Technika IV Profi Switchable Espresso Machine

Hello People,Thanks for taking time and read this review. Hope you'll find it of some use.First of all, I've to say it was a Delonghi Kmix espresso machine that ignited all my curiosity about this barista thing. I have to admit I bought it just as something that might look good in our kitchen but after a while, curiosity grew on me so there I was, trying to give it some use.After a little while, I found this was not a "barista" espresso machine, that concept I started falling love with so there I was again all over the internet looking for a feasible upgrade option, this is where the Rancilio Silvia appeared in my kitchen paired with a rocky doser grinder.Learning with the Silvia is a real challenge but is a great experience and it is a great machine as well. For the price point, please forgive me for being this radical but nothing holds it a candle. It's beautifully simply design makes it the greatest entry level real deal espresso machine for me.Now let's talk a little bit about the technology options to upgrade from a Silvia:Double Boiler.This is a very compelling technology where you have a dedicated boiler to steam milk and a dedicated boiler to brew coffee, each one mostly controlled by a Proportional Integral Derivative Controller better known simply as PID. This malarkey makes decisions based on various parameters but at the end of the day, it is just a box that electronically controls when to turn on and off the heater on each boiler and therefore to have a better temperature control to gain predictability and consistency beside making your life easier. This kind of machines tends to have some LED based displays to show you some parameters you only use when you have to tweak them and that's about it.Because the dual boiler and all, these machines tend to be the more expensive even though you can find cheaper alternatives in this segment I do think one of the best (and very expensive by the way) are the La Marzocco but oh boy, those things are expensive, very expensive. I've also looked at the Rocky R58 but I wanted something with a more refined look.Heat Exchanger or HX:This is a different kind of beast, here you'll only have one boiler for steaming while a tube of some sort goes inside the steamer to flash heat fresh water you'll use to brew your coffee. Of course in both cases, you can brew and steam at the same time but HX machines are more "manual" with brewing temperature giving you more room to play, and because you'll only have one heat element, it will cost you less to buy because of the simpler design and less to use because it will use less energy overall.This is the segment I decided was for me so started to look for the very best I could buy and the finalists were:- Nuova Simonelly Oscar. Very Affordable but not that good looking.- Rancilio Epoca E1: No water tank and very big and heavy. Not that good looking.- Rocky Giotto and Cellini Evoluzione V2: Very good machines, right on my maximum price range, very good looking.- ECM Technika Profi IV: This is the one I bought, Extremely good looking, absolutely gorgeous, somehow looks better finished and designed than the Rockys and feels more sturdy when you have them both side to side.The ECM has it all, it has no finish, it has craftsmanship, the levers, the portafilters, the knobs for steam and hot water, every thing looks do incredible good... for the first time I knew this was the one to buy, almost all of the above HX machines are commercial/prosummers so great results are granted but that little extra care for details is what makes ECM stand up above everyone else in this price range. I'm not a professional barista, I'm just a passionate amateur but the results I'm getting are ridiculously great.Yes, you might achieve the same with all the the other but when you spend some of your hard earned money what's important is not value or performance alone, is how the object you get makes you feel and each time I use my ECM I feel kind special... the Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes are great but i feel even greater making them. How cool is that?I'm very sorry I have to jump into a conclusion that might sound simply silly but just look for the features that fulfills your dreams and go for them. Most of the prosummers are great and very similar but they are no equals.... not by any means... set your budget, set your expectations as high as you can but, with the ECM I can tell you... you'll never feel you could do better again.One quick word about Whole Latte Love, the seller I bought my ECM from here in Amazon. They are very kind and pro people but they don't take international payments. The delivery was VERY quick, very professionally packaged. It arrived on time and I had to travel with as checked luggage on my last flight back from the US. My advice, just sell the rest of the ECM accessories so I can buy them here in Amazon either in the US or in Mexico.Grinder? Rancilio Kryo 65 OD... I hate dosers... And this is a SERIOUS grinder... just like my ECM just more commercially focused.JP