Help me direct a friend in a purchase

[sosha]

So, a co-worker asked me for advice on a new coffee maker.  I asks her what she wants, and she says something for both coffee and espresso (for milk based drinks) in one unit, small footprint.  Uh-oh.  Next, she tells me that "Yea, I know the top of the line runs about $600....."   I just continue to listen.  Grinder never entered the convo.   MY first thought was Jura Ena9 refurb at 1st, but even that is $700.

How do you all help folks with these requests for advice? 

[BoldJava]

...
How do you all help folks with these requests for advice? 

Telling them they are wasting their money but help them along the way.  Discourage them, educate them, and then let them decide as its their money.

[SJM]

I respectfully decline...

[milowebailey]

Tell her to buy a $2 plastic pour-over and a Gaggia Classic and a Baratza grinder, or focus on one prep and then move to the next.


Technivorm would be my suggestion for drip.
Bona-vita next choice
then the Brazen


But with any of them I'd suggest a Baratza grinder.

[Nucer]

I start off telling them I am a coffee snob and add to that the idea of home roasting.  Then I add that  my recommendation will not meet their needs.  Of course all this is done in a polite and easy way.  So don't make a recommendation since whatever you recommend will be way over their heads.

I know that doesn't answer your question but it will keep your co-worker talking to you.


(Been there, done that, and now have an ex-friend at work in Benbrook, Texas)

[John F]

I think it's fair to say "I'm not aware of anything like this".

Then add that your set up is multiple machines, huge footprint, and at least 5 times over their budget. You could offer some solid advice on a set up like that but not what they currently have in mind.

[sosha]

I think it's fair to say "I'm not aware of anything like this".

I'm liking this response.  She's seen my set-up, be it ever so humble (Ponte Vecchio, Bunn Trifecta, Vario, K3).  Gentle nudge towards a Technivorm and an Encore.     "Start slow" is also a good suggestion......

[peter]

I like that you qualified your friend's interest in espresso for milk drinks, which might tell us they're not that serious about espresso itself.  But I'd still ask (like I do when people say they want to cross over to the dark side), "Why?".  I often see some magical/mystical allure to espresso, even though the inquirer admits to never having had espresso that they loved.

Your friend might just be happy w/ an AP and its fake espresso and some sort of milk frother, similar to what yakster said.  And like Milo wrote, it would be great advice to have the friend focus on one aspect/brew method and master that, and only then proceed.

[rasqual]

Tell her to buy a $2 plastic pour-over and a [relatively expensive espresso gear]

I think this is brilliant advice because it's abruptly educational. Conventional brewing and espresso are DIFFERENT PLANETS.

Spending significant cash for espresso but suffering from too much ennui to be bothered with manually brewing coffee . . . that's not love of coffee. Which is, I guess, fine -- but then why ask coffee lovers for advice? It'd be like reviewing Shakespeare's romantic sonnets as preparation for leering the night away at a strip club.

LOL

OK, maybe not quite that bad.

What's wrong with Americanos?

[sosha]

Americanos.   Brilliant.   

[peter]

I've tried Americanos every which way, and for me, they don't come close to measuring up to a well-made cup of coffee.

[John F]

I've tried Americanos every which way, and for me, they don't come close to measuring up to a well-made cup of coffee.

Agreed.

I'd have one in an emergency but to me they are the worst route to get around the block so to speak.

I'd much rather just have that shot.

[BozemanEric]

I have to wholeheartedly agree with Peter and John on the Americano issue.

[Intrepid510]

There is this http://coffeegeek.com/opinions/markprince/05-09-2014

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

[rasqual]

OK, so we have the tally of coffee lovers who object to Americanos.

So what's wrong with Americanos for someone who wants to cheap out on a budget do-all super-auto, and appears to disdain the notion of crafting single cups in an artful way?