Looking for a expresso machine under the $400 mark. Did notice recently Target were selling the Sunbeam PU5900 Coffee machine + Grinder (EM5900 + EM0450) for $238 which is a steal. My local Target doesnt have any. ANyone know of where I can find this package in Vic and for a decent price? Or anyone recommend another expresso machine under the $400 mark?
Cheers
First, Espresso.
Actually, either is technically correct; from the free dictionary online:
"es·pres·so (-sprs, -sprs) also ex·pres·so"
"espresso, espresso (coffee), past participle of esprimere, to press out, from Latin exprimere : ex-, ex- + premere, to press"
I know coffee snobs think they've cornered the market on java, but they don't own linguistics yet! :p
haha, +1
hangs head in embarrassment
Shows how much I know about the stuff, cant even spell it! Just know when I am drinking a good coffee.
Does anyone know of who has any stock in Vic, especially Melbourne and surroundings suburbs
Get your local store to do a stock check, or have them do the ring-around for you dude; or you can go for a price-match at another retailer! ;)
So Target stores can check stock of other stores on their system? Would price match at another retailer, just struggling to find any stores that still stock the machine and grinder bundle.
Try Kmart/Myer first; being Coles-Myer owned as well you might get some joy on the bundle thing!
I'm not sure if they can just look on the computer, but I often get my local to ring around for me when I want something! ;)
That's a great deal at that price if you can shop around & get it somewhere it's really worth a shot (pun intended)! Check out Aldi too, coz they had a really nice full auto unit for your budget IIRC, and you've got that 60 days to declare it crap for a full refund! ;)
To be honest, I've not been too impressed with the last few Sunbeam machines I've encountered; they were once simply outstanding for the money; but IMHO the quality of their internals has really declined in the last couple of years, and their reliability has seemed to suffer accordingly. However, at a shade over $200 with a halfway decent grinder I'd give it a whirl! :)
IMO, the new value for money king is Breville, the Professional series is really nice, they start at about ~$350ish with a basic grinder; and the Fresca BES860 is a bloody great unit! You can actually pick up a factory second on ebay for ~$500ish if you shop around! ;)
[edit] Now, don't get me wrong, I love my Saeco auto…but if you're not a big coffee drinker in a hurry; IME the best coffee is made in a stovetop percolator; or even better, a greek/arabic/turkish brika (which does require some skill)! :)
Brevile's Cafe Roma has always been a good and proven performer and makes some nice coffee. Its been around for a while. for 3 years or so it got top ratings in Choice.
Given Choice's past reviews being fairly accurate, you might go to the library or phone a friend who has their latest reviews to see what models are now recommended.
If not, you cant go wrong with a Cafe Roma - benchmark price is around $160 at Big W
+1 for the cafe roma
We have one, we've bought ones for friends. Everybody loves them for the price.
You're right to look at the package deal with grinder..
Fresh ground and fresh roasted coffee makes a MASSIVE amount of difference. (fresh ground= less than a minute after grinding and fresh roasted= roasted within the past 60 days)
Coffeesnobs will tell you to buy a good grinder then look at buying a machine!
It's above your price bracket but I bought the Sunbeam 6910 and EM480 Grinder over Christmas for $550 from David Jones.
The 6910 is the lowest end machine that coffeesnobs "recommended".
The 6910 is great for milky coffees, not so essential for espresso (no milk). It has 2 separate thermoblocks for water and for steam..
(the concept of the Thermoblock is a hot lump of metal through which cold water is passed to generate hot water or steam.. 2 Thermoblocks means you can make hot water and steam simultaneously.. the cheaper units have only one Thermoblock)
Cheap Thermobloks are aluminium only which corrodes rapidly, the 6910 thermoblocks are still predominantly aluminium, but have a Stainless Steel liner to protect the aluminium from direct contact with the water.
First, Espresso.
I would look here, this forum has heaps on info on sub $500 machines:
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?board=BrewEntry
Apparently the target in Melbourne CBD still has stock of the EM5900 deal.