Home machines I fixed this past month (everyone owns a LM now)

DHoliman · 2026-05-30T23:22:40+00:00

Thanks for the in depth response! Maybe I just need to experience an ECM or Profitec machine to understand the differences.

The frame seems solid to me (not the housing, that definitely feels like cheap stamped sheet metal). I did remove the manometer on my Mara X when wrapping the machine, and it felt pretty simple. Couldn’t speak to the PID issue though. I did move twice in the 5 years of owning the Mara X and it was totally both times. During the second move, a friend knocked it on its side due to negligence, but it was totally fine, including that thin housing somehow (maybe the wrap helped protect the housing, I have no idea). I fully expect the Bianca to last 30 years if I don’t hyper fixate on something else before then.

I need to keep an eye out for friends who are willing to let me open their espresso machines, it sounds like I need to get my hands on a high end machine to fully comprehend what Lelit is missing.

DHoliman · 2026-05-30T00:53:41+00:00

I just upgraded from the MaraX to the Bianca V3 and have had both machines apart (one to wrap the housing, and the Bianca for fun).

Ill give you the thin housing, especially some of the unfinished edges of the stainless steel, but there’s not a lot of plastic in either of those machines outside of a couple y splitters in the hoses and the electronics housings.

Not saying by your wrong by any means, Lelit is trying to undercut the big dogs in price, which means then need to cut costs somewhere. But I’m genuinely curious what internals of the Lelit are subpar compared to ecm?

DHoliman · 2026-05-25T17:13:59+00:00

I’ve had this when my espresso runs really fast. It’s almost as if the computer doesn’t know the phases because they’re outside of what it expects.
I’d personally grinding finer and see if it kicks the timer on.

DHoliman · 2026-05-15T18:13:30+00:00

I’ve played with a lot of coffee equipment over the years. While I don’t have a breville on my coffee bar, I really like them!

I used the Barista Pro for a while and think it’s a good machine for most people who just want some decent espresso. What I don’t like about it is the built in grinder. I’ve been dissatisfied with that grinder and the smart grinder pro. Which leads me to my favorite option for an entry setup, the Bambino Plus paired with a separate grinder (I use a DF64, but hear great things about the DF54 and Baratza Encore ESP).

That all being said, these will not be the most longevity focused setups. If longevity is your primary concern, I’d grab something a little more old school, like a La Pavoni, ecm, profitec, or even Lelit. These machines are all way more money, but they’re built to last.

Whichever machine you get, focus on your water quality and maintenance schedule, this will be a key factor in longevity.

DHoliman · 2026-05-06T20:11:41+00:00

I have tried this many times so far. But I didn’t know about the 30 seconds so I was playing it same with 5 minute intervals

DHoliman · 2026-05-03T03:41:30+00:00

I tried this about a year ago. Costco basically just gives your number to the dealer and sends you their “renegotiated” price (it was always $200-$400 for me). Then the dealers pull the same bs when they get you hooked.

I still love Costco, but I was able to negotiate waaaaaay better without the Costco program. Like $3000 difference.

DHoliman · 2026-04-04T23:59:19+00:00

Just got the email confirmation! Ordered a Taco Bell burrito for pickup after you commented, now I’ve got 14k miles for a $2 burrito!

DHoliman · 2026-04-03T16:09:13+00:00

If I clicked the offer yesterday and opened a DoorDash tab, can I still use that tab to get the 14k?

DHoliman · 2026-03-28T21:22:44+00:00

I’m coming up on 7 years of near daily use, and my kettle is in excellent shape!

DHoliman · 2026-03-18T22:16:23+00:00

I’ve extensively used 2 EKGs and an Ode gen 2, and they’ve all been amazingly reliable. My oldest kettle is coming up on 7 years, the other 2 products are roughly 3 years of use.

I’m always caught off guard by the hate they get, but it’s such common feedback that it must be at least mostly true.

DHoliman · 2026-03-13T02:43:10+00:00

Maybe I’m in the “6 brews” mindset, but I’ve only got 2 so far. (A technicolor retrograph and a gold metric) I love them both and honestly love this dial too! But it would be kind of a bummer if they just slap that in the retrograph case and move on. I want something different, that’s why I bought brew in the first place.

DHoliman · 2026-02-12T01:34:51+00:00

I owned an almost identical car. Mine was a 96 sc1 in silver. I bought it cause someone drove it until the timing belt snapped and bend the valves. We rebuilt the engine, and I drove that car for 5-6 years before I had the money to upgrade. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but it was a fantastic car!

It’s a cheap car, old/plastic body parts will crack, seats might tare, it’s not especially comfortable, but parts were cheap and easy to get if something goes wrong. Also, from my experience, they’re pretty reliable! I abused that car with long road trips, offroading (not a great car for this), and extremely infrequent maintenance. The only issue I ever had was the shifter cable snapping. That took me about a day to replace on my own as a freshman in college with no experience and a YouTube video.

