The Coffeehouse.... Baristi, Barista, Bariste

[Marco]

Yup, wot Grant says... Since you've got a Sage girnder, Gaz, I'd go for a matching coffee machine. The only reason I bought the Smegster is because I find it more stylish, which for us (princess especially), in our type of kitchen, is important - and it also makes a great cup of coffee:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/househ...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

Marco.

[Gazjam]

It'll be a dual boiler type anyway I think,
looked at heat exchanger units, swings and roundabouts, but like the idea of fast heat up in the morning, and no messing about waiting for steam to get up to pressure.

Those E61 grouphead Italian machines DO look nice though, I like the old school, hands on "Flood the Engine room" look they have.
One of the machines I looked last time I was shopping at was the Rocket Appartamento, but hitting the coffee forums recently its not quite as big a deal as it was a couple of years ago, when I last looked at these.

Got a mokka pot instead to see if I had the level of "arsedness" to go down the espresso route.
Grinding beans n stuff, and its absolutely worth it.

Convenience, flexibility and consistency is what I'm looking at.
Low maintenance is a factor too, I know these aren't plug n play, but some need more faff than others, the Heat Exchangers in particular it seems to me.

So dual boiler it is.

[Gazjam]

Smeg machine looks a nice bit of kit, can appreciate the design, especially in black.
all of my other appliances in the kitchen are black also.

Yup, wot Grant says... Since you've got a Sage girnder, Gaz, I'd go for a matching coffee machine. The only reason I bought the Smegster is because I find it more stylish, which for us (princess especially), in our type of kitchen, is important - and it also makes a great cup of coffee:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/househ...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

Marco.

[struth]

they do do the sage dual in black but its rare.

[struth]

tbh the standard sage ive got is really all you need. its quick enough and very reliable. for money its best machine on market

[Marco]

Smeg machine looks a nice bit of kit, can appreciate the design, especially in black.
all of my other appliances in the kitchen are black also.

It's a great machine, mate. I'm just not into the rather 'samey' stainless steel look of most coffee makers. As a coffee maker though, the Sage is better

Marco.

[struth]

It's a great machine, mate. I'm just not into the rather 'samey' stainless steel look of most coffee makers. As a coffee maker though, the Sage is better

Marco.

if youve a smart kitchen or are in it all time then yes getting it all looking matced etc is great; i'd probably do same. but im not in kitchen that much so it can be any colour for me. the shiney stainless and all the pipes look great, but tbh a sage does job just as well; maybe better for most of us that are not baristas

[Barry]

I would always be wary of consuming anything from something called "SMEG". In particular the cream off the top of the milk you have stored in your SMEG refrigerator!

[Marco]

Lol yes, but what if you're a fan of Red Dwarf?

Marco.

[Marco]

if youve a smart kitchen or are in it all time then yes getting it all looking matced etc is great; i'd probably do same. but im not in kitchen that much so it can be any colour for me. the shiney stainless and all the pipes look great, but tbh a sage does job just as well; maybe better for most of us that are not baristas

As I said, I can't fault the Sage's coffee-making credentials, but for me, all stainless steel-made coffee machines (within the same price bracket) look too much the same, and you know we like to be different, which is why ours is red!

Gaz, being a bit of a style-ista (anyone who drives an Alfa has a certain panache), might like the Smeg, in black. As a coffee maker, I'd say it's 90% as good as the Sage, really only being a little let down by the quality of its milk frother, which needs 'worked at' a little, in order to produce similar results to the Sage.

Just my view

Marco.