espresso making mags?

[doebedoe]

meh, the savings were in the tenths of grams for the residential market.
I'll use my Baratza all week and there is maybe a teaspoon of grounds clinging to the machine. Use an enclosed hand grinder and it's a non issue.

Again, not just about savings.

If I single dose in my Mignon w/o a spritz its a fucking mess coming out if I'm grinding into a portafilter or V60 filter. With a spritz of water, no static and I don't have to clean up. Takes 2 seconds vs 15 seconds of cleanup.

[doebedoe]

meh, the savings were in the tenths of grams for the residential market.
I'll use my Baratza all week and there is maybe a teaspoon of grounds clinging to the machine. Use an enclosed hand grinder and it's a non issue.

Again, not just about savings.

If I single dose in my Mignon w/o a spritz its a fucking mess coming out if I'm grinding into a portafilter or V60 filter. With a spritz of water, no static and I don't have to clean up. Takes 2 seconds vs 15 seconds of cleanup.

[doebedoe]

meh, the savings were in the tenths of grams for the residential market.
I'll use my Baratza all week and there is maybe a teaspoon of grounds clinging to the machine. Use an enclosed hand grinder and it's a non issue.

Again, not just about savings.

If I single dose in my Mignon w/o a spritz its a fucking mess coming out if I'm grinding into a portafilter or V60 filter. With a spritz of water, no static and I don't have to clean up. Takes 2 seconds vs 15 seconds of cleanup.

[tgapp]

Again, not just about savings.

If I single dose in my Mignon w/o a spritz its a fucking mess coming out if I'm grinding into a portafilter or V60 filter. With a spritz of water, no static and I don't have to clean up. Takes 2 seconds vs 15 seconds of cleanup.

I didn't used to need to spritz with my niche zero but it is absolutely necessary on my Weber key, otherwise it's a total disaster - easily a gram or more of retention and every shot channeling.

If you don't need it, great, don't overcomplicate shit. I'm lazy as fuck and I'm not here trying to advocate for things that don't make a difference. I'm sure that to an outsider, a lot of this feels like contrived bullshit (the spritzing brings out the floral undertones) but I don't have time or patience for that.

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[Doremite]

How heavy are folks spritzing? Like just a light spray on the surface of the beans already in the grinder or trying to get each bean moist prior to dropping them in the grinder? I use a single dose work flow. I’ve never bothered but I have very little experienced retention w the niche and the static electricity is minimal.

[TurxSki]

How heavy are folks spritzing? Like just a light spray on the surface of the beans already in the grinder or trying to get each bean moist prior to dropping them in the grinder? I use a single dose work flow. I’ve never bothered but I have very little experienced retention w the niche and the static electricity is minimal.

The article I read stressed very little water.
Said begin experimenting with just one drop.
Only beneficial for fine grinds.

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[neufox47]

How heavy are folks spritzing? Like just a light spray on the surface of the beans already in the grinder or trying to get each bean moist prior to dropping them in the grinder? I use a single dose work flow. I’ve never bothered but I have very little experienced retention w the niche and the static electricity is minimal.

The video says four sprays with a small spritzer bottle, or .36 grams per 18g of coffee. I’m going to try upping my spritz as I only do two currently.

The shot changing from 28 to 38 seconds due to spritzing is wild (on a DF64). According to the video water has the biggest impact on grinders that have a bottle neck (they grind more slowly depending on the grind size).

[tgapp]

https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/s/V4W5pr1EFo

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[leftfield]

Espresso jong here with an unrefined palate. Just looking for something that will approximate the coffees I get in NZ/OZ.

Is there a machine y'all like better than this one for the $$/cleaning/ease of use?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CH...KIKX0DER&psc=1

Integrated grinder(gasp!) doesn't seem to be amazing but not sure I'd be able to notice the difference. I'd consider a machine and separate grinder if there's a significant benefit to PITA ratio. Thanks!

[tgapp]

Espresso jong here with an unrefined palate. Just looking for something that will approximate the coffees I get in NZ/OZ.

