Dr. Strangebrew, Or, Why I fell in love with the Epc-8
I was looking for a quality espresso machine, and didn't want to spend half as much as my car cost. My first though was an HX machine, but they are all pretty expensive, even more if you wanted to add a PID. Then I had an epiphany, these kinds of machines have only been around for a little while, how did they do it before? Lever machines. Your arm is the pump. And since I didn't relish the idea of diagnosing possible problems with the mechanics of a complex machine, I thought, "keep it simple stupid". I looked at the reviews on HomeBarista.Com, and everyone raved about the Europiccola. So, on to Ebay. Wanted to find one that I might be able to rebuild. I could probably save a wad of cash like that for a small repair like a heating element, or portafilter handle, but I didn't want some busted piece of junk either. Finally found one with a missing portafilter, then went to Orphanespresso.com and ordered a bottomless filter, double basket, tamper, frothing pitcher, and such. Now I am currently dialing in my Mazzer Mini so the shot pulls correctly. There is something to be said about doing it all yourself. I roast the beans, grind them, and pull the shot. I control all the variables, and I have to say, so far, the results have been outstanding.
Pros and cons-
The Europiccola is a beautiful machine, and is easy to clean, and use. Just keep water in it so the heating element doesn't burn up, keep the steam wand clean (which if you like lattes you might want to replace the tip with one from BrooklynShot from Orphanespresso.com) and you will have fresh espresso cheaper than you can make instant coffee. Bye Bye $tarbucks! It's even small enough to take with you on trips! It is also large enough to make up to 8 shots in a row, or 4-5 lattes, or caps. The only drawback I found was minor- the grouphead is a little low, so I couldn't use my regular cup. Oh, well, needed to order a good set of latte cups anyhow. Don't hesitate to buy an EPC-8 if you want a great machine that will probably outlive you if you treat it right. How often do you find one of those anymore?Read full review
