Buying a new expresso machine

DamoKen

Hi, I'm currently looking at the Lelit Anna with a preinstalled PID and the Lelit Fred grinder from this site https://www.homecoffeemachines.ie/products/lelit-anna-pl41tem-with-pid?variant=39697144971324.

Also looked at the Silvia but read the temps can wander a bit on that model so thought the pid already present on the Lelit could be the better option.

If I get the anna and fred together I get a discount so comes in at €799. Still a sizeable enough sum so before biting the bullet thought it might be a good idea to get a bit of advice from your good selves.

So firstly would these be good choices for the price or are there better options in this price range?

Secondly I checked the resources stickies but didn't see many sites selling machines listed. Does anyone know homecoffeemachines.ie? Seem fairly legit so wondering how good they are to deal with for repairs etc.

Finally just to say my go to coffee is an expresso. Other options like latte etc would be nice but a decent expresso is the main priority.

Cheers

wilsixon

I think the Lelit Anna is a very good machine, and well priced

Apologies for being pedantic, but it's "espresso".

Good luck!

alec76

Why wouldn’t you go with this combo?

https://www.homecoffeemachines.ie/products/lelit-anita-pl042temd?_pos=21&_sid=94a1658c6&_ss=r

This is Fred ( 38mm conical burrs) and Anna ( 250 mm brass boiler ) with PID under one roof.

Lelit good brand you hardly find anything better for €669

DamoKen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118422937#Comment_118422937

Cheers, no worries on the typo, corrected people on it myself enough times! 😀

DamoKen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118422946#Comment_118422946

Thanks Alec, I missed this combo for some reason. That brings this a lot more within budget so reckon I'll go ahead and order today 👍️

Planet X

homecoffeemachines are very good. Bought from them before and top class back up.

Sassy_Lady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118422946#Comment_118422946

Hi Alec, great advice. I had ordered this great combo deal and I have to say I am delighted with the results. I have superb connoisseur level coffee now, I think I am out in Italy!. It did take a bit of getting used to the machine, but a few video tutorials and practice sorted this out quickly enough. Thanks😁

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119206093#Comment_119206093

Any tips for the technique needed on this machine to get microbubbles to make lattes? Ive just got mine a few days and have yet to master that bit, the steam wand only going left to right and not up and down is preventing me finding the right angle to get a proper vortex going and Im just ending up with flat milk with a bit of froth at the top

alec76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119259644#Comment_119259644

It needs some practice, come back in a month time , you'll be alright by then.

It is hard to learn steaming with small single boiler machine too.

With the big dual boilers ( were 1-2 litre boiler for steaming only, and 300-500 ml for brewing, compare with this one 250 ml boiler for both). You could practice non stop for hours.

With the tiny single boiler you only have power for one drink and have to wait long time before it is ready for next one.

But as soon as you'll get proper skills should not be an issue.

alec76

I was using water+washing up liquid instead of milk and cheap soy sauce instead of espresso shots to get into Latte Art .

Might be a good tip for you too.

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119260986#Comment_119260986

yeah I think with the Lelit Anna there is a certain angle you need to hit to get the milk to latte consistency, I just havent hit it yet but have only had about three attempts as I mainly drink long blacks.Thanks for the tip on using water and washing up liquid, will give that a try

alec76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119262878#Comment_119262878

I think with the Lelit Anna there is a certain angle you need to hit to get the milk to latte consistency

It is more or less like riding the bike , once you know how to do it on one commercial machine, you’ll do the same on another. With the big commercial machines you have more steaming power and it just much quicker , same principle though

DamoKen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119206093#Comment_119206093

Hi Sassy Lady, as a matter of interest could you tell me what beans you are using as well as temp and grind settings? I meant to update here ages ago, spent I'd say a solid week if not more over the course of two months trying to get a decent espresso and no matter what I did results were undrinkable. Tried various different beans, different portafilters, temps, dosage etc etc but without fail end results were either bitter or sour (or more frequently hard to tell which). In the end during a renovation project back in March I packed it away meaning to try again once it came back out but haven't had the time since as kitchen remodelling has sort of expanded into a larger project that's taking up all my time since. So for now it's still sitting in the back of a press which is a total waste of a brand new machine.

Any tips would be really appreciated.

Cheers

Sassy_Lady

Hi Damoken, my sister is looking to get a good coffee machine and she is looking at some models on sale at the moment. Just as an after thought I was thinking back to your machine. Did you have any joy with the machine in the end and if not and you still have it, would you be interested in selling it as I think its would be a good machine for my sister. She loves my coffee machine.

Sassy Lady.

Sassy_Lady

Sorry, meant to PM.