- This topic has 23 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 4 years ago by aphex_2k.
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Death of a coffee machine
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aphex_2kFree Member
My Saeco Intelia bean to cup which gets turned on the moment I wake up and often a coffee before bed, has decided it’s worn out. It’s not pumping through the brew head and excess water is dripping from the steam wand. It’s now shi77ing dried crushed beans inside the machine. It’s going to get looked at (after Christmas) and I’ll be…. surviving on my trusty Bialetti. I think it’s pretty farked.
TBH I’ve never been that impressed with single espresso shots despite the coffee used so if it can’t be repaired I might be looking at a new machine in the sales after Christmas. Lord knows it’s had it’s fair use and every time I use it I think “well, that’s $5 saved!”
So if it comes to sale shopping, DeLonghi units seem to get reasonable reviews. I’d be thinking up to $700 AUD (Around 350 quid).
raybanwombleFree MemberAs a former coffee shop monkey in a past life, If I was spending that kind of money here in the UK, I’d push it another 50 quid and get this as it’s on a deal.
But you’re in Aussieland so I’m not sure!
fanatic278Free MemberFollowing reading the unanimous recommendations on here I got the De’Longhi Magnifica S. It seems the design hasn’t changed in many years, except for a slight shrinking in size, which tells me they’ve hit on a winning formula. The reports on here suggest it is reliable, even in a office kitchen environment. I’ve only had it 2 months, but am happy so far. I like the coffee compared to the Nespresso we had previously, although the wife preferred the quantity of crema the Nespresso made on Americano sized coffees.
I picked mine up off the De’Longhi refurb store for AUD 479. Currently out of stock though.
https://www.delonghi.com/en-au/factory-seconds/seconds-shop/shop/coffee-makersaphex_2kFree MemberCoolio.
There’s a few locally on gumtree little used / stickers on for around 450 (240GBP) so I’ll see if mine can be fixed and if it’s going to look expensive then i’ll pick up a magnifica s 2nd hand
eg
SandwichFull MemberA good service may see you right. (By good expect it to cost about 2/3 the cost of a new machine). My Silvia was recently subject to a laying on of hands by Francis Ferrari (yes really) and is working better than when new.
It needed:
New boiler
Control valve re-build
Sundry trim pieces
It works out at around £20 for each year I’ve owned it.
trail_ratFree Membermy magnificas going in for service. Not clearing pucks between cups and the obvious has been tried.
just for referance for anyone looking at a magnifica.
UK service centre prices as confirmed this morning
£90 for a general service
£105 for minor parts
£130 for major parts
£170 folr main componants
£200 for complete chassis swapall inc p+p
all with 12 month warrenty .
spooky_b329Full MemberThanks for that price list trail rat, mine is working fine but seems to be always have a puddle of water under the machine, suspect it’s dripping into the little red collector behind the drip tray and overflowing. I will have a look at it myself first.
AlexFull MemberI had my Delonghi serviced when they were doing the ‘general’ for £50 as an offer. Definitely came back with a few things fixed (bit leaky, coffee very slow out of one nozzle). It also recorded how many uses I’d had in two years… quite a lot of coffee.
aphex_2kFree MemberYeah prices here for a service + parts will be high, but prices of 2nd hand machines as mentioned are good. People here spend money then never use the bloody things so there’s a few minty looking ones. The guys gonna have a look after Christmas anyways.
marpFree MemberI’d second the sage / breville barista express….
We bought one for our office in Sydney, and it got used fairly heavily by about 15 people. Didn’t miss a beat. You can set the shot volume, shot temperature, it has a decent steam wand that lets you do it yourself to get proper textured milk etc.
Was so good that 5 of us all went to buy one for our homes. I’ve had my one for about 3 years, its made lots of coffees, been shipped round the world and is still great.
We got ours on a decent discount at Bing Lee i think
bob_summersFull MemberI can understand a B2C machine in an office or something but why at home?
