Euro 2000 Junior Arrives
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| Even wife approves!
It woos your senses even before you plug it in. The machine is a total fox. My wife* was totally impressed that shimmering sheets of steel could look so elegantly cool. The curves are a big part of it. There is no boxiness here. The Junior is very sexy but still evokes the look and feel of a classic espresso machine.
*Pictures are © by my wife, Lorraine Thomas. (click on pictures to view a larger image)
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| Front View |
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Shiny chrome |
I read someone describe this type of look as "Russian submarine parts dipped in chrome". Very apt description. I think it gives it a great look.
But personal prefences aside, the Junior shares many of the same components as the Isomac and ECM machines, including the E61 grouphead and thermosiphon system. As a matter of fact, until recently it had the exact same internals as the Isomac. |
I like the fact that the steam and hot water valves extend 7.5 cm (3 in.) out from the front chassis. The cups heat up on a tray that slides smoothly out from the top. The curved sides are an integral part of the structurenot panels. Since these walls are curved, they give the machine amazing rigidity. The drip tray is huge and very easy to pull out. I can't state enough how useful this feature is. |
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| So Far, So Good |
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| Predictable Shots |
My Euro 2000 Junior arrived January 2, 2002. So far I'm very impressed with the shots it produces. My basis for comparison is a Gaggia Classic & Gaggia MDF combo I used for over four years. Until I get my new grinder, I'll continue using the MDF.
Upto now the huge improvement is consistency. In other words, the espresso quality is more constant from shot to shot. And the Junior reacts predictably to a change in the grind. Even one click on the MDF results in a measureable difference.
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