Green Coffee Buying Club

Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: BoldJava on April 20, 2009, 03:49:27 AM

Title: Equipment Glut?
Post by: BoldJava on April 20, 2009, 03:49:27 AM
I got a 10% off code from an online vendor.  Their Rancilio Silvia is already marked down to $534 (not reconditioned).  That comes to $481 shipped.  Wow.  Aabree, though not a plug for them. I am still a Chris's fan for the after-service.  I will pay for that upfront.

This unit was running for $699 all Fall, from all the vendors. What does that tell you about the recession and high end equipment?  Lots of vendors sitting with equipment gathering dust.  We might see some consolidation of the market and some bargains, though I hate that as it is indicative of where we are at.  If you have the bucks and are in the market, keep your powder dry.

Upgraditis anyone?  Not here.

B|Java
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: mp on April 20, 2009, 05:26:54 AM
That sure is a deal if you are looking at Miss Sylvia.  To stop the upgrade-itis disease I bypassed this step and went HX at a good used price ... just over the selling price of Miss Sylvia last fall.

As you say though ... if you are in the market ... there will be some good deals to be had.

 :)
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: anastasio on April 20, 2009, 06:35:02 PM
I am looking for a good new or used grinder, but I am having trouble spending over $100. Anything less appears to be crap. Still waiting for the priced to come down or for a good used deal.

Yes, I know, I am contributing to the deflation problem  :P, but until then, my hand grinder will do...
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: Tex on April 20, 2009, 06:52:19 PM
I am looking for a good new or used grinder, but I am having trouble spending over $100. Anything less appears to be crap. Still waiting for the priced to come down or for a good used deal.

Yes, I know, I am contributing to the deflation problem  :P, but until then, my hand grinder will do...

If you're waiting for a sub-$100 espresso grinder, don't hold your breath! The cheapest used espresso-capable grinders are Gaggia MDF models & they sell on eBay for $150. Used Rancilio Rocky grinders sell for $200 or more. Used commercial grinders sell on eBay for $200 - 400. The least expensive new espresso grinder is the Cunill Tranquilo for $235.

Hand grinders can do a good job but figure on ~200 turns of the crank to grind enough coffee for one double shot. That's too much work for me!
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: MMW on April 21, 2009, 06:37:03 AM
I picked up a Rossi here a couple of months ago with new burrs shipped for $180.  There's deals out there if you're patient.
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: Glacier on April 21, 2009, 07:12:11 AM
I am looking for a good new or used grinder, but I am having trouble spending over $100. Anything less appears to be crap. Still waiting for the priced to come down or for a good used deal.

Have you tried/seen the Jura-Capresso Infinity Conical grinder at Costco? (under a $100 dlvd)

Of course the beauty with Costco- bring it home or have it delivered...you don't like it?

Take it to your local store and get a refund.

Just a thought- I have used this, (it was not mine) and had very good luck.

just an FYI

Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: anastasio on April 21, 2009, 08:11:24 PM
That is the one that I have had my eye on. A friend bought one and is very happy with it. He mocks me for not buying one yet, but I tell him that grinding the beans by hand vs. his grinder is like making bread by hand vs using a bread machine. A labor of love.

The Capresso is probably what I will get if I don't find any better deals in the next month or so - arms are getting tired  :)

Thanks for the suggestion!
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: draagoth on April 21, 2009, 09:13:45 PM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/3/6/7/2/5/webimg/253410993_tp.jpg)

Rob :D
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: mp on April 22, 2009, 02:53:21 AM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

([url]http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/3/6/7/2/5/webimg/253410993_tp.jpg[/url])

Rob :D


Well done Rob ... great grinder and a great price!

 :)
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: milowebailey on April 22, 2009, 07:05:13 AM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

([url]http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/3/6/7/2/5/webimg/253410993_tp.jpg[/url])

Rob :D

Rob

Burrs are cheap for those... $40 and it will be like new.... as long as the doser isn't broken.  Great price.  I look forward to hearing the condition it's in when it arrives.

Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: peter on April 22, 2009, 08:48:33 AM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

Rob :D

And if you don't need a doser, Milowebailey has a great mod to make it doserless.
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: milowebailey on April 22, 2009, 09:00:14 AM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

Rob :D

And if you don't need a doser, Milowebailey has a great mod to make it doserless.
and come to think of it I do have spare doser (for parts) it has a few broken parts.
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: ButtWhiskers on April 22, 2009, 09:34:27 AM
I am looking for a good new or used grinder, but I am having trouble spending over $100. Anything less appears to be crap. Still waiting for the priced to come down or for a good used deal.

