Making Incredible Coffee on Under $100 SilverCrest (Lidl) Machine

Hope this video was fun, funny, informative, whatever you can take away from it!
Had a lot of fun doing it and playing around with it. Please let me know if you'd like more videos like this (taking cheap machines and trying to optimize their performance).
Thanks for watching!
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[@StartCodonUST]

I don't think I've ever seen a more convincing argument that bad latte art is entirely a skill issue.

[@LarsGoldbachDP]

could not thought of a better conclusion for that!!! 100%

[@edrxpark]

I was thinking the same thing. Clearly I have no excuses... :(

[@BorisTheGoose92]

Yeah it's almost depressing seeing this video lol A good machine certainly makes it easier, but this definitely does show you can get great art even on less than sub par machines if you understand how the steam wand is affecting the milk.

[@atticustay1]

Yes, although a better machine definitely does help.

[@Stan_sprinkle]

yeah that is my somewhat livid takeaway from this

[@Brucefulness]

I spit out my coffee when he used the $78 Weber shaker with the $60 espresso machine

[@LanceHedrick]

Free shaker. Comes with the grinder. 😅

[@kevinmackler]

lance i sometimes see your community posts asking what kinds of videos we want to see. THIS kind of video is exactly what im into. love seeing some expertise applied to more accessible machinery. very valuable!

[@thomascee]

💯 this!

[@sugarbirdtinyfarm9001]

🙌 Yesssssssss

[@beerzoeper]

Very excited to see Lance making a video on this thing! Some tips and tricks for this machine: My girlfriend has this and to get something enjoyable from it, I paired it with a Fellow Opus grinder, and added a fancier portafilter and EMS filter basket. It is fun to squeeze something nice from it, and let me share some little tricks to enhance its performance: 1. Skip the built-in pre-infusion if you don’t want it. Just insert the portafilter with prepared puck, open the steam valve and start to pull a shot, the water will exit the steam wand instead. During the ‘pre-infusion’, or break in pumping water, close the valve, and the water will go through the brew head from there. 2. Use a thick 1.5-2 mm puck screen to help the water distribution. 3. To start with a slightly higher brew temperature, turn on the steam button for just 3-10 seconds before pulling a shot. (Doesn’t work that accurate but enables some temperature surfing) 4. Milk frothing: remove the pannarello. Quickly after switching on the steam button, open the steam valve and let it steam for about a minute (or two) in an empty pitcher or so. The steam pressure will increase during steaming, this will help you to create the desired vortex and steam milk. At home I am using a vibiemme domobar with a niche, but actually find this little Lidl device more fun to use in some way.

[@ianwgardiner]

What portafilter did you get pls - the Amazon one I got isn't compatible?

[@TheLos333]

Thank you, Lance. While I appreciate watching you use $10k+ in coffee equipment, that is not in my budget. I have been struggling to get a drinkable shot with my Delonghi ECP3420. Looks like a non-pressurized basket is in my future. I have a decent hand grinder (KinGrinder K6), get good beans from a local roaster, and get SCA grade water from that same roaster. Thank you for your help with the budget limited gear! I hope you do more like this!

[@FatNorthernBigot]

So, all we need is sixty dollars and Lance's sheer talent 😂

[@user-qt5xh9mt7x]

Oh for crying out loud, he is making coffee, not playing a piano sonata

[@loganmontgomery1955]

Being a good barista takes talent! Developing a good palate for coffee as well as latte art skills are things that take quite a lot of skill and time

[@coreycannon4511]

Agreed. One person’s Glenn Gould, is another’s Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Pelée, Wayne Gretzky, Joël Rubuchon, Steven Spielberg, etc.

[@SamsonOng]

Can I rent a Lance? Asking for everyone?

[@martymartin2894]

​@@loganmontgomery1955Bull all this expensive coffee snobbery is ridiculous.

[@cricocoo]

Why be mad? It is the truth, the machine matters less than the grinder. Budget options are very important to discuss. KZbin is not only for coffee geeks with money to spend, so thank you Lance!

