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Home Coffee Solutions

Great beginner espresso bundle Gaggia Classic+Baratza Encore at 679$, Rancilio bundle 1320$, or custom -10% off grinder

[OP]
Member
Aug 18, 2007
427 posts
310 upvotes

Great beginner espresso bundle Gaggia Classic+Baratza Encore at 679$, Rancilio bundle 1320$, or custom -10% off grinder

Deal Link:
Price:
679
Retailer:
Home Coffee Solutions
A great entry level combo Gaggia Classic pro and Baratza Encore Grinder 679$

https://www.homecoffeesolutions.com/col ... core-combo



Gaggia Classic Pro can pull awesome espresso shots and froth milk tolerably.



While the espresso quality is already great there is a large modding community, you find a lot of tutorials that will help you to get even better results.



Obviously to pull best shots you need freshly ground coffee, and therefore, a decent espresso capable grinder, such as Baratza Encore. Which makes this combo appeal to beginners, who do no own an espresso grinder yet, and not yet ready to buy an expensive high-end professional grinder.



You can recalibrate Encore grinder toward finer grind by moving calibration collar

Like with Gaggia Classic, there are a lot of mods and upgrades to try when you feel that your barista skill overgrew Encore

Both are also available separately.

Open box Gaggia Classic goes for 500$ (SOLD OUT) https://www.homecoffeesolutions.com/col ... l-open-box

There are few other combos.

Seasoned espresso virtuosos looking for more prosumer equipment might consider Rancilio Silvia M V6 with Rocky SD combo, 1389$ or 1320$ with espresso5 coupon code

https://www.homecoffeesolutions.com/pro ... oser-combo

Rancilio M V6 is a legendary machine combining sub 1K price with professional quality and great modding ecosystem. It resembles Gaggia Classic but bigger and better, particularly for milk drinks.



For side-to-side comparison of Rancilio M vs Gaggia Classic Pro, as well as popular here Dedica, Bambino and Lelit watch James Hoffman round up of best machines under £500



To fully benefit from this powerful machine it is paired with industrial strength Rancilio Rocky SD grinder.

There are deals on other decent machines, from Dedica Deluxe to Lelit (sold out).

More, you save 10% on your purchase of a coffee grinder when buying an espresso machine at the same time. Add both the espresso machine and electric grinder of your choice to the shopping cart to automatically receive this discount. (10% does not seem apply to the whole purchase any more, even though I have read otherwise yesterday). Curiously, with 10% promo adding Gaggia Classic and Eurika Mingon Facile one by one is cheaper than their ready bundle.

If you are mostly interested in simplicity and convenience consider a machine with integrated grinder, may be Specialista, or even super-automated like Magnifica, LatteGo or Mielle.
Last edited by s12345 on Jul 20th, 2021 7:48 pm, edited 68 times in total.
12 replies
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May 16, 2011
5305 posts
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Burnaby, BC
Hmm, is this better than my Breville Barista Express?
[OP]
Member
Aug 18, 2007
427 posts
310 upvotes
Each has it's own strong sides and weaknesses. So depends what one need. Since you already own it, Breville Barista Express, I think, is better. Nothing beats the convenience of build-in grinder. The finish is so modern and stylish. Also that analogue manometer is supercool. Gaggia is purely performance oriented and may appeal more to espresso maniacs in training: potentially better espresso, sturdier build, industrial size portafilter, strong modding community, ability to independently replace or upgrade grinder and espresso machine. Yet the process is completely manual, you get little to no bells or whistles. Think of Gaggia, the Old Guard versus Breville, the new kid on the block

Last edited by s12345 on Jul 10th, 2021 8:50 pm, edited 6 times in total.
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Jan 26, 2003
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Nikhilvoid wrote: Hmm, is this better than my Breville Barista Express?
in terms of "upper limit potential" ... maybe. probably.

but what does that mean?

if you like to mod, tinker, fool around to get it "just right" and the way you like it .. then yeah. but by that definition this combo is right for a consumer like that. If that's you then this combo ticks off the boxes.

for me, i've moved away from investing time in a process ... that's why, for me, i'm into the superautomatic types .. i'd rather just walk up to a machine, tap some on screen buttons *boop* *boop* and press the "ok" button and in a few minutes i've got a delicious coffee drink.

I can fill the milk
I can maintain the machine (maybe)

if you're bored of your breville then ..... otherwise enjoy your breville. we still have ours and it's been a good machine. My wife still makes her coffee drinks on it (using a baratza virtuoso to grind). I can't be bothered to dial it in anymore so I use another machine.

that's my take in too many words
Last edited by miss_swan on Jul 10th, 2021 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Sr. Member
Jan 21, 2007
677 posts
724 upvotes
I feel that the Encore doesn't provide enough grind control for espresso, but it's great for pourovers.
Member
Feb 4, 2011
309 posts
312 upvotes
Ottawa
Nikhilvoid wrote: Hmm, is this better than my Breville Barista Express?
In build quality yes. En result of the coffee in the cup will depend on the user more than the machine at this point.
Sr. Member
Feb 27, 2011
892 posts
543 upvotes
Regina
Darkblade48 wrote: I feel that the Encore doesn't provide enough grind control for espresso, but it's great for pourovers.
Have you done any modifications to your Baratza Encore?
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Mar 27, 2021
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Nikhilvoid wrote: Hmm, is this better than my Breville Barista Express?
Repairability is key. Also hardcore coffee junkies modify it and add crazy things to it.

The grinder is "fine" considering price, there's always something better but for the price and in this budget, it's sufficient. Much like most hobbies, there is no limit of how much money you can spend, espresso machines are like audiophile equipment.
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Jan 24, 2009
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Encore will need the upgraded burrs to work fairly well with non pressurized portafilter.

When I was buying a new machine I crossed the Gaggia Classic off my list due to the aluminium boiler, which depending on your water will start pitting due to bimetallic corrosion (brass grouphead). Oddly enough the aluminium boiler version is apparently only sold in North America, other markets get stainless.
Sr. Member
Jan 21, 2007
677 posts
724 upvotes
RoughriderFan wrote: Have you done any modifications to your Baratza Encore?
I know that you can change to the M2 burrs to get an improved grind, but I didn't, since you'd still have the stepped adjustment (and yes, I also know there are mods to get rid of the stepping!)

I like using the Sette 270 as an entry level espresso grinder, and it only gets more expensive from there!
[OP]
Member
Aug 18, 2007
427 posts
310 upvotes
Darkblade48 wrote: I like using the Sette 270 as an entry level espresso grinder, and it only gets more expensive from there!
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I think a beginner can start with whatever espresso grinder, and buy a better one when (s) he figures out what (s) he wants from his grinder. On ebay working Encore's with a few missing parts are sold for about 100Can.

Also I think I have heard of quality/reliability issues with Sette 270, but perhaps it is exaggerated. I guess if one can afford it is a great choice.

Whoever think of upgrading to Sette 270 use espresso5 to save few bucks (or get 10% off when buying with an espresso machine)

https://www.homecoffeesolutions.com/pro ... ee-grinder
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Dec 7, 2003
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The Rancilio is a great machine, I used to own the V3. It really shines when you add a PID to it as it can lock in your temps a lot better.

I used the kit from auberins. Pretty easy to install.

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