LIDL espresso maker

tintar

It looks very much like a DeLonghi machine, only much lower in price & I'm thinking of picking one up.

If anyone's bought one of these before, would you care to post your experience with it?

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20091203.p.Espresso_Cappuccino_Maker

Cheers!

jakdublin

Don't have one, but it's got the 15 bar pump pressure which would make it a half decent machine. I might get one for my holiday home, but if you want the best coffee machine it has to be a Gaggia.

SmandyMaguire

how much was a machine that takes beans cost?

niceirishfella

tintar wrote: »

It looks very much like a DeLonghi machine, only much lower in price & I'm thinking of picking one up.

If anyone's bought one of these before, would you care to post your experience with it?

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20091203.p.Espresso_Cappuccino_Maker

Cheers!

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20091207.p.Christmas_Negligee-Set
if she comes with it, its a Bargain!:D

Euro_Kraut

I have one of these for a year now (They must go in annual cycles) and find it excellent. Makes lovely coffee and for €50 its a steal. I don't use the milk frother however about getting a bad burn off it a while back.

I'm sure some of the more hardcore coffee affectandois will have issues with this, but as an entry level espresso maker this is as good as it gets, imo
.

redstarlet

Same as Euro Kraut above I got mine last year and it's the best thing I've bought in ages. The lidl espresso coffee in the black tin for €2 does me for the week. It's saved me a fortune over the year as I was a divil for the takeaway cappachino and it's as nice a coffee as you'll get!

Bill-e

Do ye think there'll be any left when I call in on my way home from work???

ferret

Had two of these. First one was replaced after devloping a leak in the boiler. Excellent machine for light use.

The best value in bean to cup machines are Saeco (same company as Gaggia). You can pick up a Incanto for about €250. I use one at home and it uses about 1/2 kilo a week of Illy beans. I like my coffee.

Euro_Kraut

redstarlet wrote: »

Same as Euro Kraut above I got mine last year and it's the best thing I've bought in ages. The lidl espresso coffee in the black tin for €2 does me for the week. It's saved me a fortune over the year as I was a divil for the takeaway cappachino and it's as nice a coffee as you'll get!

+1 That coffee is very good for price (€1.80 I think) and it comes in a very handy tin that is great for storing other fanciers brands when it is empty.

I also find the coffee better than most takeways.

Block (8

ferret wrote: »

Had two of these. First one was replaced after devloping a leak in the boiler. Excellent machine for light use.

The best value in bean to cup machines are Saeco (same company as Gaggia). You can pick up a Incanto for about €250. I use one at home and it uses about 1/2 kilo a week of Illy beans. I like my coffee.

There's one on ebay at the moment for an ok price

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAECO-LAVAZZA-AMODO-MIO-ESPRESSO-COFFEE-MACHINE-NEW_W0QQitemZ220512707871QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoffee_Machines_Makers?hash=item335794e51f

oops thats a pod coffee sorry!!!

tintar

ferret wrote: »

Had two of these. First one was replaced after devloping a leak in the boiler.

After how long did it fail, and did you replace the first one in warranty or buy a new one?

I'd like to know how LIDL/Silvercrest fares in after sales warranty for such machines.

Cheers!

colsku

tintar wrote: »

It looks very much like a DeLonghi machine, only much lower in price & I'm thinking of picking one up.

If anyone's bought one of these before, would you care to post your experience with it?

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20091203.p.Espresso_Cappuccino_Maker

Cheers!

I might just chance it!

el diablo

Is this just for making espressos and cappuccinos?

tintar

el diablo wrote: »

Is this just for making espressos and cappuccinos?

yes, i guess it can even be used as a hot water dispenser for tea!

Yittisay

nespresso are doing a sale on machines at the moment, think u get 50 euros a/c credit back when u buy a machine (in BT in Dublin & Cork). some are priced as low as 130 euros i think so works out reasonably cheap. i know some people think capsules are dear but vs coffee shop coffee they're excellent value (38c per capsule i think). coffee is a v good, they come in decent varieties (inc/ new ones a couple of which are excellent) and they're obviously v clean and easy to use. when i bought mine my arm was being slightly twisted but nearly 3yrs later im delighted with it

ferret

Replaced under warranty.

I phoned up the aftersales in UK (DeLongi) and all I had to do was post them the silver serial number sticker from the bottom. A replacement arrived a few weeks later by courier. Only problem was the courier driver never called but when I followed up the afterrsales dept again they gave me a tracking number and It was sitting in the couriers depot.

