You have to have good water, too.
Pearsony: "Get a Mr Coffee model for about $30 bucks at Target or Walmart… Put your savings into a good espresso like Lavassa. You can purchase 8oz bricks online for about $4-5 per brick (not per cup)! That’s about $4-5 each month, rather than per day… I buy about 20 bricks at a time to get the best bulk rates, storing them in a freezer.
Great tasting coffee for pennies on the dollar!"
-I would like to say to any serious coffee drinkers, anyone who has a great appreciation for a well-brewed shot of espresso, and even to those who just enjoy those creamy, milk based specialty drinks; DO NOT purchase a $30 espresso machine from Target or Wal-Mart.
I was a barista for more than five years, and when I decided to purchase an espresso machine for home, I made the mistake of thinking I could buy an inexpensive espresso maker, and my experience and ability to make great drinks would trump the poor quality machine. This is NOT POSSIBLE. Economical department stores like Target and Wal-Mart usually only sell steam driven espresso machines; that is why they are so much cheaper than the machines you find at Macy’s, Starbucks or coffee specialty shops. While the steam espresso machines are much less expensive initially, after tasting the first one, five, or even one hundred shots of espresso, you will abandon the machine, having cost yourself not only the monetary investment but much frustration and disappointment as well.
A steam espresso machine heats the water to incredibly high temperatures, and then uses the power of the steam to push water through the espresso grind and brew the shot. Espresso must be brewed at a very exact temperature to have the right taste; this ideal temperature is between 195 and 201 degrees Fahrenheit. Water does not turn to steam until it hits 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which doesn’t seem like much of a difference from the optimal brewing temperature, but once the water turns to steam, the temperature will keep rising and the steam will continually get hotter and hotter. Brewing espresso with water that is too hot results in a horribly bitter, burnt, and almost sour tasting espresso shot. Everytime.
Since steam espresso machines do not have any motorized parts and rely exclusively on the steam power, they do not force water through the espresso grind with enough force to produce the coffee-lovers most sacred crema (the thin layer of caramel colored foamy substance topping a well-brewed shot of espresso). To produce the crema, you need approximately 8-9 bars (scientific measurement of force or pressure). The power from the steam only produces between 2 and 3 bars of pressure, so your espresso shot will come out muddy black and without that wonderful foamy golden layer on top, significantly diminishing the taste of the shot. Even the steam wand is affected by how minimal the amount of pressure is; although you will still produce steam, it will not come out with anywhere near the amount of force needed to make the super thick, creamy foam for a cappuccino or a wet latte. Frothing milk on a steam driven machine will usually produce a less rich, almost watery end product. Steaming the milk, however, is one of the few (or maybe the only) thing that can be improved with skill and practice. Even though the milk will still not be at its finest when produced from a steam machine, with much practice you can usually get the milk to froth pretty close to how you like it. For the most part though, it really doesn’t matter how much experience you have, or the quality of the espresso that you use if you are using a steam driven espresso machine; all the variables will ultimately end up as an intolerable, almost un-drinkable shot of espresso.
These are just some the reasons why steam driven espresso machines are so inexpensive. They use incredibly primitive technology, and do not produce quality beverages. A steam espresso machine can run anywhere between $30 and $80, but even with the most expensive model, if it’s steam driven, it will not be able to brew that perfect cup… or even a mediocre one at that.
If you are a die-hard coffee lover, to the point that you would like to start brewing espresso beverages from home, look for a machine that says pump driven… Like the one above. You need at least 8 or 9 bar -pressure to brew a quality shot of espresso, and most pump driven machines have are least 15 bar… Like the one above. The Sirena is one of the top of the line machines for an automatic, it actually debuted during my Starbucks career at $599… Although the price has dropped a tiny bit, you still will not find one anywhere for $199. If you can’t buy this one here and now, you can usually find a pump driven espresso machine at Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, or any discount online store, starting between about $150 on up. I believe target online may even offer a limited selection of pump driven machines, they are mostly lower end, but if you are looking to make the best latte you can for the least amount of money, you may want to start with one of the cheaper, more basic machines. As you build up skill, and discover exactly how to make your own specific espresso beverage, adjusting the most minutiae details, from the caliber of the grind, to the amount of pressure you use to tamp, to the thickness of the caramel crema atop your perfectly pulled shot of espresso, you will understand why it is so important for every element of your coffee to be at its finest… and this means investing in a machine with every element at its best as well.
I bought an espresso machine here about 2 or so years ago for 19.95…yes 19.95. I can’t for the life of me remember the brand now (I’m at the office, I’ll post it later) but it has worked flawlessly since I bought it. Admittedly it is an off brand pod machine but makes espresso actually better than anything I have paid $4 for at Starbucks. I buy my pods online from San Marco Coffee and they make excellent espresso or with the attached frother a really good cappuccino. I know this might seem to be the “as low as you can go” area of espresso making but I really think for the average person this machine would be fine. Tripple espresso with some frothed milk, sitting out on the patio on a perfect Saturday morning…doesn’t get any better (unless Heidi Klum shows up…alone)!