Is there a machine y'all like better than this one for the $$/cleaning/ease of use?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CH...KIKX0DER&psc=1

Integrated grinder(gasp!) doesn't seem to be amazing but not sure I'd be able to notice the difference. I'd consider a machine and separate grinder if there's a significant benefit to PITA ratio. Thanks!

what are you drinking? milk drinks are straight espresso?

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[Stuntmonkey]

Espresso jong here with an unrefined palate. Just looking for something that will approximate the coffees I get in NZ/OZ.

Is there a machine y'all like better than this one for the $$/cleaning/ease of use?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CH...KIKX0DER&psc=1

Integrated grinder(gasp!) doesn't seem to be amazing but not sure I'd be able to notice the difference. I'd consider a machine and separate grinder if there's a significant benefit to PITA ratio. Thanks!

If you're not going to notice the difference just buy a superautomatic. And you're not likely to get NZ results because the milks better quality, and the water is very different. And that's coming from a kiwi whos been chasing the dragon of hometown espresso for about a decade.

I've got a Rancilio Silvia, but I need a new grinder. Probably going to grab the Baratzia ESP. My steam wand is also a piece of shit so at some point I'd like to completely upgrade to something else.

[basinbeater]

I almost grabbed one of those combined breville units, but ended up going for separate grinder and espresso pump. I got the Bambino and the Smart Grinder Pro. Pretty pleased with both so far.
I went separates because I figured if I had a problem with the combined unit, you are toast, and if you have a problem with a separate, not as toast. Also I suspect the SGP is a better grinder than the integrated one in the combined unit. Also, if I get upgradeitis, which I am prone to get with things....

[tgapp]

I almost grabbed one of those combined breville units, but ended up going for separate grinder and espresso pump. I got the Bambino and the Smart Grinder Pro. Pretty pleased with both so far.
I went separates because I figured if I had a problem with the combined unit, you are toast, and if you have a problem with a separate, not as toast. Also I suspect the SGP is a better grinder than the integrated one in the combined unit. Also, if I get upgradeitis, which I am prone to get with things....

this is my approach ^^^ a great grinder is world's more important than a good espresso machine, and being locked in makes it impossible to upgrade. the only meaningful difference a better espresso machine will give you is really ease-of-use when steaming milk, so if you drink a lot of milk drinks, getting a machine which is more capable (heat exchanger, dual boiler, or thermoblock) is a worthwhile investment.

that said, breville makes a good product and they have (easily) the best warranty in the industry. not a bad starter machine, not at all.

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[leftfield]

what are you drinking? milk drinks are straight espresso?

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Generally fluffy drinks- flat white/cappuccino.

SM- won't go fully auto, would like the ability to tweak things as I get more comfortable/familiar.

bb- that Bambino with a decent grinder is a combo I'm considering. Will give it a closer look.

Appreciate the info fellas

[lowsparkco]

I had a Saeco fully auto in my home office. It was perfect because I could set it up and tweak it and the staff could use it. More variability than you would think, the grind, pressure, and shot duration could all be changed. Dosage was constant, but when you can change everything else it doesn’t matter. And that was 15 years ago, probably better now.

Rancilio La Silvia now with PID (I installed the PID, not the factory version) - it was pretty affordable and the shot quality is fine for milk drinks. Grinder is a little tougher. Next grinder I buy will be a Mazzer as I’m sick of fucking around.

[MontuckyFried]

I almost grabbed one of those combined breville units, but ended up going for separate grinder and espresso pump. I got the Bambino and the Smart Grinder Pro. Pretty pleased with both so far.
I went separates because I figured if I had a problem with the combined unit, you are toast, and if you have a problem with a separate, not as toast. Also I suspect the SGP is a better grinder than the integrated one in the combined unit. Also, if I get upgradeitis, which I am prone to get with things....

Good call on going separates for EXACTLY the reason you stated. I have the same units.

