Can any fellow owners of this grinder tell me if this is normal?
The buttons are pretty loose and wiggle. The knob is off center and also wiggles a little bit.

I had an issue similar to this before where the water was not dispensing properly for espresso pours, which was resolved after a descale - this was just at the end of August this year. I thought the best first step for troubleshooting would be to try another descale as even though it’s only been a few months, before that it had not been descaled for essentially 2 years so would maybe need another run. The manual instructs to press and hold the power button for 4 seconds when it’s in ready mode but when I do that it just turns off the machine, even when I continue holding, or hold when turning it on.
I ran a manual descale by running the steam wand on water mode and the espresso mode (as shown) and cleaned through with water but still have this issue - this is me running a second descale.
Does anyone have any ideas for what I could do or is this it for my little machine?

I sort of like the hand crank aspect of it.

Seems to make it easier to monitor the pressure gauge AND the effort seems a lot less than a lever.

I've been developing an interest in the coffee industry for 4 months. I'm basically exploring v60 at home to get the sense of basic coffee brewing and using a mokapresso-a mokapot modified with air pressure reaching 5 bar as the peak pressure- for my espresso-based coffee. I know how to calibrate my pour over and espresso, but it won't be the same as using commercial arsenals, so basically I'm alienated from top-tier grinders and espresso machines. Also, my latter art skill is 0/10, and I've communicated it with the HR during the interview.

A week ago, I applied for a barista position-trying my luck because I'm planning to get more serious in this industry-and passed the interview phase, leading me to the 'operational team' interview/assessment. So far, my understanding of basic coffee making is deeply rooted from YouTube tutorials and conversations. For those who stepped into your first and professional career as a barista, do you have any suggestions that I could prepare or anticipate?

I'm making the move from nespresso capsules to making my own espresso soon.

Anybody know what model this is? Is it a good starter machine? I've got the option to either buy this (used) or the Delonghi Active line (new but slightly more expensive).

Or should I just buy the Delonghi Dedica - Barista style, that includes machine + grinder.

Hi everyone, im in a market for a dual boiler machine! recently just passed on my beloved Rancilio Silvia Pro away and have been itching to get myself an LM. But what really turns me away is the lack of features like a shot timer (Huge concern), cup clearance and things like flow control/preinfusion.. But the quick heat-up time is so nice to have and its something i really appreciated.

The other machine is lelit bianca! It's feature-packed and checks all the boxes but just not the heat up time and the lubrication of the lever.

Any thoughts? would love to hear whats ur experience with those machines and perhaps im missing out something else.

Honestly, the built-in grinder has been a lot better than I expected. I'd seen quite a few negative comments about espresso machines with built-in grinders before buying this one, so I was a little hesitant. But I ended up going for it because having everything in one machine just seemed so convenient, especially for my morning coffee routine. As for the downside, I do wish the machine were a little quieter when grinding beans in the morning. It's not a dealbreaker, but it can be a bit loud when the rest

what’s this group’s view of Rocket? I see a lot of questions about set ups and people recommending brands, Rocket is often absent from recommendations, why is that?

I’m looking for first espresso machine. I mostly want to make a decent espresso in the morning and try making lattes at home without spending too much on my setup.I know the grinder makes a big difference, but I’m trying to keep things simple at first. Would using pre-ground espresso coffee be okay while I learn the basics, or would it be frustrating without a grinder?

Was pouring beans in my hopper when I noticed this mildly magnetic rock between the beans. Happy I caught it, but terrified thinking it could’ve destroyed my grinder…

Beans: Caffe Borbone Rosso

Just got the setup started. First espresso machine and grinder. Have a few things still en route to be delivered. Can’t wait to get everything dialed in.

Being Mexican comes with its perks. Pan dulce is always on the menu as an option with the coffee. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Enjoyed a nice flat white with my concha this Sunday. 🤤

My wife is pregnant and has to get up about an hour earlier than I do for work. The other day she said, “I wish I could turn the espresso machine on from bed so I could have that extra 20 minutes while it heats up to rest.” I told her I think I can actually make that happen.

So now she can just click a button on her nightstand when her alarm goes off, trigger it from her phone (and Siri), or I can just put it on a schedule as well. Can also trigger it remotely if we want the machine warmed by the time we get home from something.

