Second run of my 9Barista espresso maker. Essentially an over-engineered moka pot.
Good espresso. Bit of a hassle to assemble. Bigger hassle to disassemble — have to cool it, release pressure from valve, pop off upside-down portafilter top (coffee splash warning and handles can spin), unscrew reservoir (without using plastic chimney as thumb leverage). Not ideal if you have RSI, etc.
Got induction plate (too hot for flame in summer). Did not get dosing funnel (too expensive; can print one).
For both of my trial runs with the 9Barista I got exactly 40ml of espresso (18g beans, 120g water) and a thick crema.
The metal and machining feel nice, heavy, precise. But the plastic chimney and the wooden handles that loosen too easily feel a bit cheap by comparison.
Looking forward to trying this for cappuccino when I have time to spend on it.
