEVER

@mwfeist

3 жыл бұрын

LEVER LEVER LEVER LEVER Please!

@m70mlg

3 жыл бұрын

I’m becoming more convinced that a lever machine is the way to go for me. Small kitchen, smallish budget all points to a lever plus it’s a more interactive way to brew an espresso.

@HermitianAdjoint

3 жыл бұрын

@@m70mlg Exactly. I didn't want to spend all that money and in the end I can only press 3 buttons. I'm quite happy with the La Pavoni and a Kinu hand mill and all the ways they let me play. Hitting the right brew temperature is quite finicky and time consuming, but other machines in that price range would probably not be consistent with that either.

James' phrase of the day, "brute force", followed by "if I'm honest".

@zbigniew1

3 жыл бұрын

Not „i quite like the feet”?

@dudemastermaster8944

3 жыл бұрын

Rather “I’m frustrated” :-)

@bhartissimo

3 жыл бұрын

Or "Stop if you've heard this before"?

Thanks James. This is one of the best channels on KZread. Always inciteful, always fair. It would be great to see a comparison on lever machines. I find it lubricous that so much engineering effort goes into achieving brews with constant temperature and pressure, then adding another layer of complexity to provide profiling, all in an attempt to emulate simple mechanical machines. I spent too many years chasing these features only to find that the simplest solution is the best. That's not to say that lever machines are cheap, but if you skip all the rungs on the upgrade ladder then you'll save a lot of money and be drinking your coffee at its best much sooner.

@GVDub

2 жыл бұрын

I agree on lever comparisons. For years I pulled ristretto shots on an old Arrarex Caravel (I actually have four of these, and have considered designing an induction heating system for them to replace the "stove burner" that they come with) and grew to love the kind of control you get with a manual lever, especially on a pure espresso shot. I had a couple of HX machines, but was never really all that happy with the temperature management chase on those. Ended up with a first generation Londinium L1, built by Fracino around the venerable Bosco level group, and have been nothing but happy with it.

@RiotBadger

2 жыл бұрын

What does he incite? Violence?

@gospelofrye6881

2 жыл бұрын

@@RiotBadger This comment is lubricous.

@RiotBadger

2 жыл бұрын

@@gospelofrye6881 😏

this is by far the best review I have ever seen , of any product! Brutally honest. I am learning how to make espressos and aspire to have a good machine at home. I learnt so much!

Still waiting for James to get back to the drip tray of the Lelit MaraX, as promised at 8:15.

@apllella

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I always struggle to get it out nice and straight. Lucky I don’t need to empty it much though. Love my Mara X. Just wished it was as quiet as the day I got it! Had the pump changed but still the same. Now I need to research how to lower the pressure. Looking forward to losing that bitterness.

@LastAphelion

3 жыл бұрын

@@apllella I'm considering the same machine, do you wish you had considered anything else? I'm trying to grasp the comparisons of if it'd be worth it for me to save money getting Victoria to put rest towards grinder, or if it's better to get the Elizabeth for the similar price point

@apllella

3 жыл бұрын

@@andreasporsborg3438 All done and now running at 9 bar. It does make a difference.

@apllella

3 жыл бұрын

@@LastAphelion I think it’s a great machine if you want temperature stability and barely steam milk in a device that looks cool. E61. If you steam quite a bit I would look elsewhere. I found it frustrating making 3 different drinks on the weekend using decaf/almond milk/diary/etc. but to make my 1-2 espresso per day it is perfect for the price. My next upgrade will be a grinder and then a dual boiler pressure profiling machine when I have more money then sense. This is still easier then a single boiler to steam milk though.

@marcinsmolinski903

2 жыл бұрын

@@apllella is dual boiler pressure profiling maybe bianca worth pay more for home use ? or should i stick mara x

"I quite like the feet." -James Hoffman, 2021

@catchLOLO

2 жыл бұрын

gave me some Tarantino vibes

@Scotticus11

2 жыл бұрын

😂

@o2xygen02

2 жыл бұрын

"feet are not always done well"

@ixx0009

2 жыл бұрын

HE EVEN SAID IT TWICE PLS

@danl.4743

2 жыл бұрын

I have a $2500 machine and... I always want to replace its feet. So yeah, good feet are a thing. lol

I own the Sage Dual Boiler for about a year now. I only use the manual button, and do a pre-infusion for about 15 seconds at minimum pump pressure before letting the button go (at that time the first drips come out of the basket), and then the espresso is really great. The pressure then probably doesn't spike that much since the puck is already wet.

@arnostkiko

6 ай бұрын

I would like to see this in practice. Don't you want to make a video of how you prepare espresso? Thank you. Have a good time .

I really appreciate your focus on design thinking (UX/UI). Keep em coming!

I just found James on my search for a new espresso machine. I ended up watching like twenty of his videos. Kudos for being one of the most credible and useful reviewers that I've ever watched.

A 40min James Hoffmann video. Looks like I’m not going to bed.

@hopegold883

3 жыл бұрын

Really? I just watched the whole thing and had no idea it was that long. I better get moving.

@maxvanbeers4548

3 жыл бұрын

Same.... 😕

@duallove6909

3 жыл бұрын

His voice is so soothing and his videos aren’t full of ads breaks. Watch it again and it’ll help you fall asleep. I did that many times before

@riceandpotatoes

3 жыл бұрын

Literally me saying this to my wife as soon as I got to bed and saw the notification

@bheinatz1

3 жыл бұрын

I just stopped half way and picked up again in the morning! 😉

I bought the original Breville double boiler ten years ago - the one with no descaling port. We make just 2 coffees per day, but it does get used every day. I've replaced the pump, the steam valve and a couple of other bits, but it's still going. So unless the quality has gotten worse, I think the longevity is pretty good. Will probably buy again.

@zbronstein3901

Жыл бұрын

Certainly says something about the longevity if you’re expecting to buy it again, though!

@Zestric

Жыл бұрын

@@zbronstein3901 I think the "buy again" refers to the brand in general, or if they consider upgrading to the next higher model of espresso machine.

lots of good reviews and comparisons on youtube and we're fortunate for that but this one really tops them all. everything i needed to know... even more than i needed to know, really, and that's just fantastic. thanks a lot

Had the Rancilio for ten years. It never missed a beat. All parts can be replaced. Never need to buy another machine.

@markwigg4070

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve had a Silvia for over a decade as well. The Silvia Pro was only released early 2020.

The pressure issue with the Sage : you can run the entire shot at any start pressure you like , simply set Preinfusion time to 60 seconds and adjust the pp . pp66 is roughly 6BAR on my machine.

@Hangingofgiants

3 жыл бұрын

Came here to say the same.

