Thread: Coffee Enthusiasts

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Excellent choice. This was actually my first choice but since I like both latte and espresso I decided for an HX machine. The Classika is pretty much a straight espresso machine only with the single boiler but it's got all the bells and whistles you can ask for. Any of the ECM machines are of the highest quality and I'd buy another one if I was forced to. Great choice on the grinder too. You're all set up for a very long time.

Thank you Max! I just happened to see your earlier post with your new ECM machine. I had never heard of ECM until last week but fortunately we have a very good vendor in Canada that stock their products.

On your side of the border Clive coffee does such a wonderful job explaining these products and their videos and website were instrumental in helping me make an informed decision.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Thank you Max! I just happened to see your earlier post with your new ECM machine. I had never heard of ECM until last week but fortunately we have a very good vendor in Canada that stock their products.

On your side of the border Clive coffee does such a wonderful job explaining these products and their videos and website were instrumental in helping me make an informed decision.

Indeed. I ordered mine from Clive with the added benefit that they are located on the West coast. If I were living on the East I would have ordered from Whole Latte Love. You guys have idrinkcoffee and espresso planet ;-).

So the ECM titan arrived today and it is a fabulous machine.
I had ordered the ECM convex tamper and tamping station but it didn't work for me. I find the stand useless and prefer tamping on the counter over a towel. I exchanged it for a Pullman tamper which I should be receiving soon.

Awesome setup. I love my ECM tamping station now that I got used to it. Upgrades that I made are a 3 hole steaming tip, IMS shower screen and a 14 and 18 grams VST basket. U use the 14gram one as my daily driver. Not saying the standard ECM hardware isn't good but the upgrades do show a difference for me. I also added a funnel for the portafilter. What beans do you like or use?

I typically like Ethiopian single origin espresso.

The one I have going now is an Ethiopian natural " Layo Tarago" by ZAB roasters from Montreal. Notes of strawberry, peach and chocolate.

I enjoy it as a French press as well. Really delicious stuff.

Max, did the VST basket fit well in the ECM portafilter? I have the double spot and a bottomless ECM portafilter. The bottomless looks like a triple basket! it makes for quite a strong shot. I was thinking of getting a smaller dose Pullman or VST basket instead, but not sure if it will fit or work best .

My wife is hating me for taking up some of her precious counterspace.

Originally Posted by Badgister

New toy this week, an ECM Classika II with PID. I am enamoured with it and it's perfect for my needs, straight up espresso, no milk. Using this thing is such a breeze compared to the Europiccola I used to have.

I will be receiving my new grinder soon, an ECM V-Titan 64 which will be replacing my Rancilio Rocky.

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Excellent HX machine. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Making a comparison to the Europiccola, or any lever machine is apples and oranges. Perhaps on the order of an electric razor to a straight.

There is such artistry to creating a great coffee and the final extraction is just one piece of the puzzle. I've enjoyed coffees produced with all manner of appliances and you can arrive at excellence many different ways.

Thank you! It is actually a single boiler machine. I love lever machines, but one that would suit my needs would exceed 3k.

The profitec pro 800 was on my radar, but really, this ecm machine does not disappoint.

The straight and electric razor analogy is cute, but an electric shaver won't give you a good bbs shave.

In my case I would say it's more like driving a vintage gear shift fiat with an engine that is prone to overheating to now driving an automatic modern luxury ( insert make of your choice) sedan.

I'll take an XKE with all its mechanical warts, over any paddle shifter.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Max, did the VST basket fit well in the ECM portafilter? I have the double spot and a bottomless ECM portafilter. The bottomless looks like a triple basket! it makes for quite a strong shot. I was thinking of getting a smaller dose Pullman or VST basket instead, but not sure if it will fit or work best .

My wife is hating me for taking up some of her precious counterspace.

I have 2 VST baskets (14 and actually 17gr) and an IMS 7gr and they all fit any of my portafilters from the single/double spout to the bottomless. You can also easily fit any 58.6mm tamper in those VST/IMS baskets but with small tolerances amongst them I have mine at 58.4mm and I never have an issue with it being tight.

The added benefit of being a bachelor is that I can use all the counter-space I want without anyone chewing my ears off. Same with all the shaving software taking up every inch in the bathroom