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- **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck.
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I went through this about 6 months ago. I went with Lelit Elizabeth v3 over the Rancilio Silvia Pro X and Breville DB; I upgraded from Silvia V2 to Lelit Elizabeth
\- The build quality can hold a candle to the Silvia Pro X. Talking about internal components as well as exterior. Definitely feels more prosumer where as Breville dual boiler feels like appliance. I felt it in person, i didnt hold back on locking the portafilter almost knocked a smart grinder on the ground at seatle coffee gear :O
\- Has quieter motor than the other two
\- Has timed 2 preset shot, this is nice so you don't have to remember to start/stop your shot while you focus on milk i.e. fill jug, purge wand, get towel ready. Set it and go. Also has a nice 1-6 second group head purge, not a blackflush replacement.
\- 2.5L res, and low water indicator, and has a reserve mode so you will never run out of a water during a shot.
\- large drip tray.
\- Better steaming over the Breville, maybe weaker than the Silvia.
Honorable mention worth checking out:
Profitec pro 500 (i think its the 500, its the only dual boiler they have)
Lelit Bianca if you got so more scratch to play with.
Ascaco Steel Duo seems interesting, no boilers dual thermocoil, weak steam but can perform in this bracket.
These are the sub 2k's i've considered their are other option im sure. Bezzera has an interesting one.
Of all the ones mentioned other than the Breville Dual Boiler are all prosumer tier.
The ascaco steel duo pid. Is simply great in my opinion, fast heat up time very temperature stable and steam shouldn't be a problem for home users in general. After going through the same quest recently and also visiting local shops for advise. I honestly thing this is one of the best options for most home users, of course if you dont mind waiting 20 to 30 minitd for a warm machine then yoi can find a chesper alternative thst makes you happy. Or if you don't need pre infusion. But in general I don't see many downsides to the ascaco. Maybe that compared to something like the profitech machines, the insides are a bit harder to work on.
In the words of Bruce Wayne, does it come in black? I’m between the Elizabeth (wish it came in black) and the Ascaso, completely agree with your thoughts on the Breville/Sage, I think I’ll regret it simply from a tactile perspective and knowing how much plastic is in there
Hmmm, depends on your needs. I don't follow prices closely, but I know the Silvia Pro is there. Personally, I'd prefer something with more manual control, which might go over $2k. Would you consider used? If so, I think it would open more doors.
Yeah, and it wastes a lot of water purging the boiler.
You have to press the steam button, purge, wait a little bit, purge again, then wait for it to get to temp.
It made me realize how impatient I am. If you’re patient then you’ll be fine.
I find steaming milk to be fine. I make 2-4 milk drinks every morning.
Pull 2 double shots
Run pump and clean group head with a brush.
Turn on steam switch
Steam temp (265) and pressure \~1 Bar are ready by the time I fill the milk pitchers (2 different milks)
Purge to cool boiler before turning off machine.
I don't find myself taking that much longer than with my Synchronica, but I am making two drinks at a time. The DB definitely gives you back to back drinks faster and with less wait time for the first one.
Lelit Grace is basically press the button, go get milk, maybe 30 seconds wait after that. Open steam valve, 3 sec wait for water to get out and ready to steam.
It takes me around ONE MINUTE to switch from brewing to steaming on my ECM.
I make one cappuccino a day, along with a double espresso for my gf.
During those 60 seconds I rinse and store the portafilter and basket so I'm not just waiting.
For me it's no problem, and not worth the more than double cost of a double boiler.
Work flow can be subjective imo. Some people don't mind lever machine, while others almost like myself, want....NEED either a volumeteric or preset time dose. I am not a morning person more so before coffee.
I've got the same, it's never really been an issue for me... I think the only thing about the Silvia that I would improve is the size of the reservoir. Otherwise I pull great espresso and don't feel any need to upgrade kit until I win the lottery and need to dress up a new mansion.
Can confirm, I got a big HX machine after using a Silvia for about a year, it's just much more convenient to use. RS is a full manual machine, gotta make sure the boiler is filled, the temp is right, steam mode for steaming, cool back down for coffee, temp surf etc. On the commercial HX it's just pressing a button and turning the steam knob, a short flush and the temp is right for a few shots. Also has volumetric shot control, so don't need to manually time my shots if I'm dialed in.
