I just bought a Macap M4 doser version online from EspressoCoffeeShop.com around RM 1700 including shipping. Will let you all know how much is the tax. According to my research, if it fall under hot beverage making machine, the tax should be 0% + 6% GST. I might buy a timer relay to turn it into doserless version as M4D is so damn expensive compare to M4.

Update: Got the tax total. It is 20% + 6% for Tea and Coffee making machine. It seems like 0%+6% is only valid if you run food and beverage business and import for business use.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 8 2016, 02:50 PM

Tax always based on total. Plus agent fee Rm50, total tax around rm 500. Still cheaper compare to Amazon price.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 8 2016, 09:05 PM

I'm not sure about local pricing but if based on my experience, the price locally really cut throat. Last year I ask about Baratza Encore and quoted close to RM 1k. In the end, I get a Porlex to try out first. The only brand that I feel that is price reasonable compare to oversea is Breville.

I'm not so worry about the Macap grinder as based on review the build quality is very good plus any problem seems to be user repairable. I'm quite capable of swapping component and done some diy stuff such as adding PID to the espresso machine.

If anyone who is not comfortable to get their hand dirty should buy locally.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 8 2016, 11:55 PM

If it is Mignon Mk2 then pretty good price.

interesting info regarding some coffee machine running at higher than 9 bar is not wrong but on purpose. I think this is due to the tiny vibe pump to compensate for the pressure loss due to lower volume moving thru the piping and brew head compare to big commercial rotary pump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4y4-E2aL3U

Need to dig out my thermodynamic book from Uni. You need to look at the relationship between pressure, flow rate and resistance.

Yeah. You are right. Thermodynamic is the study of energy conversion and use in design of heat exchanger and distillation column. Been 20 years. Anyway, I'm waiting for variable SSR to experiment with pressure/flow profiling on the pump.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 10 2016, 10:11 PM

Yes. I have been thinking about either PWM or voltage but it seems that because vibe pump is running at 50hz (pump cycle running twice in each AC wave cycle meaning moving in/out 100 times per second), I'm not sure how PWM will affect the pump. Plus most PWM module from ebay are for DC motor, not AC so I still need a SSR as a relay to turn on/off the pump. I just try out with variable SSR as it's the easier alternative.

Yeah. If every time need manual intervention it is kind of troublesome. I'm thinking if it does make a positive differences, I'll put in a timer relay module to automatically switch between different resistance like first 10 sec for low pressure pre infusion then only ramp up to high pressure.

Woah. Never thought I would see a tablet mounted on an espresso machine. In fact I'm in a dilemma on the next upgrade if I have an itch. Either get a BES920 which had lots of control for end user but might had a reliability issue in long run which is not user repairable or get a HX machine but loose out the control part.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 11 2016, 11:14 AM

If you want to get BES870, Lazada price with Maybank credit card discount can get around RM 3k. As for Gaggia Classic, I think quite expensive if cost more than RM 2k. Plus I would want to install PID in it which will jack up the price for another RM 200 (get Sestos PID from ebay, plus 12v DC transformer if you want to use the alarm for steam control and some diode).

For under RM 1500, you can check out Breville Smart grinder pro BCG820. But there are reported problem with the gear stripping when grinding very hard bean (especially lightly roasted bean). I'm not sure if there are new revision to the hardware but you better check out the review especially in year 2016.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 18 2016, 11:08 PM

Last Harvey Norman sales is around RM 1199.

You need this if grind for French press or drip.

http://www.amazon.com/Kegger-Industries-KI...e/dp/B012HDKKQ6.

Also check out the hand drill mod for Hario. Don't bother with those 12v motor with gear reduction mod from eBay as it doesn't have enough torque to grind.

I think of that too but the whole project would cost another extra RM 200 plus effort to 3D printing the parts to hold everything together. In the end, as everyone said, go for a good electric burr grinder or stick to hand grinding.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Mar 22 2016, 02:52 PM

In Australia, WPM is oem for Sunbeam. You can google for more info under Sunbeam EM6910. Same for the grinder.

Even their home brand also got fake. My friend in China told me getting things from Taobao, you had to set your expectation right. Only go for cheap stuff, not branded stuff. He even got cheated on fake Xiaomi phone.