[@marianoaponte2518]

TL;DW: Good beans, a good grinder, good water and a little bit of know-how is all you need for a good coffee.

[@patrickvanderlinde5283]

Love that blind shaker outshining the machine with its price

[@davidtester863]

Exactly what I came to say 😂

[@brewkendoit]

I can't even do basic art on my modified delonghi dedica with a rancillo wand. You just made me realize how crappy my skills are haha! Thanks for sharing this milk trick! 😁

[@idopeso]

Keep trying, it isn't impossible.

[@brewkendoit]

@@idopeso thank you for the motivation :) I'll do my best to learn!

[@coreycannon4511]

Ditto.

[@myname-mz3lo]

this video probably helped more people than all your previous videos combined . thank you. other peoples advice is just "dont be poor"

[@LePeppino]

So, to summarize: the barista makes good coffee, not the machine

[@Phil_OG]

And Lance swings the portafilter like no other

[@ThePorkTree]

And that’s why we pay them …. *checks notes* … not a livable wage !

[@alexstupka]

@@ThePorkTree Except in CA. 25$/hr min wage + ins if full time which is somewhat livable.

[@levezze]

@@ThePorkTree You're joking. Every place I know baristas, with today's tip culture, are making more than junior Tech programmers (if they were working full time, which they often don't cuz life is so hard yadda yadda). I was a bartender and barista too back in the day before and during college, and I didn't earn HALF of what they earn today.

[@timo7641]

Grinder: Am I a joke?

[@morphmkd]

Finally! Gonna enjoy my afternoon cup with this one! I have similar level of machine, it is made by Beko and I bought it for roughly 90 euros. 3 years and going strong for now with IMS competition basket.

[@antonc81]

Guess at the end of the day an espresso machine is just a hot water pump. With great beans and a good grinder you can usually figure out how to make a tasty beverage with almost any brewing equipment. Conversely if your beans suck or you’re using a really bad grinder there’s no gizmo that will make it taste nice.

[@kytriesstuff]

Daddy Lance coming with the heat! Prime example Skill over Tool

[@parkestan]

The other espresso machine in the background just flexing its muscles to that lil bro 😂😂

[@funny4178]

More cheap products please it makes me feel included lol

[@georgielol]

Lance, you're a wizard for making silky milk with that thing.

[@myname-mz3lo]

nahh youve just been fooled by marketing to believe it wasnt possible

[@Biomechan]

Hi Lance! I have the previous version of this one at my summer house. Coupled with a basic Lelit stepless conical grinder, a non pressurised basket and a scale. The results are indeed quite impressive! The machine is still alive over 5 years now although I actually use it daily for 2months every year. I descale it once per month. For steaming I have removed the external cyllinder, so it's no longer acting like a pannarelo steam wand; the steaming is much more controllable giving acceptable results. Honestly, the experience with any other single boiler machine it isn't much more different. It is crazy how one needs to pay 15x times over to experience a significant upgrade in the coffee brewing-tasting.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Fun video, Lance! That shower screen looks pretty decent actually for this price point - much better than the Gaggia Espresso Deluxe. Very nice latte art, too. Maybe you could show us a close up of the grooming some time - the result is very impressive. Cheers, Tom

[@Conservator.]

3:50 I suspect that that -beaker/cup- blind shaker is a few times more expensive than the whole espresso machine. 😁

[@donaldduck9214]

Yes,yes,please,i would love some more videos with cheap machines and how to optimize their performance🥰Me has the Delonghi ec 885,botomless portafilter,a wdt tool and and a breville dose control pro grinder.With Lance's innumerable tutorials i am getting quite tasty cups each time. My milk foaming skills are still mediocre though 😁 I wonder if i'm doing the right thing using single origin beand with this machine 🤔

[@loichervier7206]

I have a cheap chinese machine paired with a Kingrinder K4: I added a proper tamper, a non pressurized basket and a puck screen. This does a pretty decent job for about 240 bucks total

[@bowser2114]

Had a lot of fun watching that video. Fun and light 😂

[@nademade]

We have one of those. We used it for our AirBnb place and we got a lot of compliments about the coffee. We were very surprised by that :). Now it's at my parents', they use it every day and they like it a lot. I think it makes decent coffee. So, it's been in use for 6 years now. The water here is very soft. We haven't done any major repairments.

