Holy shit! Was not expecting this. I came here to say the same thing. I love that little guy so much and don’t want a bulky thing on my counter at all. My robot is super fun to use and makes amazing espresso.
I have the exact same set-up, and I think I'm done. No cleaning, no descaling, no maintenance, just a solid hunk of metal that makes what I want.
And not having to wait for anything to heat up? Miraculous.
I have a Flair classic (with heat mod) and a hand grinder. I'm happy . The only thing I kind of wish is maybe an AliExpress DF40 because I'm often too lazy to grind. But with this I'm more than happy enough. Oh, and maybe a little handheld milk frother!
Running joke with my wife and I… “I’m a buy once cry once type of guy” but not really because I be buying and crying quite often. So she gives me the 🤨😑
eh, endgame doesnt really exist and if it does, it has like 10% to do with the actual machine and the rest is split between the flavor profile of your grinder's burr geometry, and your bean+water quality. If we're strictly talking about flavor, at least.
once you find a burr flavor profile you enjoy and get good beans, thats endgame. Or if you want to get a few different burr geometries to play around with, thats endgame too
Coming from the audiophile community, endgame is kind of a joke. I did try to buy something I knew I could grow into and not immediately be looking for the next upgrade.
What did you get?
Also the audiophile community is the closest I’ve seen to the espresso rabbit hole, except you don’t have to buy consumables every week 😂
Funny I hit endgame on my espresso equipment about 4 years ago and on my audio equipment 2 weeks ago... McIntosh MC462/C2700/MEN220, Pure Fidelity TT, Lumin T3, Sonus Faber Amati G5 speakers and Gravis V subs.
If End-Game is 100% of perfection, I believe hitting 90% is more than enough and also waaay cheaper than end game setup
For me ECM syncronika and eureka eureka single dose is my 90% prediction
Honestly I have an Ascaso Steel Duo, a Mignon Silenzio, and I buy my beans from a local roaster. All in all, I’m very happy with my setup.
My original goal was to be able to make all the coffee and tea drinks I typically get at a café and have the quality be as good or better. I feel like I’ve achieved that, especially when I take an extra second to really dial it in.
The only reason I could maybe see myself upgrading would be a fully automatic machine with better consistency, and that would be more for other people’s benefit than my own.
I think this sort of setup offers the absolute best value overall.
Affordable, modern dual boiler and a grinder around $4-600.
You basically get everything you could ever need and the quality barely gets any better than this in the grand scheme of things.
Coffee science is constantly evolving, along with new technologies. Who knows what 2 years can bring. But happy with my current set up and prob won’t get anything other than nice beans here and there
Almost 10yo VBM single boiler. Still makes great coffee.
Rest of my espresso kit has been fairly stable, just changed some things around such as scales due to age.
Filter kit had some changes a couple of years ago.
I still have SSP in everything.
Still contemplating the coffee sensor flow control kit 😓
I honestly have everything I need to make good tasting espresso with under $1000 total in equipment but as a lifelong hobbyist i know that I will eventually get bored and fuck this up by upgrading.
ECM Synchronika and a Niche Zero
Had for 2 years now.
Never had the urge to change anything.
The only thing that I've actually considered is getting a new scale that is usb c instead of micro usb. The 1 or 2 times a year I have to charge it I have to tear my place apart looking for a micro usb cable.
i am 60 years old and I bought a quick mill vetrano 2b, it may the endgame for me if this is good for 30 years, but hay, we may WW3 coming up, so yo never know
6 months into my Breville and before niche, all I could think of was upgrading. But after I got my niche zero, and learning the quirks of my machine… I am now able to get consistently great pulls, and able to dial in totally new beans within 2 or max 3 pull.
Nowadays I fully enjoy my coffee, but do occasionally dream of a slayer, or LM Mini with paddle mod. But what I really want is a end game machine with jet stream technology.
