I've finally gotten used to my ECM Mechanika V Slim after making latte 3x a day (Eureka Mignon Silenzio grinder) for a month. Before this machine, I had the Breville Barista Express for 2 1/2 years.

The Barista Express was a great machine. Its capable built-in grinder was a huge plus for being someone's first semi-automatic espresso machine. Its manual steam wand, underpowered as it may be, allowed me to learn latte art on it.

The Mechanika V, however, is on another level. The temperature is more consistent. It can easily handle back-to-back lattes and espressos without breaking a sweat. The streaming power, while putrid comparing to a high-end dual boiler machine, is on another world comparing to the Barista Express. I also don't need to hold down the machine when I put on the portafilter, which makes the whole experience more pleasant.

I use a smart plug to turn on my machine ~ 30 minutes before I wake up every morning.

The dosing funnel makes a huge difference in eliminating coffee mess. A couple of complaints I have against the Mignon Silenzio is that 1) due to the shape of the grinder funnel, the coffee goes out in a outward trajectory as it is being ground, which can make a big mess, though this issue is complete eliminated by the dosing funnel I'm using, and 2) with a dosing funnel, plus the weight of the ECM portafilter (which feels hefty and great), the portafilter barely, and I emphasize *barely*, stays on the grinder's fork in a hands-free operation. That's why I took my time to make sure the portafilter wasn't dropping from the grinder before I moved away.

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