[@masamunesword]

I'd love to see that follow up video idea you mentioned about modifying inexpensive espresso machines for better performance.

[@mikenolley9623]

Hello Lance - this is a letter of thanks for all of your videos. I'm a coffee lover on a budget, and was able to find a used Breville 800ESXL at the Goodwill bins a month or so ago, for around 15 dollars. I replaced missing parts, got a decent leveling tamper, Kingrinder K6 burr grinder, puck filter, WDT tool, mister, scale, dosing funnel, etc. and watched a few of your videos. Over the last month, using your information, I have been able to pull better and better shots. Today I pulled the first shot I really, really liked. Even though my equipment is meh and the beans were a pretty old medium roast, the following settings seemed to work well: using a spacious double shot unpressurized basket, a dose of ~26 grams ground at "33" grind setting on the kingrinder k6 (effectively 38 because of a zero point at -5), which was like fine sand, but zero fines, and a firm tamp pressure. Used 2.2/1 ratio, resulting in 55 grams of espresso, kind of watery but magnificent in flavor, not too bitter or acidic and with strong "forest floor" flavor. After sipping, made a very interesting and even meditative latte. I count your information about WDT, grind consistency, misting, and "dialing in" to have been really essential for me in finally achieving decent results with medium roasts, which are my favorite. THANKS AGAIN!

[@myname-mz3lo]

i am the same and everything changed when i realised how easy modding a machine is . alot of people on youtube say it is hard but they must have never used a screw driver to be saying that . youll see you can mod a cheap machine to make it have features that are super good . i think being on a budget is a good thing . because if you ever get a high end machine down the line and you can already make great espresso with a cheap one you will make amazing espresso .

[@charliep9066]

This was very informative. Thanks, Lance. I don't drink espresso often enough to warrant spending a hefty price tag. However, I do like the option of being able to get decent espresso with a very low cost machine. At $60, if it lasts 2 years, at roughly 2-3 espressos/week, that's probably still worth it. Although, I don't like the idea of plastics and aluminum being around very hot temperatures for something I consume. Please do continue the cheaper alternative series ! It makes the coffee world more accessible to those who want a good cup, but not necessarily have the means to spend that much, especially in today's world. Much appreciated.

[@senegalus]

something i convinced many people to do and they are happy, cheap machine, invest in bottomless portafilter (approx 30 bucks) and a good handgrinder - voila , tastes good, is fun, nice to get into it

[@kenkryptonite]

I used the Bialetti Mokono for more than 2 years paired with a great hand grinder and I pulled great shots that I never thought of buying an advanced espresso machine. The grouphead started leaking recently though due to obviously cheap plastic materials so I had to upgrade. I enjoyed the machine though and I will recommend this route for a beginner. Great video. The grinder, coffee, water and barista are the most important, the machine is not all that important.

[@Jeremy-kg1zr]

Love your personality really coming through in this video, just having fun with this machine. Also really love that you're helping people with lower budgets see how they can get some decent lattes. You don't need $1,000 for good home espresso drinks. Yay Lance!

[@sirgallabad]

I have an old, cheap Mr. Coffee espresso machine (one they stopped producing quite a while ago), and with regular cleaning and using filtered water for my shots, I’ve been able to maintain it with zero issues, despite it being over a decade old. It makes great espresso, and the steam wand, although initially automatic, I was able to turn into a manual by removing the rubber piece which pulls the air in. I use a hand grinder, currently, but I’m saving for a decent electric grinder in the future before considering getting a new machine.

[@BonsaiClubRO]

I would love to see a collab with you and Daddy Hoff, just having fun while brewing a cup of v60

[@jonathancavender8796]

This was a fun video. Love it! Good to know I don't need to spend $1000+ to make good espresso. I'd love to see a "best starter spro machines 2024" vid from you.

