Coffee, yo!
My current machine has started to leak and is not really worth fixing, so it's off to the recycler with it. A friend suggested this replacement.
This 'Bambino Plus' arrived today after a long Ebay search for the right machine at the right price. This one has come from an area with soft water so hasn't furred up inside like a London kettle: An important consideration when it comes to serviceability and longevity.
The Guardian calls this "the perfect espresso machine for beginners" although I tend to disagree. It is fairly simple to operate (although you need to read the guide book to find out how to switch it on and off - that's truly a first for me), but my Krupps machine in the 80s was way simpler. This machine scores big-style in the way it steams milk, with use of a microchip and a heat sensor. Put milk in the jug, insert the wand, place the jug on the drip tray, and push the button. Silky, smooth, and well-textured in less than a minute. My cappuccino in the picture is the evidence.
Will this become my all-time fave? No; it doesn't have the temperamental nature of my old Faema, or the obviousness of my Pavoni. But for now, it will do nicely.
Coffee, yo!
My current machine has started to leak and is not really worth fixing, so it's off to the recycler with it. A friend suggested this replacement.
This 'Bambino Plus' arrived today after a long Ebay search for the right machine at the right price. This one has come from an area with soft water so hasn't furred up inside like a London kettle: An important consideration when it comes to serviceability and longevity.
The Guardian calls this "the perfect espresso machine for beginners" although I tend to disagree. It is fairly simple to operate (although you need to read the guide book to find out how to switch it on and off - that's truly a first for me), but my Krupps machine in the 80s was way simpler. This machine scores big-style in the way it steams milk, with use of a microchip and a heat sensor. Put milk in the jug, insert the wand, place the jug on the drip tray, and push the button. Silky, smooth, and well-textured in less than a minute. My cappuccino in the picture is the evidence.
Will this become my all-time fave? No; it doesn't have the temperamental nature of my old Faema, or the obviousness of my Pavoni. But for now, it will do nicely.