Yes, I know, I am contributing to the deflation problem  :P, but until then, my hand grinder will do...
Until you get into fairly high-end equipment, your grinder is always going to be your weakest link.  It is way better to drop $150 or $200 for a secondhand Mazzer or equivalent (keep your eyes peeled) and spend $100 less on your espresso machine (or excess greens), than to have a nice espresso machine that pulls second-rate shots due to inconsistent grinding.  Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

There has been an outfit at the Seattle CoffeeFest that sells secondhand commercial equipment, and had Jollies for $175 (2 years ago).  With the economic downturn, I would suspect that businesses like that will be doing a booming business this year.  I have seen La San Marco, Simonelli rebadges, and Cunill grinders for $100 in the last two months on Craigslist.  While not as nice as a Mazzer or Macap, they would probably not be dragging you down.
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: milowebailey on April 22, 2009, 09:45:43 AM
you mean like this?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/for/1128520441.html

Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: Tex on April 22, 2009, 11:40:30 AM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

([url]http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/3/6/7/2/5/webimg/253410993_tp.jpg[/url])

Rob :D


Great find Rob! The RR-45's rate right up there with the Super Jolly & MD-50 grinders.

Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: Tex on April 22, 2009, 11:43:46 AM
I am looking for a good new or used grinder, but I am having trouble spending over $100. Anything less appears to be crap. Still waiting for the priced to come down or for a good used deal.

Yes, I know, I am contributing to the deflation problem  :P, but until then, my hand grinder will do...
Until you get into fairly high-end equipment, your grinder is always going to be your weakest link.  It is way better to drop $150 or $200 for a secondhand Mazzer or equivalent (keep your eyes peeled) and spend $100 less on your espresso machine (or excess greens), than to have a nice espresso machine that pulls second-rate shots due to inconsistent grinding.  Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

There has been an outfit at the Seattle CoffeeFest that sells secondhand commercial equipment, and had Jollies for $175 (2 years ago).  With the economic downturn, I would suspect that businesses like that will be doing a booming business this year.  I have seen La San Marco, Simonelli rebadges, and Cunill grinders for $100 in the last two months on Craigslist.  While not as nice as a Mazzer or Macap, they would probably not be dragging you down.

Those $170(ish) grinders were probably the ones from Starbuck's as they converted over to super-auto machines. Those days are long gone, and now you have to look hard & long to get a quality grinder at a decent price.

Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: mp on April 22, 2009, 03:11:53 PM
Those $170(ish) grinders were probably the ones from Starbuck's as they converted over to super-auto machines. Those days are long gone, and now you have to look hard & long to get a quality grinder at a decent price.


At time of posting this (http://tiny.cc/zZ528) Italian grinder is on fLeabay ... current bid $95.00 with shipping $45.00 and just 2 days left for bidding on it ... in case someone wants to take advantage of it.
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: draagoth on April 22, 2009, 06:21:22 PM
Rob

Burrs are cheap for those... $40 and it will be like new.... as long as the doser isn't broken.  Great price.  I look forward to hearing the condition it's in when it arrives.



I too will be interested in seeing the condition when it arrives. I know very little about fancy grinders like this so maybe if it's broken I won't even notice.

Rob :D
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: Tex on April 22, 2009, 08:14:27 PM
Two searches I use for commercial espresso grinders:

Craig's List espresso grinders listed in past 24 hours (can be expanded to past Week/Month/Year)
http://tinyurl.com/62zacd

eBay - Search eBay for commercial espresso grinders
http://tinyurl.com/5bm73u
Title: Re: Equipment Glut?
Post by: Shannon22 on April 28, 2009, 03:16:54 AM
I just picked up a Rossi RR45a from ebay for $106 delivered. Looks like it needs a good cleaning and maybe a new set of burrs, but other than that looks OK. I guess I'll find out when it gets here.

Rob :D

And if you don't need a doser, Milowebailey has a great mod to make it doserless.
and come to think of it I do have spare doser (for parts) it has a few broken parts.

Really?  I lost a piece to my Fiorenzato while I was attempting to repair and clean it.  The little plastic piston that is spring-loaded to 'rachet' the doser.  I realize I could probably get something at the hardware store that might suffice, but I haven't been comfortable enough to do that yet.  I was then thinking of trying to make it doserless anyway, which I think I'd prefer.  Do you know the piston piece I'm talking about?  How intensive is it to make it doserless?  Seems like it wouldn't be a big deal if you had the right the pieces.