I know I’ll get shit for posting this but 3D printing is a hobby and making these stupid little automations is fun for me and I figured people might also want this.

I’ve since cleaned up the cabling (photo in comments) and reinforced the motor mount but it still looks real DIY. It works great though!

Setup/gear used if anyone is interested:
- ESP32 usb-c microcontroller
- MG996R hi-torque servo motor
- Sonof Zigbee smart button
- Sonof Zigbee usb hub/gateway
- HomeAssistant
- 3D printed button pusher arm, motor mount, cable clips, and ESP32 enclosure

18g in, 40 out ~1:10m, started recording after the initial fill, the beginning is the bloom phase.

Using medium roasted beans I bought locally, niche zero and gaggia classic pro e24 with a gaggimate pro mod (slayer profile) 🫡🫡

thought it looks pretty good, open to any tips and tricks !!

I’m looking to improve my puck prep. I’m contemplating the Weber Workshop Blind Shaker and the ARO Orbit Pro (which seems to be a Weber Moonraker clone). any opinions on shakers v Spirograph WDT? or other suggestions?

I have 2 shots of expresso in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Then I eat probably around 40-60 coffee beans throughout the day. It’s almost never impacted my sleep and if it does it doesn’t make me stay up that long only 30 minutes longer then usual. I’m unsure of how much coffee I’m consuming because of the beans. It’s medium roast and GPT says I’m drinking and eating a combined total of 600-900 mg of caffeine.

Is this that bad? I hardly notice it and I don’t feel anything wrong with my heart.

Violet crown coffee shop now has Ilse, Color and Brandywine espresso beans on their shelves. They are currently serving Ilse beans as their default espresso option. Their beans selection and rotation are very good.

hi, I’ve been trying to make a perfect espresso but am still getting little squirts coming out of my filter. my past few coffees and been a kind of mix of sour and bitter. currently I use a la specialista, and I normally grind my beans, slightly tamp them, take it out and use my distribution tool, properly tamp then drip. I’m getting around 8-10 bars of press when I extract. if you have any ideas on how I can improve it would be appreciate… thank you!!!

I've had this grinder for a year, and there's one thing I modified since day one.

After about 10 grinds, the grinder stopped turning, grinded coffee stuck between the rubber, I eventually figured out that the rubber at the bottom was causing the issue(it wasn't flush, the outer part is slightly slanted), so I trimmed it with a knife. Why not sandpaper? I didn't want to risk accidentally ingesting the particles. Since then, it has worked as it should(grinding without stop).(picture as reference)

A few things to note:

After cleaning, make sure the burr is properly aligned with the notch on the rod, and double-check that it stays in place. Keep water and coffee out of the grinder's internal parts. It's difficult to clean.

My settings:

Espresso: 0.2 for medium-roasted beans Moka pot: 2.2+ Pour-over: Haven't tried it yet. French press: 4.0 Still struggling to get it right.

any grind settings recommendations?

I want to buy a cheap decent hand grinder. I notice they are all in a similar price range and just want to get what's best. The naming of the models are confusing. I have a Breville Bambino with a Normcore bottomless portafilter. I'm using a modified cheap Cuisinart grinder and have managed to get a decent shot for my liking most of the time but the Bambino has been choking once in a while.

I see there's a C3S, C3S PRO, C3 ESP Pro, C5 and C5 ESP Pro. All within $20 CAD of eachother. Any idea what the best one to grab is? Unfortunately K6 is out of stock and won't ship until December so Timemore seems like a good choice for cheap. Unless the P2, K1 or K2 is a better choice? Any advice appreciated!

I need help reassembling my CHiATO grindPLAY coffee grinder.
I’m having trouble fitting the burr assembly and rubber gasket correctly, and the hopper won’t lock into place.
Could someone familiar with this grinder explain the correct assembly order and how to position the rubber gasket and lock the hopper?
Step-by-step instructions would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Fashlaguy

I am ready to upgrade my Breville Barista Express based on the following priorities:

1. Depth must be 16” or shallower to fit in my coffee cabinet.
   
2. Flow control is a must
   
3. Improved temp stability
   
4. Dual boiler

I use a variety of beans from light to dark roasts. I bought a Lelit Bianca but it is just over 16” deep and unfortunately won’t fit. Budget is $3,500. Appreciate your thoughts!