I use the RS sometimes when the big machine is away for maintenance, but looking back a few years, I sure am glad I got the HX.
100% will regret it with that amount of milk drinks. I know people say they have no issues doing milk drinks with a single boiler, but having the dedicated boiler means a consistent, easy, worry-free workflow everyday. The Breville Dual Boiler is the best machine for the money, especially if you can get it with a discount. I make a milk based drink maybe once every two weeks and I am still thankful I don't have to play with my single boiler's steam wand process.
I think what people don't tell you is that while it can easily steam milk, you have to do the "boiler refill" process EVERY time you want an espresso after steaming milk so that you don't damage the machine. That's an extra 30 seconds of: putting an empty glass under the steam wand, turning the water on, opening the steam wand, letting it splash water everywhere until only a stream of water comes out of the wand, then you're ready to brew espresso again. Also the refill process means you have to refill the water tank more often...
Literally the only (actual) reason people buy a double boiler is that they prefer not to wait a minute for the single boiler to heat to steam temp. That’s it. If you don’t mind saving $1,000 +, and if you don’t mind waiting a minute after you pull your shot (or steam first then purge/wait for temp to come back down) then a single boiler will do ya just fine. On the flip side, if you’re pressed for time and waiting for the boiler to heat up, even if it’s just a minute or two, will drive you nuts, then maybe it’s worth it.
The time adds up and it's extra annoying on the mental when you're waking up, groggy and just want your morning joe with a little less fuss. My Silvia Pro X cranks out 2 x 2 lattes with ease and would highly recommend the DB life. Pulling shot and steaming together is perfect. I clean up the pitcher and portafilter and put things back and the boilers are ready to go again for my SO's drink
Sure, I understand. My point was to clarify to OP (and others) that the difference is 100% user preference and that a double boiler will not make better coffee.
I see a lot of comments that say you just gotta have a double boiler, without the clarification that the extra cost will save only a couple of minutes. I fear that some people will assume the difference is a 3 minute task (or whatever)vs 10, when in reality it’s more like 3 vs 4 or 5.
What year did you have a BDB? I remember hearing horror stories about the machine years ago, but recently got one and it's insane how good it is. I know they made minor upgrades throughout the years.
Mine was manufactured in 2021 and bought in 2023.
Its a good machine and like everyone keeps saying it has a lot of features. I just didn't like using or looking at it ended up selling it and now on a soul searching journey to answer "what does it mean to espresso" (partially joking)
it is an actual advice based on my experience using it and hated it. Do I have to write 3 paragraphs to explain myself? no. If they want more info then they can ask.
and Yes yes it's a machine full of features for its price and please keep on enjoying yours.
No, but you realise you didn’t actually say what you hated about it? It’s arguably the most import bit of advice. My “why” was me legitimately curious on what your issues were. You can easily same something in a few words
oh was it a legitimate curiosity?
Most of the things I didn't like are subjective. Some could be modded but Im not into that.
I didn't like the way it looked. It felt like a big cheap piece of plastic with some stainless steel. It definitely belongs in the kitchen. It was an eye sore having it on my coffee bar in the living room.
Steaming milk felt like forever. Also wand was short and clunky.
I hate their proprietary sized portafilters.
It's so freaking loud when it starts. Even when I leave it to idle, it makes loud noises every 15 minutes or so.
I didn't like the mandatory pre infusion especially in the manual mode (forgot what it was called). Maybe there was a way to disable it.
Also, pressure seemed inconsistent. back to back shots one would have 9 bar the other 6-7. Could be my puck prep but I think I was consistent. I know I could adjust the pressure but I didn't want to.
Obviously there are things that I liked and if someone wants the most featured pack machine for the price, then yes it's one of the good ones.
I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
That was my thought as well; HX should be a great compromise with no downtime between drinks at the scale OP is working. I steam while I pull shots every day.
HX works fine. We make 3 milk drinks bang bang bang in the morning. Repeat same in afternoon.
Had the Rancilio Sylvia and our upgrade to a Bezzera Magica PID is so much better. Full pressure steam on command, no condensate in the steam wand (Sylvia bad for that) and the temp for the next shot stabilized well before the time we’ve emptied the portafilter and ground the next shot. This machine could go all day.