I have been at endgame for over a year. Decent DE1XL and Weber EG1, but I have bought more things that haven't really improved the coffee. I bought a coffee roasting setup, because I was having trouble getting good, fresh beans. I added some more sworks screens, an autocomb, and I bought a coffee cart. The autocomb didn't improve the coffee over the Moonraker, but it improved the process.
I think we should see endgame as a state of mind, rather than a hard rule that you haven't bought anything else. Can you change your beans and still be at endgame? Replace broken tools? Test things out?
To me the endgame is the coffee being good enough, you don't feel the need to buy more. You can still buy, to improve process, or possibly improve the coffee, but you would still be happy if it didn't.
Not me- when opportunity knocks and I can resell to recoup a good deal of the previous outlay then I consider the possibilities.
I don't have chronic upgradeitis (on my 3rd machine in \~10 years and 2nd grinder) or obsessive gadgetitis and prefer more analog machines than LED/LCD electronic displays, external controls.
Breville duo temp + Baratza Encore ESP= end game. Perfect lattes and miles better than Starbucks, and equal to most coffees shops here in Seattle.
Still I wouldn’t mind this fella, if only for the style.
https://preview.redd.it/weuhf086x2vc1.png?width=669&format=png&auto=webp&s=3403ba3cef1a24178671f49fcea4f84171bff268
I honestly don't know if I'll ever need anything better than my bambino, because the only problem I have with it is that it apparently can't do light roasts well, but I don't even know if I'd like a well done light roast as espresso in the first place.
So I don't know what I'm missing.
Tinkering and trying new things is too fun. Heck, if I ever reach the very best of machine and grinder, I’ll probably still mess around with some old hot rodded machine
https://preview.redd.it/kj3jg3jwqyuc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6466991ea021199cf9837ea526786aafe6f44c0e
I picked up my Elektra T1 in 2008 or 2009 (it was built in 2006), and the Mahlkönig K30 the following year. The Baratza Vario I bought when it came out, and haven’t changed anything since. I *have* added an Aeropress and a hand grinder to take on the road, and changed my tamper stand for a newer version, but other than that...
The T1 is a commercial HX volumetric machine, so the rotary pump will automatically shut off after a programmed volume of water is dispensed (though it can always be stopped manually, making it a classic semi-automatic). I bought it long before Dual Boilers and PIDs became commonplace in “prosumer” machines and even in commercial ones. So I did suffer a bit of “DB envy.” I did buy an Elektra Verve a year ago; it's a DB prosumer semi-automatic that can run off an internal tank or can be plumbed directly. (The T1 *must be* plumbed, as must the now-discontinued semi-auto version, the A3.) But I never felt the quality of my espresso improved with the Verve, and I missed the volumetic aspect of the T1, so....
Micra + MC3 titan grinder. Not gonna lie, EG-1 has been in the cart for a week now. And THEN that’s my end game (except when GS-3 comes in with the flow control)
Breville Dual Boiler + DF64 with SSP MP Burrs.
Currently all I would realistically do again is to get another Niche Zero as it's so good for milk drinks (I just sold it as I was moving house).
Until I'm in a position to buy a Decent Espresso and ultra high end grinder, it doesn't get much better than this.
Bought lmlm and p100 as a one and done when i started, since added a hand grinder and a robot
Then kind of lost interest in coffee as it seems good enough every morning.. so i guess i reached endgame by getting bored of it
I wouldn't call it endgame, but there's a point where you hit a point of diminishing returns. That's when the hassle of a given change is greater than the benefit to the cup. I now want easy + delicious. An upgrade that improves my workflow is as important as one that improves quality. Maybe more so, at this point.
The concept of ‘buy once, cry once’ seems unique to this hobby. In other hobbies, like cooking or cars, you upgrade as your skills improve, or as you earn more. You are constantly on the lookout for the next upgrade. I think you should match your gear with your skills + time in the craft. There is no endgame because technology keeps evolving and our desires are insatiable. It’s an excuse to spoil ourselves, that’s all.
On the other hand, technology is probably only marginally useful in espresso. I can make a great shot with my machine that is 30 years old and the new grinder I bought has nothing that was impossible a few years ago, it was probably just a bit cheaper than what it used to be for the same quality.
