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We want to ditch the pods, for greeness and cost so looking at B2C machines - any recommendations,, ideally we are after something with normal and de-caff beans in....1st world problems etc
We went for a De'Longhi Magnifica ESAM4200 and have bean very happy.
It was a £50 cheaper when we got it though:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001EOMZ5E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've got one of the many Magnifica variants. Unless you can find a machine with two hoppers it would be a pain to switch between decaff and regular between mugs, there are beans between the hopper and grinder which means you will get a 'half and half' when you have emptied the hopper and refilled with another type of bean.
On mine you can chuck ground coffee in via a different flap, so I suppose you could grind your lesser used coffee (or buy it pre-ground) and drop it in, bypassing the hopper and going direct to the portafilter. I've only tried it once to use up some leftover ground coffee.
FYI hedley:
camelcamelcamel useful for tracking range of pricing if you can hold out for a discount.
We were looking at B2C, but in the end went with a gaggia classic (newer version) and it's been pretty good.
I would agree with a De'Longhi machine as they get good reviews and seem to be good VFM. I went with the ESAM2800 model as it was on offer at the time and it does everything we need it to (i.e. put the beans in, press the button and out comes consistently good coffee without any faff). I thought I would use the milk frother a lot but generally we just have black coffee or I use a bit of milk from the fridge and drink it before it goes cold! This is the one we have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeLonghi-ESAM2800-SB-Bean-Coffee-Machine/dp/B00LB8FHJ4/ref=sr_1_6?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1525794835&sr=1-6&keywords=delonghi+bean+to+cup
Another vote for the Magnifica from Delonghi
You can definitely dose the lesser used coffee through the top of the machine, using the measuring spoon.
Re-furbs can be sourced at much reduced prices if you don't mind that idea!
Auto bean to cup machines are pretty consistent at delivering great coffee once tuned.
Beans are variable so grind and tamp pressure all influence flavour.
I went for one of the sage barista machines and have had the best coffee I’ve ever had out of it. It took a while to learn but it’s been well worth it.
another delonghi vote here
Had a Jura which was great and lasted quite a long time - sold it onto a friend as needed something a little more versatile after 8 years of use!
Now have a Melitta Barista which is at least as good as the Jura, whilst also making a fab flat white/other milk based coffee beverages (or when you want to REALLY wake up it has something called a "Dead Eye" which is the blackest, strongest most savage cup of caffeine I have ever come across) and I would absolutely recommend one of these machines to anyone!
We went for a De’Longhi Magnifica ESAM4200 and have bean very happy.
We have one of these as well. Had it 5 yrs or so, used everyday and it makes consistently good coffee. Had it serviced for the first time 6 months ago and they sent a certificate back saying it had done something like 5000 coffees. its great and I'd get another one tomorrow if this one was beyond repair.
No mention of budget but Jura are fab.
I've got a gaggia brera very impressed with it
De'Longhi here too and as above just put the decaf in pre-ground via the flap at the top.
Or just buy 2 when they are on offer!
We went for a De’Longhi Magnifica ESAM4200 and have bean very happy.
We have one of these as well. Had it 5 yrs or so, used everyday and it makes consistently good coffee. Had it serviced for the first time 6 months ago and they sent a certificate back saying it had done something like 5000 coffees.
Out of interest burko, where did you send it? I emailed DeLonghi but got a really weird reply hat wasn't any actual help
DeLonghi stuff is if I recall correctly serviced by them (DeLonghi/Kenwood) at their place in Havant, Hampshire.
I’ve had my ESAM 5600 for about 6-7 years now, it’s ace.
thanks mattbee - as ever, webchat beats the crap out of email
got a magnifica as well .
one thing to be aware of - and applies to most B2C - due to the way grind is disposed off of the filter if you leave it sitting for any length of time remove the assembly and clean it .....
Came home from work after 5 weeks away
*this coffee tastes a bit shit - investigate*
*oh my , theres a furry green carpet growing ontop of the filter*
De Longhi ESAM42XY. Simply brilliant every time, quality of beans depending. We love ours.
Ditched the nespresso for the delonghi magnifica 4200.
Its not the prettiest of machines but it certainly makes good coffee, coop electrical better price than amazon and the coop pay taxes and run schools and shniz....you'd be daft not too.
I had a Delonghi bean-to-cup machine. They're all basically the same inside (from an infuser point of view), spending more gets you a milk frother and posher buttons / controls / settings.
It was generally pretty reliable, but needed regular cleaning otherwise the thing made some sad squeezing noises and did a runny coffee poo into the little waste bin instead of make a coffee. You also have to be fastidious in not letting old beans settle in the hopper, as the taste goes funny after a couple of weeks.
Damage to the environment comes from third party plastic pods going in landfill; you can send genuine ones back to Nespresso for recycling or drop them into one of their stores when you're passing. You can also get refillable pods, but you're still throwing out an aluminium lid.
The Nespresso is definitely less hassle than the Delonghi and makes better milk (well, the Creatista does anyway).
Now purchased @ £249 from a firm called Crampton & Moore up t'north.....
scaredypants
it was at their place in havant. go online and sign up to their email list (coffee club) and they'll send an offer now and again for a fixed price parts and labour service. they phoned up to organise a day, sent a box the next day by courier and then picked up the machine the next and sent it back within a week. great service and working as new.