does anyone own a good cappuccino machine?
- Thread starter dherd
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If you really want one that is worth the money, your best bet would be to drop several hundred dollars on a restaurant-quality machine. Outside of that, you're right, they are mostly crap.
I am a coffee/espresso geek. Big time. I have an upgraded Gaggia Classic and think I pull shots above most coffee shops except the really good ones. I think bare minimum grinder would be a Baratza Encore.
Prosumer espresso will cost you $400 bare minimum. You need a good burr grinder (probably more important than the machine).
There is really no such thing as a “cappuccino machine.” If you want shop quality cappuccino you need a good grinder, decent espresso machine, and good technique. You may not want that so you could look at a Nespresso as an alternative but that’s not real cappuccino to a purist.
Prosumer espresso will cost you $400 bare minimum. You need a good burr grinder (probably more important than the machine).
There is really no such thing as a “cappuccino machine.” If you want shop quality cappuccino you need a good grinder, decent espresso machine, and good technique. You may not want that so you could look at a Nespresso as an alternative but that’s not real cappuccino to a purist.
In a budget you can get a quality cappuccino-like drink with a Moka pot, hand burr grinder , and milk frother.
Is this a first? A rational dherd thread without caps?
Here’s what I did a few years ago and would highly recommend before dropping big bucks...
Porlex mini burr grinder
Moka pot
Milk frother
Good quality beans less than 3 weeks off roast. Try happymug.com or counterculture or stumptown .
Start there.
Porlex mini burr grinder
Moka pot
Milk frother
Good quality beans less than 3 weeks off roast. Try happymug.com or counterculture or stumptown .
Start there.
those look like something I might want - how long have you had yours (durability), also
I said cappuccino but I really do latte - I assume your suggestions would be the same
for latte? I have a ginder that's good enough form me (cuisinart dbm-8).
The grinder is ok but it’s not passable to pull espresso shots with any machine.
A Moka pot is like $30 and will last 5+ years . You’ll have to change the rubber gasket maybe every 6 months for another $5. Id get a milk frother ($5 Amazon) and heat milk in microwave.
I’d start there.
Watch YouTube videos and learn. Bean quality and grinder trump all.
I’ve had my two grinders (Baratza encore used for drip and pour over and then a Gaggia espresso grinder) for 2 years. I’ve had my Gaggia espresso grinder for two, but I bought it used. Bought a used Gaggia Classic machine and have upgraded the steam wand with a Rancillo Sylvia wand and made some minor pressure mods and it’s going strong after 3 years.
Had my Moka pot for 4 years. I still use it sometimes if I don’t want to fire up the Gaggia. It takes a good 30 minutes to properly prep , pull shots, and clean (post use) if you want it to last.
Had my Moka pot for 4 years. I still use it sometimes if I don’t want to fire up the Gaggia. It takes a good 30 minutes to properly prep , pull shots, and clean (post use) if you want it to last.
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I pretty much just drink drip coffee every day before I head out to work.
On the rare occasion my three demon spawn Hungus kids are calm I’ll fire up the espresso machine on a Saturday.
Great Value Morning blend k cups for me. Nothing but the best I say.
Not a big Starbucks fan. Their new blonde espresso is a step in the right direction but their stuff is over roasted for my taste.
I buy fresh beans and grind/brew at home. Even with a ~$130 grinder and a good $100-200 drip machine if you and spouse drink coffee daily it’s way cheaper than a daily Starbucks.
I have no hate for the K cup or Folgers crew or if anyone likes Starbucks...but I went down a craft coffee rabbit hole anout seven or so years ago and it created a monster. I’m kind of disgusted with how particular I am about coffee at this point. Of course I’m not socially retarded and would take coffee at a friends house if offered, but when I have a say I’m getting it done right
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OMG, this!!!^^^
Why can't more people see that? It tastes like what I would imagine pouring a handful of ashes from one of those metal public ashtrays into a cup of hot water would taste like.
When I see the line at Starbucks I always shake my head. Those places have got to be raking is some serious cash. The overhead just can’t be that high. Most of the people in line are teenagers and young adults. I swear carrying a Starbucks cup is nothing more than a fashion accessory. Then I think of the calories they pack into those sugary drinks that are so popular. No thanks.
I was more saying it from a standpoint of Carl putting in a LOT of work when he can just go to his local coffee shop and order it. Doesn’t have to be Starbucks it can be a mom and pop or coffee bean place or anybody else.
This x 1000
Also agree on Starbucks and their excessive roasting. It makes their coffee bitter and I can't understand if that many people truly do like their products or they just want to fit in and look cool?
@dherd, you may just suck it up and fork out the dough for a commercial grade machines if you truly drink that much. It's kind of like my battle with gas grills. I refuse to pay the $1500 it would cost to get a decent quality stainless steel grill, but if I would, it would probably last the equivalent of 5 Char-broil grills, which are junk and need replaced every 2-3 years due to rust.
The Weber gas grills are worth it. They keep in a ton more heat that those char broils. You use half the gas with the Weber.
I've been tempted to buy an old school kettle shaped Weber and burn charcoal. Growing up, my old man used the same one for what seemed like an eternity, and food was always awesome grilled on it.
i am by no means an aficionado, like others on here but,
i like to start each day with a vanilla latte. so, i have one in the morning and
maybe one in the evening.
re: the machines
i have only been into them the past couple of years. i discovered
vanilla latte at starbucks - loved it, but quickly decided that $4.50
a day for coffee wasn't going to cut it.
so i did the usual amazon/internet research and bought a
mr. coffee cafe' barista for about $170 thinking that it was probably
a good entry machine, and that in six or seven weeks it would
pay for itself.
i had it for about 8 months and the frother stopped working (i thought)
so, i called them and they sent me a new machine right out - no
questions asked.
i have been using the second machine for about 8 months, and a few
days ago it stopped frothing. so i asked on here for suggestions - which
were very good. i had almost decided to spend $500-$600 for another
machine, when i decided to try mine one more time. i thought for a bit
and realized that the problem might be that i did not have the water
reservoir in just right, so i removed it and re inserted it, cranked up
the machine and it worked like a champ. i think the problem with
both machines was me not the machines. to bad i threw the 1st one
away.
so, bottom line - i am again happy with the mr. coffee café' barista,
it makes a better latte than i get at starbucks ( probably because i
make them the way i like them). it puts out a great froth and was
very reasonably priced.
so the moral of the story is - get a mr. coffee cafe' barista, a grinder,
fresh beans - make sure you have the water reservoir in correctly
and live happily ever after.
Nothing beats a Weber kettle grill I don’t use it as much as I would like but I love smoking a pork shoulder on it
I got a spirit 3 burner for 499 (they're running about 449 right now) and I'm very happy with it.
Spirit is the entry level line, but you'll still notice a HUGE increase in quality over a Char Broil.
Stop being human tissue protected by a maxi pad, and invest in a green egg.