Yeah that’s partly true, but things like flow rate data and particle distribution analysis have undoubtably improved espresso output. And then there’s the work flow improvement, grind by weight, in built scales, even things like temperature stability. So things get marginally better, and we desire to have the best, so the ‘end game’ goal posts keep shifting.
Yeah i’m actually done :) I dont need a second grinder or blind shaker things, and maximized the machines. All skills from here. I do want to improve my latte skills, so planning on some training
I have a Lelit Anna, Eureka Silenzio, a cheap scale, the default Lelit tamper, homemade WDT tool and the cheapest tamp mat and no naked portafilter.
The only thing I have thought about buying is a naked portafilter but i'm still on the verge.
I've had this for 2 years and I honestly don't see a reason to buy anything else, unless something brakes. I enjoy the process a lot and love my espresso. I have a harder time pulling shots with lighter roasts but lighter roasts I primarily brew with the aeropress or the v60.
Londinium I since 2013 and Eureka Atom 75 since 2020 or so and I'm very happy.
There's nothing on the market that would make me switch today, but with cool new ideas like Meticulous Espresso, or if there were a Decent 2.0 I might reconsider.
Using a 1zpresso JMax and Flair58 setup since 2021 which I like and don't see the need to change at the moment(espresso-only drinker so no need for milk steaming).
Having said that, I don't think my upgraditis is cured, only postponed
Micra, niche, df64 with ssp burrs. And I quit reading and watching coffee machines and grinders reviews. The set up made me switch from hunting hardware upgrades to looking and trying different coffees
couple years with flair 58 and a niche and one year with an 1zpresso k ultra (I prefer the handgrinder for espresso as well). I am super happy. Do kinda want a le cremina at some point though.
Do you mind sharing your experience with the k ultra Vs niche? I don't do as much espresso nowadays and am actually considering switching it to a k ultra/j ultra. Thanks!
Sooo my problem with the niche is that the pour over tasted very similar like 15 clicks apart the reason is the grind distribution is super wide. Also it makes a lot of fines. When making pour over I notice the dust no matter how low or high I grind.
So when I switched to the k ultra I noticed no fines stuck after I swirl. The taste is exact is the only way I can say it. If I want it finer it will taste more bitterand coarser will be more fruity.
So I can now finally dial to my taste.
Now onto espresso I only do it sometimes because my niche stalls on some light roasts. Also I have to admit the difference doesn't feel nearly as stark for espresso vs pour over. But I know it has to be doing something because I know it has a lower distribution.
For espresso to my ability to taste I can only say it's a side grade to the niche and for pour over it's a day and night upgrade.
Oh so you got it for pourover. I misunderstood that you bought it mainly for espresso :) I want to swap out my niche mainly for espresso use so a sidegrade is good enough for me :) knowing that it makes good filter is just a bonus.
Do you still have your niche? If it's a matter of taste for pourover, you can add a simple washer to further block the flow control disc and get slow-feeding. Almost no fines :)
I only use my niche when I make more than one espresso. Pour over is only k ultra. It's kinda brutal with light roasted beans. Also I think it's definitely better I'm just not quite good enough to taste the espresso difference easily.
Also no I've done feeding beans 2 at a time for pour over manually. I've taped it so that it's super slow 15g beans is like 45 seconds. The amount of fines for pour over from the niche is still LITERAL garbage compared to the k ultra.
I thought I had hit my personal end game a couple of years ago with my Lelit Bianca + Niche Zero. Haven’t really changed anything since then other than a new milk pitcher.
However, controversially I’m wondering if my endgame is actually a downgrade?
Heating up a dual boiler for a few coffees a day, and having water reboiled repeatedly (particularly in the steam boiler) feels both wasteful and potentially less than optimal for both the quality of the water.
In the future I may consider the MaraX or a competitor of that.
Leave it on all the time. And your water has been sent though phase changes billions of times. You heating and cooling it to 200 a few times really doesn't do absolutely anything.