@jameshoffmann

3 жыл бұрын

This is brilliant! I have no idea why I didn't think of that, great tip!

@ALaurie

3 жыл бұрын

Do you lose the preinfuse phase then? Does that create any issues?

@mattbowditch4236

3 жыл бұрын

As pointed out by others, I've found the downside of doing this is losing that gentle pre-infusion phase. Sure, the vibe pump has a natural ramp, but you're right up there pretty quickly. Taste wise, I have preferred the trade-off of softer pre-infusion followed by over pressure for the remainder of the shot. It is annoying, because I feel like you're really left choosing between different ways to destroy your puck.

@stingtheory4151

3 жыл бұрын

@@jameshoffmann Don't worry with a bit more practice, you'll be doing it like a pro!!! :). Another lazy, but messy tip to see the effect, prior to doing the full Slayer mod is to run it at 9bar as normal, but crack open the hot water tap just a bit (use a little jug to catch the runoff => no waste). By manipulating how much you hold it open, you can increase/decrease pressure on the puck whatever way you want emulating the results of the slayer mod without any mod at all.

While I’m probably in the range below these machines, this review was incredibly informative. Love the honesty.

I've had the breville dual boiler for about 1-year now, no complaints. He's right that it feels & looks like a consumer machine rather than a prosumer. It easily outpaces the rest of the group when you factor in the grinder. If space is a constraint (I live in a condo), then this is the best value for money at the price range. Going with the Profitec Pro 500 & grinder would easily be 50% more. It really depends on your budget at the end of the day.

Dear James, after seeing your video, I have finally realized why the coffee from my Rocket Appartemento had so much channeling and was not tasting as I wanted/expected it to. After modding the opv I got no more channeling and my coffee tasted significantly better. Thank you so much, because of you I made one of the biggest steps forward in my coffee game!

@3-body-problem

3 жыл бұрын

This is interesting to know. Cheers.

@Davian45

2 жыл бұрын

It's funny because i just watched it and am going to go and retweak it tomorrow because i'm experiencing the same thing. Lets hope it helps as well.

@ibriggie

2 жыл бұрын

I’d love to know how to change this! I’ve got the Appartamento too. Where did you learn how to mod it?

@johnselander8067

2 жыл бұрын

@@ibriggie kzread.info/dash/bejne/rIaZuLWClpbcc7g.html

@whamdirect8618

2 жыл бұрын

I have a Vibiemme Super and I never thought about pressure until I watched this video. I now understand what is going on! I am also wondering where you can buy such a testing device.

I'm not sure I got this right, but have we understood how James feels about the pressure settings from factory? I think he's been kinda avoiding talking about this.

@johnmalin4933

3 жыл бұрын

:D

@MrLiguinii

3 жыл бұрын

You could see the over-pressured steam out of his ears.

@chriscoleman2489

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrLiguinii Probably touching 10 bar...

@ggusta1

3 жыл бұрын

I think he's happier with the pressure than I would have guessed

@ggusta1

3 жыл бұрын

@@johnmalin4933 @30:33 I'm so close to what I want but I'm not THERE..... Said every coffee obsessed person ever

Having gone through three of the five machines here, I think I can make a good set of comments: *Breville/Sage Dual Boiler:* _BIG._ Linea Mini sized but less deep. Loud. Really easy to use. Breaks down rather readily. Annoying to replace pumps (standard Ulka EFP5/NME 1) when they inevitably fail. Solenoid valve seems to die at the drop of a hat. Super mod friendly (flow control built right in at no cost!). Steam is slow, but really easy to use. Super fast heatup time. *Lelit MaraX:* Tiny (barely any larger than a Gaggia Classic!), low noise. E61 parts are standard. Also easy to use, but less flexible than BDB. Easy to work on, for the most part. Takes a while to heat. Stock feet are horrendous. Steam is okay. *Rancilio Silvia Pro:* Big. Middling noise. Near La Marzocco levels of steam power. Control menu kind of sucks, but not bad once you're used to it. Heatup time is slower than the BDB, but not by a particularly huge amount. Easy to work on, thought was put into serviceability. Drip tray is crap.

@Conservator.

Жыл бұрын

That’s very useful information, thank you!

@pandisalsqueeze27

3 ай бұрын

I’m looking into buying one of these. Which one would you recommend between the 3 & why? Hoping to get one soon !

Barista of 13 years here, I have had all these machines and many more, and i can tell you without a doubt, the Breville dual boiler is by far the best non commercial machine I've owned, if you know what you're doing, it will never let you down

@hardlife507

4 ай бұрын

I was leaning towards this machine, till I learned it is not a forever machine the Breville won't send you parts to fix it after warranty.

An Old school Silvia paired with Sir Rocky has been in my kitchen for 11 years, no issues ever. 11 years of daily espressos, brewed perfectly. I descale once per quarter, empty the drip tray once per week. The others look beautiful and would be fun to take for a ride like the new boy at school. But my Mack truck Silvia gets the job done and continues to make me smile every morning.

@vettepwr23

3 жыл бұрын

@Apple Pear Hello. Fellow Silvia V3 user here with an aftermarket PID from SCG. I make cortados and flat whites daily. I am considering the Pro just for the dual boiler aspect. Looked at reviews on it. Is it fair to say that all you get with the Pro is the dual boiler and a built in PID? Are there any other improvements that you noticed? Did they fix the goofy hex screw at the bottom of the screen?

@LB-lz1ks

2 жыл бұрын

loved my Silvia (that I installed a PID one is) & Rocky and cleaned it like it was a Slayer, but my Apartmento & Fausto is next level. Can't even compare in terms of consistency (thermal mass).

"Rocket Appartamento - The First of the Heat Exchangers" would make a great Dark Souls boss.

@johnny9x

3 жыл бұрын

i didnt know i can do a spit take without drinking water.... now I do

@codywoodman9913

2 жыл бұрын

get Vaatividya in here

@justingillogly7657

2 жыл бұрын

Amazing! Considering I own the appartamento, I endorse this statement 😂

@ShizaneD0828

2 жыл бұрын

Another Dark Souls boss that I will defeat on my 927th attempt.

My Breville dual boiler has been making incredible espresso's for 10 years. After the warranty expired I do my own maintenance. I've replaced the pump and solenoid. All the water and steam connections use small silicone o-rings which need replacing over time. The replacement of the o-rings is pretty simple but finding a source for them other than Breville was challenging. I found the correct ones on Amazon and the bag contains several hundred o-rings which most likely will last me my life time. An excellent machine which makes incredible shots.

There's two things that I like about the Apartemento. First the panels can be changed to different colours. Second and most important for me, it's all analogue, no digital/computer parts. This is 100% serviceable and will be for generations.

