Illy espresso machine - buying advice needed

There's a lengthy thread in Silver where I asked about Espresso machines...

 

It's worth it 500 times over.

 

Get a Jura! That's my recommendation. Great espresso, great coffee, one button operation.

Check it out.

 

Jura makes the Best. I have had my Z6 since they came out maybe 5.25 years now without a single issue. I had an E8 before that for 2 years and it is still running strong... actually I loaned to to another member on F-chat and he loves it too.

You can get a pretty good discount online from a etailer. Do not pay full price.

 

For low end espresso machines, I would get a Gaggia.

If you want to go higher end, take a look at the Chris Coffee Service site (http://www.chriscoffee.com/).

The grinder is actually more important than the machine.

 

This is where I bought my refurbished Jura S7 at a good discount. Love the machine and I haven't had one problem. Great customer service form this place too.

http://www.1stincoffee.com/refurbished.asp

They have an awesome deal on the Z6 right now, but the refurb E8 is more in your $$$ range. I couldn't tell the refurb from new, except for the coffee count which was about a year's worth of use.

 

Kevin, you're funny! You have almost 3000 posts and you've been around for a long time (9yrs)! What are you afraid of? Do you have an addictive personality or is there just too much to do in NY western tier that you don't want to miss out on anything?!
I used to live in the metropolis of Buffalo. Those roads up there are murder on a decent car.
I appreciate your quest for decent coffee!

 

I've had a LaPavoni Europiccola for just over a year now and absolutely love it, but it has a bit of a learning curve and is a completely manual machine.

 

I have a La Pavoni PC-16 Professional Espresso Machine after owning three automatics.
It takes some practice and skill, but the effort is well worth it.
I only use Illy Espresso Scuro beans ground in a burr grinder.

 

I have a LaPavonni, as well. It only does as good a job as you do: the grind, the tamp, the amount, etc. I do love it, though, and the best thing is it feels so mechanical and that it will last forever. The variability can be a plus in that you can make a weak espresso, or strong, fresh cup of coffee.

George

 

From an Italian ...
The espresso that you can taste in a Bar cannot be matched at home. Bar coffee machine work with higher pressure and temperature and blends of coffees are finer.
Anyway I suggest to you a Manual SAECO Coffee machine (Italian company now controlled by Philips) that hold a patented pressurize filter to be used with ground coffee or with E.S.E. coffee pods (you need a very simple and cheap conversion kit for that)

http://www.saeco.it/en/home-page/home-page.html

Coffee blend: Illy is one of the best but it’s expensive.

http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/en/coffee-at-home/coffee-for-espresso
http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/en/coffee-at-home/ese-coffee-pods

It’s time for a espresso now …
Cheers

Luque

 

My Illy Bean Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ILLY-ESPRESSO-6-61-WHOLE-BEAN-DARK-FRESH-exp-2014-15-NEW-/261086497975?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item3cc9f7ccb7