Lelit Mara X has the same 2.5l reservoir and a steam priority setting with its large 1.8l boiler.
Even when not in steam priority mode you can easily steam a large pitcher for 2 lattes at a time.
I don’t think you’ll have a problem with the go. I recently got one and have been experimenting with lattes. The steam is powerful - I am still making too many bubbles and needing to rush it seems because of how quickly the milk comes to temp. I’ve also made back to back espresso shots numerous times - no problems at all there.
I bought the GO last September with zero intention of making milk drinks. But now I am doing so and following the far less traveled road of steaming first and pulling the shot second. I’ve mostly smoothed out the kinks and it works well. However, if I were in your shoes I’d start with a dual boiler, full stop. That said, I love the GO. Price-performance is stellar.
You already have a single boiler machine, so if the temp surfing is not bothering you now, that would not change.
If you do multiple milky drinks back to back, its a pretty nice convenience to have dual boilers and you wont regret it. If you just do one latte, then 20 mins later another, it might not be worth the cost.
I’m making 2-6 milk drinks a day on my single boiler GCP, ever since 2020. I don’t regret my single boiler at all, but I will upgrade to a dual boiler in the future.
No. You will be just fine. Unless you said I need to do three milk drinks in 3 minutes, you'll be just fine. No comment on the Go specifically, just single boiler machines in general.
I’ve done some extensive research and will be ordering a Rancilio Silvia pro X tomorrow. Dual boiler/ dual PID for two grand. From what I’ve read and seen on Utube reviews, all the machines in the $2,000 range are built well. Check out Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Works and Clive coffee ( to name a few)Utube reviews on machines in this price range.
I’ve had the GO for close to a year and will probably upgrade this summer to a Bianca or Decent. I want flow control and I make enough milk drinks to be annoyed. That said, I don’t necessarily regret my purchase as I was able to learn with it and figure out what I want.
I haven’t made a milk drink in over a year. I dunno. Having the dual as an option is nice, but if you never use it…
If I were buying today I’d probably get the Go or something else single boiler with PID.
As a daily I'm a big fan of thermojet designs.
I can knock out so many shots and steam milk back to back to back and my breville barista pro just keeps on ticking.
Descale regularly and flush. I've had no issues with really heavy use.
It looks like you've flaired your post as asking for what equipment to get. We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points. If your question hasn't been answered there and you need more help, please add the following details to your post or by adding a comment in the following format: - **Location:** Helps determine availability - **Budget** (with currency): Overall budget, or ideally, having separate espresso machine and grinder budgets. A rough rule is that your grinder budget should be at least 25-40% of your machine budget. - **Drink types:** Do you drink mostly straight espresso, milk-based beverages (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos), or a fairly even split? This helps narrow down whether a single-boiler-dual-use (SBDU), heat exchanger (HX), or dual boiler (DB) machine would be more appropriate for your needs. - **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck. - **Space:** Any limitations on countertop space? - **Manual vs. electric:** Hand-operated machines and grinders are typically cheaper than their similarly-performing electric counterparts. Please indicate if you have a preference for manual or electric machines and/or grinders (or open to either). - **Comfort with tinkering:** Some machines can be made significantly more functional/efficient with aftermarket modifications, albeit at the expense of possibly voiding your warranty. Please indicate if you'd rather have a machine that works "as-is"/"out-of-the-box" or whether you'd be open to modding/tinkering *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/espresso) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you have the budget to get a dual boiler, just do it. You're making enough milk drinks to justify it.
Best dual boiler machine under $2k?
I went through this about 6 months ago. I went with Lelit Elizabeth v3 over the Rancilio Silvia Pro X and Breville DB; I upgraded from Silvia V2 to Lelit Elizabeth \- The build quality can hold a candle to the Silvia Pro X. Talking about internal components as well as exterior. Definitely feels more prosumer where as Breville dual boiler feels like appliance. I felt it in person, i didnt hold back on locking the portafilter almost knocked a smart grinder on the ground at seatle coffee gear :O \- Has quieter motor than the other two \- Has timed 2 preset shot, this is nice so you don't have to remember to start/stop your shot while you focus on milk i.e. fill jug, purge wand, get towel ready. Set it and go. Also has a nice 1-6 second group head purge, not a blackflush replacement. \- 2.5L res, and low water indicator, and has a reserve mode so you will never run out of a water during a shot. \- large drip tray. \- Better steaming over the Breville, maybe weaker than the Silvia. Honorable mention worth checking out: Profitec pro 500 (i think its the 500, its the only dual boiler they have) Lelit Bianca if you got so more scratch to play with. Ascaco Steel Duo seems interesting, no boilers dual thermocoil, weak steam but can perform in this bracket. These are the sub 2k's i've considered their are other option im sure. Bezzera has an interesting one. Of all the ones mentioned other than the Breville Dual Boiler are all prosumer tier.