[QUOTE=Bluezharpking, post:123, topic:234053]
The Roma looks great. The portafilter however feels kinda cheap. (I felt like I was gonna snap it trying to get it locked in far enough) I noticed that about the steamer too. I think it might very well be worth the extra $50.
[/quote]
Here’s a trick for using the Cafe Roma’s steamer so it does not shoot water in your espresso if you decide to keep it.
Turn the knob 3/4 of the way in the steam direction…the orange heating light will go on, but the steam pump won’t come on. Let the water heat for 20 seconds or so, then turn the knob the rest of the way. You shouldn’t get more than a drop of water before the steam comes out. The more expensive Breville 800ESXL does something like this automatically.
Be careful not to go beyond 30 seconds…it could blow!
If you are considering buying this, you should also consider the Breville 800ESXL. I bought a refurbished one from Woot for $150 a while back (now available on Buy.com for $150) and although it has some shortcomings, you can’t beat it for the price. It too has a pressurized portafilter but you can change out the basket to a non-pressurized Krups basket for about $10.
The Sirena has a small boiler while the Breville has a thermoblock, but I will say that I have no complaints about the temperatures I have observed on the Breville. I have a PID on mine and a 25 second shot moves the temperature from 205 to about 197. The weakest point of the Breville is the steaming function. It took me a while to get decent foam with it and even now its takes a while to get the milk to 150. The thermoblock gets to about 250 degrees but not much hotter than that on the steam setting. The breville has a larger drip tray than the Sirena and in my opinion looks alot nicer overall.
In the end, every espresso machine has its shortcomings and those under $500 are especially limited. That being said, with a decent grinder, fresh beans, and some practice, you should be able to get espresso that is much better than anything you’ll get at your local Starbucks or Coffee Bean.
Got this machine for Christmas this past year and have nothing bad to say about it. Easy to use, easy to clean, and it pulls a great shot.
-------EBay has it in Daily Deals for 149.99 today.------
White mocha goes bad after two weeks. Also, the regular mocha is what you can get in those little jars of powder. Starbucks mixes their mocha up from that powder daily (albeit in bigger batches, obviously), as it’s only good for 24 hours.
Is this the espresso machine that Michael Scott buys to impress that hot purse girl in “The Office”?
Ooooo. This one’s pretty. I love an espresso at home, but seriously doubt this is as good as my Breville. Anyone have both?
[QUOTE=srees, post:107, topic:234053]
Be aware they won’t sell their white mocha syrup (I haven’t seen the dark one either, just powder), which is one of their most popular drinks. They say it comes in jugs that are too big for any home user to actually use up before it goes bad.
[/quote]
I just found out that Torani sells their mocha, caramel and white chocolate syrups in small bottles. I was pretty excited to find it since I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to get coffee houses to sell me the white mocha syrup for years. You can get it at World Market and IMO Torani’s products are much tastier than Starbucks.
LOL worst price ever
[QUOTE=LNadine, post:142, topic:234053]
Pearsony: "Get a Mr Coffee model for about $30 bucks at Target or Walmart… Put your savings into a good espresso like Lavassa. You can purchase 8oz bricks online for about $4-5 per brick (not per cup)! That’s about $4-5 each month, rather than per day… I buy about 20 bricks at a time to get the best bulk rates, storing them in a freezer.
Great tasting coffee for pennies on the dollar!"
-I would like to say to any serious coffee drinkers, anyone who has a great appreciation for a well-brewed shot of espresso, and even to those who just enjoy those creamy, milk based specialty drinks; DO NOT purchase a $30 espresso machine from Target or Wal-Mart.
I was a barista for more than five years, and when I decided to purchase an espresso machine for home, I made the mistake of thinking I could buy an inexpensive espresso maker, and my experience and ability to make great drinks would trump the poor quality machine. This is NOT POSSIBLE. Economical department stores like Target and Wal-Mart usually only sell steam driven espresso machines; that is why they are so much cheaper than the machines you find at Macy’s, Starbucks or coffee specialty shops. While the steam espresso machines are much less expensive initially, after tasting the first one, five, or even one hundred shots of espresso, you will abandon the machine, having cost yourself not only the monetary investment but much frustration and disappointment as well.
A steam espresso machine heats the water to incredibly high temperatures, and then uses the power of the steam to push water through the espresso grind and brew the shot. Espresso must be brewed at a very exact temperature to have the right taste; this ideal temperature is between 195 and 201 degrees Fahrenheit. Water does not turn to steam until it hits 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which doesn’t seem like much of a difference from the optimal brewing temperature, but once the water turns to steam, the temperature will keep rising and the steam will continually get hotter and hotter. Brewing espresso with water that is too hot results in a horribly bitter, burnt, and almost sour tasting espresso shot. Everytime.
