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Premium Espresso Machine $299.00, Burr Coffee Grinder $99.99 @ ALDI 24th March

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Premium Espresso Machine $299.00, Burr Coffee Grinder $99.99 @ ALDI 24th March
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WatchNerd on 19/03/2021 - 02:46 aldi.com.au (961 clicks)
Last edited 19/03/2021 - 07:24

Premium Espresso Machine

  • 19bar pressure pump
  • 2.1L water tank
  • Thermoblock heating system
  • Single or double shot buttons
  • Swivel steam/frothing and water dispensing wands
  • Easy to read pressure gauge
  • PID controller
  • Cup warming area
  • Includes heavy duty tamper, stainless steel milk jug, premium portafilter, single and double shot filters
  • Stainless steel housing
  • Die cast aluminium alloy boiler with constant temperature
  • Detachable drip tray with stainless steel grid and silicone mat
  • 3 Year Warranty

Burr Coffee Grinder $99.99

  • Removable 375g coffee bean hopper
  • Conical burr grinding with 39 grind size selections
  • 2 to 12 cup quantity selector
  • Heavy duty DC motor
  • 160W power
  • Quick grinding
  • Simple push-button control
  • Conical burr grinding
  • Automatic shut-off when grind cycle is complete
  • 3 Year Warranty

Special Buys
We will refund or replace any non-grocery specials within 60 days. Please provide your original receipt (or other proof of purchase), ideally with packaging, when you return the item to us.

Electrical & Electronics Coffee Grinder Coffee Machine

Related Stores

ALDI
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closed Comments

  • tor on 19/03/2021 - 02:58

    Premium! LOL

    • DoctorCalculon on 19/03/2021 - 03:08

      A premium machine would cost well over $3K.

      This is "premium" for ALDI shoppers. ;-)

    • garage sale on 19/03/2021 - 03:24

      well has stainless steel housing ….. could have cut costs and be painted finish.

  • KMeister on 19/03/2021 - 03:54
    +3

    Oh the snobbery…

  • FitzChivalry Farseer on 19/03/2021 - 04:30
    +12

    Actually this looks like a very good consumer grade single boiler espresso machine akin to what Sunbeam and Breville sell for a fair bit more.

    With the PID controller to maintain brew temperature and a pressure gauge it is probably all most people would need to brew a decent cup of coffee at home. Added to that the portafilter, tamper and other accessories look pretty decent quality too.

    Sure it ain't no La Marzocco and you won't be putting your local barista out of business, but for $299 with a 3 year warranty I'd say it's a pretty decent buy.

    • kehuehue on 19/03/2021 - 07:07

      How is the kmart 89$ coffee machine? Reviews online compare it to the xxx$ ones

      • mjwills on 19/03/2021 - 07:51

        Reviews online say it is as good as some xxx$ ones. The fact the Kmart one uses a pressurised portafilter limits how "high" it can ever go.

      • BradH13 on 19/03/2021 - 10:18

        Junk. Reviews online are from young mums who don't know what a good coffee is to compare it to, and from paid media (looking at you Daily Mail).

        It's also stupidly light and cheaply made, and won't last past the warranty period (if it even gets there). It legitimately is built like a toy.

        Compared to my Breville BES870 I purchased very shortly after the Kmart one; there's no comparison. Same beans (Five Senses Dark Horse), completely different coffee.

        • howieyo on 19/03/2021 - 12:23

          I got my mum a BES870 but is that really a good comparison with a $89 coffee machine?

      • Shoocat on 19/03/2021 - 11:01
        +1

        I have the Kmart machine and it's very good for the price.

        On the advice of Ozbargainers, I bought an unpressurised basket for $6 from eBay. Much better results with good coffee!

        • kehuehue on 19/03/2021 - 11:03

          link to basket?

          • Shoocat on 19/03/2021 - 11:10

            @kehuehue: Something like this?

            You can pay a fair bit more if you want quick local shipping, but still under $20.

    • 1tightwad on 19/03/2021 - 08:01

      This won't be a single boiler machine. It'll be a heat block for sure.
      Not necessarily bad - but just not the same style as Silvia's or Gaggia Classics.

      • garage sale on 19/03/2021 - 08:19
        +2

        the thermobllck boils the water ….. but the big thing about single thermoblock or reservoir boiler is that you can’t froth milk and make espresso at the same time.

        thermoblocks are actually very good if you only have single as they can quickly go from espresso to steam ….vs reservoir boiler where you need to heat larger volume of water.

        • zeomega on 19/03/2021 - 09:14

          Also warm up time for thermoblocks are really quick ~1min. Boilers take a whole lot longer. Up to 5-10 mins typically.

          But yes, this is a thermoblock and not a boiler.