[@IbrahimSiregar]

this video is 100% about skills. always love your videos, Lance!

[@VixenYoung]

Hugo's "wow" is the only thing I need to convince me to keep my machine similar to this.

[@coreycannon4511]

Yup. Just got one. For giggles. I’ll keep it until it explodes.

[@carbon_wavelight]

This was great, I would love a series like this

[@hardvice]

If you pull the outer pannarello sleeve off the steam wand and just use the inner wand, you can steam milk pretty normally - it’s just really short, and thus really finicky about the size of your pitcher and the volume of milk in it. But it’s totally workable.

[@wazzup105]

Refreshing video after the expensive nerdy stuff.

[@Ganimoth]

We had some older variant of this at work, it looked almost identicle, except for that cup holder on top, simpler steam wand and lack of any preinfusion. It .. wasnt great, but it has lasted for almost 3 years with quite a heavy use.

[@jesussalinas3947]

“It’s already going to bubble up out of your house!” Fricken lol dude!

[@5naxalotl]

i use a remarkably similar setup to this, including the Q2 grinder. actually, i'm a bit envious of the lack of solenoid, because you can surf the pressure without cutting out the heater. but, having got rid of the pressurized basket, i find it's a knife edge adjustment getting a grind/charge/tamp to mate with the high pressure. seems to me there's something to be said for the basket restriction bringing the pressure *across* the puck closer to 9 bar (despite that pressure now being more affected by flow). i haven't had the double wall basket since well before i learned to get decent shots, so i can't do the comparison, but i'm interested to know what the theoretical problem is with the pressure basket, other than the fact that most people wouldn't know what needs adjusting when shots are largely regulated to identical flow rates

[@ianwgardiner]

OK - this is very cool - was looking at this machine in Lidl today - tempted!

[@fgmenth]

That just proves that the grinder is much more important than the machine itself.

[@ivancarbone3566]

This is important. I managed to improve the frotting by removing that cheap metal layer it has with the four holes in it. Then you get the wand with just one hole and is a lot more manageable.

[@Tristan_the_ultimate]

Great video sir Lance! Hopefully this is the start of a series of vids on more budget friendly equipment and how to maximize them to still enjoy specialty coffee. Would love to see a Kingrinder lineup video and maybe a head to head with more expensive brand grinder that has similar/identical burrs? More power to you, Burr Man! 🙏

[@Mastrenich]

Very good video Lance, short, interesting, and very useful not only for those thinking of getting into the lower budget side of the specialty coffee world, but also for those of us who enjoy any kind of gadget 😁

[@TheBigslug333]

Was just looking at upgrading my Bambino to a Lelit Elizabeth... I don't think I can justify it to myself after seeing this haha

[@cjredMX]

Nice poor man’s latte hahaha enjoyed the video😂

[@alexstupka]

Loved the beat-box transition! Also, great teardown and analysis of this thing. A little scared of the milk filling my house, though.

[@9abe9]

What a beautiful demonstration of the power of knowledge! (Plus good grinders and unpressurized baskets 😂) Awesome video!

[@calebdemeter2809]

Love the beatboxing transition music!

[@trystuff.coffee]

I love seeing reviews of cheap equipment! I appreciate the great practical demo of how to get decent textured milk from a not so great starting point.

[@m_cabral]

To answer the open question about the spring, the mushroom valve prevents back flow into the boiler so you don’t have a gritty mess in there. I.e., pull a shot and then turn on the steam.

[@LarsGoldbachDP]

more of that!!!! amazing to see your skill and perform those results with cheao equipment. stellar presentation as always! love the singing!

[@brendanlopes7354]

I respect the hell out of this video! You're always doing some great content. I've watched so many of your videos along my espresso and latte art journey that I feel like I actually know you 😂😂. Cheers.

[@ChecedRodgers]

Wow, wow, wow. This whole time I thought my latte art sucked bc I wasn't able to get quality foam. This is proof otherwise. The hunt for good art continues! Maybe some grooming is needed...

