Hello, I am writing from Italy and I apologize for the google translation, I wanted to congratulate you. Since I started with your videos, I believe I have reached excellent levels with my Delonghi dedication. Now I get to the point, I have always used a normal grinder for this not being precise with the grinding, the result was uncertain and worst of all, the seal of the Delonghi machine often blew The first question is whether the skipping of the garnish was always the fault of too fine coffee or do you think it has other problems? I bought the eureka specialty grinder a few days ago the question is: why do I have the impression that it gets finer counterclockwise instead of clockwise? obviously I have a non-pressurized portafilter and I have a single coffee portafilter in which I put about 8 grams (grinding time on the grinder 5.5 when I go to make coffee is great but I'm a long way from the 25 seconds to make 30ml of coffee, I mean that at maximum use 16 seconds from when I press the button, 30ml of coffee is half a cup of coffee and the output is not so slow, speaking of the coffee grinder I followed your tutorial and found the point where the grinders touch but at the moment if I set to zero I get a good coffee but not slow to take 25 seconds, then as I repeat if I move in the clockwise direction towards 1 the coffee instead of becoming finer becomes thicker if I move in the opposite direction counterclockwise to zero I find an acceptable position. Last case I wanted to ask you is that in your tests when you do for a single dose you always put 14 grams which corresponds to two doses or am I wrong? but if instead a single dose with 7 grams shouldn't the infusion last half? another thing but to make a single dose do you always use a double dose basket or a single one? Thanks and congratulations again

@TomsCoffeeCorner lovely video as always. We have the Barista Pro and we love it. Could you please make a video about the need or not to use the puck screens with those espresso machines. Thanks!

you are on Tiktok aren't you? :-) Great vids!

Nice job

😂😂😂 that is classic he is good!

I don't like you at all and I despise reading your comment

how and when to clean it ?

Glad to hear that they are including it now!

Awesome! I hope you have fun with his machine. 😊

Thanks for sharing! Happy coffee drinking!

You betcha! Thanks for watching!

You are so welcome! Have fun!

Thanks!

Very nice - enjoy!

Awesome, thanks for sharing your experience! Tom

Do you recommend it?

@@FakeLibra hi ! My answer is a big yes but it depends on what you are looking for . For me personally , this machine is perfect - it grinds well , extracts well and overall a satisfying experience . Alot of reviews would classify the grinder and the start waiting time as a big con , tbh its not , i used both medium and light roast beans on mine and it does the job perfectly . The start up waiting time is not even worth complaining - i wake up and press the on button , and I put my bread in the toaster and turn to the machine and its ready to go . You can definitely make latte art if you use the milk frother correctly . If you do decide to get it , tell me about it ! Have a great day ahead

@@citruslemons5491 thank you so very much for taking the time to reply to my comment. I am definitely relieved and excited to purchase this machine! I’ve been thinking about it for sometime, and i couldn’t decide between the brevile barista express and the barista express impress.

Awesome - thanks for the feedback! Enjoy your machine. 👍

At tje moment I might suggest a 1zprezzo jmax grinder with a lightly used delonghi with bottomless portafilter and scale to start. This machine can certainly do it all and might be a better choice for a wider range of users who just want espresso and don't want to fiddle to get it. One person can set it up for all to use.

You betcha!

Mighty kind of you, thanks!

I was thinking of doing a top accessories video for it...would that be good?

Thanks a ton, Sylvain - I do appreciate it! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment.

Wow, thanks! :)

Thanks so much for the kind feedback!

Thanks so much, and have a good day!

Excellent! Glad the video helped!

Awesome Tony, glad it helped!

Nice, Jake! It's a very handsome and ergonomic machine, that's for sure. I plan to try it with a bottomless portafilter soon. Which color did you get?

@@TomsCoffeeCorner I got the stainless steel. Looks super nice in my white kitchen. Also ordered a bottomless portafilter just for the show jaja

Good to know, and thanks for sharing!

@@1977JohnBoy Well, it needs about 30 seconds until you can operate it, and another minute to prepare a puck and pull a shot as a minimum. But, I would either warm up the brew group and PF myself with a water kettle, or let it sit for a while. With any machine, you should really give it a little time to warm up.

​@@1977JohnBoyyou can get a smart wall adapter that can be turned on at a set time (before you wake up) so the machine can be heated and ready to go

Awesome! The Impress model should be faster at steaming, which is a big plus!