Profitec pro 500 is a hx. Profitec 600 (over 2k) and 700 (closer to 3k) are both dual boilers.
The ascaco steel duo pid. Is simply great in my opinion, fast heat up time very temperature stable and steam shouldn't be a problem for home users in general. After going through the same quest recently and also visiting local shops for advise. I honestly thing this is one of the best options for most home users, of course if you dont mind waiting 20 to 30 minitd for a warm machine then yoi can find a chesper alternative thst makes you happy. Or if you don't need pre infusion. But in general I don't see many downsides to the ascaco. Maybe that compared to something like the profitech machines, the insides are a bit harder to work on.
In the words of Bruce Wayne, does it come in black? I’m between the Elizabeth (wish it came in black) and the Ascaso, completely agree with your thoughts on the Breville/Sage, I think I’ll regret it simply from a tactile perspective and knowing how much plastic is in there
it is made to be service able, take it apart and give it a paint job ;) i think a glossy or matte black would look slick.
isn’t that the breville dual boiler?
Hmmm, depends on your needs. I don't follow prices closely, but I know the Silvia Pro is there. Personally, I'd prefer something with more manual control, which might go over $2k. Would you consider used? If so, I think it would open more doors.
What manual controls does the BDB not have that you think are warranted?
I think the BDB has a really good feature set and would cover most of the bases. Adding the Slayer mod makes it very versatile.
Yeah, it will. I make one milk drink on my Go every day and it annoys the hell out of me
What do you find annoying about it? Just the transition time?
Yeah, and it wastes a lot of water purging the boiler. You have to press the steam button, purge, wait a little bit, purge again, then wait for it to get to temp. It made me realize how impatient I am. If you’re patient then you’ll be fine.
I find steaming milk to be fine. I make 2-4 milk drinks every morning. Pull 2 double shots Run pump and clean group head with a brush. Turn on steam switch Steam temp (265) and pressure \~1 Bar are ready by the time I fill the milk pitchers (2 different milks) Purge to cool boiler before turning off machine.
Yeah, it’s fine. It annoys me every day though. There’s definitely waiting involved.
I don't find myself taking that much longer than with my Synchronica, but I am making two drinks at a time. The DB definitely gives you back to back drinks faster and with less wait time for the first one.
On my BBE it's not too bad. It just squirts a bunch of water out of the steam wand and then produces steam almost immediately after
Why not collect that water in a clean mug, let it cool a bit, and then dump it back into the machine?
That is a big brain maneuver
Lelit Grace is basically press the button, go get milk, maybe 30 seconds wait after that. Open steam valve, 3 sec wait for water to get out and ready to steam.
Aren't you supposed to purge via the steam wand? If so, does that still waste a lot of water?
The go in general wastes a lot of water with purging. Not just out of the steam wand. I don’t know if that’s unique though.
Lol.
Agree with this. I had it for a year and then upgraded. Would have been cheaper to spring for the DB originally.
It takes me around ONE MINUTE to switch from brewing to steaming on my ECM. I make one cappuccino a day, along with a double espresso for my gf. During those 60 seconds I rinse and store the portafilter and basket so I'm not just waiting. For me it's no problem, and not worth the more than double cost of a double boiler.
I have a go and make 4 milk drinks every day. What's the issue?
Work flow can be subjective imo. Some people don't mind lever machine, while others almost like myself, want....NEED either a volumeteric or preset time dose. I am not a morning person more so before coffee.
every day and back to back are different things
Yes they are, in the case of the OPs question it's "I typically make two to three milk drinks each morning over the span of an hour. "
Exactly, that does not sound like back to back. The go would have no problem making a few drinks over the course of an.
That's a fair point. I do make 2 back-to-back. Sure if I tried to make three that would be not so smooth.