Sage DB owner here, and I think you've hit the nail on the head here. The one thing I appreciate every morning is how how quickly it gets up to temperature once you turn it on.

I love how brutally honest you are with these reviews and how you don't hold any punches back. I love coffee. Been indulging for years. Just recently purchased my 1st espresso machine which is the Breville Barista Express. I absolutely love it so far, but really do want a high end pro consumer machine at some point, however with the space and budget I'm working with at the moment the Barista Express was the best bang for buck at this time. Anyways, I appreciate all the info you give and enjoy watching your videos. Maybe someday I'll break the bank and upgrade to something you recommend. Cheers!

@Conservator.

Жыл бұрын

Hi, I’m about to buy an espresso machine and I would love to hear what you think of your Breville Barista Express after one year. Would you recommend it? Thanks in advance!

@0Mugle0

Жыл бұрын

@@Conservator. Great machine - I accidentally killed mine a few days ago (user error on my part) after more than 4 years. Got mine for a great price too so quite sad!

@Conservator.

Жыл бұрын

@@0Mugle0 Oops, I’m sorry to hear that. Thanks for your reply.

@i.liad.a

Жыл бұрын

@@Conservator. Just wanted to chime in here. My spouse and I are both former coffee industry professionals (he, a Q-Grader, and I, a former latte art trainer) and we've had a Breville Barista Express for 3 years. It's an excellent entry level home espresso machine. If you time your purchase just right with holiday sales, it sometimes is sold for as little as $500 US. However, I wouldn't buy it unless you've already worked with a proper industrial espresso machine in a cafe or restaurant setting, as a few aspects of it are rather finicky. Knowing how a professional espresso machine actually works goes a long way in getting exactly what you desire from the Breville, but that also rings true for any of the machines mentioned in this video.

@Conservator.

Жыл бұрын

@@i.liad.a Hi Ada, Thank you very much for your reply and advice! I’ve ended up buying a Rancilio Silvia (non pro without PID controller) and Graef grinder in one set. The Rancilio is ok but the Graef can’t produce espresso grinds consistently. Therefore I’ve bought a Compak K3 which solved that. I bought them all second hand for about €500 here in the Netherlands. It took some (a lot tbh ;) trial and error before I managed to be able to brew reasonable to good espresso’s consistently but I’ve figured it out now. KZread has been very helpful understanding grinding, puck prep, pressure, temperature pre-infusion etc. I’d love to practice with latte art but I only drink espresso’s. I have foamed some milk a few times, just for fun though. Yesterday I got some cacao powder to make chocolate milk and to start practicing. The first one was a bit of a fiasco (milk was way too foamy) but hey, if it was easy, there would be no challenge! 😁 Thanks again!

FYI regarding the Sage (aka breville dual boiler), there is an easy way to control the pressure of machine if you don’t use pre-infusion. You can simply set the preinfusion duration to the max, which is 90 seconds, and reduce the power to the pump from 100 to 85%. That gets me to about 9 bar on the gauge, and I’m guessing 8 bar at the group head. You can turn down the power even more if you wanted to try brewing at 5 bar, which I know some baristas do with decent results….but I prefer 8 bar or so….

@abraxa20

2 жыл бұрын

Slightly open the hot water knob during extraction and you can adjust your pressure during the shot. My DB delivers 9 bar from the factory, but I can easily bring it down to 5 during the shot with the trick mentioned.

@atastycloud

2 жыл бұрын

@@abraxa20 so is this different to the slayer mod?

@wackywixted

2 жыл бұрын

@@atastycloud it gives a similar result to the slayer mod (precursor might be the best description), but you don't need to mod your machine at all to use it. The slayer mod controls the flow and pressure, not just the pressure the way cracking the hot water does.

I've had the Mara for a year and it's been amazing. I've used most machines here and I really think for home brewing brewing mara is king taking taking price/performance into account. I do only use a naked portafilter on mine.

@tomwhite5463

2 жыл бұрын

Agree

Thanks for including the Sage Dual Boiler. Our voices were heard.

Note to self: don't even THINK of getting into espresso. You can barely manage how to brew your own coffee properly.

@betterinsodapop

3 жыл бұрын

This is pretty much the exact same conclusion I reached. I'll just pay my local barista for espresso.

@AP-lh1bq

3 жыл бұрын

4 pounds of coffee into a flair and I’m coming to the same conclusion. I really like my v60 on a mug ☕️

@QuickQuips

2 жыл бұрын

Superautomatics do a decent enough job if you set your expectations to franchise coffee level. Jura is reliable.

Mr. Hoffmann, I truly feel like a coffee genius after watching your videos for three days in a row. Thank you :')!

My son has a Sage, not the one here but a single boiler plus grinder. Bought when lockdown started and we began working from home. Even that machine made coffee so much better than the Azera instant we had been drinking. Having had a good experience, I think I'm going to go with the Sage dual boiler as an upgrade. At the end of the day, I'm making half a dozen a day, so really a fully commercial machine just isn't necessary. Probably just need a decent grinder now that would complement it.

I've seen countless times manufactures, claiming that the OPV needs to be set at a higher pressure in order to get the best extraction. That a vibration pump can not be set as if it were a volumetric pump, hence it's set at the factory above the 9 bar. It's definitely not an oversight. From all I could see, Profitec is above all those others in build quality. Even details as cable and pipe routing is very well thought. And aside to the Breville, all these machines will outlive us all with just a couple of easily available spares and proper maintenance work.

@mo7ammad920

3 жыл бұрын

Same here I've always heard that vibrations pumps need higher pressure than volumetric!! I dont know what to believe anymore

@grasta13

3 жыл бұрын

There is a video on KZread where Bezzera explains in the factory why vibration pumps need to be set higher for the same flow. The Profitec, Bezzera Magica, Rocket Giotto, ECM heat exchangers are all almost the same machines. To change the pressure you only have to adjust one little screw inside. Here is the explanation from the manufacturer himself!: kzread.info/dash/bejne/d2itlo9-YsSyY7g.html

@marylandflyer5670

3 жыл бұрын

I have Ascaso Steel Uno from 2013 that works perfectly (with PID) and with portafilter measurement it was putting out 12.8 bar in brewing. I modded the OPV and now perfect max of 9 bar, and much better shots. I spoke with tech lead from Ascaso and he said the higher pressure was needed. I said no way and there’s no way the shots are better at high pressure.