All in all very hapy with the service

The bean to cup machine I have is this one http://www.coffeeitalia.ie/proddetail.php?prod=UU-C-S

redalicat

Just picked this up today and have finished my inaugural cup. Very impressed for the price and thought it did a better job than I have with my moka pot and frothing wand.:) Looking forward to many days of lattes.

SeanyMc22

redalicat wrote: »

Just picked this up today and have finished my inaugural cup. Very impressed for the price and thought it did a better job than I have with my moka pot and frothing wand.:) Looking forward to many days of lattes.

so you can make all types of coffees from this machine right?
im very tempted

redalicat

Well, it makes espresso which can then be used to make a cappuccino or a latte, etc. This one would not make regular drip/filter-style coffee.

colsku

Is there much of a clean up? Hassle?

redalicat

colsku wrote: »

Is there much of a clean up? Hassle?

No, I thought it was pretty easy to clean. The manual says it has to be descaled after something like 200 uses and to check nozzles for build up.

utyh2ikcq9z76b

Ended up gettin this, first cuppa out of it was nice.....

is it meant to be so noisy when the waters pouring out??

colsku

Paula Pitiful Porterhouse wrote: »

Ended up gettin this, first cuppa out of it was nice.....

is it meant to be so noisy when the waters pouring out??

Are you sure the noise wasn't just your teeth jangling with the nerves of your first cup? You could have used some of the froth that came from your mouth too... But being serious, yeah my mate got one and it's pretty loud. I kinda like that sound though!

Simon201

Got one of the Biffinett ones a while back, almost identical. It's ok and I used it for a while but the problem is basically the coffee holder thingy really isn't big enough. Like, it really is for making an espresso (one swigg!) only. To get a decent hit in a decent mug, I used to have to fill the thing 3 times with coffee.

Oh yeah, dont let it run out of water when it's making coffee - that could be the reason for all the noise!

tintar

Paula Pitiful Porterhouse wrote: »

Ended up gettin this, first cuppa out of it was nice.....

is it meant to be so noisy when the waters pouring out??

The only sound I hear when the espresso's made is the motor, when priming it I can very faintly hear the water heating in the boiler.

Ensure the tank is topped up when making espresso, or the pump might spin too fast & burn out.

Slightly OT here, but whats the best water to use for the machine, tap water or bottled water?

Cheers!

Do-more

This beans to cup machine is also good value at £268.83 (Irish VAT rate + super saver delivery) delivered from Amazon.

JPA

Simon201 wrote: »

Got one of the Biffinett ones a while back, almost identical. It's ok and I used it for a while but the problem is basically the coffee holder thingy really isn't big enough. Like, it really is for making an espresso (one swigg!) only. To get a decent hit in a decent mug, I used to have to fill the thing 3 times with coffee.

Thats a triple espresso! Top up a single or double espresso with hot water to make an americano. A triple is a tad much to drink at one. But sure whatever you're into I suppose.

blubloblu

tintar wrote: »

The only sound I hear when the espresso's made is the motor, when priming it I can very faintly hear the water heating in the boiler.

Ensure the tank is topped up when making espresso, or the pump might spin too fast & burn out.

Slightly OT here, but whats the best water to use for the machine, tap water or bottled water?
Cheers!

I'd imagine bottled water has a higher mineral content. If your tap water isn't too hard, use it. Brita filters probably reduce limescale as well as improving taste.

Mermaid91

On the box it mention that you can use pods with this machine - the ones in the picture look like round t-bags. Does anyone know where you can buy these?

tintar

Mermaid91 wrote: »

On the box it mention that you can use pods with this machine - the ones in the picture look like round t-bags. Does anyone know where you can buy these?

They're Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, Tesco stocks these. The packs at Tesco are quite small though & may not be as cost effective as freshly ground beans or a tin of Illy.

While in Amsterdam I noticed the supermarkets stocked large bulk buy sacks of ESE pods, haven't seen those here though.

palance

Anyone know where I could get one of these? Sold out in Lidl Parnell Street and Thomas St...

mouseinthehouse

palance, I`ve seen one single coffee machine in Blanchardstown`s Lidl today around 3pm(might be gone by now ), but I got mine in Blakestown (near Blanchardstown) on Friday, they had few more left. Good luck with it:)

mouseinthehouse

Paula Pitiful Porterhouse wrote: »

Ended up gettin this, first cuppa out of it was nice.....

is it meant to be so noisy when the waters pouring out??