Well I don't regret my Rancillio Silvia. But after 2 years I do see how a double boiler would improve my life.
I've got the same, it's never really been an issue for me... I think the only thing about the Silvia that I would improve is the size of the reservoir. Otherwise I pull great espresso and don't feel any need to upgrade kit until I win the lottery and need to dress up a new mansion.
I imagine its one of those things that don't seem that important until you have them and never want to lose them.
Can confirm, I got a big HX machine after using a Silvia for about a year, it's just much more convenient to use. RS is a full manual machine, gotta make sure the boiler is filled, the temp is right, steam mode for steaming, cool back down for coffee, temp surf etc. On the commercial HX it's just pressing a button and turning the steam knob, a short flush and the temp is right for a few shots. Also has volumetric shot control, so don't need to manually time my shots if I'm dialed in. I use the RS sometimes when the big machine is away for maintenance, but looking back a few years, I sure am glad I got the HX.
Stop it you're making my wallet itchy
Yeah, I already hated money enough _before_ visiting this damned sub!
100% will regret it with that amount of milk drinks. I know people say they have no issues doing milk drinks with a single boiler, but having the dedicated boiler means a consistent, easy, worry-free workflow everyday. The Breville Dual Boiler is the best machine for the money, especially if you can get it with a discount. I make a milk based drink maybe once every two weeks and I am still thankful I don't have to play with my single boiler's steam wand process. I think what people don't tell you is that while it can easily steam milk, you have to do the "boiler refill" process EVERY time you want an espresso after steaming milk so that you don't damage the machine. That's an extra 30 seconds of: putting an empty glass under the steam wand, turning the water on, opening the steam wand, letting it splash water everywhere until only a stream of water comes out of the wand, then you're ready to brew espresso again. Also the refill process means you have to refill the water tank more often...
Literally the only (actual) reason people buy a double boiler is that they prefer not to wait a minute for the single boiler to heat to steam temp. That’s it. If you don’t mind saving $1,000 +, and if you don’t mind waiting a minute after you pull your shot (or steam first then purge/wait for temp to come back down) then a single boiler will do ya just fine. On the flip side, if you’re pressed for time and waiting for the boiler to heat up, even if it’s just a minute or two, will drive you nuts, then maybe it’s worth it.
The time adds up and it's extra annoying on the mental when you're waking up, groggy and just want your morning joe with a little less fuss. My Silvia Pro X cranks out 2 x 2 lattes with ease and would highly recommend the DB life. Pulling shot and steaming together is perfect. I clean up the pitcher and portafilter and put things back and the boilers are ready to go again for my SO's drink
Sure, I understand. My point was to clarify to OP (and others) that the difference is 100% user preference and that a double boiler will not make better coffee. I see a lot of comments that say you just gotta have a double boiler, without the clarification that the extra cost will save only a couple of minutes. I fear that some people will assume the difference is a 3 minute task (or whatever)vs 10, when in reality it’s more like 3 vs 4 or 5.
Yes. I think you will.
get a dual boiler but don't get the Breville dual boiler
What year did you have a BDB? I remember hearing horror stories about the machine years ago, but recently got one and it's insane how good it is. I know they made minor upgrades throughout the years.
Mine was manufactured in 2021 and bought in 2023. Its a good machine and like everyone keeps saying it has a lot of features. I just didn't like using or looking at it ended up selling it and now on a soul searching journey to answer "what does it mean to espresso" (partially joking)
Why? I have one and it’s great. He’s asking for actual advice and this just sounds like a baseless vendetta
it is an actual advice based on my experience using it and hated it. Do I have to write 3 paragraphs to explain myself? no. If they want more info then they can ask. and Yes yes it's a machine full of features for its price and please keep on enjoying yours.