        • 1tightwad on 19/03/2021 - 13:54

          Nothing wrong with thermoblocks at all. The LM Linea Mini is a fancy big one.

  • Maglia Nera on 19/03/2021 - 06:39
    -5

    premium rubbish - like most things from ALDI special buys

  • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2021 - 06:42
    +1

    https://youtu.be/tuFQbiIVUkw

    • WatchNerd on 19/03/2021 - 07:38
      +1

      That's a different model.

      • mjwills on 19/03/2021 - 07:52
        +1

        Yep. This new one may be crap as well, but ultimately we don't know. That video isn't super useful for us.

    • TEER3X on 19/03/2021 - 08:29

      £299 is about $536aud

  • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2021 - 07:03
    +11

    I had the opportunity to attempt to make coffee on one of these when they were at Aldi last year.
    Not recommended.

    The portafilter seal could not hold it together at 70% pressure, leaking all over the place. Undrinkable result.
    If given more time perhaps I could have got something workable with a coarser grind/change the seal, try a different portafilter etc.
    But it was just so disappointing to use, it sapped all enthusiasm to even try any further so I just moved on.

    My notes on the machine (from March 2020):
    Packaging:
    Seems well packaged, with a cloth cover over the machine.

    Product:
    Warranty is 3 years (make sure you get a copy of the receipt, as thermal transfer on the ALDI receipts may not be legible in 3 years)
    Portafilter is 58mm (the same as many good (and probably bad) machines), so there will be other options for baskets and e.g. naked portafilters.
    Both baskets appear to be single wall, these are rather unforgiving for the wrong grind, stale beans etc - so you will need to dial in the grind and tamp pressure, before you can get the best out of it.
    Portafilter has a good weight, and it looks like you can change between included single or dual spouts.
    Tamper is heavy, handle is metal though so not ideal, but it should work well.
    2.1 litre water tank is a reasonable size.
    Programmable one and two shot buttons let you set the volume of water for each, which implies there is a flow meter being used in the system rather than just timing it, but this is still a hopeful guess.
    PID control is useful to maintain stable brewing temperature of the water coming out of the thermoblock, however it appears you need to take their word for it.

    Downsides:
    There does not appear to be any temperature control for the brew temperature, unlike the Breville Infuser.
    There do not appear to be any positive independent reviews for this machine that I could find so far, from the poor reviews I would be less confident to rely on the integrity of the seals/valves/pump in the system in the short term.

    On balance, if you don't mind putting time into getting the grind and tamping pressure set for this machine, (if the pump and PID are reliable, and it doesnt leak) it may serve you with good coffee.

    Notes from brew attempt:
    I could not extract without leaking around the portafilter at around 70% max pressure, no crema, and messy puck result.

    Productreview rating 2.7/5 from 52 reviews for Aldi coffee machines

    Particular to the Stirling, the first page of review summaries[my notes are from 2020, may be different now]:
    "Filter basket gets stuck every single time"
    "Leaks Like a Sieve"
    "Steam button doesn't work"
    "Absolute Disaster"
    "Stirling Coffee Disaster"

    The only good reviews appear to be for the cheaper "Ambiano" model machine.

    2021 update: there are a few more reviews from the previous sale in March 2020, where some were able to dial it in initially, some have problems with descaling and faults developing after a short period of time.
    There have been 20 reviews added in 12 months, note that the average review remained unchanged at 2.7/5.
    Hopefully they have made improvements to the machine in the last year. Could be a project if on substantial clearance discount, maybe changing seals and using different portafilters/baskets could improve it, but I would be concerned about the quality problems running at required brewing pressure.

    TLDR; The Stirling machines leak, are poorly designed, may not work properly, or last.

    • TEER3X on 19/03/2021 - 08:34
      +1

      I would be utterly astonished if this new machine has those problems, you would think ALDI would take a massive loss on returns. Unless it's the same crap and they expect people not to hold onto receipts or whatever.

      Thanks for the write-up I'll look for one on clearance and make a copy of the receipt if I end up buying one.

      Would this sunbeam be a safer buy?

      https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/product/sunbeam-barista-…

      • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2021 - 08:52

        It is a different type of machine, with an integrated grinder it brings other problems by linking the two systems (grinds contamination/mess inside the machine, cant swap grinders, beans heat up etc), so it is a difficult comparison - so I do not know which one would be better.

        Having a grinder integrated means there are more things to go wrong, and if it undercuts the competition (like the Aldi also does), there are usually compromises that have been made. I do not know too much about this Sunbeam machine, but recall it is usually a few hundred dollars below the Breville Barista Express.

