Nice finding there sort like reject shop selling reject cloth .... i wont mind having a reject cup as long as it doesn't cut any of my lips while i take a sip  ...
Breville BES870 is a not a bad starting coffee machine for those who wants conveniences and space saving with just a simple press of a button and not having to worries if the grinder are good enough for the machine. Basically everything is made for specific single manufacturer but don expect it would be better then those commercial grinders and espresso machine.

Oscar

You already had your answer when you ask the question earlier 

in terms or reliability and consistency! what is your expected ROI? 3 years i think Breville will do fine (If I'm not mistaken Harvey norman do extended warranty for it too? not too sure) but don't expect it to last as long other separate "entry/Prosumer" machines if it last then its a BONUS!!

Taste wise its very subjective but trust me you will definitely get better taste of espresso than starbucks at a cheaper price!!  Heck even aeropress is better! 

There are a few used machines around do scout mudah.com as well i posted it before and i suppose its already snapped up!!

or Get a Aeropress or V60 at a budget if you just drink long black. or if u want hands on manual Espresso maker i have a ROK for sale!! 

Heck add RM500 for 4 years warranty? i would do that its a good buy then IMHO!!! BTW all electronic espresso machine needs some sort of maintenance to keep it in tip top condition!! basic like back flushes & descaling depends on the frequency of usage is a must. its rarely u need to take it apart unless something is wrong with it. or if u have 4 years warranty just send it back!!   

La pavoni lever machine i suppose u were referring to? i find the quoted price from malaysia distributor is a little expensive compared to buying it overseas. IDK but i read that its tax free for it, except u need to pay 6% GST which i think its still cheaper base on what i research not too long ago.
Milk base coffee drink? aeropress and V60 also can do it!!    u just need to heat up the milk. and add into the coffee.  if u wanna practice steaming milk with steam then Bellman CP-25 is your answer!! which I'm also selling!! 

Once you tasted fresh brewed coffee you will never pay RM10-15 outside just for your caffeine fix!! unless its an independent caffe and experience barista whom knows what he's doing for a meeting or catch up with friends.

Finally I had enough with this mod and done modify the machine.





Review on steam lever mod:

This mod is absolutely is a beast on the steam side. The steam is so powerful that it literally cut down from 20 second of steam time to 10 second of steam time on the 12oz pitcher and it still provide a good microfoam texture but you need to control the steam power with just a light push on the lever, Too much push and be ready to clean to counter top and machine....lolz

Review on Anti Vacuum:

There not much to say about the vacuum, except for it function as it should be, releasing fake pressure and you don have to open for the steam knob to release the pressure anymore each machine is heating up when initial turn on.

but one thing i don't like about this is, it spritz a bit of water due to steam pushing vapor and water out of the anti vacuum before the pin / lever close the hole, that leave the surrounding bit wet and possible corrosion on the metal.

Another was the vapor release will be also affecting the metal below the cup warmer and possible corrosion as well.

Review on OPV:
Still waiting for the pressure gauge to come in so i can check on the pressure on the brew head.

Future mod:
1.) Cover for the steam lever opening.
2.) Repaint the machine.
3.) Assemble LED.

I've just started roasting with a popper, so I'm not confident enough to roast for you. As such, it will have to be green beans for now.

If I can get consistent roasts (probably after I hack the popper with a PID, temperature probes, airflow control, etc) I'll get back to you.

I must say that roasting coffee is an amazingly fun process... very sensory (sight, sound, smells), fast & involved (absolutely CANNOT take your eyes off during the entire process!!) and you get absolutely FRESH coffee!! I have NEVER seen so much crema!

.... and did I mention ECONOMICAL? The popper will pay itself off in two months or less, based on my current consumption level.

Strongly recommend everyone to try this out!!

Hi kuluuluk,

Can share your coffee roasting journey so far? Equipment, beans, etc.

kuluuluk

Fantastic info! Much much thanks!!

My Lazada-bought RH-288/"Sokany" popcorn popper seems to hit the required temperature pretty easily.... too easily if you ask me. What I've been trying is doing a 15 sec on/15 sec off cycle at the start to properly dry out the beans and lengthen the roast; last time took 4 minutes before left it running for about 1 minute 30 sec (total time 5:30) to bring the batch of 110+gm Brazil Yellow Bourbon to something resembling City+. Letting this batch rest & will try it out tomorrow.