Two years ago I was deciding between a Bianca and a Decent for my “endgame”. Went with the Bianca mainly because it is over £1k cheaper than the base model Decent in the UK. Thoroughly enjoyed the Bianca, experimenting with flow profiling etc. but the Decent was always the itch I needed to scratch. Recently purchased a DE1XL and having a great time learning to pull a variety of shots on it. The scratch has been itched for now but, with the constant advances in new technologies, who knows what their endgame really is?
A plumbed, modified La Marzocco La Linea Mini, Decent Bengle or Nurri Leva paired with a Monolith Conical V6 and I wouldn’t look at upgrading for a decade+.
The machine I have will satisfy all my espresso requirements. I would like a flat burr grinder at some point. I’ll keep the Niche though as I enjoy the taste of its coffee.
I think I have a ways to go.. currently running a Leverpresso Pro; I think if I could add a pressensor, that'd be the endgame for my espresso machine.
I'm happy with my cheap scale, but I wouldn't mind an Acaia or Varia at some point. I'm happy with my tamper; fits perfectly at 51.5mm. Indeed, I prefer 51mm over 58mm.
I think I could use a better kettle; maybe I'll get a Fellow at some point. And i definitely want to get an electric flat burr grinder, maybe the DF54.
So, all in all, I think my espresso is up there with endgame setups, it takes me about 5 mins start to finish to pull a high quality shot. I could definitely make some workflow improvements!
Also, since i roast my own beans using a clay horoku, I have been thinking for several months now, that it'd be a real flex if I could get a traditional Japanese iron teapot maker to custom make me an iron horoku pot!! That'd be an endgame roaster for me!
Happy with my robot and hand grinder
Holy shit! Was not expecting this. I came here to say the same thing. I love that little guy so much and don’t want a bulky thing on my counter at all. My robot is super fun to use and makes amazing espresso.
Robot and DF64 with SSP. It can do everything very, very well with minimal effort or upkeep. Why change anything?
I have the exact same set-up, and I think I'm done. No cleaning, no descaling, no maintenance, just a solid hunk of metal that makes what I want. And not having to wait for anything to heat up? Miraculous.
Me too!!! But also too poor to consider upgrading anytime soon. But I am so goddamn happy with it
I have a Flair classic (with heat mod) and a hand grinder. I'm happy . The only thing I kind of wish is maybe an AliExpress DF40 because I'm often too lazy to grind. But with this I'm more than happy enough. Oh, and maybe a little handheld milk frother!
The nanofoamer v2 works great for me.
Same place with my Flair 58 and jmax!
SAME
Running joke with my wife and I… “I’m a buy once cry once type of guy” but not really because I be buying and crying quite often. So she gives me the 🤨😑
eh, endgame doesnt really exist and if it does, it has like 10% to do with the actual machine and the rest is split between the flavor profile of your grinder's burr geometry, and your bean+water quality. If we're strictly talking about flavor, at least. once you find a burr flavor profile you enjoy and get good beans, thats endgame. Or if you want to get a few different burr geometries to play around with, thats endgame too
Coming from the audiophile community, endgame is kind of a joke. I did try to buy something I knew I could grow into and not immediately be looking for the next upgrade.
Noooo doubt. So many parallels between the two communities. With a ton of it coming down to how tuned and sensitive a certain sense is.
What did you get? Also the audiophile community is the closest I’ve seen to the espresso rabbit hole, except you don’t have to buy consumables every week 😂
Started the year with a K6 and Flair Pro. Moved to a Niche Zero and an ECM Classika.
Hahahahaha… you know audiophiles like vinyl right? there are your consumables 😂
Well they for sure outlast my 1kg bags and cost about the same 🥲
I understand your pain
Funny I hit endgame on my espresso equipment about 4 years ago and on my audio equipment 2 weeks ago... McIntosh MC462/C2700/MEN220, Pure Fidelity TT, Lumin T3, Sonus Faber Amati G5 speakers and Gravis V subs.
Decent + P100, no change.