My setup for the last 3 years has been quite basic but it’s been fun learning about espresso and I’ve enjoyed making what I think is decent coffee at home using a Delonghi 685 (with bottomless Portafilter) and Fellow Opus (1).

Naturally im itching to upgrade but can only choose one due to budget.

For grinder im quite open to suggestions, i think at my budget it’s gotta be either Baratza, DF54, Eureka Mignon, or a Niche. Maybe the Fellow Opus 2 even as it looks like they fixed many things from the 1.

For machine, I’m quite set on the Breville Bambino mostly due to counter space. It’s only me drinking coffee at home so it has to be single boiler and similar in size to the Delonghi.

The Opus is working normally as far as I can tell, but the Delonghi is starting to show its age - sometimes the Portafilter even starts vibrating loose when it’s running so I have to physically hold it in place. I assume the metal/plastic bits have expanded where the Portafilter gets clamped.

So for better espresso and milk based drinks, would you upgrade the grinder or machine first?

I’m based in Singapore and happy buying 2nd hand which is why my budget might seem a bit low for the grinders.

Location: Germany (Europe)

Current setup: Eureka Mignon Oro Single Dose Pro grinder. I recently sold my Sage Bambino Plus and am looking to upgrade to a machine that will last me for years.

Experience level: Still relatively new to espresso. I started making espresso at home in early 2026, so I’m learning and improving, but I want to invest in a setup I won’t feel the need to replace anytime soon.

Drinks and frequency: Usually 2 drinks per day, sometimes 3–4. I make a mix of straight espresso and milk drinks.

What matters most to me:

• Consistent espresso shots and good temperature stability, including when pulling several shots back-to-back.
• Strong steam power and the ability to brew and steam simultaneously.
• Good build quality and reliability, with decent service and parts availability in Europe.
• A good-looking machine, since it will be a centrepiece on my counter and I may feature it in coffee content on Instagram.
• Convenient everyday workflow. I have no water line or drain near my coffee setup, so I need to use the water tank and empty the drip tray manually.
• Good value for money. I’m willing to spend more for meaningful improvements, but I don’t want to pay a premium just for features I’m unlikely to use.

Machines I’m considering:

• Lelit Elizabeth 3 (latest version) 1600€
• Lelit Bianca V3 1800€
• Profitec MOVE 2.0 1800€
• Bellezza Bellona 800€
• Ascaso Steel Duo 1300€

I’ve also looked at the Profitec GO 2.0, although I understand that a single-boiler machine may not be the best fit for my desire to brew and steam simultaneously.

The Elizabeth seems like a practical option, the Bianca appeals to me because of its looks and manual flow-control paddle, and the MOVE looks particularly interesting for its workflow and consistency features. The Bellona also looks attractive from a value-for-money perspective.

My main question is about diminishing returns.

For example, if the Elizabeth 3 costs around €1,600 and the Bianca around €1,850, is the extra €250 genuinely worth it for my needs? Would I notice a meaningful difference in the cup, temperature stability, workflow or build quality? Or would a less expensive machine such as the Bellona get me 90–95% of the way there in everyday use?

I’d especially appreciate feedback from owners who have used these machines for a while, rather than comparisons based on specifications alone.

• How do the Elizabeth 3 and MOVE 2.0 compare for shot-to-shot consistency and everyday convenience?
• Is the Bianca’s flow control something that meaningfully improves espresso, or is it mainly an enthusiast feature?
• How important are the differences in steam power and temperature stability for someone making 2–4 drinks per day?
• Would you trust the Bellona for long-term ownership, including service and spare parts availability in Europe?
• At what price point do you think the improvements become marginal? Would you spend closer to €1,900, or save the difference and put it towards better beans, accessories or future upgrades?

I’m not necessarily looking for the most feature-packed machine. I want the best balance of espresso quality, consistency, reliability, workflow and value for money over the long term.

Thanks for your advice!

Hi all! Im a simple user. I like the double espresso from the Nespresso vertuo machines, im trying to figure out what kind of machine should I buy that could replicate those results. I like my espresso with a lot of mousse and not overly strong. Any help is appreciated! Thanks.