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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    WAKE UP AND COFFEE

    General Chat
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    • KasiK
      Kasi
      見習いボス
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      Don’t worry I have some 2.  For me and my wife

      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

      The world's insane
      While you drink champagne
      And I'm livin' in black rain 4Q 🖕

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • weftyarnW
        weftyarn
        啓蒙家
        Joined:

        What a beautiful machine @Chap

        There’s something special about lever machines!

        Use it or lose it.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • AnesthetistA
          Anesthetist
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          I need proper education on a good espresso machine….

          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

          IG: bluehandsslim

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • weftyarnW
            weftyarn
            啓蒙家
            Joined:

            @Anesthetist:

            I need proper education on a good espresso machine….

            What kind of drinks do you prefer (Espresso / Americano vs. Cappuccino / Flat White and other milk based),
            how many drinks a day
            And what is your budget?

            I could recommend you some machines on that basis then, if you want 🙂

            Use it or lose it.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • AnesthetistA
              Anesthetist
              見習いボス
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              @weftyarn:

              @Anesthetist:

              I need proper education on a good espresso machine….

              What kind of drinks do you prefer (Espresso / Americano vs. Cappuccino / Flat White and other milk based),
              how many drinks a day
              And what is your budget?

              I could recommend you some machines on that basis then, if you want 🙂

              I figured my question would be like “could anyone recommend a car?” [emoji3] I usually drink Espresso or Americanos, around 2 drinks a day, I dont have much a feel for pricing, is under a grand reasonable?

              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

              IG: bluehandsslim

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • weftyarnW
                weftyarn
                啓蒙家
                Joined:

                @Anesthetist:

                @weftyarn:

                @Anesthetist:

                I need proper education on a good espresso machine….

                What kind of drinks do you prefer (Espresso / Americano vs. Cappuccino / Flat White and other milk based),
                how many drinks a day
                And what is your budget?

                I could recommend you some machines on that basis then, if you want 🙂

                I figured my question would be like “could anyone recommend a car?” [emoji3] I usually drink Espresso or Americanos, around 2 drinks a day, I dont have much a feel for pricing, is under a grand reasonable?

                Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                Haha, I feel you. 😅 If you mainly want to enjoy non-latte drinks, there’s an awesome option under a grand which goes by the name of Rancilio Silvia and is loved by many and for good reason.

                Great price point but still capable of producing exceptional extractions,
                Thanks to a professional portafilter system with unpressurized baskets.
                Without going into the details, I would try to avoid pressurized baskets.

                „The Nudie / APC of Espresso machines“ so to speak? 😉

                Another great option, which would probably be my personal pick < 1k, would be the ECM Casa V.
                Also a Single Boiler, but with a more premium build. ECM builds exceptional machines!

                This would be „the TCB of Espresso machines“?

                Both are not build for, but capable of steaming milk,
                you just have to wait for the boiler to reach steaming temps.
                That is the only disadvantage to a Heat Exchanger system.
                But these are a tad more expensive, too..

                On another note: The grinder is equally (if not more) important than the machine itself.
                Just like with cameras: A great body with a shitty lens will produce shitty pics.
                A great lense can work wonders on an average body, though.

                Eureka offers some nice grinders at a great price point!

                Hope this helps 😉

                Use it or lose it.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • ChapC
                  Chap
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                  With coffee beans of good quality and roast and a good grinder you can achieve awesome coffee on many ways. Pour over, French press, Bialetti aso. if you want a perfect cafe espresso it is more difficult, you need a good machine and some time to get calibrated to her….
                  … and then:

                  God has blessed you richly, so get down on your knees and thank him. Don’t forget the less fortunate or God will personally kick your ass. I’d love to do it for him, but I can’t be everywhere. Willie Nelson

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • goosehdG
                    goosehd
                    Mod Squad
                    Joined:

                    @Chap Very nice crema and it looks like you have your machine's dialled in very well.  🙂

                    "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • ChapC
                      Chap
                      見習いボス
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                      @goosehd:

                      @Chap Very nice crema and it looks like you have your machine's dialled in very well.  🙂

                      Thanks @goosehd yes when I score good tamping and perfect coarseness she does a great job

                      God has blessed you richly, so get down on your knees and thank him. Don’t forget the less fortunate or God will personally kick your ass. I’d love to do it for him, but I can’t be everywhere. Willie Nelson

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • AnesthetistA
                        Anesthetist
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                        [mention]weftyarn [/mention] thank you for your recs and input, it is much appreciated. I have been using the Minipresso and oldschool stove top espresso makers but I want to up my game. I’m fairly proficient at pourovers, chemex, and aeropress so I figure this is the next big adventure.
                        As for grinders, I was using a Baratza but have upgraded to a Commandante and it has changed the game for me. I friggin LOVE this baby and although the price is a little shocking, it is worth it.

