Buonissima macchina!

Buonissima macchina!

Gastroback 42620 Design Espresso Advanced "Barista Edition" (household goods)

Customer Review

After many years with fully automatic, where no one could prepare the Caffé so, how do you get him in Italy, should finally be an end to the frustration when you're back from Italy and the broth from the fully automatic to expect. Normally, it is then always lasted about 3 months until one has come to terms with it and is doing this broth ....

Every year I have flirted in Italy holiday so a filter holder to buy, but this was mostly discarded for practical reasons, either because we were there by plane and the excess baggage would have ruined us, or did not have the space in the car ... With a friend I discovered the Advanced Pro G that I liked right away and I almost bought then. My family and friends wanted to give me birthday then. By chance I got away with something and started to make me the machine sly while I discovered that there is the Barista Edition. The decisive for me criteria were the better temperature control and the ability to vary these in the range of +/- 2 ° C, so I here can be somewhat 'play', then the separate hot water nozzle and the higher ground beans container for worry is that the beans are less warm (who gets the tank empty in a week, can be neglected). Everyone needs to decide for itself whether it is the Advanced or the barista. To me it was the difference of EUR 300 worth, which I then laid on top of it a gift to get the upgrade to Barista.

The machine came on time (thanks for this at the Fa. Deltatecc) and so I was able to unpack then today the same. The packaging is very good, everything is packed well and safely. The machine is quickly unpacked and assembled, bean hopper off and then it can almost go. On the filter I have omitted because we already filter the water and therefore no double filtering is necessary for use with normal tap water, it is advisable, however, to use the filter. The bean container is mounted quickly and can also lose weight quickly, if one wants to change the beans or they want to store just a cool, dark, if you unlocked the container, automatically closes the Bohnenweg so that no beans can fall out.

The first espresso was disgusting, it was brewed with the default settings, so adjust the grind and practiced the Tampern, it did not take long and you could achieve a really good result. The settings of the machine are sufficient and the freeness is in the middle of adjustment, so that enough air remains for setting in both directions. Here I had some concerns because several reviews for Advanced Pro G here it negotiated that the grind in the finest position is still too coarse and one would have to modify the grinder accordingly. This is definitely not the case here, so that I have to make me not worry about the endangered thereby guarantee.

After assembling and filling the tank then the first commissioning with the flushing of the machine. This is highly recommended, as here but some dirt particles come to light that you certainly do not want to communicate to drink. After rinsing of all waterways with a full tank (about 2 liters) came with nothing and thus the machine was then ready to go. Since I only again must get in Italy my beans, I have the next four weeks use the varieties available here, but I am already curious to see how the machine is with my favorite beans of Marcafe work (from Giulianova in Italy), this I am in a few weeks my impressions. So given the vorhanedenen beans in the container, it is easily accessible and you meet easily in, then started the engine and off you go. First you hear the pump that automatically vents the machine at power up and then it heats up, it takes about 1 minute, then light all the buttons and off you go.

First, of course, the right screen (there are 2 here, one for one, one for two cups) Insert and insert the filter holder in the mill. I've put the amount to the lowest level so as not to crowd the screen, if necessary, you can manually post refining, so can quickly find the optimal setting. Warned by the other reviews for Pro G I have paid attention to how the meal falls into the sieve, here I can not say anything derogatory, it does not fall as expected, mainly back in, but is equally at the screen, is important just that the screen is previously dry with a cloth. The tamper the flour then pressed and rotated, then you go to the first reference. As I said, the first coffee went straight to the sink, the second could even be tasted, then the third was already tasty .. I think a few more Einstellübungen, then it's perfect. The gauge provides useful services, a glance at the clock, I recommend to to see the brewing time, which helps on the way to perfect coffee. Pity you can not drink without limit without suffering at some point a caffeine shock here then shows the difference to the fully automatic, in which 10 cups cause any significant reactions, but here after 3-4 cups a break is strongly recommended :-)

In the coming weeks I will certainly complement this review and write my other impressions.

The machine itself, I have the first impressions here zusammengfaßt:

-The Look and feel makes a very good impression.
-The Solution to the accessory tray is very good, the accessories are well protected
-The Cleaning the drip grid is very simple thanks to stainless steel
-The Use is very simple with little practice
-The Manual is very good and understandable even for beginners Espresso
-The Tamper with the magnet is a smart solution, so everyone can work at will

Update after the 1st week with the machine:
Negative noticeable that the amount of coffee at its lowest setting enough powder ejects that although the coffee is okay, but in this state, the switch position in the middle would be desirable to be able to vary in both directions. Maybe that's better with other coffees, so I'm going to not give in to panic, especially since I anyway manually grind here, pure look so directly, is how much powder in the sieve.
More negative things I could not discover until now and this is a point should not be so very relevant to the overall picture of the machine.