@waoneill

3 жыл бұрын

The vibration pumps in these machines do not allow a constant pressure profile that the modern commercial machines support. They are designed to not even need an OPV except as a safety measure to protect the pump if the puck prep is REALLY bad! The key is that, historically, surveys never typically favored a commercial 9 Bar setup over a Vibration Pump. Yes, there were differences, but there was no definitive preference! Profitec/ECM is typically the top-end of the manufacturers. They are using a pump (Ulka EX5) that emulates the characteristics of a Spring-lever machine that peaked at 11 Bars, and ended a shot at 5 Bars... These machines are typically regarded as having taste characteristics that are generally favorable compared to the standard characteristics of a 9 Bar extraction. James tends to prefer lighter roasts, which have different extraction characteristics to the normal espresso. He prefers pour-over to espresso in general! All of this should be factored into this analysis!

@paulomarques1795

3 жыл бұрын

@@waoneill Yes, I agree with you. I have an Isomac and I've messed quite a bit with the OPV. I find the espresso tasting better with the OPV set to 10 Bar. And the real extraction pressure is down to how fine I've ground the beans. I plan to replace the Isomac with a Profitec next, the build quality on an Isomac is disappointing.

"If I get up, I want coffee, then I have to go and switch it on, that's frustrating" Me saving up for an aeropress: Yep, deal breaker.

@duffyrides

3 жыл бұрын

A cheap smart plug from Amazon can turn on the machine for you at a set time. Potential solution there.

@furiousbane

3 жыл бұрын

You are right aaron. I have a smart plug. Mine is set to turn on every morning at 7am and to turn off a 9am. Problem solved

@turcmic

3 жыл бұрын

@@furiousbane I even start mine from my car. When I get home, the machine is ready 👍

@27bit

3 жыл бұрын

Sage barista pro, 3, 2, 1, brew.

@ubaidwasif3231

3 жыл бұрын

Lol.. the replies have completely missed the humor in the comment.

We’ve had a breville dual boiler running in our office for 10 years. making about 10-20 coffee a day. We have it serviced every 2 to 3 years. The element has finally gone in it. Just replaced it with a new one. $850 AUD. Don’t know why it’s £1199 in the UK. But it’s an incredible machine. Me and most of my colleagues have got one for home.

For a real life example on longevity I have the earlier version of the Breville. I've poured 4-8 shots every morning for 4 years. We got it on sale for $450. It has changed my life. I'll never be without. It is still going strong.

@Pandidand

2 ай бұрын

Nice to hear, but I also want to put the „4 years“ for longevity into perspective. I own an ECM Giotto (the „consumer“ ECM models are now the „Rocket“ brand) since 2011 and I bought it used for 500€, so it is a 2005 model. Sure, I did replace some gaskets an small parts in the E61 brewing unit at some point, but those parts were well below 100€ in total and I consider that service, not repair. The machine is still going perfectly and makes the best coffee - after 19 years.

Would love to see the Lelit Bianca alongside the Rocket Cronometro Type V/R and Profitec Pro 600/700

@elganpowell9552

3 жыл бұрын

The flow profiling means the Bianca is just a better buy at that price point than the two rotary pump machines you mentioned. The vibration pump versions you mentioned are slightly cheaper for worse machines.

@bentaylor459

3 жыл бұрын

@@elganpowell9552 Exactly, which would further emphasise its value if compared against machines like that in the £2000 price bracket. I think there are a few more machines that would be worth comparing too

@LastAphelion

3 жыл бұрын

@@bentaylor459 What else would you consider since I am in the market for one

I have the Lelit. It fits my counter as well as my lifestyle perfectly. A larger unit would be problematic for me - and perhaps for many others. The warmup time is long but a wifi plug sorts that out perfectly. I set it to come on before I wake up and to turn off after lunch. I have not played with pressure yet but after 6 months of use I’m very happy and the machine has been absolutely consistent throughout. I’d prefer to add the few hundred pounds saved more expensive models to my grinder budget for the best overall home setup.

Woow absolutely nailed the topic. Best video on the KZread about prosumer machines. Big thank you for this video!

My breville is spot on 9 bar for over 7 years and has never failed, averaged 4 shots per day.

@nathanfaulkner2364

Жыл бұрын

Currently using my roommate's Breville that he's had for over 8 years. Still pulls consistent shots, though I don't have an estimate of # of shots since I didn't use it for 7 of the 8 years

I have the Rocket Appartamento with the the flow control device and even though I have my pump pressure set at 10bar (when it arrived it was almost 11bar), I've been getting amazing espresso. This 150€ upgrade turned the RA from a clumsy box into super capable star. The Profitech 500 with FCD would be the best choice for the home barista that enjoys tinkering with the espresso process. As always, thanks for the quality content.

One small but important feature of the Breville/Sage Dual Boiler is the ability to fill the reservoir from the top/front. It's almost a requirement if the space you have for your espresso machine has upper cabinets. Some of these (and others I considered) have removable reservoirs that would be impossible to remove if the machine were placed under an upper cabinet. They would also be challenging to fill if the reservoir weren't removed when they are under a cabinet. Moving some of the heavier machines on a regular basis just to fill the reservoir wouldn't be practical either. That wasn't the only reason that a Breville Dual Boiler found its way into my kitchen, but it was a consideration. Another cute feature on that one is the float that lets you know when the drip tray is full. I haven't found it to be necessary, but it's interesting that they thought of it.

@davidfuller581

2 жыл бұрын

A super underrated feature to be sure.

@brennenlancashire2465

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve had one of these machines for 5yrs now and it’s used every day to make 9 to 10 coffees with no fuss, it’s an amazing machine if you love coffee ☕️ I would fully recommend Sage machine, 👍🏻☕️🥇

@kittykittygumdrops

2 жыл бұрын

That seals the deal!

@ironcucumber9391

2 жыл бұрын

You have to take tank out? You can’t just fill them from the top like the sage? I think all you’re saying is the sage has a tank that doesn’t come out and the rest do. They all fill from the top.

@davidfuller581

2 жыл бұрын

@@ironcucumber9391 yeah, but the sage fills from the front down a funnel/chute instead of pouring directly in. You can have most of the machine under a cabinet and still be easily able to refill the tank without moving the machine.

Had my Breville BDB for around 10 years, bought it when they first came out. About 17500 shots so far and 1 repair, stem boiler temp sensor $20, replaced myself. Easy to open up and adjust the OPV. Agree with the fact there’s lot of plastic inside, but that’s reflected in the price. You can get the latest model for $1000AUD on sale. Also tons of support online and cheap parts if you ever need anything.

@ArbathSahadewa

2 жыл бұрын

Well, the price point and feature of this machine is excellent. How about breville customer service, the part availability?

