Cheap espresso machines

[Dave200]

thegavster said:

I stick with the Bialetti here, had a cheap-ish machine years ago and I got fed up with the cleaning.

That's the kind of thing I'm looking to hear.

What made the cheap-ish machine a pain to clean?

[Dave200]

thegavster said:

Drip trays aren't nice, also you can't get a mug underneath if you want to make a long coffee.

I think with a machine you're supposed to run Milton or similar through it regularly.

???

[Shaw Tarse]

Dave200 said:

thegavster said:

Drip trays aren't nice, also you can't get a mug underneath if you want to make a long coffee.

I think with a machine you're supposed to run Milton or similar through it regularly.

???

[Dave200]

Aha! That makes sense!

Is this the same kind of stuff that they wash babies' bottles with?

Frankly, I could easily deal with stripping the machine down once in a while and bunging it all in the dishwasher...

[andy_s]

The other, far faffier, alternative is -



Not too good for a quick brew but great for dinner parties...Cona do a modern one.

Stove top beats all on cost/quality I'd say.

Edited by andy_s on Monday 9th August 17:07

[Murdoc]

I have the DeLonghi, I read a few reviews and it got quite a few recommendations. It makes a good coffee.

[Dave200]

Murdoc said:

I have the DeLonghi, I read a few reviews and it got quite a few recommendations. It makes a good coffee.

Interesting - I'm on the verge of buying a stainless stove-top pot here...
What are the drawbacks to the DeLonghi, in your opinion? Reviews talk about leaks, long warm-up times, vibrations and disappointing coffee. Any of this true?

[Space Invader]

I'd like to jump in here if I may?

I love coffee, never bothered with poncy coffee makers, just Nescafe etc, then I brought one of these filter coffee makers for £35 -



Going to Tesco and picking from 20 or 30 different types of ground coffee is quite enjoyable.

It's been a revelation, how could I have drunk instant for so many years??

So I'm also now thinking about upgrading, what's the next step up from filter coffee, grind my own beans or use filtered water, buy a flash machine for £200??

Advice much appreciated.

Op, I assume you've already got a filter coffee maker?

[anonymous-user]

Dave200 said:

Interesting - I'm on the verge of buying a stainless stove-top pot here...
What are the drawbacks to the DeLonghi, in your opinion? Reviews talk about leaks, long warm-up times, vibrations and disappointing coffee. Any of this true?

If you want to go cheap then I'd definitely take a stove-top over a cheap machine. I used to use a £50 machine and it was "ok" but never really made decent-tasting espresso, not sure if this was down to the pressure/temp. Plus it was a royal ballache to disassemble and clean. By comparison the £15 stove-top jobbie makes excellent espresso. My only complaint is that it doesn't make much in one go (though I think you can buy bigger ones), but if you're drinking alone then it's fine.

[Murdoc]

Dave200 said:

Murdoc said:

I have the DeLonghi, I read a few reviews and it got quite a few recommendations. It makes a good coffee.

Interesting - I'm on the verge of buying a stainless stove-top pot here...
What are the drawbacks to the DeLonghi, in your opinion? Reviews talk about leaks, long warm-up times, vibrations and disappointing coffee. Any of this true?

The coffee is decent. Haven't had any leaks, warm up isn't that long, it does vibrate a fair bit though. Drawback is that I can't be bothered with the cleaning etc so I just use a cafetiere although I have been tempted by a Moka.

[hornetrider]

sawman said:

Bullett said:

This;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bialetti-Moka-Express-Espr...

Done.

that latte jug/frother thing at the bottom of that link are quite good too!

Cappucino - done

[Dave200]

Argh! Just realised that the new flat I'm moving into doesn't have a gas hob, but those horrible raised ceramic-type affairs that seem to take an age to get going!

Can I use an espresso pot on one of these litte blighters?

[Plotloss]

Dave200 said:

Argh! Just realised that the new flat I'm moving into doesn't have a gas hob, but those horrible raised ceramic-type affairs that seem to take an age to get going!

Can I use an espresso pot on one of these litte blighters?

Yes.

Oh and I'd look for another house on the strength of that, they're st, properly properly st.

[okgo]

Rent a more expensive flat.

[Dave200]

Plotloss said:

Dave200 said:

Argh! Just realised that the new flat I'm moving into doesn't have a gas hob, but those horrible raised ceramic-type affairs that seem to take an age to get going!

Can I use an espresso pot on one of these litte blighters?

Yes.

Oh and I'd look for another house on the strength of that, they're st, properly properly st.

Sadly, this place is fantastic, an utter bargain (by Zone 1 London standards) and in an incredible location.

I don't think I've ever lived anywhere with these hob things before. Are they really so terrible?

[Plotloss]

Hateful.

They're like electric fruit bowls, you wait an age for them to get to a point they're useable, you turn your back and it renders it inedible.

[900T-R]

okgo said:

Rent a more expensive flat.

[Dave200]

okgo said:

Rent a more expensive flat.

More expensive than £2,300 a month between two people? Bully for you if you can afford that, but I don't like the idea of bankruptcy, if I'm honest with you. God only knows what possessed the landlord to fit these in an otherwise pleasant kitchen, mind you.

Plotloss said:

Hateful.

They're like electric fruit bowls, you wait an age for them to get to a point they're useable, you turn your back and it renders it inedible.

I only just got that - very good analogy!

Edited by Dave200 on Thursday 12th August 16:53

[cramorra]

Dave200 said:

cramorra said:

If you want espresso in the literal sense, you want get it froma cheap machine- 200 is cheap, too
Expect to pay 1000 pounds roughly
A bialetti or tassimo gives you a nice mediterranean style coffe, but no espresso on the way pizza express gives you a nice mediterranean style flatbread....

Please see my second post in this thread. I'm not interested in the textbook PH 'lifestyle' response of: "You need to spend at least 20-times your budget to even get something which I would consider drinking".

I asked if it could be done for £50, no more. You could have just given me a straight answer, but took the opportunity for a touch of snobbery.

I thought it sounds more snobbish to just say" No Espresso for this type of money"
But there you go: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ESPRESSO OUT OF A 50 QUID MACHINE
cheers

[madbadger]

Dave200 said:

cramorra said:

If you want espresso in the literal sense, you want get it froma cheap machine- 200 is cheap, too
Expect to pay 1000 pounds roughly
A bialetti or tassimo gives you a nice mediterranean style coffe, but no espresso on the way pizza express gives you a nice mediterranean style flatbread....

Please see my second post in this thread. I'm not interested in the textbook PH 'lifestyle' response of: "You need to spend at least 20-times your budget to even get something which I would consider drinking".

I asked if it could be done for £50, no more. You could have just given me a straight answer, but took the opportunity for a touch of snobbery.

Sorry for not answering the original question, but I read it as 'can you get an espresso machine for £50' rather than a what £50 way of making coffee.

However I'm glad I'm not snobbish enough to be paying £2300 a month rent.

Means I can afford a £200 espresso machine that has lasted 3 years so far. Much better value for money than a cheap machine that doesn't really work or having to resort to stove top pots.