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Ask HN: What is a good espresso machine?

12 points by priv_acy 16y ago

Mine gave up the ghost today. And who knows caffeine better than HN?

petervandijck 16y ago
- What price range? < 200? <800? - Mainly for espresso, or also for capuccino and others (ie. good frother)?
- damoncali 16y ago
  Less than $750ish Not fully automatic. For home/office use - several shots a day. Mostly for espresso, someimtes capuccino (80/20) Not interested in bells/whistles/computers - just good espresso. Solid quality/durability/maintainability is a plus.
petervandijck 16y ago
The DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker makes beautiful espresso because of its 15-bar pump (most models in this pricerange have lesser pumps). Only 90$. I've had it for a while and it's awesome. Haven't been able to make very good capuccino yet, but I'm told that's a matter of milk-frothing technique :) Affiliate link: http://amzn.to/bmCMbK http://amzn.to/bmCMbK Regular link: http://amzn.to/bTsI8d http://amzn.to/bTsI8d
- zepolen 16y ago
  > Haven't been able to make very good capuccino yet, but I'm told that's a matter of milk-frothing technique :) You won't get anything better than a semidecent froth on amateur machines like this no matter how good your technique is. They either lack the necessary pressure or run out of steam midway. This is about the best you could probably get: http://thealps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/img_6168.jpg http://thealps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/img_6168.jpg This is what you want: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Classic_Cappuccino.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Classic_C...
- cpcrowley 16y ago
  Try the 20 oz Rattleware frothing pitcher. I tried five different frothing pitchers and none of them made very good foam except the 20 oz Rattleware, the 12 oz and 32 oz Rattleware do not make good foam for me either. It always amazes me and I think my technique is improving but I always go back to the 20 oz Rattleware. Only makes enough for 2-3 cappuccinos but then the DeLonghi is only good for 2-3 espressos at a time.
apowell 16y ago
This is the only espresso machine I've owned, but I really enjoy it. One-button lattes and cappuccinos are very nice. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NAATK2/ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NAATK2/ (DeLonghi EN670.B Nespresso Lattissima) (Edit: If you're not looking for automatic, you can probably scratch this one from your list.)
- wowik 16y ago
  This is the one we use at work and it works like a breeze :). Very easy to use and you can vary flavors without cleaning the machine, which is as far as I know one of the main cons for automatic machines.
- wowik 16y ago
  Aeropress (http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/8e3a/ http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/8e3a/) btw is another cheap and handy solution.
johnswamps 16y ago
I would suggest buying a french press and grinder instead.
- kilian 16y ago
  That or a Moka pot. Not only does it taste much better than in a machine, but handgrinding coffee is an awesome and satisfying micro-break!
- priv_acy 16y ago
  I've got both - I need something that can make espresso.
mieses 16y ago
Rancilio Silvia is very low tech and hackable. Solid, simple, built to last. The design doesn't change from year to year. http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/rancilios-silvia-espresso-machine-gets-hacked-via-the-arduino-a/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/rancilios-silvia-espresso... http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol04/?pg=124#pg124 http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol04/?pg=124#pg124 http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia
- damoncali 16y ago
  Looks like a good one. Will check it out.
howradical 16y ago
Save yourself some time and money: buy a grinder, a Nissan vacuum thermos and an Aeropress: http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm. I've tried several espresso/coffee makers and barring one that is commercial grade and several grand, the $25 Aeropress can hang with the best of them.
ezulich 16y ago
Gaggia Classic is very good. It's the same machine type as Rancilio Silvia, and about $150-200 cheaper. I can't claim that it's better as I have never owned Rancilio, but it's definitely worth considering.
kevbin 16y ago
I bought a Saeco from Premier Appliance for around ~$430. They don't have the machine I bought, but the Giro is a great little coffee robot, too: http://www.premierappliance.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx?sfid=103895&c=0&search_text=saeco&submit=+GO+ http://www.premierappliance.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFs... The Saeco machine I bought has a built-in grinder, so its relatively clean. Makes very consistent espresso, good to very good with the right beans. The machine is quick to heat up, has two heating elements, and foams milk well. The build quality is better than the Gaggia machine I replaced. I can't recommend a Moka pot, unless you're very precise, patient, and have an equally precise stove. Aeropressed, french pressed, and cold pressed are great ways to get good coffee, but they're not espresso.
edge17 16y ago
http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/15/how-to-make-a-cheap-portable-espresso-machine/2 http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/15/how-to-make-a-cheap-porta...
tzs 16y ago
If you can wait a month, the "Good Eats" episode on espresso is coming up for rerun on August 4th and 5th. If I recall correctly it goes into how to pick a good machine. The episode also appears to be on Youtube for the impatient.
- damoncali 16y ago
  Wait a month? Insanity.
qhoxie 16y ago
What grinder will you be using with this? Without the right grinder, the machine is basically meaningless, so you will want to spend money on that first.
- damoncali 16y ago
  I've got the grinder covered. I'm just looking for a solid, dependable machine.
  - qhoxie 16y ago
    I ask because most people looking in this price-range tend to under-spend on the grinder. In this range, the grinder should cost nearly as much as the machine to achieve good output. At the volume and price you want, the Silvia is likely the best choice. You don't get great precision/consistency, but with some practice you will get great shots, and it will last a long time. It should be paired with a grinder like the Rocky at the very least.
projectileboy 16y ago
Jura makes a very nice machine, but it's about $2000. That (more than) a little out of my price range, but we have one at work, and it's fantastic.
jdm 16y ago
If you don't care about steamed milk a Rancilio Silvia (check out the videos on YouTube for technique). If you do drink coffee with steamed milk a machine with a double boiler will makes things easier. Get an E61 machine like a La Vibiemme. Don't skimp on the grinder I have a Mazzer mini, but that's probably going a bit far...