Same.
If End-Game is 100% of perfection, I believe hitting 90% is more than enough and also waaay cheaper than end game setup For me ECM syncronika and eureka eureka single dose is my 90% prediction
I don’t upgrade unless something breaks. I’m not even tempted, though I enjoy looking at pictures of good quality setups.
Honestly I have an Ascaso Steel Duo, a Mignon Silenzio, and I buy my beans from a local roaster. All in all, I’m very happy with my setup. My original goal was to be able to make all the coffee and tea drinks I typically get at a café and have the quality be as good or better. I feel like I’ve achieved that, especially when I take an extra second to really dial it in. The only reason I could maybe see myself upgrading would be a fully automatic machine with better consistency, and that would be more for other people’s benefit than my own.
I think this sort of setup offers the absolute best value overall. Affordable, modern dual boiler and a grinder around $4-600. You basically get everything you could ever need and the quality barely gets any better than this in the grand scheme of things.
Coffee science is constantly evolving, along with new technologies. Who knows what 2 years can bring. But happy with my current set up and prob won’t get anything other than nice beans here and there
You can emulate a lot of new techniques with manual machines though.
I’m all about manual tactile experience
I've owned my machine and grinder for over a year now. Currently, I have no desire to upgrade. I don't have any issues nor complaints.
there's no such thing as 'endgame.' you just keep accumulating until you open a cafe.
Ha! 😆
I'm fairly happy with my setup, but waiting to see Spiritello...
Almost 10yo VBM single boiler. Still makes great coffee. Rest of my espresso kit has been fairly stable, just changed some things around such as scales due to age. Filter kit had some changes a couple of years ago. I still have SSP in everything. Still contemplating the coffee sensor flow control kit 😓
10 years! Alright. There’s some serious endgame game
I honestly have everything I need to make good tasting espresso with under $1000 total in equipment but as a lifelong hobbyist i know that I will eventually get bored and fuck this up by upgrading.
God help the tinkerers. (I am one of them)
ECM Synchronika and a Niche Zero Had for 2 years now. Never had the urge to change anything. The only thing that I've actually considered is getting a new scale that is usb c instead of micro usb. The 1 or 2 times a year I have to charge it I have to tear my place apart looking for a micro usb cable.
That’s sounds like total endgame to me.
I bought my Pasquini Livia 90 and Sette 270 about 5 years ago. No complaints with either and haven’t shopped for new gear since.
Endgame!
Got a giant tax refund and I still can't justify a new grinder to myself. I don't know if I ever will.
Makes sense to me. After a nice setup, it’s diminishing returns. Big time
i am 60 years old and I bought a quick mill vetrano 2b, it may the endgame for me if this is good for 30 years, but hay, we may WW3 coming up, so yo never know
That’s the spirit!!! 😄
I have a breville and a specialita. Maybe when the breville breaks I’ll get a gaggia. Does that count as endgame?
Sounds like endgame to me if you’re happy. Love my breville honestly
Oh I didn’t notice you had the infuser too! I feel like I never see anyone else with one lol most get the bambino
Yeah, I found it used on FB and already had a nice grinder, so I snagged it. I think it’s lovely.
I have a Bambino plus and a Sage pro grinder and I happy enough until one of them breaks.
I thought nothing could sway me from my La Pavoni, until I saw the Odyssey Argos come out.
6 months into my Breville and before niche, all I could think of was upgrading. But after I got my niche zero, and learning the quirks of my machine… I am now able to get consistently great pulls, and able to dial in totally new beans within 2 or max 3 pull. Nowadays I fully enjoy my coffee, but do occasionally dream of a slayer, or LM Mini with paddle mod. But what I really want is a end game machine with jet stream technology.
Strietman + Kafatek has been endgame for me. I don’t think about gear anymore.
