Bean to cup machines

P. Breathnach

I feel a touch of trepidation venturing into the company of such connaisseurs as inhabit this corner of boards. Go easy on me, people.

I'm the sort of coffee drinker who will settle for "pretty good" rather than spend a lot of time and money trying to generate the perfect cup of coffee. Yes, I have my gold standard: a Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee I drank at a bar in Rome a few years ago. That scores 10/10.

I mark severely. Coffee that scores 4/10 is worth drinking, and I am not going to complain. If I give 6/10, it means a pretty good coffee. Get to 7/10 and I am happy to praise the establishment.

Now I want coffee at home that scores 6/10 or better. I also want an easy life. So I am considering a bean-to-cup machine, and am looking at the Delonghi Esam4000b. Before I commit a few hundred euros to the project, I invite your comments.

Gran Hermano

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=80272827

Amazon UK and DE often have the bean to cup machines reduced.
I spotted Amazon UK had 40-60% off some models last month.

P. Breathnach

Thanks, Gran Hermano (or may I be familiar and call you "Gran"?).

I had seen that thread, and been slightly alarmed at the prospect of going towards a grand for a coffee-maker! The DeLonghi is considerably cheaper, and I would be content with "pretty good" rather than "superb". I was hoping that some people here have experience of the machine.

Gran Hermano

Bear in mind if you were to go down the separate espresso machine and grinder route you'd be looking at around the 500 euro mark.

Another option is the Gaggia range of bean to cup machines, this is a popular one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Automatic-Espresso-Coffee-Machine/dp/B003MAJ4S4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1368533615&sr=8-6&keywords=gaggia
More reviews: http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/gaggia_brera_slvr.cfm

Gaggia, Saeco and Philips are all the one company now.

P. Breathnach

When I see the name Gaggia I think of industrial-scale coffee-bar equipment from my long-ago teenage years! One of the great names of coffee-making. I can still picture the wall of steel in the New Amsterdam on South Anne Street.

Do you think they are a superior manufacturer of domestic machines? The one you linked for me is about 50% more expensive than the DeLonghi.

Slaphead07

I have no choice but to use a bean to cup machine as I'm in a shop and have just enough time to push a button.... that said the espresso I get is perfectly drinkable. Not great but better than 80% of the espresso out "there". My last machine, a Gaggia Syncrony logic made very good espresso, very good. My current model, a recently acquired Gaggia Titanium, although very similar to last one isn't as good... yet. The quality of the coffee is paramount and I'm still paying about with different blends of beans to get a bit more "body" into it.

My home setup is gathering dust.... (sob):(

P. Breathnach

Slaphead07 wrote: »

...The quality of the coffee is paramount and I'm still paying about with different blends of beans to get a bit more "body" into it....

Yeah. I foresee doing something like that. I know the flavour I like; I don't know what beans best deliver it.

My home setup is gathering dust.... (sob):(

That reminds me of the joys of being retired.

Curry Addict

this one might be a better option at the same price. purely based on amazon reviews.. it has many more reviews than the one you are looking at and more importantly they are very positive...

De'Longhi Magnifica ESAM4200 15-Bar Bean to Cup

P. Breathnach

Curry Addict wrote: »

this one might be a better option at the same price. purely based on amazon reviews.. it has many more reviews than the one you are looking at and more importantly they are very positive...

De'Longhi Magnifica ESAM4200 15-Bar Bean to Cup

Thank you. Given the similarity of model numbers, I think this is much the same machine as the Esam4000B. The main difference seems to be that it has a silver-colour finish rather than black. I prefer the black.

I waited a few days to see if anybody came up with a reason not to buy the DeLonghi. Nobody did. If anybody has a case to make against it, please don't tell me now, because I have just placed my order.

Thanks, all, for your input.

southernstar

BIt late to offer advice but worth giving my 2 cents anyway on this:

I have one of the DeLonghi 4200 machines.I also have aeropress, v60 etc.