You should try to PID and depressurize the portafilter. It really make a different in the taste and making real crema. Also get a good 53mm tamper from eBay. I found out with 53mm stainless steel tamper, I can get a good level and compact puck from Poemia. Also, with PID and steam control, I get better temperature control and very powerful steam that almost never run out (unless you dry out the boiler which shouldn't happen if you only steam less than 150mL milk). Personally, I feel after the mod, it should be very good for a single boiler machine. Off course cannot compare to HX or double boiler machine as those machine are at a different level.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Apr 4 2016, 09:42 AM

Arduino is complicated if you have no idea how to connect the I/O and upload program into the board. Going with PID such as Sestos PID or Omron PID(higher end) would be easier. If you are comfortable cutting and connecting wire then shouldn't be too difficult. I follow the instruction from Gaggia Classic PID DIY guide. You also need a small 12v 0.5w LED transformer if you want to use Alarm 1 for steam control. By doing this, you will solve the low steam pressure problem as the PID manage to stabilize the steam around 120 degree celcius. Now I can get very good microfoam and keep the swirl going.

I went thru your pain before, using Porlex hand grinder. My problem same as you going for 2 cups very tiring. In the end, go for Macap M4 grinder as I think this is going to hold me for further upgrade for quite sometime.

Just some simple guide on how to PID using Sestos temperature control.

1. Trace the main wire to the rotary switch which use to select either brew or steam. Cut both N and L wire (Leave the ground cable connected to boiler). Use a wire connector to connect back both wire and also tap the wiring out to the PID (make sure you get a PID that run on 220/240v). Once you turn on the switch, it will turn on the PID.

2. Disconnect and remove the brew thermostat from the boiler. The wire that you disconnect should be connected to SSR Relay. You will use the PID to control the relay to turn on the boiler. Put the thermocouple (either K type or PT100) at the place where you remove the thermostat and use the existing clip to clamp it to the boiler. Leave the steam thermostat switch as we'll later tap the wiring to the alarm. I can't remove the brew thermostat as it'll somehow mess up with the steam ready light.

3. Connect the wire from thermocouple to PID. Set your temperature to around 94 to 96 degree and run autotune. After it's done try it out.

4. Optional. If you want to use the steam alarm, connect 2 wire parallel to the steam thermostat wire to 12v LED transformer. The 12v output +ve will be connected to alarm1 NC (normally close as you want it to connect when alarm is below steam temperature) then out to the SSR relay trigger. Remember to use a diode on the positive output on both alarm output to SSR trigger and from PID brew control +ve output. This is to prevent DC voltage back to the PID relay output. Set the Alarm high to 122 degree celcius as this will help maintain the temp around 118 to 120 degree celcius. What happen the temp is above 122 degree, it will disconnect the 12v relay from the LED transformer thus turning off the boiler.

I use this diagram for connection.

http://www.skenedesign.com/Silvia/

Note D1 and D2 is diode 1 and 2. J1 is where you connect the alarm NC and COM. SSR is the trigger relay output from PID set temperature. Note the +ve and -ve for DC output. AC output doesn't matter which is L or N.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Apr 4 2016, 06:09 PM

You need to make sure it come with AL1 output. The correct model is D1S-VR-220. Search for Sestos PID SSR thermocouple from eBay (Less than USD 40). Also you do not need the screw in type thermocouple. A short probe will do. 25A SSR will do. Correction that the 12V LED transformer should be connected to steam thermostat wire.

Yes, I'm still using Pannarello wand. No issue to get microfoam. Just make sure the wand is just below the milk and tilt at an angle. You will see the milk swirl around the pitcher and hold. Slowly adjust the depth when the milk start to expand. If you get too much froth then the wand tip is too shallow. No microfoam will be due to the tip too deep.

Glad to help out another Poemia user. Pretty good espresso machine after mod for less than RM 1k. You can get 53mm tamper from eBay too.

Sestos PID + SSR + Probe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291346125690?_trks...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Tamper 53mm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201476126930?_trks...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This post has been edited by pierreye: Apr 4 2016, 06:11 PM