My impression after the first few days:
The espressos are still very good, it is a pleasure to start the day in the morning on the machine, no comparison to the fully automated system which with very best materials hinkriegt no good espresso itself. The fumbling with the portafilter is compared to a button on the fully automatic no soooo great additional effort, after all, one has here in his own hands, as the result will be. When fully automatic one can even the flagships and the knowledge of how to get to the technician menu, unable to comparable results, an attempt at the Saeco failed almost fact that the powder in the brewing unit can not be compressed so much (as heard it previously so on, as there would now equal to what to rupture), if it has then made it to the top, comes barely coffee bottom out, and what is coming is lukewarm and inedible. Thus the advantages are definitely on the side of the filter holder, probably will beat everyone here portafilter ALL fully automatic ...

As before, the impression that the mill leaves itself, positive, neither the flour falls out anywhere, even here is ground too coarsely or finely. The varieties tested so far are all somewhere optimal ground in the middle position, so that air is present in both directions, in this case continues to be no doubts as to the grinding mill.

Now was already visit there to drink coffee, macchiato, the desire for a cappuccino or latte was of course also there, so that the steam should also be used. The Saeco was a machine with 2 groups, ie separate steam loop, which is a criterion for the purchase at that time was, the more tense I was, of course, as the steam generation has been solved here. The jug of milk in one hand and put the knob to steam reference, first nothing happens, it just flashes the steam LED. After a short waiting time the pump starts and it comes from the steam nozzle. the first few pots were not good, but once you get the hang after a few times, get out of here remarkably good results, and with any milk that you get so. Only the fresh from the cow I have not tested now, but I will someday surely sometimes try :-) After steam dispensing nozzle is blown again, so that milk residues should not be able verbeiben in the nozzle, I clean the pipe after Milschschäumen always with a wet rag and still give you a shot of steam into the drip tray, then it is definitely clean. After drawing off steam can be obtained almost immediately coffee, because there only a very short cooling phase is necessary, thermoblock and the PID controller appear here really first choice for home use to be.

And so we have arrived at the temperature behavior of the machine: After switching can immediately coffee are ground until you are finished, the machine is already heated. However, it is advisable to first make an empty reference without powder to preheat the Brühlopf and the cups / glasses, the first coffee is also perfect. I can not tell you how good that would be in the PRO G, but here it works perfectly now, of course. Since there is hot water now and then needed the hot water nozzle is a good thing, it has to decide for themselves whether this is justified at 300 EUR More price. For me a clear yes, because here yes, there is also the possibility of the brewing temperature to +/- 2 ° C to adjust, which then creates the possibility to taste the coffee really optimal. My decision to Barista I have therefore no regrets, perhaps there is indeed talk a review of upgraders, which previously had a Pro G and is switched to the Barista, which could be interesting to see whether the benefits of the baristas here consequence.

Now even the maintenance: The Clean-Me-lamp has not lit up, even from the descaling we are a long way away. The previous daily care is thus limited to the drip tray. This can be easily removed and rinse (best under cold water), short dry and replace, done! The regular coffee procurement volumes in the home do not have any draining and cleaning in between requires, in this case also a good score for the machine. The only thing my little "spanish" occurs, the descaling instructions in the manual, because that this should go within 5 minutes, I think is very optimistic, here I will look at the appropriate time, whether this really works so or whether you better choose a different strategy in order to obtain the result that the machine is free of lime. This will be then examined in more detail in another update.

So, now have 2 months (ok, I was away for 3 weeks in Italy away from the barista) passed and the machine thus done now for some time their services here.
The Clean-Me-lamp has illuminated 3 times now and then so made a cleaning, this I use normal tabs (eg the BND Coffee Studio) and the cleaning insert in the small screen. The whole process takes about 5 minutes, then the machine is cleaned. At contents of the collecting container can be seen that is actually cleaned here, the first time I have jokingly afterwards made a 2nd cleaning, because the container was clean, so does the cleaning.

From Italy I brought my Marcafe Moka, 30 kg thus it ranges guaranteed until the next trip. With each variety you try through the settings, which is unavoidable if you want a good result. Here the correct degree of grinding was quickly found and the amount I had a little more to go up, it must not be the coffee tampern quite as strong. So another new experience but again with a perfect result.

Meanwhile I use the blank reference for heating the brewing head to preheat the cup, as you propose then 2 birds with one stone and the first espresso in the morning is a good start to the day.

-1.11.2014-
So, now are indeed a few months passed since then, as promised, I will tell now again how it goes in the meantime with the machine. The Marcafe Moka is still in use (have indeed 30kg shopped in Italy), to the setting I've changed nothing, the coffee is so still perfect, which also shows that the rules in the machine is working well.
As before, it is a pleasure to drink coffee from the barista. Meanwhile, I've also decalcified, since I had my doubts, because it starts with the same key combination such as cleaning. But since not is when descaling the portafilter in it, seems to be the machine that then "remember" that is decalcified. The only thing I do not like is that when descaling the heating runs along in the soluble decalcifiers (this includes my amidosulphonic) would prefer me cold descaling. Maybe I'll install for the guarantee here a switch, with which the heating can be switched off. Disadvantages I now have yet seen no, Just be aware not to take Entkalker who begins to foam at high temperatures, can happen when any unnecessary cleaners still are added. Now, the decalcification ran smoothly from, then rinsed for 2 container clear water and the coffee is perfect again. If the temperature is low (when Marcafe you know it, if the taste wanders into sour) and also the Crema subsides, is an indication of lime, I do it every 2 months now, that should be enough.
One could also Kalkprogramm only neghmen for flushing the water softener and the machine then unplug and let the descaler work in peace, then make the whole thing 2-3 times at intervals of one hour so and then leave through the descaling last run, then to be relatively sure that absolutely everything is out there, which I recommend, if you, the device rarely decalcified, so only when the symptoms it anrät.