Hi Sergiu! No, the Express has not been replaced by the Impress. The Impress is new to the family, and similar to the Prestigio in features. Both machines have their pros and cons, and I plan to do a video comparing them. For me, because I do mostly milk based drinks, the Arte wins for it's quicker steaming time, and the included funnel is nice too. They both produce similar espresso I would say - thermoblock technology without heated brew groups, and with portafilters that therefore not preheat. Cheers! Tom

No, I always just use the non pressurized double.

Thanks for your kind comment! Actually, I find the grinder pretty bearable. It's inside the housing, so it's a bit muted. Is quieter and lower pitched anyway, than the Delonghi la Specialista. Cheers!

I use an IMS basket. Cheers!

Yessss. I have the specialista arte also wonder how it compares

I would like to see to..

That's coming soon! Part of the reason I bought this machine!

There is an ariete one too. Which is at much lesser price if u can do a comparison

I have the specialista here right now, but am considering buying the barista express. When would your comparison come tom? Would be super important to me

I think I was using an IMS basket - those are my goto baskets. Cheers!

I got it for under €500, and for that it is a great deal! The machine feels really nice, ergonomically.

Where did you get it for under €500? The cheapest I could find was €574! I can’t decide between this machine or a Jura E6 which is fully automated. Is the €300 price difference worth it?

@@iamDave0071 The Sage was on sale for under 500 on Amazon in Germany. The Jura is a super automatic coffee machine. It is my contention that it cannot make real espresso.

Thanks! I hope there will be a sale here too in the Netherlands! I like being able to adjust settings to my liking for the best espresso, might even add an open portafilter if I choose a pistonmachine. Can you still use the baskets included in that case or do you need to buy them specifically for an open one? The reason why I was also looking at a Jura is the ease of use, but it is much more expensive. Had espressos from an E6 & E8. I guess I have to go to a store and compare espresso from both machines!

Well, a GCP with external grinder has more potential than the BBE. Probably more longevity too, and modibility. Have fun with your decision!

Amazon sells thousands of these every month. Therefore I am thinking that for the average consumer, he may very well not know the difference between an adequate conical grinder, such as the one in the BBE, and a sweet flat burr grinder like the DF64 for example. You NEED to include the grinder in this machine for it to make financial sense. Otherwise, you would have to buy separates, and it would cost more. Just my 2 cents.

Which grinder do you have? The Specialista and BBE in my opinion do not make better espresso than the Dedica, if you are using the Dedica with non pressurized basket.

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you for ur reply, im currently learning the non pressurized portafilter from your videos. I just bought the Breville smart grinder pro for testing with my setup. Ill check your videos for recommended grinder as well.

Hi! You can use the program button to program your volumetric doses: 1) Press the program button to enter volumetric programming mode 2) Press either the 1 cup or 2 cup button to start the extraction and start counting the water (via water wheel) 3) Press the 1 or 2 cup button again, to stop the extraction and save the setting. * Press and hold the Program Button until it beeps 3 times, to reset to the default volumes (30ml for 1 cup, and 60ml for 2 cup).

Thank you for sharing, and thank you for those tips!

Got one for Christmas, and the grinder got stuck within a few days. We couldn't get the inner burrs to move at all, and they remained stuck. Returned it, and now am debating on which route to go myself.

Yes, I would agree with all those points. I have gotten acceptable shots, too. I think they'd be better with a dimmer. It seems to deliver too much pressure, which can be seen with a bottomless PF.

The Gaggia has more potential of the two, I would say. The Breville smart grinder is the same one as in the Barista Express. The BBE will have better ergonomics than the Gaggia. So, the choice is still up to you ! :)

thank you, Tom! I ended up with the Baratza Zette 30 & Gaggia. I’ve used a delonghi la specialista arte before and wasn’t able to get a perfect grind. The pressure was always high. The shot was good all around with medium-dark roast, but not great & quite inconsistent. I assume most espresso machines with built-in grinder will have the same issues. I decided to get an espresso machines & separate grinder.

Hmm, sounds like you're doing most everything right. How much are you dosing in which basket? Do you have a scale?

Most welcome, enjoy it! 😊

Well, there are also cheaper ways. You could get an ECP (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9tpZbmnp7-wonU.html) and pair it with a Eureka Notte for $250, or with a cheaper hand grinder like the Kingrinder K4 for $100. The Breville is expensive because it offers nice looks and ergonomics, but you can make espresso just as good with cheaper tools, also.