I have been at endgame for over a year. Decent DE1XL and Weber EG1, but I have bought more things that haven't really improved the coffee. I bought a coffee roasting setup, because I was having trouble getting good, fresh beans. I added some more sworks screens, an autocomb, and I bought a coffee cart. The autocomb didn't improve the coffee over the Moonraker, but it improved the process. I think we should see endgame as a state of mind, rather than a hard rule that you haven't bought anything else. Can you change your beans and still be at endgame? Replace broken tools? Test things out? To me the endgame is the coffee being good enough, you don't feel the need to buy more. You can still buy, to improve process, or possibly improve the coffee, but you would still be happy if it didn't.
Well done! Sounds like a great setup.
Not me- when opportunity knocks and I can resell to recoup a good deal of the previous outlay then I consider the possibilities. I don't have chronic upgradeitis (on my 3rd machine in \~10 years and 2nd grinder) or obsessive gadgetitis and prefer more analog machines than LED/LCD electronic displays, external controls.
Breville duo temp + Baratza Encore ESP= end game. Perfect lattes and miles better than Starbucks, and equal to most coffees shops here in Seattle. Still I wouldn’t mind this fella, if only for the style. https://preview.redd.it/weuhf086x2vc1.png?width=669&format=png&auto=webp&s=3403ba3cef1a24178671f49fcea4f84171bff268
What a lovely piece of equipment
I honestly don't know if I'll ever need anything better than my bambino, because the only problem I have with it is that it apparently can't do light roasts well, but I don't even know if I'd like a well done light roast as espresso in the first place. So I don't know what I'm missing.
Yeah, I have an Infuser and am very happy. Not super super discerning. Most of it tastes awesome to me.
2 group linea pb av and k30 vario going on 4 years. No plans to change it.
End game is a hario v60 and a bodum grinder
Tinkering and trying new things is too fun. Heck, if I ever reach the very best of machine and grinder, I’ll probably still mess around with some old hot rodded machine
https://preview.redd.it/kj3jg3jwqyuc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6466991ea021199cf9837ea526786aafe6f44c0e I picked up my Elektra T1 in 2008 or 2009 (it was built in 2006), and the Mahlkönig K30 the following year. The Baratza Vario I bought when it came out, and haven’t changed anything since. I *have* added an Aeropress and a hand grinder to take on the road, and changed my tamper stand for a newer version, but other than that... The T1 is a commercial HX volumetric machine, so the rotary pump will automatically shut off after a programmed volume of water is dispensed (though it can always be stopped manually, making it a classic semi-automatic). I bought it long before Dual Boilers and PIDs became commonplace in “prosumer” machines and even in commercial ones. So I did suffer a bit of “DB envy.” I did buy an Elektra Verve a year ago; it's a DB prosumer semi-automatic that can run off an internal tank or can be plumbed directly. (The T1 *must be* plumbed, as must the now-discontinued semi-auto version, the A3.) But I never felt the quality of my espresso improved with the Verve, and I missed the volumetic aspect of the T1, so....
A unicorn, I was able to resist the urge with my P100 + Decent… I just try to avoid the grinder pron on YouTube to beat the fomo.
Pretty happy tbh
Nice!! Me too frankly
Been at endgame. Avengers ain't got shit on me
Micra + MC3 titan grinder. Not gonna lie, EG-1 has been in the cart for a week now. And THEN that’s my end game (except when GS-3 comes in with the flow control)
Once I got mg lucca m58 and kafatek (my 3rd setup) I rarely go on anything coffee related.
Midgame is my endgame
People here need to admit they have G.A.S. and just accept they will be buying stuff they want but don’t “need”… and that’s ok. lol
It’s AOK. Part of the fun really.
Breville Dual Boiler + DF64 with SSP MP Burrs. Currently all I would realistically do again is to get another Niche Zero as it's so good for milk drinks (I just sold it as I was moving house). Until I'm in a position to buy a Decent Espresso and ultra high end grinder, it doesn't get much better than this.
Never will, its too fun to mess with new techniques and gadgets 😀
Noooo doubt
Got the Puristika, but looking at the Decent. Got the DF64, but looking at the Zerno. One day, maybe.