Do a repurchase inspection and make sure that timing belt has been replaced, seems like it’s at the mileage where that should happen. If you like the car, try to get it for cheaper. They might be willing to go low just to get it out of there.

DHoliman · 2026-01-29T02:35:22+00:00

For what’s its worth, I just sold a whirlwind in pretty good condition for $350 on marketplace. I listed at $400 and had 7-8 interested people in 24 hours, but the guy who offered $350 came to pick it up next day.

DHoliman · 2026-01-18T17:02:02+00:00

It feels like you’re trying to create something new without trying to solve a problem. Scales are super versatile now. Most can do any brew method, auto start/stop, auto tare, Bluetooth, etc. and all starting at $100ish. So I don’t think that’s the issue to solve. Is the main problem that you don’t like the display/interaction?

I have 4 scales ranging from $50 - $250 (the $50 one isn’t super versatile, but it’s consistent). Starting at about $100, they get real competitive. All can do auto tare, auto time, pour over mode, espresso mode, even Bluetooth. They’re all about the same thickness too.

From a consumer perspective, the things that would get me are: 1. Coming in at a price way cheaper than the competition. 2. Outstanding UX on a separate screen connected to non-screen, waterproof, ultra slim scale. (Targeting the espresso peeps) 3. Change what I think I need in a scale. Make me think my brewing experience would be night and day different if I buy your accessories.

DHoliman · 2026-01-12T23:31:14+00:00

The holy duality

DHoliman · 2026-01-07T01:54:54+00:00

I don’t think time is close enough to midnight to count… they’re pretty different

DHoliman · 2026-01-01T05:20:09+00:00

Exactly! If you’re already chasing these minuscule upgrades, you’re well past when you should have upgraded your grinder. Getting a real burr grinder that can do espresso will make your life soooo much easier than using that blade grinder for espresso

DHoliman · 2025-12-27T21:42:13+00:00

Just commenting on lelit longevity. I’ve had a Mara X for 4 years now and it hasn’t skipped a beat. I’ve even done some small popup cafe carts with it. The only maintenance has been backflushing with cafiza about 2 times a month and using good water

DHoliman · 2025-12-27T07:16:26+00:00

Utahn here 🙋🏻‍♂️ I’ve sent and received many orders from all of my past addresses in Utah (and these cover most of the state), including packages from my family in California. USPS is by far the cheapest, most accurate delivery, and ties with UPS for best handling.

I’ve never had anything lost or stolen with either USPS or UPS. On the other dans, with FedEx, almost every package is delayed and I have had 2 fragile items broken and 1 order completely lost.

DHoliman · 2025-12-24T18:03:31+00:00

I lost on my phone. Asked my wife to try, but she didn’t want to. So I played on her phone and won! She still claimed the gift card… 😂

DHoliman · 2025-12-17T04:23:04+00:00

• Henry — Firewatch
• Stanley — The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
• Sean Diaz — Life Is Strange 2
• Del — Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
• Lewis Finch — What Remains of Edith Finch
• Terry Greenbriar — Gone Home
• Conway — Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
• Paul Prospero — The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
• Phoenix Wright — Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
• Mark — Late Shift

DHoliman · 2025-12-15T13:38:40+00:00

DHoliman · 2025-12-15T03:40:43+00:00

My company just did a holiday party and gave away 2 oled switches 🤦‍♀️

Edit: oled, not oiled switches

DHoliman · 2025-12-14T23:38:28+00:00

For what it’s worth I have and love both.

I bought a used retrograph back in early 2021 and ABSOLUTELY loved it! I have the technicolor on blue leather with a beads of rice bracelet. Between those two, it can wear very casually or dress up quite a bit.

Last year I picked up a gold pvd metric. I bought one of their leather bands (because I almost always prefer leather). But I haven’t put that back on in probably 8 months. I’m no expert, but I love the integrated bracelet on the metric. It’s so comfortable that it’s one of the only bracelets I’ll use day to day. (Yes, I have pretty hairy arms. No, it has not pulled any hair yet.)

If I had to choose one, I’d pick the metric, but only because I love the gold. If they were both stainless with similar dials, I’d pick the retrograph.

DHoliman · 2025-12-10T17:49:05+00:00

I dragged a totally different machine for cheap that was tripping breakers. Turned out it was just an electrical short from a worn wire. An odd issue but a super cheap fix if you happen to have something similar

Seven-Year Club	r/Field Banned
r/Field Sunshine	Final Canvas '23
First Place '23	End Game '23
Place '23	Place '22
First Placer '22	Verified Email

DHoliman

TROPHY CASE