Re: Never heard of it: OK-so-so starter machine for someone?

"anthony" <anthonyjhcnospam@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1156806105.655275.72660@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom wrote:
Yea, when I was looking at machines today, I saw that same thing for
several


Both my machines (Pavoni Pro and ECM Botticelli) have boilers, and I
guess my Atomic stove-top could be said to have a boiler.
But while most cheap machines use thermoblocks, isn't the problem with
thermoblocks more to do with the materials used and their proneness to
corrosion rather than their method, along with generally cheap
construction? I believe that here in Australia there is at least one
thermoblock machine, made by Sunbeam, which is quite well thought of,
which uses stainless-steel capillaries within the block, and which
presumably should avoid the corrosion hazard.


That Sunbeam- the EM6900- isn't too bad. Full-size (but not
industry-standard-compatible) group head.
There's a good review here:
http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/sunbeam.html
Interestingly, the machine mentioned at the start of this thread is sold
here in Australia under the Sunbeam label; they have it made in China. I'm
pretty sure that Sunbeam Australia designed it and rebadged as an Ariete for
sale in the US of A & elsewhere; someone sure did anyway!

I had a Sunbeam with a different casing, but otherwise identical to the
Ariete.
I don't believe that the thermoblock is the problem. What I believe lets the
machine down is that the group head collar is made of plastic, and thus
doesn't transfer heat to the group handle- which is only light alloy anyway.
Additionally, I had to replace the collar after it split apart after a
couple of years, but in its defence it was used constantly.

Is it an OK starter machine? Probably. Much less to go wrong in making an
average shot- but that's all you'll ever get out of it.
I replaced mine with a secondhand Gaggia Evolution, which with a large,
heavy chromed brass group handle and proper heat transfer to it has been a
revelation- by paying attention to a few things, I can get great shots with
it.



--
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-Roger Nichols


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