Classika PID

Hello and we all appreciate you doing this! I am currently rocking the ECM Classika with a DF64 (ssp cast v3) and am debating on upgrading. Main reason is I thought the single boiler would be fine for me, and it is, but my wife recently started asking for lattes and now the single boiler is a pain to switch as often as I have to. What dual boiler would give me a similar feel to my Classika? Assuming the synchronika, but I haven’t looked outside of ECM for dual boilers yet. Started on the BBE before getting my Classika. Always been very intrigued by the DE1…

buy once cry once. wish I did that too. went from a brevile, to a emc classika PID, to my current lucca 58. and almost went this route in 2019 but held off.

if you are financially able to afford it right now I'm would if thats the one you really want. I upgraded twice sob3 machines. if i would do it all over again I would of gone with the micra instead of the breville, then a ecm classika to the current lucca m58.

Vote for the classika because you can add a flow control paddle. With a pid, you have a ton of control over your shot

[espresso coffee shop](https://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/en/coffee-grinders/55-657-0-eureka-mignon-specialita--coffee-grinder.html#/2-voltage-110_v/4-color-black/9-set_up-15bl) has great prices on grinders. They ship directly from Europe, I got the specialita shipped to my door for about 420$. It’s an amazing grinder for espresso. For a machine since you work from home and make multiple milk drinks have you considered a heat exchanger and smart plug. IMO nothing looks better on the counter than an E61 style group head and a HX machine will be best for steaming and making espresso. I have a classika single boiler because i dont do milk drinks, but with a 12$ smart switch its ready to go when i wake up and stays on until afternoon. Something like this would last you many many years to come and would be capable of anything you throw at it. Your workflow would be much easier too which is worth its weight in gold. My philosophy is always buy once cry once, no point upgrading 6 different times.

That’s awesome! Yeah, I’ve seen the community on discord and HB. It seems like a great one to be apart of and, having lived in Denver before I’d like to support Ross’ work. The lack of pump noise is actually one of those features that very few talk about but it’s something I know I’d miss if I went with a rotary machine like the classika. I think I’ll probably go with the classika now and may make the switch to Argos when the platform and company is more mature.

I’m similarly shopping to get a new machine to upgrade my Breville and have pretty much determined that the ECM Classika is the best option for me. I looked at the Micra and Synchronika, but I feel that my sporadic milk drinks aren’t worth the added cost or space on the counter. Clive Coffee seemed to agree when we spoke as well.

I got the Classika about a month ago and have no regrets whatsoever. I rarely make milk drinks, so a double boiler made no sense to me from a time savings/workflow perspective. Additionally, an HX machine didn’t make sense as espresso is my priority, and not milk. I have brewed both light and dark roasts on it and have produced some of the best shots I’ve ever had this far after about 15 years in this hobby. No regrets whatsoever and loved the service from the fellas at Clive.

ECM gets my vote. Build quality and my personal opinion on appearance.

I suppose I should probably elaborate slightly on my connection to the “build quality” comment. I work on espresso machines pretty much every day (today two different La Marzocco and one Synesso), and I have been in the coffee industry for over 25 years. They’re both built super well, but just a bit more attention to detail and bells and whistles go into the ECM machines, to the extent that I would take a Synchronika II over a LM Mini, and I say that as a LM wholesale supplier.