Perfect home setup for me is an E-61 HX machine and a decent burr grinder. I’ve had an Isomac Tea for (10?) years and despite being fed hard water area and not really looked after – it’s cost me a new pump (about 30 quid), not long ago I serviced the brew head (bought a kit of all brass cams and pistons, springs and seals, 70 quid) for which you only need a few big spanners. There’s nothing in there you can’t replace yourself, even the boiler’s not that dear. The biggest bill was new ceramic burrs, they were 80 or so.Coffeesnobs forum is Aus based, worth a look at used machines there?
aphex_2kFree MemberCoffeesnobs is next level.
I’m fine with grinding my own and used to have a Gaggia Coffee (pre classic) which was ace for espresso for a faff for everything else. Plus wife / inlaws / parents just like to push a button and get a coffee, not the whole process that I enjoy say with my Bialetti or Aeropress at work.
Will see why the repair/service “quote” might be but if +250 then I’ll be looking at a Magnifica S that’s been little used.
aphex_2kFree MemberWell, I had the morning to myself. Youtube and web how-to’s.
Stripped the machine. Cleaned it again. Seems to have cleared whatever blockage was in there. Steam wand works but still drips a bit but guess that’s some little silicon washer / grommet thing somewhere but ultimately, the machine now works and the grind has been set to as fine as it will go. All went back together perfectly and now… Coffee time and saved a coupla hundred in repair costs.
Phew, Hapi Christmal to won un awl.
MurrayFull MemberWell done Aphex! More landfill saved and a sense of satisfaction as a bonus.
mudfishFull MemberAeropress
Temp control kettle
19g ground (filter grind)
Water at 80.
Stir
Wait 10 sec
Slowly press over 60 sec
Very nice brew and very nice price
No crema tho
Enjoytrail_ratFree MemberAeropress
Temp control kettle
19g ground (filter grind)
Water at 80.
Stir
Wait 10 sec
Slowly press over 60 sec
Very nice brew and very nice price
No crema thoNot an espresso though – an entirely different taste .
kiwijohnFull MemberNice work.
My Breville has needed new o rings 2 or 3 times in 9 years, but still keeps going.
As for the Saeco Royal at work, we’ve got 3 dead ones for parts now & the new one is a bit temperamental.lucienFull MemberWe’ve had our DeLonghi B2C machine (Magnifica) for a couple of years now, used daily for 2 heavy coffee drinkers – you can adjust the cup size and strength so just do a massive cup at strongest setting for Americano as opposed to Espresso.
De-scaled regularly, and a couple of spares (water tank) – still going strong.
burko73Full MemberWe’ve had a magnifica some yrs now. Couple of services and it’s still going strong. It just works every day and produces good coffee.
We had the puck clearing issue as well as some issue with the pump that got picked up and sorted at a service for between £100-£200 iirc.
We’d have bought a new one, it owes us so little as we’ve had it so long and used it so much but it’s satisfying keeping it out of landfill.
If you don’t understand why anyone at home needs a b2c then perhaps you don’t have 2 kids under 5!
One button, one espresso and a clean machine. Simple.
aphex_2kFree MemberRw: Aeropress I’ve got one at work and a wee ceramic hand grinder. For grinding wee ceramic hands.
trail_ratFree MemberAmen burko.
Even getting an aeropress made at the moment is tough work.
Our machines stats say it’s done just under 2500cups since new.
Maybe I drink too much coffee….
mudfishFull MemberYeah trail_rat
Me
“Aeropress
<snip>“
You said:
“Not an espresso though – an entirely different taste .”Mr Aeropress (trivia, he invented the “Aerobie”) feels the Aeropress is superior cos it doesn’t scald the coffee as it’s ideally used at 80C. And extraction is quick. Faster than a filter. Each has its fans. I like them all.
As I am a traditional Yorkshireman though, the £20 Aeropress fits my home kit aspirations far more nicely than even a Nespresso (nasty things those).
I love those old Pavoni hand pump lever espresso machines though, makes me think of a toy traction engine as the steam comes up to pressure (Mamod). But fiddly and super expensive.
Aeropress will do me.
Anyhow.
Coffee nuts are onto drip / “filter” now. It’s apparently the new hipster choice!Have a good weekend and some Christmas fun next week all.
trail_ratFree MemberMan says thing he sells is superior for arbitrary reason.
*Still* not an espresso regardless of his vested opinion
aphex_2kFree Member80c for coffee…. Hmm… But too cool. 90c better. Just not boiled or boiling.
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