Breville Bambino vs Lucca A53

It'll be a pain in the butt if you don't like the ritual of it. If you don't want manual, it's probably around $600 for true quality espresso with a Breville Bambino and Eureka Notte or Sette 270. That will give you good shots and also has the milk frother if you ever want it. A good chunk of change though

For the espresso machine, I have been looking at the Profitec pro 600, Breville Dual Boiler BES920XL, Rancilio Silvia Pro Espresso Machine, LUCCA A53 Mini Espresso Machine by La Spaziale. As of right now, I'm leaning towards the Profitec pro 600, Rancilio pro, and the Lucca A53.

It's pretty easy after some practice and there's plenty of video tutorials so definitely give it a try. - Big water tank, easy to remove and fill - High clearance lets me easily fit my cup and scales directly under the portafilter - Simple to use. Dials and stuff would be cool but honestly so long as it pumps out adequate pressure and maintains a consistent temperature between shots, being able to monitor those variables is nice but redundant. Use a timer and cheap scales to dial-in shots, then taste, adjust grind/dose as needed, and you're all set

-The A53 drip tray is easier to work with because it's light and I just find it easier to handle due to the shape and fit.

But having already returned one machine (the pathetic De Longhi Dedica) I simply was too demoralized by the experience, and, so far, my friend and I have simply tried to adapt to the inferior Bambino. Perhaps we'll change our minds, but I honestly suspect that the problem with the Bambino, as probably with the De Longhi Dedica, is that smaller machines simply DO NOT WORK due to a basic design problem: they end up being structurally incapable of generating the kind of steam pressure required. At least, this is what I suspect. Perhaps far more expensive, smaller machines don't have this problem

* Lucca A53 - I like the classic look of this one, but the temp control seems kind of looser (you get 10 options I think?). * Rocket Mozzy V - This is slightly uncomfortable in price but seems to be the Mac daddy for the features I want.

That was after it operating presumably all day while I was away before I was able to notice it though. Only two things keep me from giving this one star. The features and the fact that it does, in fact, make a decent espresso- when it works. The automatic steam wand is excellent for beginners, but you will soon be left wanting to be more involved in that process

In terms of features the Lucca A53 and the Profitec Pro 300 are the most capable on that list while the ECM Mechanika and Appartamento seem equally the least capable. I like the Lucca the best on paper but the 53mm portafilter is a dealbreaker for me personally though this may not matter to others.

You can definitely find a less expensive unit, but you'll be compromising in key performance and construction areas, something I just wasn't willing to do. So, if you're looking for an aesthetically attractive, small-footprint, well-constructed machine that is simple to use and creates exceptional Espresso and Cappuccino, you will be truly pleased with this unit.

But yeah, an engineer buddy of mine diagrammed out why a hx was not for me (after the Gaggia experience I wanted repeatable and consistent temps) so double-boiler was my choice. My final cut was Profitec 300, 600, Bianca and a Lucca A53 Mini. I couldn't live with the black plastic of the Lucca and I didn't like the looks of the 300, nor the lame switch that I would break on the front. I also wanted good steam so the stretch seemed worth it