Sunbeam EM7000 – I've just bought the new Sunbeam EM7000 and I like it alot!
First impressions are the overall finish.. a vast improvement over the EM6910 with curved and rounded edges and mirror stainless steel trims visible from all angles. Those curves also make for easier cleaning from the group head, around the steam wand and hot water outlet by a beautiful new one piece, fully moulded and chrome finished block.
The Sunbeam EM7000 has a sexier stance over the EM6910. It's slightly lower, wider and deeper than the old machine at 320wide x 370deep x 350mm high, with new low profile feet, including the now slimmer control knobs with pointers, it makes better use of the bench space. Note: I was amazed at how difficult it was to find these dimensions on the Sunbeam site, in any brochure or online, important information I would have thought?
The larger, top mounted cup heater is a fully pressed, brushed stainless steel panel that is most importantly FIXED IN PLACE to reduce vibration and noise. The water reservoir is lower and wider, a better shape and is filled through the top / rear hinged door which now includes two little storage compartments for the strainers and kit.
It's whisper quiet and has a more powerful steam function that produces a nice dry steam so that the milk doesn't become diluted and lose flavour. The steam wand is completely smooth without a useless removable tip (that was a dirt trap anyway) Sunbeam have included a milk sensor, very smart and accurate even if you don't fill it up over the recommended 200ml mark (reference provided inside the milk jug) - I like the new wand, it looks and feels commercial and wipes clean easily without any residue.
The new, top and front mounted gauges for milk temp. and water pressure, are easily read and highly visible and "rotate on start-up" after a reassuring "beep" which strangely enough, appeals to my inherently male passion for all things mechanical and reminds me of my beloved GTS. This "binnacle" also includes a low water level warning that glows bright red as you reach the new 1.0lt minimum water level another improvement over the old unit.
The old rubber buttons have been replaced by steel capped and illuminated buttons that will be more durable and easier to clean.
They have also changed the drip tray to a stylish, again slightly curved and mirror finished tray which slides out from the front to minimise spillages rather than having to "lift" it out. Although, in my opinion the drip tray needs to be slightly deeper (front to back) so that the steam wand and group head spurts are well supported, rather than having to wipe up after every cup of coffee OR that the perforated platform included more "open space"at the front than it does currently?
Sadly, the first few espressos produced were nothing more than black tea without any crema whatsoever? The EM7000 package does not include the dual floor strainers for some reason? Those were essential for producing the generous thick crema I enjoyed on the EM6910, the new machine includes only two standard strainers? Luckily I still had a couple of duals left over to reclaim my connoisseur status. Relax if you're blaming my coffee or technique, the coffee was freshly ground and well tamped!
Getting your hands on the new EM7000 is quite difficult because many outlets have been allocated only two units. It retails for $899 but you can get it for $765 if you shop around? The other great news is that the older EM6910 is now available for about $560 as the retailers try to get rid of them, so you can easily pick up a bargain if the new one is not available? Solid, professional, attractive, sensible drip tray not big enough, does not include dual floor strainers
Hi Brooke, your right, the pressure meter sits well below the optimal pressure indicated on the dial. I noticed a dramatic difference when using the dual floor. My dual filter is from the EM6910 - they are available on Ebay :) SUNBEAM should include at least the dual cup version with every new 7000 in my opinion!
Fresh beans and a good burr grinder and no need for dual floor filter baskets. These are only needed with less than ideal beans/grind.
We recommend that fresh beans are used with this machine and the provided filter to produce the best result however if the machine isn't being used with freshly ground beans the dual filter would help provide a better crema.
Dual filters can be purchased from our spare parts department by contact Sunbeam Customer Service either by phone on 1300 881 861 or email customercare@sunbeam.com.au.
Regards,
Sunbeam Customer Service
1300 881 861
This most confusing as an email to Sunbeam has resulted in me being directed to list of authorized Sunbeam agents rather than being quoted a cost for the dual floor basket
Most of the time I use fresh beans, but when I have to pump out multiple coffees for many visitors and have no time to grind I use a 2 cup dual filter on my EM 7000 (purchased from ebay - for approx $20). Works a treat for supermarket pre ground coffee, Good machine!
After a few weeks of trials with various grinders, the Sunbeam EM0480 burr grinder and the single floor basket produces a stunning result. Thanks Mark and the nice lady from Sunbeam :)
The 7000 is a great advance on the 6910, much quieter, better designed, and with better steaming as Zinc FX points out. It just doesn't make sense to use a machine of this quality with a dual filter basket and stale, pre-ground beans, as Mark points out [and Zinc FX concedes]. I just miss the programming of pour length in the former machine - at least from the User Guide - I'm going to have a shot at trying it out in the 7000 and I'll post on the outcome.
