'intermediate' level coffee making

FinoBlad

Is there such thing as an intermediate level espresso machine? I've an old gaggia classic and wondering what people buy when they go a step higher? Something good to learn on.

If anyone has a recommendation could you also give me your opinion on a similar level grinder?

IsThatSo?

Quite a few people here have a Rancillo Sylvia and, from what they say, its good albeit tempermental

If you search "grinder" there is a good thread called "recommend a grinder" and you should get a good bit of info there.

The grinders favoured around here seem to be:

Gaggia MDF (I have one, its great)
Iberital 2 (sp?)
Rancillo Rocky


There are others, and they would work well with Miss Sylvia, but just can't recall them right now.

stimpson

A Classic would be an intermediate machine I think. I wouldn't have thought a Sylvia was that much better than a Classic, certainly not enough to justify the cost. If I ever upgrade, I'll be looking at a dual boiler machine.

There are a few mods you can do to improve the Classic. First - the OPV mod. You can adjust the OPV to reduce the pressure to around 9 bar which should drastically improve your espresso. The Sylvia steam wind can be fitted which is head and shoulders above the crappy plastic attachment on the Gaggia (happy donkey stock them). If you want to go mad, you can fit a PID to the Gaggia which will give you much better temperature stability.

Oh, and keeping the internals clean and descaled is a must!