I've had the machine for three months and love it. Coffee isnt 100% but better in some ways - americanos with thick crema, decent espresso shots. And all with much less mess and hassle than other methods.

For most coffee enthusiasts they're the most practical option and best balance of quality/ hassle/ cost IMO.

I hope you're enjoying the machine if you did buy it.

P. Breathnach

I did buy it. Ordered from Amazon on a Sunday afternoon; declined the invitation to pay extra for 48-hour delivery; it arrived on Tuesday morning. I had ordered a pack of Lavazza Qualita Rossa to get me started, but that was dispatched later.

So I had my new toy, and no beans. Only cheap preground coffee that I used with a filter machine (Lidl's Bellarom French Blend). So of course I tried the machine with it, and was surprised at how much better the coffee seemed. It went from 4/10 (just about acceptable) to 6/10 (fairly good). Great crema, almost like a pint of Guinness.

Then the Lavazza arrived, and I went for the real experience. It was only marginally better. I put this down to two things: the Lavazza product is not the perfect coffee for me; the setup of the machine might be tweaked to suit my taste. I'm not going to change anything yet; I want to get used to the machine first.

I'm happy with it. It's wonderfully convenient to press a button and get a very acceptable café allongé (lungo if you prefer Italian).

southernstar

Well now you can find the perfect coffee for it!

Fresher coffee definitely comes through better - and some types (especially Brazilian) are amazing through it. Even some African like Yirgacheffe come through better through this than pourover - which I wouldn't have expected.

I changed the grind setting to 3 as per recommendation I came across.

When I have more space, time and money I might get more specialised gear.

Curry Addict

Lavazza Qualita Rossa is pretty awefull tbh. I was fairly shocked at how bad it was when i tried it.
I also have a bean to cup, i find coffees that are good for filter sytle give the best result for lungo type coffees. it also works great with coffees for espresso but not quite as good.
some good places to buy coffee are hasbean and coffeemojo if your budget allows. if you want something more budget end, then id recommend this http://www.discountcoffee.ie/kenyan-coffee-beans-4-x-1kg its not as fresh as you would like or a great quality kenyan AA but unbeatable for the price imho.

P. Breathnach

I'll go coffee hunting in due course.

I was surprised by how unappealing the Lavazza is - but at least the good quality of the brewing compensates somewhat. I got a kilo of the stuff, and have an aversion to waste, so I will stick with it for the moment.

Budget isn't a major issue. My challenge will be finding the right coffee. I don't have the vocabulary to describe what I might like. All I know is that I like a fairly well-roasted bean, but not done to the point where the coffee becomes bitter or acrid. In general, I prefer arabica, and I am happy with the lower level of caffeine than I might get with robusta coffees. I'm not looking for a caffeine hit, but I have some degree of caffeine dependence/addiction: a day without coffee is a bad day for me.

Gran Hermano

Pick up an espresso starter pack from Has bean and Bailies.
By sampling a variety you can hone in on what you like.

southernstar

I used to have a hasbean weekly subscription - let it lapse recently but may renew again at some stage. Problem is it doesn't leave room for much else! Their starter pack is worth getting.

Badger and Dodo's Brazil Pocos de Caldas. (100% Mondo Novo) Natural is the nicest I've had recently.

P. Breathnach

southernstar wrote: »

...
I changed the grind setting to 3 as per recommendation I came across....

I have just tried that (the factory setting was 5). Didn't like the result. I'd equate it to drinking a wine with a higher level of tannin than suits my palate.

Trying setting 4 now: I suspect that I will revert to 5.

Does the finer grind extract something from the coffee that the coarser grind does not?

southernstar

Afraid I'm an amateur when it comes to espresso! Here's the review which mentioned that setting: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RKA5RKNPH5S6Q/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_18



AFAIK a finer grind should be more concentrated/ get more extracts.

keithclancy

I got this Yesterday:

http://www.amazon.de/Saeco-HD8743-11-Kaffeevollautomat-Wasserbeh%C3%A4lter/dp/B00403ZDPU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373613421&sr=8-1&keywords=saeco+xsmall

So far its excellent, the first one was a bit watery but the manual said this was to be expected.