Got the machine on Friday, very pleased with it, didn't seem too noisy to me. Where I used to work we had a Saeco one, made a terrible noise, but lovely coffee. As long as it's working and the coffee is nice I won't be worrying:)

PWEI

Rang Lidl yesterday to find out if there was any of these left.They advised me there was none left in Blanch or Ashbourne but there was 3 in Finglas.Called in to Finglas today but they were all gone.I had to go to a party in Maynooth this evening so I called in to Lidl there on the way to the party and they had 2 left so I was chuffed to get one.This was late just before they closed so there is still one left there.

tintar

palance wrote: »

Anyone know where I could get one of these? Sold out in Lidl Parnell Street and Thomas St...

In case you don't find it at LIDL & plan to head up north in the near future, Argos have the De Longhi BAR32 which has the same features. Its 74 Euro in the UK/Belfast after conversion (94 Euro here btw).

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4232403/Trail/searchtext%3EESPRESSO.htm

Oddly enough the Argos price is way less than in the US. This has to be a first!

http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-BAR32-Retro-Pump-Driven-Espresso/dp/B0002A3S66

Genghis

Got mine on Thursday and generally happy. Only thing is that the coffee is coming out tepid as opposed to hot. So much so that I could add milk and I can down the cup in one.

Anyone else have this problem? And yes, I have allowed the machine warm up, over 30 mins this morning, for example,and still no change.

redalicat

Genghis wrote: »

...coffee is coming out tepid as opposed to hot. So much so that I could add milk and I can down the cup in one.

Anyone else have this problem? And yes, I have allowed the machine warm up, over 30 mins this morning, for example,and still no change.

I thought mine was coming out tepid because my kitchen is bitter cold this time of year, so every thing cools off quick. :eek: Since it's my first experience with owning an espresso maker, haven't a clue.

tintar

Genghis wrote: »

Anyone else have this problem? And yes, I have allowed the machine warm up, over 30 mins this morning, for example,and still no change.

I do a 20 second blank run with no coffee to let the pipes & portafilter heat up, and rinse the cup with boiling water for a few seconds. Espressos made from the subsequent shots then stay hot .

Genghis

Thanks Tintar, thats a great tip. Worked well this morning, not quite boiling though but a lot better than before. Am happy now!

el diablo

Genghis wrote: »

Thanks Tintar, thats a great tip. Worked well this morning, not quite boiling though but a lot better than before. Am happy now!

It's coffee.....It's not supposed to be boiling....

hargo

Run the hot water into the cup so it is hot before making espresso.

Euro_Kraut

Genghis wrote: »

Thanks Tintar, thats a great tip. Worked well this morning, not quite boiling though but a lot better than before. Am happy now!

If you are making an americano, turn off the machine after it has made an espresso sized coffee. Than pour in boiling water from your kettle to fill the cup. If you just let the machine run to fill your cup I could see how it would be a bit cold.

Gran Hermano

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

If you just let the machine run to fill your cup I could see how it would be a bit cold.

Plus you'll over-extract the coffee and end up with a bad-tasting cup.

Mermaid91

tintar wrote: »

They're Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, Tesco stocks these.

Do you know any Tesco branches in the Dublin area that have these? My local tesco's fairly crap so wasn't surprised they didn't have them. Had a look in the big new Tesco at Mahon point in Cork and couldn't see them there either.

tintar

Mermaid91 wrote: »

tintar wrote: »

They're Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, Tesco stocks these.

Do you know any Tesco branches in the Dublin area that have these? My local tesco's fairly crap so wasn't surprised they didn't have them. Had a look in the big new Tesco at Mahon point in Cork and couldn't see them there either.

Sorry Mermaid, I made a mistake there, I thought those were ESE pods since they look the same, but I saw they're actually Philips Senseo pods when I was in Tesco today.

slayerking

For anyone who missed this, Aldi have one in on Sunday..
Link

Looks pretty good and same price as the one that was in Lidl.

Mermaid91

Found a website www.coffeeroyale.co.uk that seems to have a good selection of these. They haven't arrived yet though so don't know what they're actually like.

cullenswood

Anyone else having a problem with water running down the handle of these while making an espresso?

Gran Hermano

cullenswood wrote: »

Anyone else having a problem with water running down the handle of these while making an espresso?

This can happen if the grind is too fine or you're tamping too hard or if the
seal around the grouphead is gone.

cullenswood

Gran Hermano wrote: »

if the
seal around the grouphead is gone.

I am using pods so the grind and tamping shouldn't be the issue? Which is the group head?

Iristxo

Silly question for you guys. Would I be better off with one of this

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/4232403/Trail/searchtext%3EDE+LONGHI.htm

Or one of this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Saeco-Nespresso-Industrial-Coffee-Machine-Home-Cafe-/170495019529?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Coffee_Machines_Makers&hash=item27b24b8a09

Is the later like very big and bulky? I like my coffee but I am by no means a "connoisseur"

Ta in advance