                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                        IG: bluehandsslim

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • AnesthetistA
                          Anesthetist
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                          Which machine is that [mention]Chap [/mention] ?

                          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                          IG: bluehandsslim

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                          • popvultureP
                            popvulture
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                            I'm gonna pick up a Comandante soon, been eyeing one for a while. I'm also espresso machine curious but haven't been quite ready to take the plunge yet price-wise. Seems like a grand barely gets you in the game — I do know that I bought a Breville machine years ago that was expensive (or at least what I thought was at the time) but was complete dogshit. That was my first lesson that getting something simply usable is pretty costly, and then just up and up thereafter. Rancilios have caught my eye, gonna have to check out that ECM. Will follow along!

                            WTB
                            IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                            Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • AnesthetistA
                              Anesthetist
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                              [mention]popvulture [/mention] that’s my line of thinking exactly. I might just save up and try to get something that I will enjoy for a long time, at least until my heart gives out from all the caffeine I take in.

                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                              IG: bluehandsslim

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                              • popvultureP
                                popvulture
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                                I'm also curious what people do as far as water goes… do you run a line into your machine, or just fill up a reservoir? And with that in mind, do you have a filtration system in your house? How do you go about keeping your machine in good shape calcium-wise? I know people descale them but I also just wonder how far they go as far as the water going in.

                                WTB
                                IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                                Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • ChapC
                                  Chap
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                                  @popvulture:

                                  I'm gonna pick up a Comandante soon, been eyeing one for a while. I'm also espresso machine curious but haven't been quite ready to take the plunge yet price-wise. Seems like a grand barely gets you in the game — I do know that I bought a Breville machine years ago that was expensive (or at least what I thought was at the time) but was complete dogshit. That was my first lesson that getting something simply usable is pretty costly, and then just up and up thereafter. Rancilios have caught my eye, gonna have to check out that ECM. Will follow along!

                                  Comandante is the best choice if you don't want to invest in a machine grinder

                                  God has blessed you richly, so get down on your knees and thank him. Don’t forget the less fortunate or God will personally kick your ass. I’d love to do it for him, but I can’t be everywhere. Willie Nelson

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • ChapC
                                    Chap
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                                    @Anesthetist:

                                    Which machine is that [mention]Chap [/mention] ?

                                    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                    Olympia Cremina from Switzerland

                                    God has blessed you richly, so get down on your knees and thank him. Don’t forget the less fortunate or God will personally kick your ass. I’d love to do it for him, but I can’t be everywhere. Willie Nelson

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • ChapC
                                      Chap
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                                      Joined:

                                      @popvulture:

                                      I'm also curious what people do as far as water goes… do you run a line into your machine, or just fill up a reservoir? And with that in mind, do you have a filtration system in your house? How do you go about keeping your machine in good shape calcium-wise? I know people descale them but I also just wonder how far they go as far as the water going in.

                                      My Olympia has a water tank and I fill it with descaled water

                                      God has blessed you richly, so get down on your knees and thank him. Don’t forget the less fortunate or God will personally kick your ass. I’d love to do it for him, but I can’t be everywhere. Willie Nelson

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • weftyarnW
                                        weftyarn
                                        啓蒙家
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                                        @popvulture @Anesthetist I totally get what you’re saying. Exactly that “might as well go for the real deal” led me to the ECM Synchronika. Yes, it is a lovely machine and I will never have to upgrade. Yes, it is completely overpowered in 90% of the cases. But in the 10% cases where I have to prepare multiple Cappuccinos and serve them all warm, I’m happy I got it.

                                        I can second the testaments on the Comandante. It’s the Iron Heart of Hand Grinders. In fact there’s even a special version they called Iron Heart 😉

                                        With the “Red Clix” upgrade it is also well suited for single dose espressos and can save you some serious money over buying an electric grinder, without sacrificing on grind quality. In fact, that setup is exactly what I’ve been using the past 2.5 years together with my Synchronika and I really love it.

                                        My dream electric grinder would be a Niche. Anyone got it and can report experiences?
                                        I’ve only heard good things thus far.

                                        Putting in the effort of hand grinding also makes you appreciate the espresso even more. It’s a bit like going through a painful UHR breakin to be rewarded with fades.

                                        Regarding water: here in Munich we have water with stupid high hardness. I only use Volvic water as a consequence. It has a rather “flat” taste, but it works wonders preventing scaling in the machine!

                                        Use it or lose it.

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • AnesthetistA
                                          Anesthetist
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                                          Any opinions on Rocket Espresso? Found an open box at a decent price. Reviews seem positive.

                                          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                          IG: bluehandsslim

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                                          • goosehdG
                                            goosehd
                                            Mod Squad
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                                            Curious as well.  I've read quite good things about the company and the quality of the machines.  Would like to hear any feedback that you guys may have.

                                            @Anesthetist Are you looking at the Rocket Appartamento?

                                            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

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