Here are some interesting home espresso machines that aren't sold in stores.
The manager likes espresso. However, he can't drink it as is, so he often makes it into a latte. To make espresso, you need a special machine. There are many espresso-like machines on the market, but a specially developed machine produces a taste closer to that of the coffee you get in a cafe.
The best espresso machine available for home use in Japan is the Rancilio Silvia . This is what got me hooked on espresso, and I ended up selling the beans.
At the moment, we are using a machine called Rocket R58 in the lab. It has dual boilers for continuous extraction, and the pump is rotary, so it is quiet. However, I am looking for more machines to try, and I have recently narrowed down my choices to about three models.
Please note that these machines can only be imported by individuals. In order to sell them, they must be inspected under the Food Sanitation Act and the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act, and labeled as necessary. Reselling personally imported equipment can be illegal, so please be careful when buying as well as selling.
Candidate 1: STRIETMAN CT-2
This is a very handmade lever-type espresso machine from the Netherlands. It uses a method commonly seen in recent lever-type machines, where only the necessary hot water is heated by a heater, and does not have a steamer. Since it does not have a boiler or pump, the case is compact (though still large), making it suitable for home use where you only make a few cups a day.
The most important thing is the appearance. The metal is processed in a classical way (bending, punching, etc.), and it has a very handmade feel (although it's strange to call this a special feature, since most espresso machines are handmade). You can change the material of the handle when ordering. It is made to order, with a lead time of about three weeks, and the price starts from 2,380 euros.
Candidate 2: decent
This espresso machine is made by a new Taiwanese manufacturer. Its unique feature is that it allows you to control the boiler, heater, etc., and you can view the settings and extraction status in graphs on a tablet connected to the main unit. What this can do is simulate the behavior of various espresso machines on the market, allowing you to say, "Okay, let's try Synesso today," or, "This is a test brew, so let's go with La Marzocco."
While retaining the simulation function, you can customize the grade of the heater and the installation method. Also, the peripheral accessories are extremely comprehensive and all of them are inexpensive, so the number of stores adopting them is increasing. Since there is no domestic distributor and it must be purchased directly from the manufacturer, it is a personal import, but for some reason I see it in domestic stores (it is not allowed to use equipment that has not passed the Food Sanitation Law for commercial use, so perhaps the manufacturer will prepare the documents).
Candidate 3: Meticulous
This machine is currently being prepared for crowdfunding. It is a boilerless lever-type machine where you add hot water for each extraction. This machine is very particular about the sensing and heating of the water temperature, and it is thought that one of its advantages is that it allows you to make the ideal espresso at home at a low cost.
One of its unique features is the built-in scale, which allows you to measure the beans, milk, and other quantities required for various espresso drink recipes using just this machine.
Expectations are high, and the manufacturer is selling crowdfunding reservation rights for $100, showing how confident they are. I wish they would at least tell me how much it costs. → I got an email while I was writing this. The general crowdfunding price is $1,500, and the early bird price is $1,300. If you use the reservation rights, you can definitely buy it at the early bird price. It's a machine I'd like to import personally and try out.
By the way, this machine was purchased by the store manager through crowdfunding. I have no idea when it will arrive, but I will provide a thorough review once it arrives.
If we were to sell this in Japan, it would have to pass inspections under the Food Sanitation Act, the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act, and the Weights and Measurements Act, so if we were to do it seriously, the costs would be enormous, and I'm not sure whether it would be able to sell for 300,000 yen per unit.
You may be wondering, "Is there anything else?" Yes, there is. Here is a machine that is so good that I don't even need to introduce it.
Although it is a lever type and requires hot water for each extraction, it is a machine that is popular in stores because it can produce strong espresso and is low cost. There are also agents, so support should not be a problem. It seems that they do not do wholesale, so we do not handle it at our store. There is a service that allows you to rent it before purchasing.
This is a fully automatic espresso machine that we recently started handling. Speaking of fully automatic machines, DeLonghi products are famous, and you can see them operating in cafes in resort areas. GAGGIA is not as well known as DeLonghi, but as an Italian espresso machine, it is as well known as Rancilio. In fact, the first manual espresso machine we introduced for home use was A name that is often mentioned as a rival to the Rancilio Silvia is GAGGIA Classic.
There is a reason why we started selling fully automatic machines before selling manual machines. Because making espresso is a pain, there is a certain demand for espresso machines that automatically produce coffee when you put the beans in (I want one at my workplace). You can also see that we want to make things easier by selling only products that do not require milk frothers. Cleaning the milk tank is really a pain.
This product comes with a 4,500 yen coffee bean coupon. It's a little pricey, but you can enjoy delicious espresso as soon as it arrives!
*Espresso machines are currently unavailable.
We carry the beans that we recommend for espresso, so if you purchase an espresso machine, be sure to buy your beans from us.
We can also grind it for espresso.
