Any Espresso Junkies?

[ReddingArcher]

I have the breville bambino and their separate smart grinder. I make lattes most mornings. For the holiday season I’ve been putting crushed peppermint in once a week. I’ve used a variety of beans, including local small batch but we mostly just go with whatever Costco has.

I’m looking at the bambino as upgrade for my wife. I bought her a delonghi a couple years ago. Her biggest complaint about the one she has now is it’ll only make one cup of espresso and then it has to cool for a good long while. We’ve had issues off and on with it, it’s kinda finicky I guess. Any issues you’ve had with your bambino? Can you make multiple cups of espresso back to back?

 

[renagde]

I’m looking at the bambino as upgrade for my wife. I bought her a delonghi a couple years ago. Her biggest complaint about the one she has now is it’ll only make one cup of espresso and then it has to cool for a good long while. We’ve had issues off and on with it, it’s kinda finicky I guess. Any issues you’ve had with your bambino? Can you make multiple cups of espresso back to back?

Bambino is great. Heats up in seconds and yes you can pull multiple shots back to back because it technically does not have a boiler. I used a thermojet so it instantly heats your water. Works very well.

 

[flyfisher117]

An Aero Press, a Moka Pot are about all I can justify anymore.. ha

I had a Bonavita drip machine but hard water killed it. No ammount of descaling could keep it alive. Had 3 Keurigs and even descaling weekly the last one barely made it a year.

 

[renagde]

An Aero Press, a Moka Pot are about all I can justify anymore.. ha

I had a Bonavita drip machine but hard water killed it. No ammount of descaling could keep it alive. Had 3 Keurigs and even descaling weekly the last one barely made it a year.

Yes it's crazy how fast hard water destroys these machines. Even RO water is terrible for them. I just installed a BWT Bestmax Premium filter and plumbed my machine. That's been my set it and forget it solution.

 

[flyfisher117]

Do you guys have reccomendations on roasters that sell online? Not looking for overpriced stale garbage but also not after the best of the best. I've tried a few and been fairly disappointed in what I got for the money.

 

[renagde]

Do you guys have reccomendations on roasters that sell online? Not looking for overpriced stale garbage but also not after the best of the best. I've tried a few and been fairly disappointed in what I got for the money.

What price range are you looking at? I have a Kaldi Fortis 600 and I'm really happy with it.

 

[flyfisher117]

What price range are you looking at? I have a Kaldi Fortis 600 and I'm really happy with it.

Should have worded that differently. I'm wanting to buy roasted whole beans. Better quality than the store bought stuff but still economical to drink.

 

[renagde]

Should have worded that differently. I'm wanting to buy roasted whole beans. Better quality than the store bought stuff but still economical to drink.

Ah sorry, can't help you there. My advice is though find a roaster that offers a subscription. It's usually cheaper and fresher plus they often include free shipping or something if you sign up for a subscription.

 

[LostArra]

Do you guys have reccomendations on roasters that sell online? Not looking for overpriced stale garbage but also not after the best of the best. I've tried a few and been fairly disappointed in what I got for the money.

I know what you're asking but you really should try home roasting. West Bend Poppery II off eBay plus some green coffee beans from Sweet Maria's and you're set. Half the price and always fresh.

For commercial roasters I've had decent luck with Peet's. Big Bang being my favorite. Big difference buying from the roaster than getting the same coffee off the grocery shelf although I still get it at grocery in emergency.

 

[Historybuff]

Should have worded that differently. I'm wanting to buy roasted whole beans. Better quality than the store bought stuff but still economical to drink.

Rodaks coffee is the coffee I've drank for at least 6 or 7 years and havent found anything better. He roasts your coffee when you order it and ships it out. Nice guy too. Home roasting is a great way to go too. Nothing better than fresh roasted coffee

 

[fishslap]

I’m looking at the bambino as upgrade for my wife. I bought her a delonghi a couple years ago. Her biggest complaint about the one she has now is it’ll only make one cup of espresso and then it has to cool for a good long while. We’ve had issues off and on with it, it’s kinda finicky I guess. Any issues you’ve had with your bambino? Can you make multiple cups of espresso back to back?

Renagde answered already. Great machine. No issues other than the forced cleaning cycle every x number of shots. It’s not frequent but always happens when I’m in the middle of making lattes for the wife and I and we both have meetings we’re trying to get to.

 

[ColoradoV]

I am only a espresso junkie when I am in Italy…

Works out as my wife is an Italian citizen …

 

[CoffeeGoat]

Do you guys have reccomendations on roasters that sell online? Not looking for overpriced stale garbage but also not after the best of the best. I've tried a few and been fairly disappointed in what I got for the money.