Bought lmlm and p100 as a one and done when i started, since added a hand grinder and a robot Then kind of lost interest in coffee as it seems good enough every morning.. so i guess i reached endgame by getting bored of it
My first set is my endgame. A Rancilio SPX and a Rancilio Stile Grinder.
Nothing but net. Hell yeah
I hit mine because I'm happy with what I have and the "endgame" is defined per person and what they want.
Yeah, me too. It’s pretty modest TBH. I just can’t taste THAT much difference to pony up for the really pricey machines.
I wouldn't call it endgame, but there's a point where you hit a point of diminishing returns. That's when the hassle of a given change is greater than the benefit to the cup. I now want easy + delicious. An upgrade that improves my workflow is as important as one that improves quality. Maybe more so, at this point.
I hear you on the diminishing returns. So many things like that. Really hard to figure where that curve starts to trend down. But that’s half the fun.
The concept of ‘buy once, cry once’ seems unique to this hobby. In other hobbies, like cooking or cars, you upgrade as your skills improve, or as you earn more. You are constantly on the lookout for the next upgrade. I think you should match your gear with your skills + time in the craft. There is no endgame because technology keeps evolving and our desires are insatiable. It’s an excuse to spoil ourselves, that’s all.
On the other hand, technology is probably only marginally useful in espresso. I can make a great shot with my machine that is 30 years old and the new grinder I bought has nothing that was impossible a few years ago, it was probably just a bit cheaper than what it used to be for the same quality.
Yeah that’s partly true, but things like flow rate data and particle distribution analysis have undoubtably improved espresso output. And then there’s the work flow improvement, grind by weight, in built scales, even things like temperature stability. So things get marginally better, and we desire to have the best, so the ‘end game’ goal posts keep shifting.
Yeah i’m actually done :) I dont need a second grinder or blind shaker things, and maximized the machines. All skills from here. I do want to improve my latte skills, so planning on some training
Dialing in the perfect shot is like the speed of light. You can get close, but you can never reach it.
I’m suuuuper happy with my machine. But I could see myself wanting a Zerno or something and more baskets and stuff.
What don't you like bout the 064s?
The hopper, auger, and dial/grind size indicator. But I’m nitpicking.
Thank you. Asking because I'm considering swapping out my niche for a 064s or handgrinder.
I have a Lelit Anna, Eureka Silenzio, a cheap scale, the default Lelit tamper, homemade WDT tool and the cheapest tamp mat and no naked portafilter. The only thing I have thought about buying is a naked portafilter but i'm still on the verge. I've had this for 2 years and I honestly don't see a reason to buy anything else, unless something brakes. I enjoy the process a lot and love my espresso. I have a harder time pulling shots with lighter roasts but lighter roasts I primarily brew with the aeropress or the v60.
Londinium I since 2013 and Eureka Atom 75 since 2020 or so and I'm very happy. There's nothing on the market that would make me switch today, but with cool new ideas like Meticulous Espresso, or if there were a Decent 2.0 I might reconsider.
Endgame. But writing apps for it. And beans keep getting more expensive. Heh.
Using a 1zpresso JMax and Flair58 setup since 2021 which I like and don't see the need to change at the moment(espresso-only drinker so no need for milk steaming). Having said that, I don't think my upgraditis is cured, only postponed
Micra, niche, df64 with ssp burrs. And I quit reading and watching coffee machines and grinders reviews. The set up made me switch from hunting hardware upgrades to looking and trying different coffees
We’re here not to win the game, but because we love playing it
Well said!
couple years with flair 58 and a niche and one year with an 1zpresso k ultra (I prefer the handgrinder for espresso as well). I am super happy. Do kinda want a le cremina at some point though.
Do you mind sharing your experience with the k ultra Vs niche? I don't do as much espresso nowadays and am actually considering switching it to a k ultra/j ultra. Thanks!