Yep, the programming is exactly the same for measured or timed pours using the PROGRAM and SINGLE or DOUBLE pour buttons in sequence, as on page 20 of the EM6910 instruction booklet.
Hi Have any owners of the new EM7000 noticed hot water pouring out of the main opening into which the grouphead and basket fit when the hot water tap is opened, not just from the tap itself???
I got one of these a week ago as an upgrade to my old Breville BarVista, tried everything i could and wasted almost 2KG of beans trying to get a good shot.
After much frustration I called sunbeam support, they just gave me the same old blurb about using fresh beans and finer grind.
So here I was with real fresh beans only roasted 3 days before and a sunbeam 480 grinder grinding on a setting of 1 (almost powder) when I should be okay with a setting of 11 like on my Breville. After a few more frustrating calls and them talking to me like its all my fault they said I must come in for training but not to bother bringing my machine.
I decided to take my machine anyway and my beans the way I've ground it. I get there and they are using the same grinder that I'm using and its set to 11 which is what I used previously on my other coffee machine. They then proceed to test my machine. It turns out the pump is faulty so they will send me a new machine.
Another problem mine had was that when I turned off the steamer it would not shut off immediately, it would just gradually slow down. I was told that its meant to turn off immediately.
I will report back when I get the new machine.
Sounds like a nightmare, is it made in china?
I am having the same problem with my EM7000 and was told the machine is not faulty just the beans had to be medium to fine. Have been through so many packets of beans and pre ground its driving me crazy. My 6910 had none of these problems. Also my steamer also does not turn off straight away but in all honestly i thought that it was part of this machine.
The new machine I got works a treat, The pressure stays high and coffee comes out as expected. I have my Sunbeam 480 grinder set at 6 when I use the single shot basket and 4 for the double shot basket. The steamer now also shuts off immediately when I turn the knob. I've found that pre-grinding the beans give poor results and having fresh beans is a must. Even using coffee that was ground the night before gives poor results.
Took your advice and used my 6910 dual floor filter. And guess what you are right it works. Thank you.
You should not have to use the dual floor filter for these machines. Excellent coffee can be made using both the 6910 and the 7000. Grind, dose and tamp is the secret. And fresh beans, although i have gotten good coffee (not great, but better than many cafés) using coles vittoria beans.
If you are grinding at under about 10 on the 480 it might need a shim or 2 - sb have them and usually send them out free. These raise the bottom burr up slightly. Note the nut on top of the bottom burr is right hand thread.
With grind correct, you should be able to press a pinch between thumb and finger and get a slightly cracked puck. If it falls apart it is too coarse and if it stays as a compressed patty it is too fine.
Dose lower than sb says. I dose about 5mm below the top - dosing higher is using too much coffee. You can get maybe 22g in the double basket if you try but you'll probably have it spraying out the top of the group.
Try a progressive tamp. Dose a small amount into the basket then tamp gently - practice with kitchen scales to do about a 3kg tamp. Then dose some more and light tamp again. Then some more done the same, then top it up and nutate the tamp (roll the tamper slightly to compress the edges, (lightly) then finish with another gentle tamp and polish. (the 'polish' means to turn the tamper under no pressure to smooth the top of the puck)
The pour should give ~60ml in ~25 seconds. (or ~30ml in the same time for a single) note it can go longer (depending on grind/bean type) but should not be shorter than 20secs.
Don't trust the steam gauge - it reads according to time, not temp. Try running the steam into air and it will turn off after a set time. Get a proper thermometer and steam your milk to 65ºc (+/- 1º) note the measurement lags slightly so turn milk off at 65 and it will probably be about 66 - 67. Anything higher and the milk starts to break down and you lose the sweet spot. Done right you shouldn't need sugar in a latté. (unless you are a sugar addict :d) sugar is a cover-up for poor coffee.
These machines are excellent for both single cup or doing multiples due to the twin thermoblock system. To get equivalent performance from boilers you'd need to spend at least another $1000 - the breville for example has twin boilers but they are so small each cup significantly affects temp and pressure, requiring a pause between each cup.
Don't let the vendor talk you out of getting a good machine - go direct to sb if you have to. The quality control on the assembly line seems low, so it is common to have to try 2 or 3 machines to get one that works properly.
Enjoy your coffee...
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Thanks for the review. I am VERY happy with my EM7000 but I am too having difficulty getting high enough pressure to produce a perfect crema. Is the dual filter you are using from the EM6910? I am looking at buying a compatible dual for the EM7000.