Since steam espresso machines do not have any motorized parts and rely exclusively on the steam power, they do not force water through the espresso grind with enough force to produce the coffee-lovers most sacred crema (the thin layer of caramel colored foamy substance topping a well-brewed shot of espresso). To produce the crema, you need approximately 8-9 bars (scientific measurement of force or pressure). The power from the steam only produces between 2 and 3 bars of pressure, so your espresso shot will come out muddy black and without that wonderful foamy golden layer on top, significantly diminishing the taste of the shot. Even the steam wand is affected by how minimal the amount of pressure is; although you will still produce steam, it will not come out with anywhere near the amount of force needed to make the super thick, creamy foam for a cappuccino or a wet latte. Frothing milk on a steam driven machine will usually produce a less rich, almost watery end product. Steaming the milk, however, is one of the few (or maybe the only) thing that can be improved with skill and practice. Even though the milk will still not be at its finest when produced from a steam machine, with much practice you can usually get the milk to froth pretty close to how you like it. For the most part though, it really doesn’t matter how much experience you have, or the quality of the espresso that you use if you are using a steam driven espresso machine; all the variables will ultimately end up as an intolerable, almost un-drinkable shot of espresso.
These are just some the reasons why steam driven espresso machines are so inexpensive. They use incredibly primitive technology, and do not produce quality beverages. A steam espresso machine can run anywhere between $30 and $80, but even with the most expensive model, if it’s steam driven, it will not be able to brew that perfect cup… or even a mediocre one at that.
If you are a die-hard coffee lover, to the point that you would like to start brewing espresso beverages from home, look for a machine that says pump driven… Like the one above. You need at least 8 or 9 bar -pressure to brew a quality shot of espresso, and most pump driven machines have are least 15 bar… Like the one above. The Sirena is one of the top of the line machines for an automatic, it actually debuted during my Starbucks career at $599… Although the price has dropped a tiny bit, you still will not find one anywhere for $199. If you can’t buy this one here and now, you can usually find a pump driven espresso machine at Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, or any discount online store, starting between about $150 on up. I believe target online may even offer a limited selection of pump driven machines, they are mostly lower end, but if you are looking to make the best latte you can for the least amount of money, you may want to start with one of the cheaper, more basic machines. As you build up skill, and discover exactly how to make your own specific espresso beverage, adjusting the most minutiae details, from the caliber of the grind, to the amount of pressure you use to tamp, to the thickness of the caramel crema atop your perfectly pulled shot of espresso, you will understand why it is so important for every element of your coffee to be at its finest… and this means investing in a machine with every element at its best as well.
[/quote]
Wow- I could not finish reading this post. How flippin long does it need to be? You were right, in the parts I could stand to read, but crap that post was long. Then I doubled down on the boringness by responding to it. Does this make me twice as boring?
First off, I don’t know anything about making coffee. But I drink vanilla lattes and white chocolate mochas at Starbucks rather often. Could a machine like this satisfy making one or both of those particular types of drinks? If so, how difficult would it be to accomplish? Thank you.
[QUOTE=TKIRBY, post:90, topic:234053]
I agree - I can look around where I currently sit and name 10 brand names that are printed on the item. Blackberry, Vizio TV, Lasko fan, Yankee Candle, DirecTv box and remote, JVC stereo, etc…
[/quote]
Without even turning my head I can see Samsung, Lenovo, Logitech, Microsoft, Kirkland, Panasonic, Rock Creek Montana Testicle Festival, Intuit, Corel, Creative, HP, Canon, Linksys, Plantronics, and Blackberry.
dont bother, stick to your barista
My wife and I received this as a wedding gift. It’s really a wonderful machine. The initial machine we got had a problem with the steam wand; it did not work and would give a CHUG CHUG CHUG sound. We contacted Starbucks about this and they sent us a replacement.
We really use the steam wand a lot, due to making lots of London Fog drinks. It fires up relatively quickly and works like a steam wand should.
Making drinks with this puppy is fairly easy and quick as well. It’s noisy, but what expresso machine isn’t? Cleaning is fairly simplistic and easy as well. I’ve had expresso machines that like to spritz fluid all around; thankfully, the Sirena does not do this.
We got ours from my brother and he said this is a fantastic price. He recommends it on price alone and I recommend it for the performance.
Hey, its designed by BMW. What more could you ask for? LOL
a bmw.
[QUOTE=Roostalee, post:34, topic:234053]
Really all the semi-auto machines are a PIA to clean. I have a Rancilio that makes a great shot of espresso but the whole process, as romantic as it’s purported to be, requires a fair amount of cleanup.
Superautomatic machines are PROBABLY less hassle, since they do a lot of the work for you, but they cost more than this machine Woot’s offering.
[/quote]
Cleaning is not a problem if you buy coffee pods from Starbucks. They taste great.
I think the point the original poster was trying to make is…Starbucks private label branding of a product in the house. I dislike when car dealers add thier emblems to a car when sold and I would definately find it objectionable if Best Buy private labled the TVs they sold. Okay, hipsters…imagine the Macbook you bought having the Apple logo replaced with MACMALL or BEST BUY - I think you’d take issue.
Of course that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.