wallet not matching espresso ambition, advice needed

mraie

My wallet does not match my ambition for an espresso machine. My Stove top and aero press just are not enough to caffinate me any more. I have stalked adverts, eBay and done deal but not much there. Really after the Spaziale Mimi vivaldi or a good heat exchanger model. Any advice where to look for a reconditioned or second hand would be appreciated.

adrian522

What is your budget? I take it you already have a grinder that you can use for espresso?

Jezek

I'm in the same boat as you. The solution for me is filter at home, shots at cafes. Luckily I live in dublin with plenty amazing espresso places nearby.

There is no perfect espresso at home for folks with limited budgets!

mraie

adrian522 wrote: »

What is your budget? I take it you already have a grinder that you can use for espresso?

Going to pick up a mazzer should be somewhere between 250 to 300 second hand. To buy newSpaz is around the 1500 which is too high. To be realistic to get what I am after I thinking 700 or less.

mraie

Jezek wrote: »

I'm in the same boat as you. The solution for me is filter at home, shots at cafes. Luckily I live in dublin with plenty amazing espresso places nearby.

There is no perfect espresso at home for folks with limited budgets!

I am working and living out of the city, the dreadful instant is provided by work and other options are limited, just had enough bad coffee

Doodee

mraie wrote: »

My wallet does not match my ambition for an espresso machine. My Stove top and aero press just are not enough to caffinate me any more. I have stalked adverts, eBay and done deal but not much there. Really after the Spaziale Mimi vivaldi or a good heat exchanger model. Any advice where to look for a reconditioned or second hand would be appreciated.

You can sometimes find ex-demo models on http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/
it might be worth contacting them to see if they have any.

then there are these chaps:
http://www.lovecoffeemachines.co.uk/
and a few others in the UK.

mraie

yes keeping my eyes open on adverts and donedeal but alot of poor quality machines there, started to follow coffee forum uk. Their classifieds have good machines on a regular basis but the shipping is causing a bit of a problem.

James_R

Maybe also have a look here:

http://casabarista.com/espresso-machines/

mraie

James_R wrote: »

Maybe also have a look here:

http://casabarista.com/espresso-machines/

thanks James_R my main concern with is if there is a problem the cost of shipping back. I am still going to focus on trying to get a good second hand ideally on adverts and from someone into coffee who has looked after their machine.

James_R

mraie wrote: »

thanks James_R my main concern with is if there is a problem the cost of shipping back. I am still going to focus on trying to get a good second hand ideally on adverts and from someone into coffee who has looked after their machine.

There's a http://casabarista.com/espresso-equipment/espresso-machines/la-nuova-era/ stockist in Cork who sell and I'd imagine repair and be more econmical from a shipping perspective as they would add your machine to their monthly big commercial order from Italy. I had my heart set on the Cuadra for a while but not been approved finances by my other half yet :rolleyes:

mraie

James_R wrote: »

There's a http://casabarista.com/espresso-equipment/espresso-machines/la-nuova-era/ stockist in Cork who sell and I'd imagine repair and be more econmical from a shipping perspective as they would add your machine to their monthly big commercial order from Italy. I had my heart set on the Cuadra for a while but not been approved finances by my other half yet :rolleyes:

I know the feeling, just brought a second hand grinder, my wife was surprised when I arrived home with it, I will check out Cork, to be honest didn't think there would be any selection of espresso machines

James_R

mraie wrote: »

I know the feeling, just brought a second hand grinder, my wife was surprised when I arrived home with it, I will check out Cork, to be honest didn't think there would be any selection of espresso machines

Mine too - "You're putting that big ugly thing where?"

John Mackey is the man to talk to:
Mahers Pure Coffee, 25 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork. Tel. + 353 21 4270008

They sell commercial but can order smaller machines too:
Conti,La Nuova Era,Melitta,La Marzocco.