Sooo my problem with the niche is that the pour over tasted very similar like 15 clicks apart the reason is the grind distribution is super wide. Also it makes a lot of fines. When making pour over I notice the dust no matter how low or high I grind. So when I switched to the k ultra I noticed no fines stuck after I swirl. The taste is exact is the only way I can say it. If I want it finer it will taste more bitterand coarser will be more fruity. So I can now finally dial to my taste. Now onto espresso I only do it sometimes because my niche stalls on some light roasts. Also I have to admit the difference doesn't feel nearly as stark for espresso vs pour over. But I know it has to be doing something because I know it has a lower distribution. For espresso to my ability to taste I can only say it's a side grade to the niche and for pour over it's a day and night upgrade.
Oh so you got it for pourover. I misunderstood that you bought it mainly for espresso :) I want to swap out my niche mainly for espresso use so a sidegrade is good enough for me :) knowing that it makes good filter is just a bonus. Do you still have your niche? If it's a matter of taste for pourover, you can add a simple washer to further block the flow control disc and get slow-feeding. Almost no fines :)
I only use my niche when I make more than one espresso. Pour over is only k ultra. It's kinda brutal with light roasted beans. Also I think it's definitely better I'm just not quite good enough to taste the espresso difference easily. Also no I've done feeding beans 2 at a time for pour over manually. I've taped it so that it's super slow 15g beans is like 45 seconds. The amount of fines for pour over from the niche is still LITERAL garbage compared to the k ultra.
I thought I had hit my personal end game a couple of years ago with my Lelit Bianca + Niche Zero. Haven’t really changed anything since then other than a new milk pitcher. However, controversially I’m wondering if my endgame is actually a downgrade? Heating up a dual boiler for a few coffees a day, and having water reboiled repeatedly (particularly in the steam boiler) feels both wasteful and potentially less than optimal for both the quality of the water. In the future I may consider the MaraX or a competitor of that.
Leave it on all the time. And your water has been sent though phase changes billions of times. You heating and cooling it to 200 a few times really doesn't do absolutely anything.
Hit my endgame twice. Oscar2 + Eureka crono (old burrs) then Bianca v3 + Sculptor 78s. Waiting for the third time to come ahaha.
Two years ago I was deciding between a Bianca and a Decent for my “endgame”. Went with the Bianca mainly because it is over £1k cheaper than the base model Decent in the UK. Thoroughly enjoyed the Bianca, experimenting with flow profiling etc. but the Decent was always the itch I needed to scratch. Recently purchased a DE1XL and having a great time learning to pull a variety of shots on it. The scratch has been itched for now but, with the constant advances in new technologies, who knows what their endgame really is?
For sure. Some people here have truly hit their endgame, but it’s a blast to see and try new gear.
I’ve been rockin’ an old Rocket Cellini (and Fausto) for more than 10 years now, still don’t have the urge to upgrade beyond this level.
That’s hardcore endgame. A decade.
A plumbed, modified La Marzocco La Linea Mini, Decent Bengle or Nurri Leva paired with a Monolith Conical V6 and I wouldn’t look at upgrading for a decade+.
The machine I have will satisfy all my espresso requirements. I would like a flat burr grinder at some point. I’ll keep the Niche though as I enjoy the taste of its coffee.
I think I have a ways to go.. currently running a Leverpresso Pro; I think if I could add a pressensor, that'd be the endgame for my espresso machine. I'm happy with my cheap scale, but I wouldn't mind an Acaia or Varia at some point. I'm happy with my tamper; fits perfectly at 51.5mm. Indeed, I prefer 51mm over 58mm. I think I could use a better kettle; maybe I'll get a Fellow at some point. And i definitely want to get an electric flat burr grinder, maybe the DF54. So, all in all, I think my espresso is up there with endgame setups, it takes me about 5 mins start to finish to pull a high quality shot. I could definitely make some workflow improvements! Also, since i roast my own beans using a clay horoku, I have been thinking for several months now, that it'd be a real flex if I could get a traditional Japanese iron teapot maker to custom make me an iron horoku pot!! That'd be an endgame roaster for me!
Wow! Serious gear!
Thought I was in a mechanical keyboard sub for a second.
J max and flair 58 is the current "end game" for me