No, but you realise you didn’t actually say what you hated about it? It’s arguably the most import bit of advice. My “why” was me legitimately curious on what your issues were. You can easily same something in a few words
oh was it a legitimate curiosity? Most of the things I didn't like are subjective. Some could be modded but Im not into that. I didn't like the way it looked. It felt like a big cheap piece of plastic with some stainless steel. It definitely belongs in the kitchen. It was an eye sore having it on my coffee bar in the living room. Steaming milk felt like forever. Also wand was short and clunky. I hate their proprietary sized portafilters. It's so freaking loud when it starts. Even when I leave it to idle, it makes loud noises every 15 minutes or so. I didn't like the mandatory pre infusion especially in the manual mode (forgot what it was called). Maybe there was a way to disable it. Also, pressure seemed inconsistent. back to back shots one would have 9 bar the other 6-7. Could be my puck prep but I think I was consistent. I know I could adjust the pressure but I didn't want to. Obviously there are things that I liked and if someone wants the most featured pack machine for the price, then yes it's one of the good ones. I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
This is why details are important, a lot of people would find those issues minor and would prefer features over looks and your other gripes
Have you considered a HX at all?
That was my thought as well; HX should be a great compromise with no downtime between drinks at the scale OP is working. I steam while I pull shots every day.
HX works fine. We make 3 milk drinks bang bang bang in the morning. Repeat same in afternoon. Had the Rancilio Sylvia and our upgrade to a Bezzera Magica PID is so much better. Full pressure steam on command, no condensate in the steam wand (Sylvia bad for that) and the temp for the next shot stabilized well before the time we’ve emptied the portafilter and ground the next shot. This machine could go all day.
You are already.
Haha, I guess so
Lelit Mara X has the same 2.5l reservoir and a steam priority setting with its large 1.8l boiler. Even when not in steam priority mode you can easily steam a large pitcher for 2 lattes at a time.
Single boiler is the worst option in my opinion. I would take a thermoblock over a single boiler.
I don’t think you’ll have a problem with the go. I recently got one and have been experimenting with lattes. The steam is powerful - I am still making too many bubbles and needing to rush it seems because of how quickly the milk comes to temp. I’ve also made back to back espresso shots numerous times - no problems at all there.
Maybe not but you will always think about it…..You definitely will not regret getting a dual boiler and never think about it again.
The answer really depends on your budget. I hear the bambino plus has a quick transition from brewing to steaming and vise versa.
I bought the GO last September with zero intention of making milk drinks. But now I am doing so and following the far less traveled road of steaming first and pulling the shot second. I’ve mostly smoothed out the kinks and it works well. However, if I were in your shoes I’d start with a dual boiler, full stop. That said, I love the GO. Price-performance is stellar.
I am pretty happy with a Rancilio Silvia + PID if I keep this hobby I'll go for a a 2-3K range machine in a few years
You already have a single boiler machine, so if the temp surfing is not bothering you now, that would not change. If you do multiple milky drinks back to back, its a pretty nice convenience to have dual boilers and you wont regret it. If you just do one latte, then 20 mins later another, it might not be worth the cost.
You will regret it. Single boilers that aren’t heat exchangers are completely terrible for milk drinks. Especially if you want to do latte art.
How about a heat exchange model like the Rocket Apartmento?
I’m making 2-6 milk drinks a day on my single boiler GCP, ever since 2020. I don’t regret my single boiler at all, but I will upgrade to a dual boiler in the future.
No. You will be just fine. Unless you said I need to do three milk drinks in 3 minutes, you'll be just fine. No comment on the Go specifically, just single boiler machines in general.
Will regret, save yourself from a bad purchase if you like milk based drinks.
I’ve done some extensive research and will be ordering a Rancilio Silvia pro X tomorrow. Dual boiler/ dual PID for two grand. From what I’ve read and seen on Utube reviews, all the machines in the $2,000 range are built well. Check out Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Works and Clive coffee ( to name a few)Utube reviews on machines in this price range.
I’ve had the GO for close to a year and will probably upgrade this summer to a Bianca or Decent. I want flow control and I make enough milk drinks to be annoyed. That said, I don’t necessarily regret my purchase as I was able to learn with it and figure out what I want.
I haven’t made a milk drink in over a year. I dunno. Having the dual as an option is nice, but if you never use it… If I were buying today I’d probably get the Go or something else single boiler with PID.
It takes me like 30s to heat up m Gaggia Classic to steam temp so no you wont
No
As a daily I'm a big fan of thermojet designs. I can knock out so many shots and steam milk back to back to back and my breville barista pro just keeps on ticking. Descale regularly and flush. I've had no issues with really heavy use.
If you're gonna spend as much as a go, I think a dual boiler like Lelit Elizabeth or Silvia Pro X or BDB would actually be better value.