I’m reasonably happy with decent instant coffee but do appreciate nicer stuff. Now I’m at home working I would like something to make said nice coffee to go in the kitchen.
However it’s only me that drinks it and maybe 2-3 a day ish. And I need something that looks really really good. We have a 1950’s styled kitchen (my wife is very artistic and it does look amazing) and it has to match the Dualit toaster and Kitchen Aid mixer in its styling or I can’t have it in there. And I would agree with her too - I installed the kitchen and don’t want to ruin the looks of it!!
So I’m thinking reasonably compact, chrome maybe?, classic styling, nothing boxy and black modern plastic etc. I’ve never had a coffee machine so is there anything that fits the bill?
I have tried a couple of those coffee pod type machines at other people’s houses and don’t like the taste of them and the cost of them is a bit much too.
Budget is flexible for the right thing.
The simplicity of a Bialetti mokka pot seems approriate here.
Unless you're after a full bean to cup gadget in which case I have nothing to add.
Kitchen Aid do a coffee machine which I believe is pretty much a Gaggia Classic inside, but with retro looks. They seem to have some reliability issues though.
You'd need a grinder etc and to nerd out a bit though to get the best out of it.
Just get an Aeropress and stick it in a cupboard.
Vintage Faema President if budget isn't an issue 😛
https://www.ebay.it/itm/303385287274?hash=item46a32c1a6a:g:0QkAAOSwt35d4u8t
+1 on Bialetti or similar
If you want to match your Dualit toaster, then the Dualit coffee maker is available. A quick google puts it at around £200 (but probably can be found cheaper with a bit of searching) so its at the budget end of the coffee machine spectrum
That Faema President is a thing of beauty.
Despite my own suggestion, it is difficult to justify doing anything other than the Bialetti for your requirements.
Just get an Aeropress and stick it in a cupboard.
Personally I'd just go for a Cafetière but use the same approach if "styling" was an issue.
I'm with Frogstomp. You need to decide if you want good coffee without fuss or a kitchen ornament.
My kitchen is tiny so real estate is at a premium. Aeropress wins out easy.
Cafelat Robot for that 50’s look and feel. Takes a bit longer than boiling a kettle, and can get the best out of pre-ground coffee.
My friend has a similar set-up. She went full Kitchenaid and got a matching espresso machine - the compact one. Looked great, but she said the coffee wasn't that good and swapped it eventually for a Sage Bambino. Not a perfect appliance match, but small and works with most things.
Or go full in and get a La Pavoni Europiccola .
For the real 1950s look, get something that uses piston pressure... hold on... photo hunt...
Aesthetics aside you need to decide how convenient you want your coffee. I've been there and done it with manual espresso machines, mokka pots, Aero presses and all do decent coffee...well as decent as the effort you are prepared to put in also consider the clean up after each brew, but I just wanted a single button press so went bean to cup. Working from home its easy, put cup under machine, press button, 20 second later you have coffee, no clean up and machine immediately ready for next brew. No faffing with wet grinds or rinsing or anything. More than decent enough coffee for me with decent beans, enough settings to 'tune' the brew to your liking then its set and forget. But not sure what retro looking bean to cups there are out there at sensible money.
Any of the La Pavoni manual espresso machines. They all look the mutts nuts!
http://www.myespresso.co.uk/shop/espresso-machines/manual-lever/
I have a Gaggia Classic, it's utilitarian in its looks but makes a lovely coffee.
For the real 1950s look, get something that uses piston pressure… hold on… photo hunt…
Yeah, think Fellini films. No button pushing going on, pulling on levers ftw .
It looks like Smeg do one that looks 50s ish.
The other brand that springs to mind is Francis Francis who do some apparently well-performing espresso machines that look a bit retro.
Even a Gaggia classic isn't particularly plasticky?
Not sure it's quite the right style, but if you are looking for a feature:
Can also be had in brass. A bit spendy though.