Looking at cutting a glass jar to extend a chimney to cater for more beans... maybe 150g?

For some reason never considered the oven! Maybe thinking of keeping it at 250c and above is too unnerving!... nothing I bake takes those temperatures before turning into a lump of coal!! But 20 min to FC for 700g is amazing! No issues on too long a roast? Heard you can get an off-taste if too long ("baked" or something).

I was thinking of exploring a heatgun for larger batches. Maybe a heatgun with your modded peanut roasting cage might be an idea......

Have you considered a carboard tube with an appropriate filter (mosquito netting maybe?) attached to a vacuum cleaner? With some variable venting you can control the vacuum strength to avoid lifting the beans and just suck up the chaff.

Keep sharing!!

Nope, mine is a 220V model. Got it direct from China

Update:

Many had been wondering, that i only show a complete mod of everything about oscar machine, So what happen to coffee brewing process of the machine. Well here it is finally, Yes spout is modded as well and i like this modded spout, look more professional (Forgive me on the mickey mouse cup  ) :

First sign of life of the coffee flow after the mod.


Second, After the black life came evolution of dark chocolate crema.


Third, Before it ended with light brown crema.


Final product of the coffee brewing.Beautiful brown crema ontop of the black sea of life.


Looks on the after brewing on the coffee ground. All clean and compact as it should have.


Well, About the taste..... it is damn bitter (I'm using full medium city beans, and i tested on the shop before i bought it...it suppose to taste like kopi o lightness with some espresso feel), possible over extraction. Must be due to i retain my previous Rancilio silvia fine grind setting . go to loosen up abit of my grind setting since oscar is bit more forgiving then rancilio silvia in brewing.

Is there freah bean, refill type of capsules ?

Man, the new portafilter basket for oscar seem to chew up my beans like no tomorrow. last time i uses 10 second of grind on my rancilio silvia which can last at least 3 grinds now it seem it take 15 second (additional 5 second more) last only 2 grind with the same amount fresh bean i pour into the hopper. 

i didn't time the last round when brew but to me it look normal on the brewing duration.

yesterday machine pump sound weird and it is quiet loud like it is try to pump for water when the tank is empty (Last check the tank was full)...try to brew the coffee and check water brew from the brew head ... everything seem fine, so i try to measure the pressure fearing could cause by it. When i switch off the brew button after checking the pressure, there is a high release of pressure, when with a loud "pop". It even lifted up and push my dip tray out abit.... then when i tested again.... it when back to normal sound....

Weird....

"airlock" ? happen to you before ? Yesterday i tried and machine seem ok already.... my first initial suspected could be the solenoid valve pipe had been block by access water in the dip tray but i always kept my dip tray empty after i off the machine or maybe i forget to load off the access water ...hmm

Anyway, I will monitor the machine for 1 week so see if it happen again.
Nop, Even at cold flush process from cold start seem it affecting already. I tried yesterday, it seem it be back to normal even when i cold flush on from the cold start.

Back to my experiment update, I tried to do a half step down from my grinding, It taste so much better now compare initial grind that too bitter.

Dang.... The sound of the infamous pump came back again last night when i run the pump. Again, i tried the same method, attach my pressure gauge and let it run through but this time there is no loud 'pop' and causing my dip tray to move. Just simple back flushing couple of times and it is back to normal again.

I wonder could it be something had to do with my solenoid getting stuck or something.

Seriously the cheapest semi auto machine with 2 group head....only rm1.2K...not sure if it is due to typo or something because coffee machine like this will cost rm10k++ .....haha

Semi Auto machine

I don think it is manual. It is basically like vending machine, that you get more hotel resturant where every is pre made at the touch of a button. You many want to look at the video below for the review.


Just add in the assembly diagram on the ec860.  I think what the guy did was a simple maintenance. I doubt ppl are just going to do a explosion dismantle to clean everything. Al though the diagram look simple.


Normal descale product like cafiza is a friendly user product which why you can used it with portafilter and not having disemble everything since it is a detergent and soap while citric acid may not be a friendly user product as you might need to be careful the amount you put in for cleaning also acid citric tends to leave some pinkish surface for chromate parts over time and you need to manually clean them with hand scrub cause it might not be save to consume.

that why the company would rather pay and call in the tech guy to do it for you all...  .... Most who willing to maintain their machine is home user.