View Full Version : Espress Machines: Any Recommendations
I want to pick up an espresso machine this weekend. There seems to be a bewildering array so anyone got any recommends?
I don't want a pod one, but one that takes ground coffee. I had wanted one with a built in grinder until I saw how much they are :Yikes: Think I'll buy a separate grinder!
SlackDad
24-11-2005, 16:07
From BBC2's 'Full on Food' programme:
The Full on Food team put ten coffee machines to the test. Their favourite was the Gaggia Classic, £295. The runner-up was the KRUPS Novo Espresso (FMC3), £129.99 .
I don't know if this helps? :)
homealone
24-11-2005, 16:09
The only expresso maker I have had that has lasted more than a couple of months is an old fashioned one that works by putting it on the hob, rather than plugging it in - it makes nice coffee, has never furred up & is easy to clean. The only thing it doesn't do is froth milk - but I only drink black coffee, so that is no problem, and when Mrs Gaz wants a capuccino we have a solar powered 'whizzy' thing that does a good job on milk warmed up in the microwave.
<edit> like this
http://thecookskitchen.com/browse_3275
:)
The only expresso maker I have had that has lasted more than a couple of months is an old fashioned one that works by putting it on the hob, rather than plugging it in - it makes nice coffee, has never furred up & is easy to clean. The only thing it doesn't do is froth milk - but I only drink black coffee, so that is no problem, and when Mrs Gaz wants a capuccino we have a solar powered 'whizzy' thing that does a good job on milk warmed up in the microwave.
<edit> like this
http://thecookskitchen.com/browse_3275
:)
Those really make excellent coffee. (The water is actually boiled as well, which is good for the coffee). And the price is very good compared to what you pay for an actual machine which is likely to break down. These are virtually unbreakable.
From BBC2's 'Full on Food' programme:
I don't know if this helps? :)
Well I had my eye on a Gaggia, until I saw how much! That Krups looks the part though. looks a decent spec and price.
Will do some digging
The only expresso maker I have had that has lasted more than a couple of months is an old fashioned one that works by putting it on the hob, rather than plugging it in - it makes nice coffee, has never furred up & is easy to clean. The only thing it doesn't do is froth milk - but I only drink black coffee, so that is no problem, and when Mrs Gaz wants a capuccino we have a solar powered 'whizzy' thing that does a good job on milk warmed up in the microwave.
<edit> like this
http://thecookskitchen.com/browse_3275
:)
I think you've underestimated how lazy we are in this house Gaz. ;) I'm keen on having a milk frother thing too.
homealone
24-11-2005, 16:28
I think you've underestimated how lazy we are in this house Gaz. ;) I'm keen on having a milk frother thing too.
lol - wait till your shiny electric one furs up & you have to mess about descaling it, but I take the point about the milk frother :)
Saaf_laandon_mo
24-11-2005, 16:37
I have a coffee machine that froths milk, makes a mean cappacino and a short sharp espresso..... its sitting on top of my worktop, hardly ever used cause i can't be arsed to spend ages cleaning it after. So I'd seriously take on board Gaz's point, as even £129 is a lot of money to spend on a paperweight :-(
Saaf_laandon_mo
24-11-2005, 16:37
I have a coffee machine that froths milk, makes a mean cappacino and a short sharp espresso..... its sitting on top of my worktop, hardly ever used cause i can't be arsed to spend ages cleaning it after. So I'd seriously take on board Gaz's point, as even £129 is a lot of money to spend on a paperweight :-(
Actually, I don't doubt we'll get our money's worth out of the beast.
The new challenge is to find somewhere selling the Krups (I think they mean FNC3, not M), preferably a bricks and mortar outlet so I can have a shufty.
Answers on a postcard.....;)
Saaf_laandon_mo
24-11-2005, 16:45
........so I can have a shufty.
Ive heard of getting excited when you buy something new, put please, keep talk about having a shufty till after the watershed ;)
make sure it has a minimum of 15bar pressure otherwise there wont be enough pressure to extract the oil from the coffee and you will get a substandard cup of coffee.