12 points by priv_acy 16y ago

Mine gave up the ghost today. And who knows caffeine better than HN?

petervandijck 16y ago

- What price range? < 200? <800? - Mainly for espresso, or also for capuccino and others (ie. good frother)?

damoncali 16y ago
Less than $750ish Not fully automatic. For home/office use - several shots a day. Mostly for espresso, someimtes capuccino (80/20) Not interested in bells/whistles/computers - just good espresso. Solid quality/durability/maintainability is a plus.

petervandijck 16y ago

The DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker makes beautiful espresso because of its 15-bar pump (most models in this pricerange have lesser pumps). Only 90$. I've had it for a while and it's awesome. Haven't been able to make very good capuccino yet, but I'm told that's a matter of milk-frothing technique :) Affiliate link: http://amzn.to/bmCMbK http://amzn.to/bmCMbK Regular link: http://amzn.to/bTsI8d http://amzn.to/bTsI8d

zepolen 16y ago
> Haven't been able to make very good capuccino yet, but I'm told that's a matter of milk-frothing technique :) You won't get anything better than a semidecent froth on amateur machines like this no matter how good your technique is. They either lack the necessary pressure or run out of steam midway. This is about the best you could probably get: http://thealps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/img_6168.jpg http://thealps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/img_6168.jpg This is what you want: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Classic_Cappuccino.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Classic_C...
cpcrowley 16y ago
Try the 20 oz Rattleware frothing pitcher. I tried five different frothing pitchers and none of them made very good foam except the 20 oz Rattleware, the 12 oz and 32 oz Rattleware do not make good foam for me either. It always amazes me and I think my technique is improving but I always go back to the 20 oz Rattleware. Only makes enough for 2-3 cappuccinos but then the DeLonghi is only good for 2-3 espressos at a time.

apowell 16y ago

This is the only espresso machine I've owned, but I really enjoy it. One-button lattes and cappuccinos are very nice. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NAATK2/ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NAATK2/ (DeLonghi EN670.B Nespresso Lattissima) (Edit: If you're not looking for automatic, you can probably scratch this one from your list.)

wowik 16y ago
This is the one we use at work and it works like a breeze :). Very easy to use and you can vary flavors without cleaning the machine, which is as far as I know one of the main cons for automatic machines.
wowik 16y ago
Aeropress (http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/8e3a/ http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/8e3a/) btw is another cheap and handy solution.

johnswamps 16y ago

I would suggest buying a french press and grinder instead.

kilian 16y ago
That or a Moka pot. Not only does it taste much better than in a machine, but handgrinding coffee is an awesome and satisfying micro-break!
priv_acy 16y ago
I've got both - I need something that can make espresso.

mieses 16y ago

Rancilio Silvia is very low tech and hackable. Solid, simple, built to last. The design doesn't change from year to year. http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/rancilios-silvia-espresso-machine-gets-hacked-via-the-arduino-a/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/rancilios-silvia-espresso... http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol04/?pg=124#pg124 http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol04/?pg=124#pg124 http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia

damoncali 16y ago
Looks like a good one. Will check it out.

howradical 16y ago

Save yourself some time and money: buy a grinder, a Nissan vacuum thermos and an Aeropress: http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm. I've tried several espresso/coffee makers and barring one that is commercial grade and several grand, the $25 Aeropress can hang with the best of them.

ezulich 16y ago

Gaggia Classic is very good. It's the same machine type as Rancilio Silvia, and about $150-200 cheaper. I can't claim that it's better as I have never owned Rancilio, but it's definitely worth considering.

kevbin 16y ago

I bought a Saeco from Premier Appliance for around ~$430. They don't have the machine I bought, but the Giro is a great little coffee robot, too: http://www.premierappliance.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx?sfid=103895&c=0&search_text=saeco&submit=+GO+ http://www.premierappliance.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFs... The Saeco machine I bought has a built-in grinder, so its relatively clean. Makes very consistent espresso, good to very good with the right beans. The machine is quick to heat up, has two heating elements, and foams milk well. The build quality is better than the Gaggia machine I replaced. I can't recommend a Moka pot, unless you're very precise, patient, and have an equally precise stove. Aeropressed, french pressed, and cold pressed are great ways to get good coffee, but they're not espresso.

edge17 16y ago

http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/15/how-to-make-a-cheap-portable-espresso-machine/2 http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/15/how-to-make-a-cheap-porta...

tzs 16y ago

If you can wait a month, the "Good Eats" episode on espresso is coming up for rerun on August 4th and 5th. If I recall correctly it goes into how to pick a good machine. The episode also appears to be on Youtube for the impatient.

damoncali 16y ago
Wait a month? Insanity.

qhoxie 16y ago

What grinder will you be using with this? Without the right grinder, the machine is basically meaningless, so you will want to spend money on that first.

damoncali 16y ago
I've got the grinder covered. I'm just looking for a solid, dependable machine.
- qhoxie 16y ago
  I ask because most people looking in this price-range tend to under-spend on the grinder. In this range, the grinder should cost nearly as much as the machine to achieve good output. At the volume and price you want, the Silvia is likely the best choice. You don't get great precision/consistency, but with some practice you will get great shots, and it will last a long time. It should be paired with a grinder like the Rocky at the very least.

projectileboy 16y ago

Jura makes a very nice machine, but it's about $2000. That (more than) a little out of my price range, but we have one at work, and it's fantastic.

jdm 16y ago

If you don't care about steamed milk a Rancilio Silvia (check out the videos on YouTube for technique). If you do drink coffee with steamed milk a machine with a double boiler will makes things easier. Get an E61 machine like a La Vibiemme. Don't skimp on the grinder I have a Mazzer mini, but that's probably going a bit far...