Got up this morning and made myself a Cappucino using the foamer Using columbian own brand beans from a Supermarket called Albert Heijn thats in their Excellence range. Very nice and smooth, no bitterness at all.

Only gripe people seem to have is that water holder and the puck catcher are very small, myself I don't mind, just fill it every 2 full cups of coffee with water and empty the puck holder every 4 cups.

Got it for 179 (gone back up to 197 now) euros delivered to my workplace.

All in all happy with the purchase, nice and small too, Dutch kitchens are a bit compact to say the least !

Jimmy Bottlehead

Hey guys.

I've an aeropress but due to a new job I'm p earlier and would love to wake to freshly made coffee.

My budget is tighter than the OP's, but I seen this on Amazon and am wondering would it be a decent buy; would love some advice on this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003DNSQRK/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

EDIT: Also, is this a decent option?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Klarstein-Coffeemate-Coffee-Machine-Grinder/dp/B00AC65P34/ref=sr_1_25?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1373625913&sr=1-25&keywords=coffee+machine

Gran Hermano

Nice find keithclancy and a great price. Interesting to see what Philips are up to since they took over Gaggia/Saeco. Now get yourself some freshly roasted coffee

Glebee

Why oh why did I read this thread. Using an aero press with fresh whole beans that I grind myself and perfectly happy with the coffee that I get. Now I'm thinking a bean to cup machine at the right price would be a great buy. Any suggestions other than the machine previously listed and how have people got on with their new purchases.

Curry Addict

Glebee wrote: »

Why oh why did I read this thread. Using an aero press with fresh whole beans that I grind myself and perfectly happy with the coffee that I get. Now I'm thinking a bean to cup machine at the right price would be a great buy. Any suggestions other than the machine previously listed and how have people got on with their new purchases.

i bought a miele cm5100 about 3 years ago for €999. 20,000 coffees on the clock now and its never missed a beat. coffee and espresso as good as when it was new. I bought it with longevity in mind, for that price, as i prefer to drink great coffee for a long time rather than mediocre coffee and reinvesting every couple of years.

eclectichoney

Hi guys

Have read this thread and one or two others and wondering if the DeLonghi might be the best one to go for? Has anyone any exerience of Gaggia bean to cup machines?

Essentially looking for a simple but good quality bean to cup machine - I realise the quality will never be as good as a grinder/machine combo but would settle for 'very good' given the convenience factor.

Thanks

Slaphead07

eclectichoney wrote: »

Has anyone any exerience of Gaggia bean to cup machines?

I have one in the back room of a shop and it's what keeps me sane. No, it's not as good as a "proper" espresso machine but it is surprisingly good. Push a button and 30 seconds later I have a decent espresso.
Quality of the the beans is all important and maintenance is essential. I'm on my second Gaggia bean to cup machine (first one gave years of great service and great coffee) and I don't think I'd trust any other brand now.

wexfordman2

Slaphead07 wrote: »

I have one in the back room of a shop and it's what keeps me sane. No, it's not as good as a "proper" espresso machine but it is surprisingly good. Push a button and 30 seconds later I have a decent espresso.
Quality of the the beans is all important and maintenance is essential. I'm on my second Gaggia bean to cup machine (first one gave years of great service and great coffee) and I don't think I'd trust any other brand now.

I have a gaggia titanium and over it, have it over two years.

It's now broken however and no one in the South will fix it, gaggia have no reps in the South that fix this machine, so I have to ship it north.

It's the one thing that would make me think again about buying gaggia.

Slaphead07

wexfordman2 wrote: »

I have a gaggia titanium and over it, have it over two years.

It's now broken however and no one in the South will fix it, gaggia have no reps in the South that fix this machine, so I have to ship it north.

It's the one thing that would make me think again about buying gaggia.

