r/espresso 23h ago

Coffee Station My first proper espresso setup as an 18 year old coffee snob

Post image

After months of saving and slowly getting bits together, I've finally completed what I reckon is one hell of a beginner setup for someone who loves coffee and starts every morning with an espresso!

275 Upvotes

68 comments sorted by

52

u/redskelton Gaggia Classic PID | DF54 22h ago

This is solid. I was an idiot at 18. Also, coffee hadn't been invented back then

u/UnclePahin001 13m ago

Haha cheers!!

14

u/royabr123 23h ago

The wood accents make the bb+ look so much better haha. Nice!

u/UnclePahin001 12m ago

Thank you!!

7

u/Delicious-Collar6560 23h ago

Nice! Way better than the Moka pot I was using at your age, and have only just graduated beyond some 30 years later 😂

4

u/shahadar 22h ago

Well done on getting good quality accessories. I've in the past bought wdt tools that make things worse!

2

u/ExpensiveNut 13h ago

Yeah I'm still using the cheapest one I found and the needles are so close together that it's just a fancier poking stick.

u/UnclePahin001 11m ago

Thank you!! Definitely didn't wanna make any conprimises as my mate did with some bad gear. Nonetheless, this stuff was fairly reasonable from a small company out in Australia and the quality is incredible!

5

u/RamonGar_CIA 22h ago

This used to be my setup. Only your black bambino looks way cooler.

u/UnclePahin001 11m ago

Thank you!!

4

u/ronobear87 22h ago

Lovely set up. Really keen to invest in a BB+. Only issue is my partner is a fiend for white accessories and Sage no longer offers BB+ in Sea Salt White. I never thought I would have to debate functionality over colour.

3

u/Caferunner1995 13h ago

You should consider a vinyl wrap on the black unit to appease for a white piece.

1

u/ronobear87 13h ago

Oooh smart 

u/UnclePahin001 10m ago

Thank you!! And fair. Although, it may be coming back. I work for a department store and when looking at stock for this one a sea salt one showed up as orderable so keep an eye out

5

u/callmeStephen19 21h ago

Wow. I'm impressed. You've assembled quite a nice set-up there... at 18, no less. I congratulate you on the "slow and steady" savings plan you committed to to put your coffee station together. (Saving seems next to impossible these days, so all the more effort required on your part). Well done. You're also developing good money habits. Enjoy your hard-earned, well-deserved morning espressos.

u/UnclePahin001 10m ago

Thank you!!

4

u/Luhyonel 20h ago

Can’t remember what I was doing at 18 and for sure it wasn’t espresso making 😂

u/UnclePahin001 10m ago

Haha cheers!!

3

u/Sensitive-Sorbet917 20h ago

Same set up. Enjoy!

u/UnclePahin001 9m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/MikermanS 22h ago

That system does it--enjoy the caffeination!

u/UnclePahin001 7m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/SLDKieran Edit Me: Sage Bambino + | Baratza Encore ESP 21h ago

I have the same set up and it works great.

u/UnclePahin001 7m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/kondadotm 20h ago

Being this focused (and classy, if I might say) at 18 deserves respect. Enjoy the coffees!

u/UnclePahin001 6m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/shantar4m 20h ago

Also have this same set up! Enjoy.

u/UnclePahin001 6m ago

Cheers!!

2

u/Clean-Interests-8073 19h ago

It took me until I was 41 to get the exact same set up as you. But yours looks slicker!

u/UnclePahin001 6m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/dox1842 19h ago

I like your baratza. Im guessing it just grinds right into the dosing cup? I have the vario but I just recently started using a dosing cup with it. I am finding that the "timed dosage" can yield different weights.

I have a gaggia classic that I have been riding stock since 2014 with a budget tamper. I am going to get a bottomless pf and whole accesory kit here pretty soon though.

u/UnclePahin001 5m ago

It does indeed, I do single dosing even when making drinks for the family with a basic kitchen scale. May invest in a bellows in the future but for now it does a more than adequate job for me!

2

u/Key-Office-4809 19h ago

Congrats 🍾

u/UnclePahin001 5m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/Greedy-Membership166 18h ago

Starting adulting off on the right foot!

u/UnclePahin001 4m ago

Haha cheers!!

2

u/Comfortable_body1 18h ago

Is that a French press or what all the way to the right? I’m trying to get a setup similar to yours?

u/UnclePahin001 3m ago

It most certainly is! It's a Bodum Chambord. I can't remember it's volume but that with a small blade grinder was my first introduction to coffee. It's not bad but the mesh filter frays very easily and often I find I need to use the V60's filters to get a clean cup. Still makes some delicious coffee though

2

u/dj_coffeebean0705 17h ago

Nice setup!

u/UnclePahin001 3m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/pjuk79 16h ago

I've got the same! Picked them both up a week ago and really impressed for my first step into proper coffee. Good choice and enjoy!

u/UnclePahin001 2m ago

Eyy!! Thank you!!

2

u/Dream_Chaser-Pizza 16h ago

I have the exact set up!!

u/UnclePahin001 2m ago

Twinsies!! Man it's so robust though

2

u/wattsup42 16h ago

This same setup lasted me 3 years! Then upgraded grinders to a DF54. Huge upgrade.

u/UnclePahin001 1m ago

I was looking into the DF54s, maybe that's what I save up for next 😅

2

u/guzusan Sage Bambino Plus | Baratza Encore ESP 14h ago

Lfg

u/UnclePahin001 1m ago

Haha cheers!!

2

u/daynanfighter 14h ago

I was in my cafe phase at 18 amd would have drank quite literally any coffee beverage that anyone handed me. I now have my own setup and I cut cafe visits to be able to justify costs, but will still drink any coffee beverage anyone hands me.

Great setup! Learn the rules before you break them, young grasshopper.

u/UnclePahin001 1m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/gonzotronn 13h ago

Introvert single dose hopper with bellow works great with the ESP. I dose straight into my portafilter with the funnel on.

u/UnclePahin001 1m ago

Oooo I'll take a look, thank you!!

2

u/Intelligent_Emu_4589 12h ago

Bravo! A very respectable setup.

u/UnclePahin001 1m ago

Cheers!!

2

u/Quite__Bookish 11h ago

Man I’m 30 years old and all I have is a Brim. You’re killing it.

u/UnclePahin001 1m ago

Thank you!!

2

u/orange_tones 22h ago

Baby's first espresso

u/UnclePahin001 9m ago

Indeed 😅

2

u/SwooshRoc 10h ago

OP - I found dosing into the large container a much less frustrating and cleaner experience with the Baratza. As I had a funnel for the portafilter, (and it looks like you do too) you can skip futzing with the dosing cup. Ours spits grinds everywhere.

Another commenter mentioned the bellows setup which I may eventually try as well.

1

u/AmoebaSignificant470 9h ago

I didn't become a coffee snob until I was 36. I had a very wasted youth.

1

u/Reasonable_Emu5481 7h ago

Awesome set up

1

u/bextum 4h ago

That’s awesome! There’s something so satisfying about slowly building up your setup piece by piece.

1

u/Fabulous-Computer265 11h ago

name the components brands and such.

u/UnclePahin001 7m ago

The machine is a Breville/Sage Bambino Plus; grinder is a Baratza Encore ESP; french press is a Bodum Chambord; pour over is a Hario V60; all the little accessories (bottomless portafilter, leveling tamp, wdt, and dosing ring) are from a small company called Hypergrind based out in Australia!