@steveholden9139

2 жыл бұрын

I bought a BDB about 2 years ago and it has never missed a beat. They are so easy to set up and use, incredible value for money. My point of reference is a La Cimbali Junior which I still own but never use. I got fed up of waiting for ever for it to warm up and regular expensive servicing to keep it running at its best. I had to replace the pump also at $$$. This said the finish on the BDB is far inferior and scratches easily but at the price point it is not a surprise. I got myself a Eureka grinder and I would highly recommend the set up to anyone. For $2kAUD you can produce cafe quality coffee 😀

@PrinceBarin77

2 жыл бұрын

@@iainstewart2102 I am here because we have just returned our Barista Pro. It looks great and of course it is much cheaper than those here but, the output was really inconsistent from shot to shot. It could be user error but my sense is the tolerances are simply not good enough. Easy to use though and got us hooked on espresso as a hobby so not all bad!

@petervansan1054

2 жыл бұрын

it's cheap is AUS because it's australia company

@lanitrose9445

2 жыл бұрын

@@steveholden9139 hey Steve - do you mind telling me which Eureka grinder you have? I’m looking to replace my Breville barista to the dual boiler (currently $1000 at jbhifi) and am torn about grinder choice… thanks in advance :)

Excellent comparison video. I’m probably biased. I have 2 Breville Dual Boilers and they’re an amazing machine. Just get your dosage, grind and tamp right and I’m not experiencing high brew pressure. I tend to hit and stay at 9 bar. Above all, it’s a beautiful piece of kitchen furniture. I have loved this model for years. Bravo Breville.

I own the marax for a few months now and it's been great. Seeing the espresso machine blend into the background is exactly how I wanted it to feel during my research prior to buying. It being slightly cheaper let me put more money into a better grinder and from a home 'prosumer' standpoint, it has performed with no issues so far. Warm up time 20-24 mins, pull 2-3 shots, and steam milk. Performance will taper with any more consecutive pulls so more than two people will need a little time to build more steam.

@MySierraNevadaLife

6 ай бұрын

Have you looked at the Bezzera bz10? Looks similar to the Mara X but heats up a lot quicker apparently

Mara X owner here: it took me 5 minutes to adjust the OPV valve from 10 to 8 bars. The valve is easily accessible from the top and does not require any major disassembly (I also wish it was properly set up from the factory!) It might not matter to some, but the pump is ridiculously quiet, which is a great plus in my opinion. Also, the big gap between the portafilter and the drip tray is awesome if you have a tall cup sitting on a scale during your shot. Go to 38:09 on the video and you'll see what I mean! TLDR: It's great

@Erumesson

3 жыл бұрын

Does the espresso taste better after you lowered the OPV setting?

@DenisUlmer

3 жыл бұрын

Just adjusted mine and it seems to pump got a little bit louder by doing so? Did you notice the same? Or am I making this up :D

@DenisUlmer

3 жыл бұрын

@Alcarin Not the one you asked, but I just did the same and for the first time I was able to dial in my shot nicely after the adjustment... I also changed grinder burrs, so I was underextracted first but after 1 minor adjustment and 18 in 36 our in 30s (from lever pull) the shot was great!

@iwanttobeamole

3 жыл бұрын

I also own a Mara-X and agree with pretty much everything that's already been said. All in all a great espresso machine like all of these. I seem to recall the factory OPV setting being 10bar which explains why it's there, but also agree that it should be lower, but is easy to adjust. Steam is.. fine. not super fast, but easy to use, though the steam pressure does sometimes fall too low on the second coffee sometimes causing the milk to do the scream of death and commit hari kari (a short pause between steaming (30 seconds) resolves this). The truth though is, I've had better coffee from this machine than anything I've owned before. I've been in the entry level breville/sunbeam ranges for the last 10+ years due to budget constraints (which have been lovely given their price) so the upgrade to a "proper" machine has been very nice. Mara-X 10/10, would recommend, given price, and performance.

@geekotron

3 жыл бұрын

@@Erumesson I adjusted the grind and the taste is awesome. Not a big difference though. The big upside is that there is less channeling because the pressure is not as extreme. So more consistency!

Thank you James. Your incredible knowledge saves me from making very big mistakes.

Considering the compromising results existing in this $1500 price range, could you do a review targeting the next level of machines that actually do espresso correctly, to your expert satisfaction, without compromises regarding pressure, cluttered design, user interface, etc. The Lelit Bianca dual boiler flow profiling home espresso machine looks impressive. Shot profiling with proper instrumentation looks fun!

@TodorKatsarski

Жыл бұрын

Also I'd like to see a comparison between heavily modded 500 GBP machine (Gaggia / Sylvia) vs unmodded 1500 GBP machine. To be honest the more expensive machines still have too many downsides for the price range. I'd expect that for that price range they're flawless prosumer machines and they aren't - machine is producing pressure that is too high? We apparently already know that the target is 9 bars - is it really that hard to produce a machine in that price range to produce 9 bars?

@BigMikeGuitar

Жыл бұрын

@@TodorKatsarski It’s curious this channel hasn’t produced any follow-up industry/market review featuring machines that can address and resolve the problematic issues that were raised during this review, and as I suggested. Is it because such products that can withstand authentic expert scrutiny don’t actually exist? I’m new to this market, but I haven’t seen the product line-up and review process that impresses and convinces me enough to make any such higher-end purchase as of yet. Cheers~

@tugmeboat

Жыл бұрын

@@BigMikeGuitar I'd have liked to see the Lelit Elizabeth in this line up vs. the Mara x.

@rxonmymind8362

Жыл бұрын

​@@tugmeboat Basically ease of use vs hands on.

@cloudbusting_

Жыл бұрын

Where is the 3000 pounds range list?

I don't know why this hasn't been mentioned but "Do not fill with milk" I find hysterical!

@WoodenPigeon

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, hard to imagine someone could be that dumb.

@timzlow

3 жыл бұрын

Because Sage does alot of high end home appliances. And if someone would have upgraded from a fully automatic or a capsule, there is a place to fill milk. And sage doesn't want people to mistaken this. Because Sage dual boiler watertank can be access from the back too. It might cause confusion.

@WoodenPigeon

3 жыл бұрын

@@timzlow Good points

@reginaldbowls7180

3 жыл бұрын

Funny but it’s not on the canadian version ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

@MrLiguinii

3 жыл бұрын

Well I've been following some PC moders channels and they did just that in a water cooling loop... You can guess how it ended.

I don’t even know much about coffee but this mans voice is so Incredible

@fadelpw511

3 жыл бұрын

Binge watch him for a month now I have multiple brewing tool and coffee beans

I started my espresso journey at home using a Solis machine and a Baratza Encore grinder. After a few years, I invested in a Rancilio Silvia Pro (2 boilers) and a Niche Zero grinder. I can say that the investment was well worth it!!!! It’s my morning routine to pull excellent espressos! With the solid performance of this combo, I’m very pleased, and I can dedicate myself to finding and experimenting different coffees from all over the world.