        If I had to have an integrated grinder unit (e.g. for space requirements), I have always preferred the Breville thermocoil and PID approach for brew and steam (it seems to be produce a repeatable brew) and the internal design - it nicely separates grinding and brewing sections inside the machine in a tidier way, meaning maintenance will be easier later on. The thermocoil design is superior in many ways to the older thermoblock sandwiches, which look less likely to fail/warp, and look to me to be a more space efficient and make more sense.

        Back to the Aldi machine, from memory I was testing it with fresh beans around the grind settings I would use on the BES920 dual boiler machine. From the reviews it would appear someone was happy using it with supermarket ground beans (Lavazza Oro) which is a fair bit coarser than I use, and closer to the grind I use in a stovetop.

        If I was going to test it again, I would start with a coarser grind of fresh beans around that setting.

      • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2021 - 10:27

        Actually I think the cheaper M4300 for $219 is a safer buy - it has less things to go wrong, still has 58mm portafilter, volumetric buttons, and PID control (which appliances online fail to mention).
        https://www.sunbeam.com.au/kitchen-and-home/coffee/espresso-…
        I would suggest getting one of those + a reasonable grinder, and then you can swap baskets/grinders/machines as you progress.

    • tezza on 19/03/2021 - 09:26
      +3

      PID, boilers etc can help in making a good coffee, however dont under estimate the value of getting fresh beans and the grind / tamp right.
      Most of the art in getting a good tasting coffee are those key items.

      • TEER3X on 19/03/2021 - 09:51

        Need a decent burr grinder, those $100 ones don't cut it imo. Just no consistency.

  • bargaino on 19/03/2021 - 11:23

    Coffee machine is clearly a knock-off of the Breville Infuser BES840.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/breville-bes840

    They look like quite decent machines.
    But at $400 for this with grinder, that is only 30% less than the current $570 deal on the Barista Express from Goodguys. (after cashback & giftcards, no afterpay needed)

    Probably a far better machine, and will last longer.

    If you just want a grinder, the Sunbeam EM0440 is only $77 delivered:

    https://www.amazon.com.au/Sunbeam-Conical-Burr-Grinder-Grey/…

    • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2021 - 11:43

      Nice. You could go for a Sunbeam set and get that grinder from Amazon and use it with the M4300 for $219

      All up $296, grinder and PID espresso machine.

      • bargaino on 19/03/2021 - 12:14

        Not bad. You are missing the pressure gauge, but if you want to keep things simple, and use a pressurised basket, that's OK.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2021 - 15:46

          Luckily it has a 58mm portafilter, so finding an unpressurised basket should be straightforward.

          • bargaino on 19/03/2021 - 16:26

            @[Deactivated]: Without a gauge, i think it is best to stick with the supplied double-wall basket.

            The few who have the expertise will probably want a fancier machine.

            • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2021 - 06:22

              @bargaino: I look at double wall pressurised baskets like training wheels on a bike - they are only put on to get you started, should come off eventually and will cause problems if you leave them on too long.
              Many machines can make good espresso without a gauge - you can e.g. use scales and a timer, and most importantly your taste to tune your extraction technique.
              Besides, when you are starting out, not having a pressure gauge is one less thing to worry about.
              Single walled baskets during extraction lets you see if you are getting the stream you need, or whether to change grind, tamp more/less etc.

              • bargaino on 20/03/2021 - 10:53
                +1

                @[Deactivated]: Fair enough.

                But "training wheels" is a euphemism - never good for learning, just for toddlers who are too young to learn to balance. Actually, that may be a good metaphor :-)

    • mjwills on 21/03/2021 - 18:55
      +1

      I think more likely a clone / rebadged BRIM (https://www.thespruceeats.com/brim-19-bar-espresso-machine-r…) instead. The BES840 has a number of differences vs this Aldi model.

      • neil aus on 23/03/2021 - 11:39

        nice find

  • Gojkins on 25/03/2021 - 11:25
    +3

    Thanks OP, got the coffee machine as the old sunbeam one was on its last legs.
    - product quality seems good
    - dislike how wide the portafilter is but oh well, have to hold under current grinder
    - dislike only pressurised filters coming with the product
    All in all makes an alright coffee for my unsophisticated palate.

    • mjwills on 25/03/2021 - 18:53
      +1

      Disappointing to hear the filters are pressurised, given that https://www.thespruceeats.com/brim-19-bar-espresso-machine-r… comes with both pressurised and non-pressurised.

      • [Deactivated] on 26/03/2021 - 09:28
        +1

        Yes, from last year I thought they were unpressurised.
        At least being a 58mm portafilter there should be plenty of options available.

    • neil aus on 29/03/2021 - 14:04
      +3

      Thanks OP, I also pulled the trigger.

      Makes a great cup, comparable to our local cafe, using Campos beans from the same cafe for now.

    • mjwills on 22/04/2021 - 17:45

      Have you tried an unpressurised filter as yet? If so, how was the experience with that?

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