After 4 months meoin conclusion is therefore still very positive, to LaPavoni & Co. I do not think the Gastroback really is a very good representative of Siebträgerliga, I can still highly recommend it. In another review I read of a defective pump, but also that this was repaired quickly broken and the machine is still in use. Here you just have to know that the pumps used are diaphragm pumps, here may lead to the symptoms described, but that is not a weakness of this machine, but a basic feature of such pumps. Since these are installed in almost all coffee machines and equipment, this problem can also occur with any other machine that the barista was repaired quickly and now continues to work, the problem can then still in the green zone are. Even after the warranty is such a pump is no problem, which cost around 20 EUR new, so not a big deal, because if something happens.

A little tip on the edge yet: After cleaning or descaling I fat above the filter holder with silicone grease (you can buy at the hardware store as a food grade grease fittings) and set him empty a few times a, by the seal is greased slightly and remain supple.

So, ready, now I'm an espresso drink :-))

01/08/2015
So, now so are six months come and gone, the machine still works perfectly. The espressos come well out, it looks now but look as the grinder would have incorporated something, so tell me, which probably initially sharp and burred edges of grinding cones have put something (completely normal), which struck the fact that the amount of coffee had to be increased slightly at the counter. Thus, the regulator now comes a little more toward center so that finally can be played around here also make sense with the coffee quantity. A new car must be retracted, so it will be here. One must then possibly also readjust something on freeness to enjoy espresso as good as usual.

The daily use of the machine is limited still sure to empty the tray and clean the 3 items of the shell under fleißendem rinse and dry then wipe the machine with a damp cloth that's it. From time to time the CleanMe lamp comes and einaml month I let go through descaler, it does not need more care. After descale the one notices that the coffee is a little hotter, which shows you that descaling has worked. Who, of course, used the enclosed filter insert, is correspondingly less descale but that then have to change the use regularly. Without descale it but does not work well because I would then descale according to every 3 months (at my coffee consumption of 5-6 pcs. Per day). Mir is the lime in the water for coffee important, because it gives a rounder taste in coffee, but that's a matter of taste, here everyone feels differently. Softening in the instructions does so and the machine seems really based on the lack of screen support (and the associated lack of pressure) to perform the descaling correctly. The only thing I liked better still, would be if the descaling ausbliebe the heating and could thereby descale the water nozzle and the steam nozzle with.

My conclusion after the 6 months is still positive.
Much negative I have not found. There are several reasons, but one should not exaggerate, because they are noticeable only in passing and are not bad because they do not fall in comparison to expensive machines that are no better significance. The first coffee in the morning is not necessarily optimal, simply because the waterways are not heated through properly. Here it is really advisable to empty reference to the two-cup to Machne and then have to wait until the machine is completely heated through. I always do before I go to the bathroom, then the machine in any case is then ready and the first coffee is good. A boiler machine must here Preheat least as long and even there is no vacancy reference before the first coffee out not really good coffee. Otherwise I would have liked a clearer manual, initially this is sufficient, but if you start time to experiment, this is a little too superficial.

Update 03/07/2015
The first downside is there (not on the machine, but when Gastroback, hence no deduction on the machine) ... I had inquired about 4 weeks ago at Gastroback where I can relate parts, I want a second filter holder and the seal in the brewing head of the filter holder for the worst-case scenario, to say I have to this day not received, so I'm already disappointed that one since the rain is left standing.

06/21/2015
So, now the good part is less than a year here, with an average of 8 cups / day it is still at its best, in other words, there have been no problems, the machine is still working perfectly. Last week we switched to softened water, we indulged in a system that reduces the water from 16 ° dH to 6 ° dH. The coffee was then a little stronger in taste, but on the whole it works so very well.
Unfortunately, 30kg MarCafe are used up and I had to keep yesterday for a new coffee out, in Kaufland there Lavazza beans that I have then taken. I did not think how disgusting the coffee was sour, I do not have him hammer out, either too acidic or wreaked in between was nothing to be done. So once again going on and brought a 100% Arabica, because I wanted to do that anyway for a long time. Selected default setting (which I found out when Marcafe) and snacked, freeness one high, one down, again in the middle, then the amounts still tried something, after 10 cups of coffee was very good, restored the peace.

Gastroback has not been reported until now, whether I probably should call times?

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