Aeropress has powered me through lockdown. Quick, easy to clean and store, cheap enough to spend money trying different coffees
It depends on your budget as some of the really fancy looking machines can be very very expensive. I went with a Lelit Mara X as it was the most compact of the HX or dual boilers. It stays on all day so that I can make coffee and my wife uses the hot water tap for her tea rather than boiling the kettle. Coupled with a Sage grinder it's got us through the last year of lockdowns and home schooling and delivered a good coffee every time.
https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/ should have something that does what you need and fits the style you want.
2 points to make from me:
A "dosing grinder" like the Iberital MC30 is a really useful thing to have. Just grind the beans for the cup, every time.
Coffee equipment is like a dishwasher: it takes ages to justify to yourself the large cost and space required but the moment it conks out it only takes a second to decide on a replacement.
Without getting too speedy the DELONGHI DEDICA Might fit the bill
The silver version was £150 last week
Flair pro 2 plus a decent hand grinder, manual, what's more vintage than manual? Also, pressure guage is a step up from a lot of the la pavoni machines where you go by feel!
Since you've admitted to willingly consuming instant coffee, it may be further down the coffee geekery path than you'd like to go, but can I suggest a Rok manual espresso machine:
Sounds like it might fit in with your decor. Other pros:
-can make really good espresso with a good grinder and a bit of effort
-small
-doesn't need a socket
-cheaper than even a basic crap electric machine
Cons
-takes a little of practice to get the best out of it (but difficult to really screw it up)
-more physical effort (though pretty minimal really)
Or as above, Aeropress in a cupboard.
I have a Dedica and with the non-pressurised basket mod and a decent grinder you can make really very good espresso/cappucino etc. It isn't great at getting the best out of lighter fruity roasts but for medium/dark roasts it's totally fine. Not sure it's very retro though.
We have a red Dedica and a red Kitchen Aid and they go together quite well. The Dedica is pretty compact too
Without getting too speedy the DELONGHI DEDICA Might fit the bill
The silver version was £150 last week
I've got one, it's chrome and looks nice.
My only gripe with it is it seems really picky about the grind, amount and tamping.
Slightly too coarse and it's just brown water, too fine/much/tamped and the pump struggles. But it does let you change the volumes and temperature so if you've got a better grinder (that can dispense a measured shot) or happy with pre ground beans then it's great.
I dont, but I'm happy to live with the occasional inconsistent cup.
The steam wand works well too, my previous gaggia just seemed to scald the milk long before it was actually hot or frothy.
I think the kitchen aid one is trying too hard. I suppose we would really want a classic design rather than a forced retro look (which is what I would class the KA as, their mixers are a classic design that hasn’t changed and they are trying to cash in on the looks really).
What about one of the cheaper Gaggia models? They aren’t “retro” I suppose but quite nice looking.
I would like a bean to cup machine but they all look pretty big.
50's
chrome
flexible budget
https://www.caffesociety.co.uk/victoria-arduino-venus-bar-espresso-machine
Wow that’s amazing!!!
I wonder how many people have them in private homes.
I’ve just remembered I have a Bialetti Venus stove top coffee maker I was bought in 2019 and I’ve never used it. I should really give that a go but I don’t get the frothy milk 😢
I really have no idea. 🤣🤣
The Gaggia Classic has had virtually the same design for the last 30 years I think so it's retro but not trying to be retro. It makes a nice latte and is built to last a while
If you're after a hop up from instant, how about a Chemex filter?
https://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/eight-cup-handblown-series-glass-coffeemaker.html
Looks amazing, get some pre-ground coffee from Coffi Eryri and make lovely drinkable coffee. While we have a fancy coffee machine at the office, you only really need that kind of thing if you're fussing with frothy milk and the like. A good filter with good coffee will be a mile away from instant. Start there.
not sure on espresso machines if you're new to coffee and have been drinking instant. Lots of faff and grinding needed. Bean to cup would be easiest for you but they're costly. Aeropress has been great for me and there are plenty of ways to use it.