James, I think that the issue with the high setting of the OPV on espresso machines is due to the prevalence of pressurized filter baskets even with higher end coffee machines, especially the Breville. A lot of these machines will go to people who can afford them, not necessarily overlapping with people who are total coffee nerds (like your channel demographic), so it is my guess that they do it to produce obscene levels of crema for total novices with pressurized baskets. People who are espresso enthusiasts and know about ideal brew pressure likely also know how to adjust pressure (and are willing to go through the effort) on these high end machines. People who don't understand espresso variables or don't care are likely to just go with whichever machine gives them the nicest looking crema with the least effort, as they say, money can't buy taste.

I checked with the retailer when I bought my Appartamento, and he assured me they always check and calibrate the machines before they ship them. Good to know to ask, thank you. Having received a machine with the pressure set correctly, I'm happy to report it gives me delicious coffee every day.

Great review James, as usual. Since i started making coffee at home, i have kept an eye on the best value for money in terms of equipment. Lately i managed to pair a Sette 270WI to a Breville Dual Boiler and i love it. First of all, i love the looks of the BDB, it integrates well with any kind of kitchen and whilst looking more like an appliance i can ensure you that is fully serviceable, as you would have seen by browsing around in forums. Also, the modding you can do to it, the feature list and the general reliability of the brand should draw more people over this solution, to be honest. The only thing that is weird is the price. Apparently this product used to be found as low as 650 AUD when on sale, but i guess the pandemic has made them raise the price a bit. At the moment the cheapest i can find is 899 AUD new, which should equate to roughly 500 GBP. I have no idea why you found it at such a dear price, to be honest. I think that its actual lower price would make it a clear winner in the prosumer cathegory.

Finally a honest and useful review, not trying to sell you machines. It seems most of the other reviews online all point to them being the best at whatever price point they are at.

I have a Breville Dual Boiler for about 6-7 years and well, it leaked a couple of years ago and I just replaced all the gaskets and still works like a charm. I love it more because I got it as a clearance display unit for like 30% of the price tag, so can’t complain here!

@matthewpringle164

Жыл бұрын

Interesting! I’ve actually read reviews that steered me away from it for the exact reason James said: it’s not meant to be opened. Some reviews said they had issues and it couldn’t be repaired so they had to buy a new one. Some users have had issues more than once and after two Breville machines moved to a Profitec where they could purchase parts and repair it themselves. Glad to hear that you have had success repairing the Breville.

@rp.aguilera

Жыл бұрын

@@matthewpringle164 yeah, to be honest with you, the model I have is the one that has an issue with the steam pump not working after running the de-scaling program, so it didn’t work for a few weeks, then I noticed some steam leaking into the gauge. I contacted Breville and they wanted to charge me $500 + shipping and parts to service it, so I decided to get a gasket service kit for like $40 and taking the tisk of DIY eith the help of KZread. It is really not hard if you jnow what you’re doing. In my case I had no idea what I was getting into and as I have poor vision I had a hard time with those hose fasteners! I was so frustrated, but I actually made it through and the steam valve mysteriously worked again a couple of days later. Now I learned; not to rin the de-scale program and do It manually if needed and now I have a method to replace the gaskets when needed. Is not a user friendly process the first time, but at least it’s not handicapped by the manufacturer and well I have saved lots of money anyways.

@ChristopherMichaelR

Жыл бұрын

@@rp.aguilera I agree, I was scared of breville "reliability" or the future of repair to be more exact but there are a lot of videos and information out there on home-barista. I used to have the infuser and bambino plus. They didn't get hot enough for light roasts. I don't mind DIY so i'm taking the leap. I'm able to get a new BDB at 30% off and put it on a card that adds and extra 2 year warranty. So 4 year warranty. Most of the problems i've seen are just o-rings going out after a few years. I actually used to have the MaraX and it really annoyed me that if the water tank indicator turned on mid shot you need to refill the tank which mean waiting for the boiler to heat up again. I've been in and out a lot of machines. I had a gaggia classic and now into a Silvia w/ PID. I actually liked the Classic better because there was less water waste when temp surfing and because the boiler was smaller it was a lot quicker to recover.

@rp.aguilera

Жыл бұрын

@@ChristopherMichaelR that’s pretty cool man. You have way more experience than I have with espresso machines. For me the BDB it’s been my gateway machine for coffee in general and to be fair I enjoy using it, heck, I even enjoy doing maintenance on it!

Would like to see you have a go at the Lelit Elizabeth double boiler. Do a comparison on double boilers only, in that kind of price range.

12:39 Momentary switches are evidence of the automation built into the Silvia. The momentary switches are used to start a programmed process. It’s like the enter key on a computer keyboard, it has to bounce back up to be used again to activate any subsequent commands.

@Bannerninja

2 жыл бұрын

funny that was my exact thought - that this was perfect for a fire- and - forget process

This is a spectacular review. I learned quite a lot about the process and qualifications of great espresso. Cheers!

If there is a Better review channel I haven’t found it. This gentleman is amazing.

I have an appartamento, which I love. I’d suggest buying from a retailer who bench tests and calibrates the machine before delivery, as Machina in Edinburgh did with mine.

@P1Fanatic

3 жыл бұрын

Interesting as I have pretty much decided on an Appartamento Nera as limited on space and not a huge fan of the Mara X aesthetics and read lots of problems with them. Not come across Machina before. What exactly so they calibrate on the Appartamento before they ship it?

@michaelforshaw7140

3 жыл бұрын

@@P1Fanatic Also used Machina for my Specialita Grinder, very good service indeed.

@P1Fanatic

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelforshaw7140 Good to know. I already bought the Mignon XL from Bella Barista (also great service). I was going to buy the Appartamento from them but was intrigued about this calibration that @Danglebert3000 mentioned above. The Machina website says they bench test machines nothing about calibration etc. I've messaged them anyway but suspect I will use Bella Barista as both offer same 2yr warranty but if worst case I need to ship it back for repair then they are a lot closer (100 miles vs 400 for machina from me).

@michaelforshaw7140

3 жыл бұрын

@@P1Fanatic Machina arranged a courier for me at their cost when I had an issue, so if BB don’t have stock you have another trustworthy option.

@danielbogle

3 жыл бұрын

@@P1Fanatic I emailed and asked Machina whether they would adjust the pressure to 9 bar and they said that they would, but don't do this as standard. I'm in a similar boat, stuck for space and had my heart set on the Appartamento, but Edinburgh seems a bit far to buy from!

I've done a ton of internet research and have been saving up for a Dual Boiler for quite some time, I'm glad to see my conclusion confirmed before I actually dropped money on it!