I've REALLY liked the Smart Grinder Pro, but after several years living with it, I have one big beef with it... longevity. My first unit ended up taking longer and longer to grind the desired amount until it just got so ridiculous I swapped it for a new unit. Now after about another year with the replacement, it's just at the beginning stages of doing it again. It went from taking 12.something seconds for 18 grams to about 16 seconds and counting. The problem is the nylon impeller that sucks the grounds down the burrs gets worn over time. I clean my unit thoroughly every time I go through a lb of beans, so it ain't for lack of maintenance. The parts swap would actually be super easy and should be cheap, but Breville refuses to sell replacement impellers. I found some plans for a DIY 3D printed one that people are saying works great and some sell those for pretty cheap so I might go that route next time.

Sucks because the user interface on these is awesome, and it's overall a very nice unit. Mostly annoying about that one issue. Also (as pointed out by somebody here previously when I got mine), it can yield inconsistent amounts over time and sometimes a bit clumpy, BUT that's nothing using a scale and a DST can't take care of. Still. I like mine a lot before having to step up to the next price category. Like you said, that's the beauty of going separates.

I still love my Bambino Plus though! Been a delightful machine overall that's perfect for a novice like me. I may not be able to dial things in as much the pros here with varying pressures, times, and what not, BUT it yields a pretty damn good brew time after time. The auto-steamer is totally tits too. That's its killer app for sure.

[doebedoe]

While I have minor gripes with my Bambino Plus, I'm not sure I have a clear upgrade path that tempts me. It's super fast to turn on and heat up -- which total time to use makes it quicker than most any other <$1.5k machines to pull a shot or make one milk drink. It does sorta suck to make multiple milk drinks on but short of a double boiler I'm not sure it gets much better.

I typically drink more medium roasts 'spro and lighter roasts on filter. Bambino is just harder to nail that light roast extraction spot on with lake of temp or flow control.

But the thing costs $200 used, fits under my 1950s cabinets and pulls good shots. I've paired it with a Eureka Mignon Crono which for ~$200 is built like a fucking tank. It's stock grind adjustment sucks, but a 3D print fixes that.

[mud]

The Bambino Plus is great but it does require pre heating the headgroup and the mug. I played around with the custom setting so it's easy to change the volume of each shot depending on light or dark roast. Anyone saying it's a sub par machine doesn't know how to use it.

[MontuckyFried]

The Bambino Plus is great but it does require pre heating the headgroup and the mug. I played around with the custom setting so it's easy to change the volume of each shot depending on light or dark roast. Anyone saying it's a sub par machine doesn't know how to use it.

Preheating definitely makes a difference! Takes like 10 seconds so no biggie. Haven't played with the custom settings. The most dramatic changes to shot quality seems mostly dependent upon the grind itself where I have to dial it in whenever I try out new beans.

[basinbeater]

^^^ Same here

[bennymac]

Wanted a second grinder so that we could try random beans (like when gifted at Christmas) through an aeropress while keeping our main grinder dialed in for our usual espresso beans.

This is the 1zpresso Q “Air” - plastic body and catch cup and has heptagonal burrs. Inexpensive and lightweight. Seems like it will do the trick for what we are looking for.


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[mud]

Changing the volume can be done once and it’s saved for future use or you can reset to default. I use a Timemore hand grinder for playing around with grind sizes.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/13...f?v=1620160727

[neufox47]

I have been loving a version of the Scott Roa Filter Coffee 2.0 out of my Flair 58. Basically use a course espresso grind that won’t allow much pressure build up, do a 45 second bloom, then another minute of extraction with little to no pressure build up. I add more water to the chamber after injecting the bloom, and end up with 50 grams of output that I then dilute to 225 g total from an 18 gram dose.


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[leftfield]

Ended up getting a Bambino plus and a baratza encore ESP. Will report back.

[doebedoe]

Ended up getting a Bambino plus and a baratza encore ESP. Will report back.

Great starter setup. Good beans and you're set.

Don't underestimate the quality of foam the autofrother can produce. If you're not trying to draw perfect latte art you can get quality milk with almost no effort. I use it regularly for my wife chai & matcha lattes.

If you want some quality of life accessories, a self-leveling tamp is nice especially compared to the Bambino stock one. I like my puck screen -- more from a reducing maintenance than any improvement in output.

A bottomless portafilter will help you ID issues with your puck prep though personally I rarely use mine because I have newborn kid brain and don't want to deal with a mess if I fuckup.