I have a Sage Bambino Plus, it's not retro but also not just a square block with loads of black plastic
Sage Bambino
I like it, it won't please those that like lots of tunability or customisation but I can get coffe I like out of it and it's pretty hassle free. The milk frothing function is really good too. I picked up an open box one on eBay for £190 last year, that was however from the service centre in Germany, Brexit might have stuffed that now
Fyi, I'm also a heathen and just use Lavazza preground from the co-op
La pavoni
so if you’ve got a better grinder (that can dispense a measured shot) or happy with pre ground beans then it’s great.
I dont, but I’m happy to live with the occasional inconsistent cup.
I use scales with the portafilter on to weigh the dose (with a Eureka Mignon grinder and unpressurised basket) and it's pretty consistent. I guess if you are using the type of grinder that grinds finer with more time it would be hard to be consistent.
The pressurised basket with preground lavazza makes for a pretty acceptable cappuccino TBH.
2-3 a day
pfft amateur. +1 to the Mokka if it's just 2-3 a day
In the best STW "the car you need is a Unimog" fashion, the 9Barista stove top pot looks amazing, if frantically expensive.
(I have a Bialetti Brikka which made great coffee, if you can cope with brown water spewing all over the stove top if the threads aren't clean enough)
BigJohn
Full Member
2 points to make from me:A “dosing grinder” like the Iberital MC30 is a really useful thing to have. Just grind the beans for the cup, every time.
Coffee equipment is like a dishwasher: it takes ages to justify to yourself the large cost and space required but the moment it conks out it only takes a second to decide on a replacement.
ha ha - this is so true - We had a mini meltdown at home when the last coffee machine broke (or rather it wasn't working properly, so i "fixed it" for good... stright to the interweb for a new one - no hesitation even though we didn't want to spend any money that month... Im not sure this paints us in a good picture -
In the best STW “the car you need is a Unimog” fashion, the 9Barista stove top pot looks amazing, if frantically expensive.
Wow that looks massively over-built, overcomplicated and ludicrously expensive - I love it. 🙂
ratherbeintobago
Full Member
that's bonkers complicated - i like it though. Would love one of those Ardulino's, they're mad though cant help feel it's a bit 3rd reich..?
@grum Like I said, it's fully in line with the forum answer to anything 😛
The 9barista looks amazing but I'm not sure I fancy cleaning one...
I use scales with the portafilter on to weigh the dose (with a Eureka Mignon grinder and unpressurised basket) and it’s pretty consistent.
Are you talking about coffee or shooting up some weird drug? 😂
Toe-may-toe / Toe-mah-toe
a-RAB-ick-a / ar-a-Beek-a
I'm not a coffee aficionado, but that 9Barista thing is amazing!
Ridiculously marketed (jet engineered; alright mate, whatever) but there looks to be a lot going on in that pot for your 295 sheets.....!
There is a bloke who reviews these things on the internets. Here is his only slightly pretentious review of the 9Barista one:
I've a Rok Espresso that's lasted longer than they have been called Rok, its had a new piston and seals a few times but its going fine.
I have also got a Gaggia Classic, had it for 14 years as of next month, its used daily whenever I'm working at home (most days) it has had a couple of pump/boiler swaps in that time, but I guess it shows that parts are easily available.
In the best STW “the car you need is a Unimog” fashion, the 9Barista stove top pot looks amazing, if frantically expensive.
What they don't show I that beautiful picture is the stupid plastic "chimney" on the side (you can see it in that video)...ruins it for me
Francis & Francis X1 👌
That's not a 'bloke on the internet', that's Sir James of the Square Mile! He's not that pretentious really, just really really cares about coffee.
There's always the Linea mini which is timeless looking, costs a bit though.
@toby1 I beg to differ. He may care a lot about coffee, but he is unutterably pretentious.
Rocket Espresso Appartamento is quite a looker also IMO
Not sure I'd call Hoffman pretentious but he is a massive hipster - I guess some people would say that's the same thing 🙂
Fyi, I’m also a heathen and just use Lavazza preground from the co-op
Right - this was great advice thanks!