When I bought mine the gaggia came top but were expensive. I settled on a Briel Chamonix
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-3892300-1328100?_encoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00004RHQA
Not bought from here but from Whittards
Have a look at the following as it seems the Briel is discontinued or at least that model is....
http://www.whittard.co.uk/ProductList.aspx?cid=ce5011&language=en-GB
SlackDad
24-11-2005, 16:51
Actually, I don't doubt we'll get our money's worth out of the beast.
The new challenge is to find somewhere selling the Krups (I think they mean FNC3, not M), preferably a bricks and mortar outlet so I can have a shufty.
Answers on a postcard.....;)
There's a stockist list on the Krups website. Debenhams and John Lewis are two stores mentioned.
make sure it has a minimum of 15bar pressure otherwise there wont be enough pressure to extract the oil from the coffee and you will get a substandard cup of coffee.
When I bought mine the gaggia came top but were expensive. I settled on a Briel Chamonix
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-3892300-1328100?_encoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00004RHQA
Not bought from here but from Whittards
Have a look at the following as it seems the Briel is discontinued or at least that model is....
http://www.whittard.co.uk/ProductList.aspx?cid=ce5011&language=en-GB
Hmmm, Whittards, never thought. Cheers. :)
Think a trip to the Trafford (Traffic) Centre is in order. Got a Whittards, Debenhams, Selfridges, John Lewis etc there.
There's a stockist list on the Krups website. Debenhams and John Lewis are two stores mentioned.
Neither appear to stock that model though :( Maybe the shops have a bigger range, he said hopefully!
Ive heard of getting excited when you buy something new, put please, keep talk about having a shufty till after the watershed ;)
When I lived daahn sarf, shufty had a whole different meaning... ;)
andy, make sure that you get a coffee grinder (http://www.whittard.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=dg18344&cid=ce5020&language=en-GB) (that grinds between 2 'plates'), not one that chops (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000X5GA6/203-4334327-7163144) the beans (with a blade)
andy, make sure that you get a coffee grinder (http://www.whittard.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=dg18344&cid=ce5020&language=en-GB) (that grinds between 2 'plates'), not one that chops (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000X5GA6/203-4334327-7163144) the beans (with a blade)
Okey doke :) Gotta find the machine first though!
Okey doke :) Gotta find the machine first though!lol, the one and only time I had an espresso machine I managed to give myself heartburn from drinking mugs of the stuff :disturbd:
andygrif
24-11-2005, 18:06
Those really make excellent coffee. (The water is actually boiled as well, which is good for the coffee). And the price is very good compared to what you pay for an actual machine which is likely to break down. These are virtually unbreakable.
Agreed. The best home made espresso I've tasted comes from the stove-top unit - but unfortunately they're not very good at steaming milk. I have a Starbucks Barista, but although it makes good coffee, I'm on my third one now - so I'd also go for a Gaggia Classic - I have only heard excellent things about them.
If you want to dabble without the price-tag I saw a nice looking stainless steel one in Woolworths for 35 quid. I bet it makes terrible coffee, but hey it's 35 quid!
make sure that you get a coffee grinder
Alternatively, buy the coffee pre-ground! Or better still buy those pods - they're excellent...but the pods don't work with the Gaggia Classic. Actually, that's just reminded me. A friend of mine in Holland has one of the Philips Senseo jobs. That made pretty reasonable coffee actually.
aliferste
24-11-2005, 18:10
They sell the Krups one in John Lewis !
They sell the Krups one in John Lewis !
Is that a confirmed sighting aliferste? It's not on Lewis's website.
Looks like the Krups might be discontinued. Spoke to John Lewis and they have it as a deleted line with no remaining stocks at Trafford or Cheadle :(
This looks remarkably similar: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BYPAZU/qid=1132858261/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_10_3/026-9814369-9930003
fireman328
24-11-2005, 19:32
I have a GAGGIA KUBIKA and I find it very easy to use.
Just buy some filter coffee then buy on of them frothers from IKEA for 99p it's the same effect for a fraction of the price.
