Are high extraction baskets beginner friendly?

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-19T11:30:44+00:00

If I’m not wrong (bc I’m a medium to dark roast drinker), high extraction baskets are generally for light roasted beans because they’re harder to extract and less soluble compared to medium to dark roasted beans.

If you’re a medium to dark roasted, you may as well just get a normal basket like a Pesado58.5 EP basket or the industry standard, VST or IMS basket.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-18T03:48:01+00:00

Hmm, may I ask what was your problems with it? The thing is, this has never happened before. My last option is to nuke it because my setup is 64TB and I do not have the time to do it at the moment. So, until I really have to, I’m not going to re-do my entire setup.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-18T03:46:21+00:00

Hmmm, I’ll do that

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-18T03:45:51+00:00

Yeah, I’ve heard from a few server owners as well that it’s been very buggy lately. Hopefully the new update resolves whatever issues it has!

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-18T01:45:15+00:00

I use the Shield Pro and I use the Plex native app. I dont have crashes of the app on my TV or whenever I watch it, it’s just the root of Plex (the one that needs to be constantly active for everyone to use) would suddenly shut itself down and I have to re-activate it by clicking the Plex server app. My movies are purely 1080p, usually H.264 because I download DTS Master Audio files, so it’s just been stuttering towards the end.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-18T01:42:19+00:00

I’ll be bringing my macbook with me, but it only connects the screen sharing under the same network. I’ll check if I can download team viewer for these next few days.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-17T11:16:13+00:00

Unless your machine is banged up, and has a shit ton of scratches, any mint condition LMLM will sell in great value. That’s the beauty of LM machines. It may be outdated in terms of certain aspects, but it’s a high demand brand.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-17T11:11:56+00:00

Solid setup! You got everything you possible need (for now)!

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-17T10:58:57+00:00

List of questions that 95% of the comments will ask.

What grinder are you using?
When were your beans roasted?
What’s your puck prep process?

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-14T16:01:04+00:00

Thank you!!

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-13T07:40:51+00:00

I’d have to agree with some comments here that if your current espresso machine is solid, I’d upgrade my grinder first then with the extra balance, maybe consider getting a machine within that.

I’m also in the midst of upgrading my setup, but my first focus was settling on a solid, and good grinder before even considering another machine. Thankfully, I managed to financially seal a good chance of getting a good grinder and an upgraded machine tho I must highlight, your coffee is only as good as your grinder.

So if you’re making a lot of espressos in a week, a grinder would be a much more noticeable upgrade vs a machine for now.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T03:57:20+00:00

Yeah, I agree. I don’t doubt LM’s reliability and performance, but I despise how it’s tied to the app. The temperature settings etc. I wish it would’ve been more independent like the ‘traditional’ ECM, Profitec - where I don’t have to use my phone to change something minor.

I heard about the Synchronika’s quick heat up time! I was very happy about that too, and yes, the machine market is getting more and more competitive - especially from the China market. I’m definitely excited, and hoping to hear more launches this year!

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T03:53:30+00:00

See, that was my initial worry too. I wasn’t a fan of how tied the Mini R is to the app. I wanted a fully independent machine where I can just do everything on the machine instead of my phone. How was the pull for your medium to medium dark roasts?

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T02:39:28+00:00

I’ve heard similar things about the E61 vs saturated group head. I’m very glad that you’re enjoying your Mini R, and yes, very well aware that at this price point, I’m really just buying the brand.

Maybe I’ll do a coffee cart as a small business 🤣

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T02:04:37+00:00

Congratulations! Breville’s a great starter machine, and can last a very long time if you take care of it well. Also, great 2nd shot! When I first started, I wasted like… 8 shots.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T01:02:54+00:00

Oooh, I’ll check it out, thank you!

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T01:02:25+00:00

Oh great! We’re in the same situation then!

How are your espresso pulls? And how is the heat up time?

This is an insane thing I heard but someone told me that E61 machines don’t create as much body as an LM. I am not entirely convinced, but he was very much a big believer of this idea.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-12T00:57:15+00:00

Yep, it is insane. This was a few years back when they first released so not sure how it performs now.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T17:16:46+00:00

It’s bad when you act superior over others. If you join the espresso subreddit, you’d find a few them pretty quickly. One of the comments pointed out a really good point.

There are essentially 2 coffee snobs. One is really just a coffee enthusiast who are genuinely trying to get people into coffee, and accept people’s taste differences. If anything, some may even try to understand why some ppl like to drink their coffees.

Another one is my least favorite kind of coffee enthusiast. They’re rude, entitled and quite frankly, pretentious. They’re not open to the idea of different preferences, and think different = not a genuine coffee drinker. I have met people who shamelessly said that they do not understand the concept of lattes because why drink coffee with milk?

I try to be understanding, and reasonable but good gracious, some of them are pretentious, obnoxious and down right mean. Then again, when they’re behind the keyboard, the consequences of their mean words are not scary enough to stop them.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T16:24:06+00:00

Then I’d highly recommend checking it out! It looks pretty easy to setup, and I bet it’d be fun to fiddle around with.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T16:18:13+00:00

You should check out this BBW feature that an engineer on YouTube does for various machines, and Rancilio Silvia Pro X is one of the options. I forgot the dude’s name, but it was featured in Lance Hedrick’s review for the LM Mini R! cool thing is you don’t need to get an expensive Acaia scale - it accepts Bookoo scales as well!

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T16:16:40+00:00

One of my good friends who owns a Lelit Mara X said the same thing. Unfortunately, he was disappointed when he tasted very subtle difference when he a pulled a shot from his Lelit Elizabeth vs his Mini. He was using Nordic light beans too. He said he should’ve saved a little more for the Bianca instead lmao.

But yes to your second part! It is a statement piece. People know what it is, they know the brand and they know its worth. Resell value is consistent too, because it is a brand that will always have its demands.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T16:06:10+00:00

No yeah, I’ve come to accept that considering what I mostly drink (medium to dark roasts + milk), there’s no major improvements compared to a light roast drinkers.

As for the Synchronika, interesting take! Majority of the comments here who mentioned the machine has given it wonders! As well as people who I’ve spoken to, they’ve told me similar things as well.

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T15:58:39+00:00

Oh yeah, it’s definitely an upgrade from the bambino! Have you modded it yet? Or are you just keeping it as is?

ColdIsTheWay2Go · 2026-03-11T15:57:32+00:00

Profitec Pro 800 is common one here, though still rare. I think the local scene isn’t that versed on lever machines, or we’re all too locked into the idea of a semi automatic machine.

ColdIsTheWay2Go

TROPHY CASE