I dug out my Bialetti Venus stove top thing and watched a YouTube video on how to use it. 😂
I bought some Lavazza preground coffee and used it last night to make a coffee. I put milk in it (not a fan of black coffee) but it made it a bit cold so this morning I made the same thing but heated the milk up first in the microwave. Made a really nice drink - no idea what Italian word is relevant for the drink I made but I really liked it.
I had a stove top one before a few years ago and never managed to make something nice so I binned it. From watching the YouTube video I am sure I was using it wrongly - I didn’t hear the water beforehand. Doing that made it a lot quicker and tasted nicer I reckon.
Waiting for the unit to cool and blowing out the grounds from the basket thing was a revelation in cleaning it too! Saved a load of time.
Thinking I might want a milk steamer at some point but I’m happy with what I’ve made so far.
As long as you enjoy then that's all the justification you need. Getting too into coffee can be a slippery slope...
I've gone full Hario since lockdown. V60, V60 stand and scales, Hario hand grinder. Pact coffee bean subscription. Drink about 2 black coffee's a day, 20g fine grind to 300ml water
It's a great setup for home use.
Get the olive wood stand if you want to look funcy
I've owned 3 gaggia machines, (gaggia classic/gaggia baby etc) and the Kitchenaid artisan which has gaggia internals, all suffered from the usual gaggia issues such as poor temp control (swings of +/-10 degrees), solenoid valve blocking issues, steam wand seals and boiler leaks.
Had sage duo temp plus for the previous 5 years and pulled more than 5000 shots through it without a single issue/problem, give the grouphead and screen a clean when I remember and that's all the maintenance its needed, sage grinder pro is excellent as well.
Bought my bro a sage creatista pod machine as a gift when he managed to buy his first house and it makes perfectly decent/drinkable espresso's and all forms of espresso based drinks, quite stylish and very well built (bought him a pod machine as he's not fussed about grinding beans/faff involved).
Or if its simple coffee you want, the sage precision brew coffee maker makes a very good normal coffee (bought this for mum last year, 3 of her friends have since bought the same machine) and if its good enough for James Hoffman then it must be decent.
Guess I should be working for the sage marketing department.........
Getting too into coffee can be a slippery slope…
Yes I think some people on here have slipped down the slope, wedged themselves at the bottom and are now trying to dig through to the other side.
Hoffman hams the hipster thing up, he's quite self deprecating at times. I'd love one of these machines but it'd be a waste as I don't like milk with my coffee. I like to taste the actual coffee 😳
Getting too into
coffeeanything can be a slippery slope…
Yes I think some people on here have slipped down the slope, wedged themselves at the bottom and are now trying to dig through to the other side
*Waves*
Totally accept that I'm one of those people, in my defence though the coffee is lovely on this side of the hole 😉
Cafelat robot (as suggested prevously), is a good call - I think they look great and make a really good cup of coffee, as long as you are drinking it black.
The new Gaggia classics come in a variety of colours and are quite understated - the white in particular.
My initial thought was the Rocket Apartmento as posted above - which has great styling, but I chose the Lelit MaraX instead as it's smaller/better and retro styling wasn't a priority. Paired with a Niche Zero grinder (itself quite retro looking) probably the best bang/buck/footprint setup you can get for semi-automatic machine.
On balance I'd reccomend the Ascaso. Not used one myself, but have a good reputation.
Looks the part, is decent..... not 10,000 pounds. Winner.
Thinking I might want a milk steamer at some point but I’m happy with what I’ve made so far.
Get the Dualit electric milk frother. It's £50 just to froth milk, but if you drink a lot then is worth it imo. Hearts the milk to the right temp without risk of burning it and the froth is pretty good.
I use a bialetti brikka and the milk frother. It makes a perfectly acceptable approximation of a flat white style coffee.
The milk frother can also do cold milk so this week I've been doing iced coffees which has been 👌
I've been experimenting with a sweet Kyoto-style cold brew using my Aeropress. It takes somewhere between 3 and 12 hours. Is that hipster enough?
Very.