This looks remarkably similar: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BYPAZU/qid=1132858261/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_10_3/026-9814369-9930003
Or for half the price: e-bay, 'buy it now' (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KRUPS-NOVO-PREMIUM-ESPRESSO-CAPPUCCINO-MACHINE_W0QQitemZ4421527791QQcategoryZ20671QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem)
Or for half the price: e-bay, 'buy it now' (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KRUPS-NOVO-PREMIUM-ESPRESSO-CAPPUCCINO-MACHINE_W0QQitemZ4421527791QQcategoryZ20671QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem)
Rammy, you're a star. Was 20 mins away from heading to the Trafford Centre. Hopefully, as the seller's in Bolton, I can nip across there instead. Nice one! :tu: :)
Rammy, you're a star. Was 20 mins away from heading to the Trafford Centre. Hopefully, as the seller's in Bolton, I can nip across there instead. Nice one! :tu: :)My pleasure--but just make sure that it's the exact one that you want! :disturbd:
My pleasure--but just make sure that it's the exact one that you want! :disturbd:
Looks sound as a pound - pumped and with a thermoblock. Graded, but I can live with that.
Looks sound as a pound - pumped and with a thermoblock. Graded, but I can live with that.
So now all you have to worry about is the state of your adrenals when you start consuming that much caffeine :disturbd: :D
ScaredWebWarrior
25-11-2005, 10:13
lol - wait till your shiny electric one furs up & you have to mess about descaling it, but I take the point about the milk frother :)To keep limescale down I have 2 things:
1) Water filter - so I only use filtered water in the kettle
2) Steel wool/mesh gizmo
The latter is usually a small cylinder like mesh object, made from (I think) stainless steel. Drop it in the kettle and it attracks the limescale - keeping it off the element. Every now and then I simply remove it, rinse under the tap (while scrunching it) and the limescale drops off.
These 2 things have ensured that a kettle has so far survived several years in a hardwater area that would previously kill a kettle in <18 months. I occasionally - i.e. maybe once a year - do a chemical de-scale as well.
Did you get it in the end Andy?
Did you get it in the end Andy?
I didcan'tstopuseditforthefirsttimetodayandthedayhas justwhizzedbyblimeyisthatthetimewhyaremyteethworna ndgumsbleeding?:D
OK, forgot to buy the beans so only used with ground coffee, but the coffee is good, fast and pretty darn easy to make. Only headache is that the thing's leaked water - suspect it's summat I'm doing wrong. I'll phone Krups tomorrow.
Cheers for the link Rammy. Turns out the ebay folk operate out of a lock up in Swinton. Not as dodgy as it sounds (i hope). Seemed like nice blokes. But if I don't fix that leak.... I know where they live ;) :)
Where is it leaking from?
Where is it leaking from?
It's leaking from under the water tank. Have to switch it on pretty sharpish to minimise leakage.
It's leaking from under the water tank. Have to switch it on pretty sharpish to minimise leakage.If you can get inside it then check for a loose pipe, otherwise I would swap it.....
If you can get inside it then check for a loose pipe, otherwise I would swap it.....
I think it's to do with how the tank connects to the pump. Gonna speak to Krups later and see if its a fault or operator error.
Have to say, the coffee is great. Still on a high from my double espresoo cappuccino from 9.15 this morning!!
Faulty. It's gotta go back :(
Looks like it might be a bit late, but we have a Delonghi Caffe Nabucco, which makes both filter and espresso. It also has a steam thingy for frothing milk. That model appears to have been discontinued but this one is almost identical:
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1592924795.113319270 7@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddggejlmfdcflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&sku=945484
We have got some good use out of it and the coffee tastes nice, whether you fancy filter, espresso or cappucino.
Ok, replaced it yesterday with no problem at all. THe replacement works proper dandy and the coffee is excellent. It's also very easy to use and clean - arguably more so than a cafetierre. It is also, confusingly, the FNC3 which is the one SlackDad found as recommended. Seems they also badge it 353. Thanks to both SD and Rammy for pointing me so specifically in the right direction.
