Available this Friday from Aldi;
https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/special-buys-sat-12-…
What are your thoughts on this?
Thoughts on ALDI's $149 Espresso Machine?
footyboy on 05/10/2019 - 22:14
Last edited 06/10/2019 - 20:23 by 1 other user
Last edited 06/10/2019 - 20:23 by 1 other user
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A few thoughts:
- Espresso machines take some time to master, and have more to do than a pod machine. Pod machines are more expensive to buy and run, but how committed are you?
- A cheap machine may produce a disappointingly inconsistent result regardless of your skill level, which may make getting decent results as a beginner even harder.
- Yes, there is Aldi's return policy.
- You'll still need a burr grinder to get the best out of this which will be another $100-150 or so. Or you can buy 100% stale supermarket pre-ground beans.
- Coffee machines pay themselves off pretty quickly, compared to buying them when you go out. Maybe do some maths and see if its justifiable to spend more money on something better. Aldi beans are great quality and very cheap. For example, if you say spend $400 on a better machine and a grinder together, and it does 2 coffees a day for 3 years, and uses $0.30 of beans per coffee (Aldi beans for the win) that works out at about $0.50 per cup. This machine, a $140 grinder, and the same beans would be $0.45 per cup over the same time period.
- No mention of PID control, so for best temperature stability you probably want to leave it to heat up for 10 minutes for temperatures to stabilise before you use it. The first coffee and the second coffee right after you make will probably taste different.
- I'm guessing you're not looking at used units, but for the same price you could get a better used breville or sunbeam machine, and possibly with a grinder too for a little more.
- Nothing listed in the ad makes this a better machine on paper than a Target or (heaven forbid) a Kmart machine at $89.
Awesome, thanks for your insight!
I had something like this from Aldi a few years ago. Cost around $80 back then.
It was great, but after a year or two it started to jam up and I broke it while trying to fix it. I replaced it with a $300 Breville, but the Aldi machine made better coffee. Much richer, thicker tasting coffee than the watered down crap from the Breville, or what you;d get from a pod machine.So, it was a good machine for getting into espresso. Before mine I would drink shitty instant, and I bought the machine expecting to make cappucinos etc with the milk frother. Instead, that machine got me into making straight black coffee, because I discovered that good coffee didn't need any milk or sugar.
Would buy again
This is probably similar to other cheap sunbeam or breville espresso machines that are around the $200 mark. I'd recommend paying a bit extra for the duo temp pro (around 330$) as it has PID control for temperature consistency.
At this price range (or less) I'd just go with cold brew and grab a Breville Smart Grinder Pro for $160.
Thermoblock machines suck. If you really do enjoy coffee then a good HX machine is well worth the investment and will last you decades if you look after it and service accordingly. If you want a good budget machine then just get a second hand Rancilio Silvia or Lelit, will be much better than this.
All the consumer line machines feel cheap and nasty in comparison to Italian and German machines you will find at specialist shops. Even the 2.5k Breville/Sunbeam models. If you want a machine then do yourself a favour and find a local specialty dealer and they will help you out.
Really depends on the brand. I've got a thermoblock KRUPS novo 2300 which was released in 1999. Makes great tasting coffees with good crema, hasn't missed a beat since owning the machine. Always descaled and cleaned every time. You're right though, consumer machines will always play up as most are made in China and use cheap parts. Invest in a small commercial machine and never look back, will last a lifetime if looked after well. From what I've researched, La Marzocco are the priciest yet best built coffee machines in the market.
I'm not saying your wrong but a hx machine will cost over 2k, plus whatever cost for your grinder. Personally I wouldn't go to a Hx after having used a dual boiler for quite a few years. At home I have an Italian dual boiler but at work I have the Breville dual boiler and for the ~$800 when it goes on sale it makes a brilliant coffee and it's hard to justify the jump up to an Italian dual boiler, let alone a Hx.
I'm seeing $149
Edit: mod modified the post to $149
I don't think we'll know anything concrete until someone actually pulls some shots on one.
My guess for a cheap thermostat controlled machine is if without PID thermal control, and I imagine a cheap earlier generation thermoblock, the brew temperature will vary too much and give inconsistent shots.
Edit: here's the site with the machine details
http://www.stirlingappliances.com.au/stirling_products/espre…Something like the Breville Duo Temp Pro is a good example of a good simple thermoblock machine.
The Aldi machine is the same machine they were selling in 2017 for the same price.
They had to sell some for $129 and $99 when there were many stock unsold.https://coffeesnobs.com.au/brewing-equipment-entry-level-sub…
Personally I was more hopeful of the earlier $299 machine (but still haven't read an actual test of it)
https://www.channelnews.com.au/299-aldi-espresso-coffee-mach…Choice last review recommended these 3 within same price range
- Sunbeam Cafè Espresso II EM3820 $159
Sunbeam Piccolo Espresso EM2800 $129
We do with stove top
I think it probably makes coffee and steams milk.