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The Frugal Living Thread


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26 minutes ago, King Heffy said:

Agreed. The equipment is a significant investment but doesn't take long to break even if it prevents 5 trips to the coffee shop weekly.  Converting as many ongoing expenses as possible into one time purchases is really helpful.  

I love this little machine (https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes450.html). Nearly the cheapest one on the market but it makes coffee as good as a $2000machine. I compared it with a bunch of espresso machines at Espressotec in Vancouver, and it stood up to that level no problem.

 

Best purchase you can make tho is a good quality grinder and a French press. With those two items you can make anything better than Starbucks, etc. 

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3 minutes ago, -DLC- said:

Walmart.  Was in there for something else and saw the set with the price slashed.  They also had a beautiful (floor model)  sectional couch set for $199.00 (regular $1,000).  I had my vehicle and no way to get it home (or I was going to buy that for my brother - gave the other set to my daughter).  I called him to see if he could come with his truck to pick it up but he was working and they wouldn't hold it (I don't blame them).

 

LOL, I crammed the set I did purchase into my car and it took 3 trips to get it home.  They had to hold it because I'd already paid for it (wanted to do that with the other set too, but they caught on).

 

Bought end of August.  They clear that stuff out in order to move "Back to School" items in.

 

 

It was a hell of a buy! Nice when you fall into something like that.

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3 minutes ago, JM_ said:

I love this little machine (https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes450.html). Nearly the cheapest one on the market but it makes coffee as good as a $2000machine. I compared it with a bunch of espresso machines at Espressotec in Vancouver, and it stood up to that level no problem.

 

Best purchase you can make tho is a good quality grinder and a French press. With those two items you can make anything better than Starbucks, etc. 

Does it plug into my car lighter socket?

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6 minutes ago, JM_ said:

I love this little machine (https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes450.html). Nearly the cheapest one on the market but it makes coffee as good as a $2000machine. I compared it with a bunch of espresso machines at Espressotec in Vancouver, and it stood up to that level no problem.

 

Best purchase you can make tho is a good quality grinder and a French press. With those two items you can make anything better than Starbucks, etc. 

Very similar to mine, I got the model with the built in grinder though.  I also have a French press and a separate grinder for that.  Only ongoing expense is beans which are way fresher than Starbucks.

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Just now, King Heffy said:

Very similar to mine, I got the model with the built in grinder though.  I also have a French press and a separate grinder for that.  Only ongoing expense is beans which are way fresher than Starbucks.

I debated that, the grinder guts are the same in the combined and separate models. I went for a separate grinder unit because I wasn't sure about the longevity of the unit at that price. 

 

I use an unpressurized basket as well which kicked up the creama nicely. 

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1 hour ago, -DLC- said:

I hate Starbucks and Tims.  McDonalds coffee is good (although I haven't had it for awhile).

 

as soon as Tim's gets even the slightest bit cold its undrinkable. 

 

I do like Davids Tea sometimes, but its pretty pricey. 

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25 minutes ago, J.I.A.H.N said:

It was a hell of a buy! Nice when you fall into something like that.

I went back a few times, checking.

 

Got my brother this set not long afterward (it was easier for me to move myself).  It was $79.00.  the seats are swivel/rockers.  

 

The first set was unboxed (unsure, but likely was also a floor model).  This one was boxed so much easier to move myself.

image.png

 

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5 minutes ago, -DLC- said:

I went back a few times, checking.

 

Got my brother this set not long afterward (it was easier for me to move myself).  It was $79.00.  the seats are swivel/rockers

image.png 

 

that is something I really noticed about Greater Vancouver. When you have a sale over there, it is a sale! With big discounts. Here is Nanaimo, not so much.

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30 minutes ago, King Heffy said:

Very similar to mine, I got the model with the built in grinder though.  I also have a French press and a separate grinder for that.  Only ongoing expense is beans which are way fresher than Starbucks.

sounds like the breville barista express... one of the best purchases I ever made on black friday a few years ago, specially now with working from home its essential

 

I am also thinking of getting a vitamix anyone have experience with those ? my 5 year old nutribullet is ready to bite the dust I want something heavy duty

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4 hours ago, Hogs & Podz said:

Wow... That's an interesting idea!  I may very well do that.  Thanks for the suggestion.

I mean do it for sure on here so we can follow but maybe upload that to youtube as well, get some youtube cheques from it I bet!

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7 hours ago, JM_ said:

I love this little machine (https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes450.html). Nearly the cheapest one on the market but it makes coffee as good as a $2000machine. I compared it with a bunch of espresso machines at Espressotec in Vancouver, and it stood up to that level no problem.

 

Best purchase you can make tho is a good quality grinder and a French press. With those two items you can make anything better than Starbucks, etc. 

I've got the Breville Duo Temp.  paid 350 for it 6 years ago and still going strong.  I like the lattes I make better than Starbucks because I have more control over what beans I use and how I grind them.  With lattes at 6 bucks at Starbucks, I saved a lot of money.

 

The grinder is probably the most important purchase I agree.  A few years ago I noticed drastic change in taste of the drinks I was making and found out that the grinder wasn't working properly.  Got a new grinder and it was back to normal.  

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1 minute ago, coho8888 said:

I've got the Breville Duo Temp.  paid 350 for it 6 years ago and still going strong.  I like the lattes I make better than Starbucks because I have more control over what beans I use and how I grind them.  With lattes at 6 bucks at Starbucks, I saved a lot of money.

 

The grinder is probably the most important purchase I agree.  A few years ago I noticed drastic change in taste of the drinks I was making and found out that the grinder wasn't working properly.  Got a new grinder and it was back to normal.  

Thats a nice one, its the grown up version of the bambino. 

 

yup, if you're going to choose between a machine and a grinder, pick the burr grinder + a cheap French press. 

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a home coffee machine that makes a good cup of coffee is my ultimate present I would like! I am not a latte drinker so an expresso machine is not up my alley and I prefer the grinder to be built in the machine for space but is there a perfect coffee machine with a good grinder as some mentioned the grinder being very important for the beans and taste!?

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2 minutes ago, Canuckster86 said:

a home coffee machine that makes a good cup of coffee is my ultimate present I would like! I am not a latte drinker so an expresso machine is not up my alley and I prefer the grinder to be built in the machine for space but is there a perfect coffee machine with a good grinder as some mentioned the grinder being very important for the beans and taste!?

If you do get a plain coffee machine, grind your own beans with a good grinder.  Its amazing the difference in taste you get from fresh beans

 

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14 hours ago, Canuckster86 said:

a home coffee machine that makes a good cup of coffee is my ultimate present I would like! I am not a latte drinker so an expresso machine is not up my alley and I prefer the grinder to be built in the machine for space but is there a perfect coffee machine with a good grinder as some mentioned the grinder being very important for the beans and taste!?

James Hoffman is a guy to watch on YouTube for learning about everything coffee. Here's his video on different grinders.

 

 

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