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks for the suggestion! Doing an all-in-one was appealing, but getting a separate grinder would have a similar footprint. I'll take a closer look. If I pull the trigger, I find Amazon links to you. :)

@@ToeTag1968 A separate grinder would have the added benefit of giving a better grind, if you choose a good one. The Specialita is awesome.

Oh yes, this is a capable machine. It is better to let it warm up for 30 minutes though, so that the brew group and PF are warmed. But it is quite a nice machine to use, and can provide good shots. The only thing I wish is if there was a way to limit the flow, because the pump pressure seems pretty high.

Wow, preheating for 30 minutes? That seams like a lot of time for a thermoblock machine. Does running hot water through the group help to shorten the time? As for the pump pressure: I found an OPV hack, so reducing the pressure is definitely possible. However, I'm supprised that this is neccesary as Sage advertises the machine to brew at 9 BARs.

@@grzegorzkrasnicki6105 It's better after 30 minutes. Otherwise, you could dunk the PF in a vessel of hot water, to make sure it is warmed completely. How'd you hack the OPV?

Thank you so much 😀

Haha, well then it's a question of ergonomics and aesthetics. If money is no option, then you can get a number of beautiful machines that will provide the temp and pressure profiling you'll ever need. I'd probably choose a LM, because I have always fawned over them at my favorite coffee shops. They do make a LM Mini and and Micra now. Cheers!

A Gaggia Classic Pro with Baratza Sette will get you better espresso. Just beware that the Sette is SUPER loud. I'd recommend a Eureka Manuale/Notte/Facile - whatever they market the cheapest Eureka Mignon in your country.

Hi there! You can adjust the collar/bajonette right out of the box. I had seen other YT videos mentioning it, so I just adjusted it right away. I think that setting the collar at 2 is good for the non pressurized baskets, while the setting of 6 (factory setting) is probably meant for the pressurized. Cheers!

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you for the explanations!😀

Hey that really depends on you. If this machine is 20% off, I'd go for it. It does offer good espresso and milk steaming capabilities, and the ergonomics are great. The ECP is the clear choice for me, if one already has a grinder, and wants a budget solution. Cheers!

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks very much, appreciate the reply.

@@TomsCoffeeCorner oh boy… now the learning curve begins.

Hi John, thanks for sharing. I also bought an old one that was defective. I wanted to fix it. It was leaking around the solenoid parts, so I just resold it as defective, as it would have been a hefty investment to fix. I wonder if regular descaling would have prevented that issue. Anyway, I ordered a dosing funnel from Amazon to make the dosing a non-issue. No mess anymore with that. Check the video description for some links, if you are curious. It's a cheap upgrade, that saves a lot of headaches. Cheers! Tom

@@TomsCoffeeCorner we have nice soft water and I descale as soon as the warning light appears. I think leaks are a material quality issue. Maybe it’s fixed now. Does the Amazon device work on my mk2 machine?

@@TomsCoffeeCorner just ordered from Amazon hopefully no more mess😊

@@TomsCoffeeCorner just to add. I used a cheapie Delonghi espresso maker with separate (non burr) grinder for years but the steam wand was very poor. It was sort of ok for occasional use. I researched upgrades and looked at many very costly bean to cup options, then discovered the Breville and liked the everything built in but with an element of a manual process. Much cheaper than the Gaggia’s etc with separate grinders. The single boiler was off putting at first review but frankly taking a few seconds extra is all part of the process. I’ve seen pricey Royal bean to cup machines fail sooner than mine and really pricy to fix. And now I’m a coffee addict😂

I think it was inner burr collar at 2 or 3, and outer dial between 8-12. Cheers!

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Awesome, I get it in thursday. I start there!

I always use the double basket, in every machine I use.

Thank you for watching!

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you for filming. Your Videos are verry good and helpful

Because that's when the water starts. The puck starts absorbing the water at that point, which in my opinion is part of the extraction.

Well they are quite different machines, thermocoil vs boiler. 54mm vs 51mm. I'd save the money and get the ECP myself, if you already have a grinder.

Hey David, yes I think that adjusting the inner burr first into a finer range will likely help. You can also experiment with dose amounts. Do you have a scale? I can fit about 15 grams of med roast beans in the stock double basket.

