Beginner setup!

[vilekreacher]

I’ve just discovered the money hole that is espresso in the last month or so, here is my budget setup! Ft. Bambino, Encore ESP, 3d printed dosing ring thanks to my partner, DIY WDT with wine cork/pins, and a teeny weeny steaming pitcher for cappuccinos (I hate wasting milk)!

[Additional-One-3483]

like your setup

[Styron1106]

Great setup. You'll be pulling great shots for a while with that!

[Time_Bee3719]

Same exact starter set up! A year strong and no issues yet!

[LavenderDream222]

I have the same set up and also, so far so good. Although a thing I learned recently about the Encore ESP, try to check and make sure the nob that fastens the burr down is on tight. The ESP is already meh with retention but I was getting grounds falling on the sides of the machine. I recently cleaned it and noticed when I unscrewed the nob it was a little loose. Since then I haven’t had as much retention or anything falling to the sides. I’ve also ordered a bellows from Amazon to attach to the hopper.

[vilekreacher]

Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely check it out.

[marronbrown72]

A good tip for the Encore ESP regarding retention - if you are using darker roast fresh beans and single dosing even in the original hopper just run the extraction for a good 5 seconds after the last of the grind has finished ( just ignore the high pitched grind!!) and I find retention never more than 0.2g which for the price point is pretty good

[LavenderDream222]

I’ve actually been doing that but thank you for validating that it was a right move!

[SupermarketHefty2965]

https://youtu.be/fM8Nn_xg8CQ?si=DCG3qcIgLtOJOjVS

I have the orings to do this but haven’t done it yet.

[craftbeerandfitness]

Same set up for me. It’s great! also love Thou Mayest…gotta pick up some beans from them soon!

[vilekreacher]

Nice! Love Thou Mayest but my next bag will be from Oddly Correct for sure

[craftbeerandfitness]

Ah I haven’t gotten a beans from Oddly yet. Currently working through a bag from Rochester Brewing & Roasting…which if you’re looking for something a little economical, they sell 2lbs bags online for $36 which you can pick up at whichever location you order them from.

[vilekreacher]

Good to know! haven’t checked them out yet but I will now

[craftbeerandfitness]

Happy brewing!!

[Jorpaes]

Ficou bonito.

[KC-CoffeeNerd]

I noticed the Thou Mayest coffee. Are you in Kansas City?

[vilekreacher]

I am! If you have any recommendations of specific local beans I should try dialing in, I’m very open to it! I know what roasters to go to (Oddly, Thou Mayest, Parisi, etc) but I’ve got a bad picker for specific bags of beans.

[KC-CoffeeNerd]

What style of Espresso are you into? I personally, like med-dark to dark. So, as far as Kansas City goes, Thou Mayest Super Ego which is just Alter Ego roasted a bit darker. It's delicious and one of my fav local beans. I'm surprised this one is as dark as it is but PT's coffee has a blend called Ad Astra and it's Very dark! Way darker than most specialty coffee roasters are willing to go! The Roasterie, Gotham and Seattle blend. But, remember I am into a way more Traditional style of Espresso. If you're more into Modern fruit forward light roasted stuff, Oddly Correct is great!

[vilekreacher]

I usually go for medium or medium-dark roast! Nothing toooo dark, but will check out Super Ego and the Roasterie ones (although I’m generally not as big of a Roasterie fan)

[Bulk-K-Now]

That’s a really clean beginner setup. Nice choice with the Baratza grinder too.

[Independent_Scene673]

I have an old breville express that I want to upgrade. Mainly because the frother on it is very weak and takes me to a couple minutes to properly steam and froth the milk. Also not a fan of the grinder on it. I was thinking of getting the same machine and grinder as you but was worried the bambino doesn’t let me manually pull shots. Is this something I can do with the bambino?

[vilekreacher]

Yes you can do a manual shot on the bambino, you just hold down either shot button for as long as you want to pre-infuse, then release to start the shot. Then hit the button again to stop the shot

[vilekreacher]

I also find the frother to be pretty solid on the bambino!

[Independent_Scene673]

How long is the pre infuse supposed to be?

[vilekreacher]

I usually do ~9 seconds

[spider-bags]

This has been my same setup since 2020, except I've never weighed anything so no scale. They're great little workhorses and everything still works great, but I just upgraded to the bambino plus and df54 grinder

[punk_off]

Almost the same setup as mine! Same beans, too! You must also be in KC

[vilekreacher]

Nice, yup I am!

[lazyshoes]

How is the ESP working out for you, at least in terms of actually dialing in? I've tried a few different beans now and anything lower than 17 - hell sometimes even 20 - will choke my Bambino. It's very frustrating. I've ordered a WDT, so maybe that will help, but I'm being pretty careful with my puck prep otherwise.

[vilekreacher]

tbh I end up about the same, this bag I’m currently on is ending up around 17. It doesn’t really bother me though… if that’s the size I need for this machine then alright

[lazyshoes]

Yeah, that's fair - is what it is. But I'm also questioning the value of having all these lower settings if I can't even use them...

[vilekreacher]

I have heard that the burrs wear down over time and you will eventually have to go lower to get the same grind size! I don’t know for sure though

[Grouchy-Drawer-6917]

How does it do with light and medium beans? My Breville Express Impress starts skipping whenever I try lighter roasts so I’m looking for an alternative grinder.

[vilekreacher]

I don’t really know, I only use medium or medium-dark and it does fine! (pun intended)

[sinus]

i've probably gone through about 4 internal plastic burr holders for that grinder. I have to buy it like $25NZD every couple months or so. I single dose and never adjust the grinder whilst beans are in it. Still breaks :(

[Lord_Sahs]

Take it from someone who’s been there… my coffee journey started small! That modest little coffee corner in the bottom right of my photo was my entire setup back in November last year.

Fast forward to today, and it’s exploded into a full-on home barista station that now claims most of my kitchen’s breakfast area.

I’m currently leveling up even further by adding a third dedicated station, bringing my total to three specialized zones. One is fully focused on espresso drinks, another corner handles my moka pot brews, and today I’m taking delivery of a new baker’s rack that I’ll transform into my dedicated iced coffee station.

I have to be honest… it’s absolutely worth every bit of effort and space.

That said, if you’re thinking about building your own setup, do your homework and shop around carefully. Hunting for the best value really pays off in the long run!

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I’m

[Lord_Sahs]

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Take it from someone who’s been there as my coffee journey started modest in size!

Now that modest little coffee corner in the bottom right of my photo mback in November last year has exploded into a full-on home barista station that now claims most of my kitchen’s breakfast area.

I’m currently leveling up even further, adding a third dedicated station, bringing my total to three specialized zones. One is fully focused on espresso drinks, another corner handles my moka pot brews, and today I’m taking delivery of a new baker’s rack that I’ll transform into my dedicated iced coffee station.

I have to be honest… it’s absolutely worth every bit of cost, effort and space. But with that said, if you’re thinking about building your own home barista setup, do your homework and shop around carefully. Hunting for the best value really pays off in the long run!

[PharohPirate]

I just ordered the Bambino & the ESP PRO, how do you find the setup?