[@lukasschramm9887]

Hey Lance, Never change. You make the world a little bit brighter.

[@whiterose7055]

Going on my second year of using a Delonghi stilosa / IMS basket and still loving it !

[@piotrjaroszek6985]

YOU ARE A KING!!!! That steamming and latteart was masterfull !!!!!!!

[@drevo50]

Fun video, enjoyed it! You got a great looking coffee out of it.

[@Kiaulen]

Geez, my no burn steam wand upgrade cost almost as much as this entire machine! Thanks for showing us how accessible good espresso/lattes are!

[@Java_CM]

cheap product review are surprisingly entertaining lol would be cool to see other coffee gadget reviews as well. thanks for the fun content

[@MyLeoOne]

I've had this machine for a few years (maybe 5 ish), been using bottled water because i didn't like descaling it so often. At first it was a huge upgrade compared to the full-auto bean-to-cup saeco i had, but since i fixed a 90's gaggia classic this thing has been relegated to make coffee for my parents when I'm not home to use the Gaggia properly

[@robertusga]

Returning my Decent and buying 60 of these puppies. At 1 a month, that's espresso for life 🤣

[@morphmkd]

Thanks for considering stuff at this price point! Great work since day 1

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you so much! Appreciate it, friend!

[@mcst6969]

Nice "review". Go to see review in this price range too. The budget direct lever machine what you reviewed recently has sister/brother called (ITOP/Gemilai) *CRM3007L or CRM3006* , I would love to see a review about them. They have both have; pressure gauge, temp setup, temp reader and around *600 €* (probably + shipping).

[@AAkCN1]

Mindblown. I‘m gonna recommend this to all interested people. Thanks a bunch

[@shelterinivysplace8237]

Yes this is actually really fun to watch to see how the cheap ones do. Cuz of course a La Marzocco is great but sometimes it is fun to watch something like this too.

[@myname-mz3lo]

these videos also help way more people than the ones where he uses machines that noone can afford

[@whoami724y]

​@@myname-mz3loi agree, coffee should be accessible to everyone, even espresso. A lot of folks advice is usually just get a more expensive machine.

[@pimacanyon6208]

you are very funny. I'm not interested in a cheap espresso machine, no way would I buy a $60 espresso machine, but I'm watching this video for the laughs. You're basically doing standup focused on an espresso theme. Keep it up!

[@streetninja510]

It’s funny you say that because there are probably way more people who find this useful and informative due to the low price rather than people who find it to be not useful and just entertainment due to the low price

[@pimacanyon6208]

@@streetninja510 eh? My comment was meant to be a compliment to Lance. He's very funny. I watch his videos sometimes for the information which I find useful, but even when I'm not interested in what he's reviewing, I still watch his video because he's a great showman, a great comedian. And also a good source of useful information for coffee nerds.

[@hamongog]

*Inexpensive "Cheap" sounds like "chirp" which is the sound a bird makes when it's eaten by a raptor. Sell the sizzle. People buy results. Features tell but benefits sell. Literally no one else anywhere is going to duplicate what the Grand Poobah just did here. Thank you for letting us little guys continue to dream that anything is possible.

[@Nicknyamka]

okay NOW I have a reason to join the Patreon!

[@funny4178]

This is a godsend for me a student and a coffee addict wanting more thankyou

[@nickn.7204]

Love the vid! But please do a separate video on the DF64V Ive been contemplating about getting it and cant decide between it and the 064timemore… seen all the comparing vids :)))

[@pollo1985]

Hi Lance a spanish here. I love this content. I just buy a k6 for 80€ and I just gave up to the idea that with my current bean to cup machine, the only coffee I was going to really enjoy it is the specialty coffee that I just buy to use with my ap. My girlfriend doesn't want to deal with the idea of having to take her time to make an espresso and an investment of 500€ just for myself seems unlikely to happen... Now I am thinking that maybe a cheap machine with the addition of a nice non pressurised portafilter, a tamper and just a little bit of research about how the machine works... I could enjoy an "espresso"

[@Lucius4992]

I got one of those with some other weird brand taped on it. I depressurized the baskets on the first day and paired it with a decent hand grinder, then got a couple of proper baskets and now that's what I'm using daily. Honestly I hate it and the dial (that wouldn't go past 80 degrees) broke after a month. It allowed me to introduce myself into espresso, but I'm getting a Dedica soon.