I’m on my 2nd dual boiler. The first one lasted 6 years without issue until it started to leak. I got my 2nd one for $798 aud (£425) a couple of years ago, (it would have cost half that to fix the old one). I use VST baskets. Never really had an issue with the OPV, It kicks in at around 9.5 bar and I adjust the grind to achieve 9 bar for the entire shot. The only issue I’ve had is the descale sign not going away after descaling, but you can reset that in the techs menu.

I have my Rocket plugged into a smart plug and I have it set to 30mins before I wake up. Works great. Thx for the video.

thank you James, great video as always, one point to add, Lelit Elizabeth v3 falls in the same price range, and I highly believe it outperforms all of them.

I just got the dual boiler on sale for the equivalent of £750, I love it and my friends who have it says as long as you keep up maintenance they can last quite a while. Love the small touches like seeing the water level easily from the front, moving the machine around, the instant steam from the dual boilers and it’s actually quieter than my previous machines. Love it so far, over here in NZ they also include a decent midrange Grinder as well, for £750 on sale it was a no-brainer.

@gusterbean

2 жыл бұрын

I also have one of these and I love most things about it, except wondering how long is going to last, because it does indeed feel less substantial than the other machines. That said, despite the materials they've used, it's seemingly very thoughtfully made.

@jasonfreedman8424

4 ай бұрын

Going on 3 years with mine. No problems so far (knock on wood). It seems to me that the important parts (pumps, heaters, etc.) are well made and metal where the high touch ones are plastic. Makes a great espresso and flat white for my tastes, although I do struggle to dial in new coffees (likely user error).

As someone who has owned the Sage (Breville for me as I'm in AUS) dual boiler I can definitely highly recommend it. We bought the machine at the start of 2020 as we moved to working from home and needed access to good coffee! Our machine has made a minimum of 4-6 double shots almost every single day for close to 3 years straight, and I must say, it has impressed us with how well the build has stood up over time. we got the machine on sale for $899 Australian dollars (~500GBP) and were a little worried that it being aimed more at the consumer rather than prosumer that it may not stand up over time. It definitely seems to be built to last, and 3 years later all of the buttons / knobs / levers still feel as solid as the day we bought it. Regarding pressure, You may have found some quality control issues with your machine as the one we received brews at very close to 9bar on the gauge. Also the ability to set your shot to a set volume has been a huge quality of life improvement (and after testing it for the first few shots when dialing in a new coffee it seems to be pretty accurate to within a ml or 2)

@aldozilli1293

Жыл бұрын

4 to 6 double shots per day!? You need to get that addiction sorted cobber 😄

@CheezelsTV

Жыл бұрын

@@aldozilli1293 between myself and my wife working from home, i think 3 18g coffees per day isnt outrageous

@avrc9285

3 ай бұрын

what addiction ?@@aldozilli1293

Recently bought the Sage Duo Boiler and I love it. Have had no issue with over pressuring. Goes up to 9 bar and then drops off to about 8-7.5.

@jcasetnl

2 жыл бұрын

I think it's just hit or miss whether you get one from the factory with the OPV set incorrectly. I have the BBE and there are many who complain the factory pressure is too high, but mine has been fine.

I don't own the Rancillo but I am an electrical engineer and understand why their engineers chose to use the Momentary Switches. The engineers actually improved the reliability because the control voltages can be much lower and that can eliminat- the arcing between the contacts of the switch. This machine apparently makes use of PID controllers and electronic Latches. When the Momentary switch is depressed the latch 'Holds" that signal for use by the electronic controller which is basically a computer-based system.

@spudd86

2 жыл бұрын

There's no reason the computer couldn't be connected to a toggle switch with the same low voltage signalling. The start stop is under user control either way. For the brew switch I think I would actually like the momentary behaviour better, though the rocker design is the wrong affordance for a momentary switch, which is I think the main that annoys James. It should be visually different type of switch if it's momentary because most of everyone's experience with switches that look like that is that they toggle and stay toggled until someone changes them.

@hasan8084

2 жыл бұрын

@@spudd86 Rancillo just need to either hire an Industrial Designer, or replace the one they currently have.

@snowboarder2017

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe it's so the pump isn't accidentally running when the machine turns on? Same goes if the steam valve is open and machine switched on. Probably like child safety features???

@florida995

2 жыл бұрын

I’m not an engineer but thought the same thing. Those two scenarios were running through my head.

@kriss1_

2 жыл бұрын

It's for EU regulation, power consumption of electric appliances, not electric arcing, or anything related to reliability - adding a whole board of electronics would make it less reliable than a single good old kachunking toggle switch. With the momentary switch, having it shut of on a timer is much simpler. EU regulations mandates automatic shutdown after 30 minute idle time. For example the US version of the Gaggia Classic has good old toggle switches, but the EU version does not, the EU appliance shuts off automatically after 20 minutes (basically shuts it off when it's finally up to temp), the US version stays on till you turn it off.

A comparison video on the next level of price point would be amazing! Love your work

Man, the price increases put all of these out of the $1500 bracket.

@patricknundefahne7170

Жыл бұрын

I bought my Lelit mara X for 890 CHF, which is almost same as dollars in 2021. In my opinion a wonderful coffee machine if you know the machine well and know how to make tasty coffee. So the Lelit is still under 1500 i guess ;)

@aerowenn433

Жыл бұрын

Pound. They’re still about the same USD.

@NoonDragoon

Жыл бұрын

Yup, the Rancillo Silvia (not pro) went from being in the under $500 vid and is now nearly $900.

I was lucky enough to get the Sage Dual Boiler for half-price last year, so spent the money I saved on a Niche Zero 😀

@rather-reverend

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! I got mine used and bought a b-grade Sette 270wi with left over cash. I' very happy with the combination.

@paulmuscroft9292

3 жыл бұрын

Here in Aus there is a deal today to get the dual boiler for AU$849 (converts to 464 UK pounds)

@LastAphelion

3 жыл бұрын

How do you like it, Do you feel like anything competes with the Niche now

I've been using my Appartamento for a little over a year. I've generally achieved appropriate pressure and heat after only ~20 minutes and, following a brief cooling flush of the brewhead, I'm good to go. 20 minutes is still a long-ish time when I tend to want coffee "now", but that's why I plugged mine into a smart plug so I can ask my Amazon overlord device or fruit phone to fire it up in advance through a smart routine.

@fhdsgfhkgkj

3 жыл бұрын

did the same

@fadelpw511

3 жыл бұрын

Fruit phone lol

I own Lelit MaraX (my first espresso machine) and I love it. It's very small which is great for those with small kitchen. The only annoying thing for me is steam pressure because it goes down as I'm frothing milk. It means that if it's 7-8 on start I won't get well steamed milk because pressure drops to 6-7 before I reach target temp of milk. As result I usually froth milk first and then brew shot of espresso. To do that I open main valve, letting some water out. It forces MaraX to boil more water. You can hear it. I wait till pressure reaches 10-11 and begin frothing immediately. If you wait more pressure may go down to as low as 6. I agree with James that it's not worth upgrading to other machines from this list - MaraX is amazing for the money. My next machine will certainly be two boiler device from higher price category.

