Price drop on the Oracle at Amazon AU - great price, might be able to match at TGG/etc
CamelCamelCamel.
Don't say that - I'm currently very happy with my barista express and don't need to get any ideas in my head.
Not sure if helps anyone, but from personal experience, automatic machines like this with grinder inbuilt are not a great idea. They have more moving parts so more prone to failure. If one part fails the whole machine is done. You are better off getting a separate grinder and machine.
Would definitely go down that route if I had more bench space but living in an apartment it’s quite limited. If you have a house or don’t mind clutter then a seperate grinder is definitely the way to go
I currently have the barista express and although I do love the coffee it makes I can’t help but wonder how much better it could be with a more expensive machine. I can’t seem to get the texture of my milk like most cafes, not sure whether it’s me or the machine.. might have to watch some instructional videos before I consider a new machine I think haha
The hell are you on about? These things can be repaired quite easily at a decent workshop. Often not too expensive either!
What kind of workshops?
Appliance repair workshops…
Have you got one of these though? I had an Expobar Minore III plumbed in and a Mazzer Mini. Had 2 big repairs on the Expobar each costing $500 a repair. The machine back then was 3k. Kept it for 7 or so years. Decided just too much of a hassle with expensive repairs. Sold it and bought the Breville. The Oracle is brilliant! Makes coffee that is reasonably close to the Expobar. The grinder may not be the best, but the convenience for this semi manual machine is worth while and trade off in slight taste. The only thing that has broken down now is a plastic disc inside the group head that costs $8. I've had the Breville for about 3 years now. I paid $1600 too via coupons stacking back then. I contemplated still using my Mazzer grinder and the portafilter, with a custom machined tamper, tried it a few times, and also in the end, the difference wasn't so massive to bother. I would highly recommend this machine! This machine makes coffee better than some of those average cafes out there.
Don't bother unless you want an automated manual. I'm still very much in training but can easily beat the grind/tamp. The auto milk frother is cool but…
I'm glad I picked up a dual boiler for $632 from TGG. Getting rid of my oracles! (I bought and refurb'ed them cheap)
We got one of them for the office and I've played with it. For what it is, it does well in comparison to a super auto which taste horrible.
I personally have a manual machine at home and enjoy the process of making coffee, though this is appealing to people like my dad who aren't so interested in the process and want something better than nespresso.
Which model did you get from TGG for $632? Shop or online?
BES920 on ebay
I've had this machine for almost 3 years and it's still kicking along strong.
Tried the nespresso machines in the past but this just leaves it for dust.
Best purchase ever and used daily.
Every few months regularly change water filters and clean the portafilter when the on screen alert pops up (cleaning tablets). Depending on how dirty the milk frother is, use special cleaning detergent to get rid of milk particles.
Every coffee making session remember to run empty shots with the portafilter plug after a coffee is made to get rid of the coffee grains.
I've descaled my coffee once and instructions are simple.
Rarely purchase outside coffees. It doesn't take up much space as its two machines in one. It's nice that following grinding it auto tamps the coffee into the port filter which can be immediately placed into the machine.
Highly recommended!
I'll second this. Have had one for just over 3 years, still going strong (touch wood). I had the same concerns as others on long-term life, but so far so good.
It saves bench space overall and with the automated grind and tamp is less messy and quite consistent. Frother works great and is set and forget. It also can be used manually and have used this to great effect making Italian/Spanish style thickened hot chocolate in the winter months.
Have a few coffee-nerd friends with expensive Italian machines, grinders, scales taking up a bunch of bench space for marginally better results (imho), and double the time and mess in making a brew. Each to their own of course, but this machine works really well for my needs.
best machine ever!!!
My 2 cents
I've tried multiple automatics, manual, nespresso, etc. etc.
And I have settled on this machine. Had one for almost 4 years now.
It's the perfect combination of auto and manual components.
Full autos - after a few thousand shots the plastic mechanism around the coffee puck starts to warp making them not auto clean the old coffee out well. Once that happens the coffee taste terrible unless you manually clean them constantly. The replacement parts are almost as much as a new machine.
Full manuals - Taste better, but first thing in the morning - just too much work.
Nespresso - nice and convenient, but worst taste of all the options and expensive in the long run.
This Breville Oracle - auto milk frother on separate boiler, auto grinds and tamps a consistent shot every time. But ejecting the puck and cleaning the shower head is manual which is the bit that the full autos eventually fail at. If you want to keep a nice tasting coffee without gunge build up, this is exactly the bit you want to do manually! This machine is the perfect combo of manual and auto bits!
Downsides - you do need to spend a bit of time to dial the grind in to get the perfect shot.
And the big one - longevity - They all seem to fail around the 3 to 5 year mark with the Solenoid Valves gunging up and needing replacing or cleaning.
I've replaced the shower head seal on mine and will need to do the solenoids soon.
But when it dies completely - I will buy this same machine again!
For those with them - avoid the cheaper non-original water filters on e-bay - they are not as good.
Highly recommended. The most automatic a manual machine can get. Solid build too.
I'm so tempted to upgrade from my barista express.