Thinking of buying this Siemens....

ArcticFox

Hi all,

I was thinking of buying this Siemens coffee maker....for about €350

http://www.siemens-appliances.ie/?5=TK54001GB&26=1595

Anyone know if it is any good?

All opinions appreciated

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

Come on RE*AC*TOR, Im looking at you for a fountain of knowledge...

RE*AC*TOR

Some of us sleep you know.

It's a bean to cup machine. These types of machines run the spectrum of awful to mediocre (in terms of coffee produced). I'd never recommend one over a separate grinder and a more traditional espresso machine - IF - (big if) - you can dedicate the time and effort required to make decent espresso and espresso based drinks.

If you really want to go down the minimum effort / not too bothered about the quality of the coffee, then yeah a bean to cup would be fine, although I haven't heard anything about ones made by Siemens. The other option would be something like a Nespresso pod thingy.

Slaphead07

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

It's a bean to cup machine. These types of machines run the spectrum of awful to mediocre (in terms of coffee produced).

That's very harsh. I used 'lock n load' espresso machines for years and they were great but then a few years back, as my Gaggia Classic was dieing, I bought a Gaggia Syncrony and while it won't make the very best espresso it does make very very good espresso. It's certainly better than 95% of the coffee I'd be served in Dublin. That said I wouldn't recommend a Siemens either.

RE*AC*TOR

We all have different scales with which to judge good, bad and indifferent. If better than 95% of the cafes in Dublin is your barometer then you are setting the bar very low.

Slaphead07

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

If better than 95% of the cafes in Dublin is your barometer then you are setting the bar very low.

I won't disagree with that but the relevant thing surely is how much better?
I've drunk enough coffee from enough coffee machines/pots in enough good coffee countries to know what I'm talking about. The fact that I'm not at your level of appreciation doesn't make my opinion irrelevant. It is possible to get a decent espresso from a beans to cup machine, no it won't be perfection but it's still perfectly acceptable to most people.

RE*AC*TOR

I was in no way disparaging your opinion. Nor am I making any claim to be an expert or a definitive opinion on the subject. When I answer these types of questions, I generally try to answer with what I would want in mind. For me it is the best possible result in the cup.

Without having more info about what the OP wants, that is the answer I'll give. Whatever knowledge I have about coffee, when it comes to bean to cup machines I'm mostly limited to second hand information. I have yet to read a report of a bean to cup machine capable of producing what a Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia can in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing.

I'd also say if your drink of choice is a long black one, I wouldn't touch any manner of espresso machine, I'd go the filter route.

nc6000

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

I was in no way disparaging your opinion. Nor am I making any claim to be an expert or a definitive opinion on the subject. When I answer these types of questions, I generally try to answer with what I would want in mind. For me it is the best possible result in the cup.

Without having more info about what the OP wants, that is the answer I'll give. Whatever knowledge I have about coffee, when it comes to bean to cup machines I'm mostly limited to second hand information. I have yet to read a report of a bean to cup machine capable of producing what a Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia can in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing.

I'd also say if your drink of choice is a long black one, I wouldn't touch any manner of espresso machine, I'd go the filter route.

Is the Gaggia Classic the best reasonably priced machine to go for? I was tempted to buy a Gaggia Baby today for £250 when up north but decided to do some research first. For a Christmas gift I got a Bodum Antigua grinder and along with my Moka pot I'm producing very nice "long" coffees.

RE*AC*TOR

Firstly the Bodum Antigua (the silver version) is not equipped to grind fine enough for espresso without modification, which could be tricky.

The Gaggia Classic and Baby are essentially the same bar aesthetics, though I have heard that the OPV valve on the Baby is less accessible - which is used to regulate brew pressure, and is well worth adjusting.

The biggest drawback of the Gaggias, compared to say, a Rancilio Silvia is boiler size. The Gaggia boiler is small, and this translates to a big drop in brew temp over the shot duration. Bigger boilers equate to greater temperature stability.

ArcticFox

OUCH! That really kicks the Siemens where it hurts...so NO is the short answer here. Guess I need to go back to the drawing board then.

What would you get right now with a budget of about €250

RE*AC*TOR

What do you want to drink?

ArcticFox

Everything from Cappachinos & Latte to Americanos

RE*AC*TOR

Then you need an espresso machine and grinder. As to which one... For €250...
maybe add €100 to that budget. Lots of threads on which machines to pick.

Dero

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

The Gaggia Classic and Baby are essentially the same bar aesthetics, though I have heard that the OPV valve on the Baby is less accessible - which is used to regulate brew pressure, and is well worth adjusting.

Minor and not very relevant point, but if it's the older Baby (as opposed to the newer Baby Class), then the OPV is actually more accessible than on a Classic, in that it can be adjusted without removing the covers. I know this because i adjusted one yesterday.

ArcticFox

I took all advise onboard and went to Belfast yesterday and hit House of Frasier....who had the Gaggia Baby Dose for £209! Job done......:cool:

Now all I need is a proper burr grinder & tamper...:D

Mr Magnolia

Congrats on the purchase. Don't drag your heals on the grinder if you can manage it