Yeah, I had to adjust the OPV on mine to have 9 bars on a normal timing. But for some reason (I think of a temp issue?!) I still get this acidic taste even on a 35+ seconds extraction counting pre-infusion.

@@cedric5947 I think it's definitely a temp issue as I get the best tasting shots after the machine has been on for quite a while. The problem with that however is that it automatically shuts off after 20 mins if not in use so you often need to fiddle with the knobs and dials to keep it from turning off.

@@TomsCoffeeCorner hi Tom, I do use a scale. I usually tend to go for 16g but will try various doses after I've adjusted the inner burr. Thanks

@@davidd.6448 Maybe using the steam wand for a second could raise the temp a bit? I'll try that next time but it's a long shot since it will kill the accuracy. (Note that I always wait 10 minutes after powering it to make my first shot)

It stopped automatically.

Hey there! The machine is not able to measure scale. It just suggests that you de-scale, based on the number of drinks you’ve made. You can set it for soft water, to make the reminder less frequent. 👍🏻

It is admittedly a little difficult, due to the long pre-infusion phase, to get a longer shot. According to the manual, you can change the pre-infusion time, by holding the button down and releasing it when you want the pre-infusion to end. Please have a look at the manual for a more complete description. I think a shorter pre-infusion would result in a longer shot. Otherwise, try grinding finer. But if you do that, please try the single walled baskets, as too fine of a grind may clog the double walled ones. Cheers!

Well, I'd say the inner burr collar is the macro setting, while the outer dial is the micro setting. When set to 6 on the inner burr collar, I couldn't get fine enough for espresso even when the outer dial was at 1. Therefore, I changed the inner burr collar so that I could grind finer. Now I am in between a range of 4-12 on the outer dial for my various espresso beans. Cheers!

Hey John, thanks for your message! Yes, latte art can be very frustrating! I have been practicing for 5 years already. There are a few things most KZfaqrs don't talk about. Most important are tip placement, as far as depth goes, and also within the circle on top of the milk. Aim for the lower quadrant for getting the milk to spin. Something else often overlooked is to inject air right away at the beginning, and then dive a little deeper with the wand, to incorporate. Even if your milk at the end looks like paint, it may be just on top. So another secret is to pour from that pitcher into another pitcher, to better incorporate from top to bottom. Finally, espresso concentration is important. A watery espresso will not work well. Try to keep it concentrated, max 2:1 ratio. Also, swirl the espresso before pouring the milk to break the surface tension of the crema, to allow the milk to incorporate better into the espresso. Finally, cup shape and size matters. Easiest are medium or large bowl shapes. Cheers! Tom

Thanks very much Tom. I am very grateful for your reply. 👍😊

This is the salted licorice. I honestly like the matte black of the Sesame better.

The best I have found is the Delonghi ECP 3420, or 35.31 depending on where you live. Cheers!

I recently reviewed the ECP model by Delonghi, and I loved it. Check it out here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9tpZbmnp7-wonU.html That, paired with a cheap grinder like a K2 or K4 by Kingrinder, or a Eureka Manuale if you can swing it, would be an excellent start.

Thank you, I already have seen that video! Going to be some interesting choices, currently I think I should go for the Sage Barista Express, I like the compact design and might be quite rewarding figuring out the many options to make the best espresso. What is your opinion on the waterfilters? I read they recommend a replacement every 3 months, but the water here is really good. Is it really necessary? And is it easy to clean the machine periodically?

Well, you really ought to measure out 16 grams to start out with, and find a grind to give you decent pressure. Maybe you could borrow a scale? If you use too few beans, the extraction won't work. Too much, and you might choke the machine. For a rough estimate, 16 grams of beans is generally 2 handfuls for me, but my hands are probably different than yours. :)

Big time. Maybe I should do an "all the drinks" video. Cheers!

Delonghi cant grind fine enough for a good espresso

I did a comparison video about them. I have to admit that Breville wins that battle (Barista Express vs La Specialista).

Hi Angeline! I plan to do a comparison soon. I'd say the grinder on the Sage is better, while the milk steaming on the Specialista is nicer. Kind of neck and neck, I would say. Cheers! Tom

@@TomsCoffeeCorner that’s what I thought after watching you on both. Looking forward to that video. Thank you for your reply.

Haha, I have seen a few do that video. As it turns out, I have no balls made of metal.