[@Jjjutras]

Fun video, I remember when you said you'd never do this haha but hey it was great. Great beans, good grinder and good quality water matters!

[@codygroce2091]

Appreciate you knocking the gates down for this one!

[@TacBlades]

I love it, sold i am getting one.

[@MK-bd9lq]

"bubble out of your house" 😂 I can relate

[@bogmaerke]

I actually have the cheapest DeLonghi and it's about 5 years old. Works fine but I honesty still haven't found the sweet spot for espresso. Might be my grinder, but for cappuccinos it's great value for what I paid for the setup.

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

No such thing as a consistent sweet spot for espresso

[@CaveyMoth]

What the heck? It managed to be pretty good? My mind is blown. Well, it won't last long..but still. I would probably stick to the Delonghi ECP series for entry-level electronic espresso machines.

[@LanceHedrick]

I agree. as I say a few times in this video, I do NOT recommend this haha

[@thomascee]

LOVE THIS VIDEO concept! Fantastic love it.

[@roytromb_strength]

Talking about learning from other machines… I feel like I learned a lot from this video. Cool.

[@thomascee]

HILARIOUS commentary 😂😂😂 Truly loved it!

[@Peechaable]

Pro tip: You don't need the 3-way solenoid valve. Just turn the steam wand knob and release the pressure via the wand.

[@davidgalbreath3477]

Truly amazing. Great run through.

[@jeanineaoun4558]

My nespresso machine does it all big cups and regular and expresso and ice coffee i love my machine

[@leelossi1257]

Thanks for the Poor Boy Espresso!

[@davenelson8592]

I would love to see you walk a beginner through how to make good espresso with something like this. Obviously you can make good espresso with it, but you're not the target audience. The person who buys a $60 espresso machine would have no idea how to do this. Would they even appreciate the difference in quality in the beginning of their espresso journey?

[@LanceHedrick]

Your final question- without question. I've done this to loads of people whose houses I've visited that aren't into coffee. I mess with their machinr and blow their minds. The difference is astounding

[@mvadu]

Yes, more of these things that average middle-class can buy, than 3000$ grinder

[@darknessblades]

At least LIDL has some KILLER warranty, they will just send you a new one, if the old one breaks What kind of basket did you use for it instead of the default one? Checking on the LIDL site. they have 3 versions of this machine. based on the images: 1 with pressurized basked and 1 without and 1 with pressurized basked+ milk system

[@Se9n.]

You must have been feelibng good when you made this, love the energy!

[@josephlavoie8358]

Maybe look at like the sub $200 like the Delonghi ECP series, where you at least get a boiler, heated porta, and can get bottomless porta, IMS baskets and screens, Ranchilio wand mod etc. Then you have an actual budget machine with longevity.

[@june8591]

I came for a review of the machine as someone who doesn't know a lot about the technical stuff behind coffee and I left thoroughly confused lol

[@TheMartinChnnl]

I'd pay 30 bucks for that cup of latte!! 😂

[@corwinblack4072]

That was fun. I wonder if it could be "fixed" and "upgraded" more. Probably not worth it tho.

[@miloandwatson2839]

James Hoffman tore this machine a new one a wee while ago. It was sold by Lidl or Aldi in the UK.

[@LanceHedrick]

That is a different machine. His was Aldi. I do want to try that one. I bet I can make it taste good

[@ramasipsc]

Weber grinder will do wonders with shitty coffee mashines I guess 😂

[@patricksaint-fo5yc]

I got this one. De'Longhi before. Nice espresso like De'Longhi coffee machine. Made in Germany.