I've been pleased with an upgraded whirly pop, get the stainless bottom one and go to town. Mine has been upgraded with a motor to turn it and a port to add a heat gun. Been roasting on it for nearly 20 years now.

When our third kid came I upgraded to a eureka atom and an ECM Synchronika, 6 years later and we're still very happy with it. I've had a few minor problems but because it's an E61 group head machine from a major vendor you can actually get parts to keep it rubbing.

 

[Castronova]

I use a Diletto Mio, I’d need to look up the grinder I have. I buy locally roasted coffee beans that are phenomenal. The machine has been very good to us for a couple years now. The espresso quality is excellent. My wife will even go through the effort for good coffee now.

The biggest con after moving to a decent machine is when your not home it’s very hard to find anything similar to what you make and how you make it.

 

[aaronoto]

Rancilio Silva with a Baratza Vario grinder here. I buy fresh roasted coffee from a local coffee shop, looked at small home roasters several years ago, but never took the jump. Fresh roasted coffee makes all the difference though, super important piece to pulling good shots.

 

[HighUintas]

@renagde , my Mr coffee died this week and I somehow ended up with a Bambino instead of a new drip machine haha. My wife and I were looking at machines and she was talking about how she wanted an espresso machine (but we weren't planning on getting one because I figured a decent one would be $1000+ and then the grinder) but she was wanting to get a $150 drip machine but I wanted the $25 mr coffee.

So we ended up with a $100 Cuisinart machine just because the carafe was insulated SS (not breakable). The lid didn't have a friggin hole in it like it should have so when I ran water through it just went everywhere. So after some cussing about Chinese made big box store items, I went back to Target to return it with my wife saying just get whatever you want. I got to looking there, noticed the Bambino and thought I'd read something about it recently. So I checked here , found this thread then looked at a couple of pro barista reviews and decided I'd see if I would be in trouble for buying it haha. I think she was happy about that decision. I figure I'll just go back to my daily v60 pour over if I don't have an Americano.

So after screwing around with it tonight, I decided I need to get a better grinder. My conical burr knock feldgrind does ok after getting the grind dialed, but grinding is a chore and don't think my wife will screw with that on a daily basis.

Looking at entry level grinder recs, it seems the baratza encore esp is still the go to for entry level. At $200, that's not too bad, especially just using cash back points to purchase it.

 

[renagde]

@renagde , my Mr coffee died this week and I somehow ended up with a Bambino instead of a new drip machine haha. My wife and I were looking at machines and she was talking about how she wanted an espresso machine (but we weren't planning on getting one because I figured a decent one would be $1000+ and then the grinder) but she was wanting to get a $150 drip machine but I wanted the $25 mr coffee.

So we ended up with a $100 Cuisinart machine just because the carafe was insulated SS (not breakable). The lid didn't have a friggin hole in it like it should have so when I ran water through it just went everywhere. So after some cussing about Chinese made big box store items, I went back to Target to return it with my wife saying just get whatever you want. I got to looking there, noticed the Bambino and thought I'd read something about it recently. So I checked here , found this thread then looked at a couple of pro barista reviews and decided I'd see if I would be in trouble for buying it haha. I think she was happy about that decision. I figure I'll just go back to my daily v60 pour over if I don't have an Americano.

So after screwing around with it tonight, I decided I need to get a better grinder. My conical burr knock feldgrind does ok after getting the grind dialed, but grinding is a chore and don't think my wife will screw with that on a daily basis.

Looking at entry level grinder recs, it seems the baratza encore esp is still the go to for entry level. At $200, that's not too bad, especially just using cash back points to purchase it.

I don't have any experience with the Baratza grinders but I've heard good things. I think the Encore ESP would suit you well, or step up to the Sette 30 or the next step would be a Eureka.

 

[flyfisher117]

Any of you have a reccomendation for an electric milk warmer/frother? For those of us that don't have the full espresso machine?

My little Aerolatte finally died after 9 years. Ha

 

[HighUintas]

Any of you have a reccomendation for an electric milk warmer/frother? For those of us that don't have the full espresso machine?

My little Aerolatte finally died after 9 years. Ha

I think this was an Amazon purchase a couple years ago. It works pretty well for not being a steam frother

 

[HighUintas]

Espresso junkies are all about that rich, bold flavor! ️ There's just something about a well-made espresso that hits the spot.

That is true. I used to have an awesome espresso setup at home and have been without for a long time. After I figured out my grind and made a good shot with the new "cheap" breville machine, I decided that my Mr coffee dying was a good thing and I don't need to go to cafes anymore. The need to be tweaked out on coffee all day has come back