The vendor is also worth a shout. Basically they buy returned stock - stuff people take back to Argos etc - which has been reconditioned if necessary. They back it with a 12 month guarantee and aim to sell at roughly half the usual price. They had a few juicers in so, now, anyone got any recommends....... :)
No, seriously!:)
The vendor is also worth a shout. Basically they buy returned stock - stuff people take back to Argos etc - which has been reconditioned if necessary. They back it with a 12 month guarantee and aim to sell at roughly half the usual price. They had a few juicers in so, now, anyone got any recommends....... :)
No, seriously!:)Ah, juicers........tricky buggers. You really want to steer clear of the normal centrifugal type and look into getting the 'screw' type. Centrifugals leave too much juice in the pulp and are limited to what they can juice. As for specific recommendations, I can't help as it's about a year since I looked into juicers...
Ah, juicers........tricky buggers. You really want to steer clear of the normal centrifugal type and look into getting the 'screw' type. Centrifugals leave too much juice in the pulp and are limited to what they can juice. As for specific recommendations, I can't help as it's about a year since I looked into juicers...
I want one where I can just chuck everything in and stunning, smooth juice emerges from t'other end. It should also be self-cleaning :) I shall look for the power of the centrifugal force though!
I checked out that Full on Food thing where SlackDad found the espresso recommendation, and they suggested the Le Duo and Juice Lady Pro. Dunno if either are centrifugal TBH. I'm keeping an eye on ebay.
I want one where I can just chuck everything in and stunning, smooth juice emerges from t'other end. It should also be self-cleaning :) I shall look for the power of the centrifugal force though!
I checked out that Full on Food thing where SlackDad found the espresso recommendation, and they suggested the Le Duo and Juice Lady Pro. Dunno if either are centrifugal TBH. I'm keeping an eye on ebay.
You could always try this....
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2005/12/7.gif
;)
I want one where I can just chuck everything in and stunning, smooth juice emerges from t'other end. It should also be self-cleaning :) I shall look for the power of the centrifugal force though!
I checked out that Full on Food thing where SlackDad found the espresso recommendation, and they suggested the Le Duo and Juice Lady Pro. Dunno if either are centrifugal TBH. I'm keeping an eye on ebay.Don't go for a centrifugal juicer! :no:
Don't go for a centrifugal juicer! :no:
Ooops, sorry yeah. Was too early for me when I posted before. Had a couple of espressos now so.......:)
cookie_365
05-12-2005, 22:09
You could always try this....
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2005/12/7.gif
;) Instant 'coffee' :erm:
:sick:
lol...I was at a kiddies soft play area and I noticed that they had decent filtered coffee for sale so I asked for a cup of coffee.....the guy made me an instant coffee even though he was standing next to a jug of the proper filtered stuff. So I asked him why he had made me instant and he replied that lots of people preferred it! :nutter:
greencreeper
06-12-2005, 23:09
Strange how so many straight blokes are experts in the preparation of coffee :erm: Given, say, a lump of beef, the results would be Pompeian. I wonder what it means :scratch:
Oh, and I like Gold Blend - all just pretentious is this freshly brewed lark.
Strange how so many straight blokes are experts in the preparation of coffee :erm: Given, say, a lump of beef, the results would be Pompeian. I wonder what it means :scratch: Oi! I had a lovely moist, tender hunk on Sunday. Beef that is ;) :)
Oh, and I like Gold Blend - all just pretentious is this freshly brewed lark. You poor deluded soul. Us born again bean lovers can show you the way
Zodiac55
29-10-2007, 13:52
:erm:
Noticed someone mentioned the website www.thecookskitchen.com and I wanted to warn all the readers about this company: AVOID at all costs. Other fleeced customers have had similar experiences. Take a look at http://members.dooyoo.co.uk/online-shops/kitchenware-co-uk/reviews/ (the company also goes under the name of KitchenWare.co.uk) and http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews100570.html
They still have not sent out my products and have already taken my money well over a month ago. Customer services puts the phone down on me (that's if they answer) and complaints are not answered. Take your business elsewhere and let other people know!
Thanks.
Ok having now got used to my Gaggia classic espresso machine (my best buy yet, very highly recommended). I've tried most of the espresso types of coffee beans going from the likes of Whittards etc, but so far the best all round coffee I've found is 'illy' espresso (available for all supermarkets), perfect for cappucino/esspresso/lattes etc. Is there anything else or one better brand other than blue mountain that is.
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