Today I've compared the taste between Giotto and Elektra side by side. I've done the test three times (1e in the morning, 2e at 12 o'clock and 3e after diner..) I made a ristretto on both machines and after that an espresso...
Result:
I prefer the taste of Elektra over Giotto... (in fact I drank all of Elektra's liquid while I only tasted Giotto's...) Not a very unexpected outcome (for me at least), but still: why is it that the lever-mechanism creates such a beautifull/pure/heavenly taste, while the vibe-pump of Giotto creates a lot of crema but has a typical tang (Silvia - also a vibe-pump had this tang too...) to it's taste..? I've used the same beans (adjusted the coarsness of the grind to match each machine... Hell, I wanted the Giotto to win, so I cheated a little bit in favour of Giotto... and have put the Elektra to her 'heating'-limits...).
Conclusions for this moment:
The blend used was: 2/3 Yrgacheffe and 1/3 Sumatra Mandheling (both roasted in to a rolling second crack...), and I could taste both coffee's in the shots of Elektra: smooth, mysterious, sweet and spicy... Giotto's shot's tasted much more flat (I adjusted the pressure-stat even lower) but this could not give me the taste sensation Elektra gave me...
So, Elektra makes the best espresso/ristretto while her foaming capacities are unsurpassed... Giotto on the other hand is much more convenient as she doesn't overheat after two shots... is capable of making americano's (favoured by my wife) and can make more than 1 cup at a time (Elektra makes only 1 espresso at a time as the double basket of Elektra holds just as much coffee as the single basket of giotto...).
Does any of you have experienced the same with a side by side comparison?
(Alans: You perhaps.. )
I'm in doubt now by my article about the Elektra... Was I fair enough? Did I knew what I know now..? Should I change my critisism at Mark..? I mean the taste of Elektra's shots is SO much better that the disadvantages are accepted (for today at least, and with Giotto to back me up when needed... )
So, final conclusion for today..:
-For taste-purists: nothing beats a lever or a rotary-pump machine...
-For morning rush or convenience, nothing beats a heat-exchanger or a double-boiler-machine with rotary-pump...
Michel
(who desired another outcome...)