@chadgregory9037

2 жыл бұрын

sounds like you're looking at the wong gauge........

@pandisalsqueeze27

3 ай бұрын

Do you still enjoy the machine? Looking into buying one

Hello James, Love your videos! Rich in information, thoughtful and balanced in comments, every time! I'm in Canada, I have the Profitec Pro 500 PID and I would like to let your audience know what I know about a potential issue with the installation of one crucial component inside the machine, the SSR, or a solid state relay, at least with North America models or the 100V-120V world. The SSR is the power switching device to the heating element that the PID regulates the boiler temperature with. The SSR, like all semiconductor devices, does not go well with high temperature, and can either fail or shut itself down in self-protection at over temperature conditions. SSR also generates heat when it conducts electric current, i.e., it heats itself up. Therefore, thermal management measures are usually required when it comes to installing a SSR, such as a location that is away from a heat source, a broad, cool metal surface that the SSR can thermally couple with and to dump heat onto, or a heatsink mounted on its back to help throw the heat away to the ambient space. Unfortunately, in the Profitec Pro 500 PID, as well as a few other Profitec machines equipped with PID, the SSR is mounted on a thin strip of stainless steel bracket, and is positioned next to the exposed end-plate of the boiler, the hottest surface in the machine. The particular machine of mine started to cut the heating power out during back-to-back brewing and steaming at about 1-1/2 years. I've seen in a few online communities that owners experiencing the same trouble. I believe most such problems would arise after the 1-year warranty term, mine being the case. Perhaps the over-temperature condition isn't severe enough to show problems up in factory production test, but it causes long term reliability issues instead. I'm fortunately handy enough and was able to install a heatsink to the SSR, and relocate the device to a cool corner away from the boiler, and the problem never came back however hard I use the machine. I've also seen coffee machine dealers' service department do SSR relocation repair/mods for Profitec customers. As far as machines for 220V--240V world go, I don't seem to have an impression they suffer from this SSR failure issue. I guess that could be because the electric current that the SSR has to let pass halves as the voltage doubles, for the same wattage heater, therefore, the SSR self-heating isn't as significant, and Profitec/ECM just got away with their marginal thermal management measures in SSR mounting. Even if that is the case (that they got away), a marginal measure in design/engineering does not seem to be a good match with the product image such an expensive and "going-for-ever" machine poses. Finally, I do love and enjoy my Profitec Pro 500 PID, every day, and I'm glad it's one of your top picks in this video. I personally think even with the potential SSR issue it's worth more than its price. I'm posting this response just so that Profitec shoppers would be informed of its potential issue and the solution, and be able to plan ahead.

@felix111

Жыл бұрын

A bit if a late question.. do you happen to know if the Pro 600 has the same issue? Thanks!

@triod371

Жыл бұрын

@@felix111 I've never heard of that problem with a 600. From the photograph images of 600 interior, its two boilers are mounted vertically, and the boilers' high temperature surfaces, or end plates, are facing away where the two SSRs are mounted. On top of that, what seems to supposedly make a big difference from what we have in a 500 PID machines is that the two SSRs in the 600 are mounted on a bracket that seems to be made of aluminum, a much better metal for heat conducting and dissipation than stainless steel, and that bracket has a much, much greater surface area to dump heat to the ambient air. I would not be surprised if 600 owners never complain about heater cut out due to SSR failure.

@felix111

Жыл бұрын

@@triod371 Thank you I appreciate

@codyc.964

6 ай бұрын

I wish I had read this before I bought mine! I'm on my second SSR replacement in 1.5 years of ownership. This is an extremely frustrating engineering failure and my dealer says the manufacturer is washing their hands of the issue. May I ask where you relocated yours to, and whether you had enough slack with existing wiring? Thanks!

I imagine Rancilio is going to take these suggestions at heart and make the necessary changes in their V2 Pro machines, just a hunch. I've had a standard Silvia for 12 years now and still love it. I've replaced the boiler, the OPV, the steam wand... and it just keeps on going. If Rancilio takes your observations about the water tank and drip tray and makes some design changes, I'd probably go with due to brand loyalty... however I do really love how the Lelit / Rocket / Profitec look, their aesthetics just appeal to me (I've wanted a Quickmill Anita for the longest time and it's a very similar design). To be honest, if I were to make any investment in my coffee situation right now, it'd be a new grinder before a machine. While I really want to be able to brew and steam at the same time, I'd probably be better off with a top notch grinder... Great content as always James.

@jonq8714

2 жыл бұрын

Update: I've since saved my pennies, got a DF64 grinder and am about to purchase an ECM Mechanica V Slim... turns out the pulling a shot and steaming at the same time has become more important to me because I have a 1 year old who I can't take my eyes off of for more than 10 seconds... can't wait for that steam mode any longer!

*Goes to kitchen cupboard. Stares at box of Nescafe Instant cappuccino. Looks at the floor. Begins to gently sob*

@alexk6982

3 жыл бұрын

You should give a moka pot a go! James has a good video on how to make very competent lattes using that and a little milk wand.

@rivolinho

3 жыл бұрын

@@michieff I'm all about aspiration

@santiagodelrio8880

2 жыл бұрын

@@rivolinho Don't cry we still love you

@aviralxd3583

2 жыл бұрын

That’s nothing when cafes in your area server “cappuccino” by mixing a jug of poorly frothed milk with a spoon of instant coffee.

@ehrenfull

2 жыл бұрын

Buy a Bialetti Moka or one of the 1000 copies for around 20€, it was my start into higher quality coffee and I still appreciate drinking a coffee Moka from a Moka pot!

One of the things I love about my Rancilio Silvia (V1) is the maintenance. I know I can fix any part myself and the parts are readily available.

Had the Breville dual boiler for just a year so far. Has performed excellently and I feel satisfied with the amount of flexibility from the machine. Strangely enough I haven’t had the pressure issues others have been describing, so have not had to change the OPV.

Hell, i dont even drink coffee but this guy,,this guy knows stuff

@Patback22

3 жыл бұрын

How did you end up here lmao hahahha

@xdjuicyclap6721

3 жыл бұрын

@@Patback22 tasted coffee a long time ago and didnt lije it, it was black bean supermarket coffee, i read that lighter roast beans that are freshly roasted tastes less bitter and so i want to make a good espresso for when the time comes to try again and who not to learn from if not James.