That's the one I have too. Try Harolds Cross Electric in Dublin 6 but... if it's the motherboard it will cost too much to fix. They really need regular cleaning.

numorouno

Curry Addict wrote: »

i bought a miele cm5100 about 3 years ago for €999. 20,000 coffees on the clock now and its never missed a beat.

holy crap. 20 coffees a day! I think you might have a bigger problem than me

NATLOR

eclectichoney wrote: »

Hi guys

Have read this thread and one or two others and wondering if the DeLonghi might be the best one to go for? Has anyone any exerience of Gaggia bean to cup machines?

Essentially looking for a simple but good quality bean to cup machine - I realise the quality will never be as good as a grinder/machine combo but would settle for 'very good' given the convenience factor.

Thanks

I just bought a Saeco intelia focus from Amazon.DE.This is on amazon UK for £440 I got it from the warehouse deals section for €240 including delivery,or they have it new for €278,it was brand new still in all original packaging just with a small bit of box damage so they cant sell it as new.(I have bought from the UK warehouse deals many times before and always receive brand new products)

I only have it a week but the coffee it produces is excellent.The machine has very good reviews on all Amazon sites and across the web.A few comments on reliability issues but no more that any other machine and i researched these for weeks before buying!

I also emailed Amazon regarding the warranty on any product purchased from their warehouse section and got a reply saying if i have any problems i can return it for either repair or a refund within a two year period.With that warranty promise and that price it was a no brainer for me.

If you go to check out the site make sure you use chrome as your browser as it will translate everything into English.If you want any more info message me back

NATLOR

wexfordman2 wrote: »

I have a gaggia titanium and over it, have it over two years.

It's now broken however and no one in the South will fix it, gaggia have no reps in the South that fix this machine, so I have to ship it north.

It's the one thing that would make me think again about buying gaggia.

Try watermark in Dublin,they are gaggia agents ph.no.014666304

eclectichoney

Thanks to everyone for the advice - will look into a Saeco or a gaggia I think!

Jimmy Bottlehead

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Hey guys.

I've an aeropress but due to a new job I'm p earlier and would love to wake to freshly made coffee.

My budget is tighter than the OP's, but I seen this on Amazon and am wondering would it be a decent buy; would love some advice on this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003DNSQRK/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

EDIT: Also, is this a decent option?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Klarstein-Coffeemate-Coffee-Machine-Grinder/dp/B00AC65P34/ref=sr_1_25?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1373625913&sr=1-25&keywords=coffee+machine

Just as an update, I ended up getting http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-Hobbs-14899-Platinum-Coffeemaker/dp/B003DNSQRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395407062&sr=8-1&keywords=Russell+Hobbs+14899 and have had it for probably six months or so now.

Very happy with it. Easily cleaned, coffee tastes good (though I'm admittedly not an expert) and waking up to freshly brewed coffee is quality.

Would recommend it, especially at the price that Amazon has it at now (£70).

Glebee

How does it compare taste wise to aeropress????

Jimmy Bottlehead

Glebee wrote: »

How does it compare taste wise to aeropress????

HONESTLY, I would say the Aeropress might make slightly nicer coffee. Machine would make it a teeny bit more bitter. But the Aeropress is more hassle and won't make itself, so it balances. I like having both.

MadsL

For anyone still looking into a purchase I have killed one of these machines in less that three years. I bought the Magimix Robot Cafe think that made in Switzerland meant something. This was a good while ago when these machines were pretty pricey. We had it repaired twice, and it was a constant hassle.

Once it finally died we did some serious research and bought a true eice of Swiss engineering - a Jura Impressa. Amazing machine, never once jammed, faulted or thrown an error code in four years and we run a lot of coffee through it - I'd say we drink about 10 cups a day at a minimum. I even installed 220V here in the US for this machine as I could not bear to part with it.

If you do buy one - compare prices based on expected longevity and try, really try to find the budget for a Jura machine. They are simply bombproof. Better buy one superb machine than two subpar machines.