r/IndiaCoffee

I have been hearing alot of great stuff about washed coffee beans and how clean and floral they taste on this sub but i dont understand how do u make them exactly and cannot find clear instructions.

I have tried washing the beans with pink dettol and lifebuoy but they taste very weird and i feel like im doing smth slightly incorrect

Do i need to use stronger washing stuff like harpic or do i need to immerse the beans in the dettol overnight to wash it (i currently wash them to the timestamp of singing happy birthday)

I’m looking to upgrade from a Flair Neo and currently use a KINGrinder K6. My budget is under ₹1 lakh for the machine.

What I want is fairly simple: good espresso consistently, decent milk steaming, and a workflow I’ll actually enjoy using every day. I’m happy to learn, but I don’t want buying a new machine to immediately turn into a modification project.

I spent some time going through posts, comments, owner experiences and Indian prices. Sharing my notes here because choosing a machine in India gets confusing quite quickly, especially once you start looking into servicing and spare parts.

I haven’t personally tested these machines. This is my shortlist based on that research, and the order reflects my own priorities.

Prices are roughly what I found in early October 2026. Some listings were sold out or on pre-order, so availability needs checking.

1. Lelit Anna PID PL41TEM — around ₹68,000

This is the one I’m leaning towards.

It has adjustable temperature through PID, a brass boiler, a pressure gauge and a steam wand. Several owners seem happy with the espresso consistency, and having temperature control from the start appeals to me.

The main compromise is the 57mm portafilter. Compatible accessories exist, but there’s less choice than with 58mm, and some things cost more. It’s also a single-boiler machine, so you brew and steam separately.

I don’t think 57mm automatically makes it a bad purchase. I’d just check the cost and availability of the accessories I actually need before ordering.

2. De’Longhi La Specialista Touch — around ₹73,000

Probably the most appealing option if you mainly want cappuccinos and lattes with less effort.

You get an integrated grinder, PID temperature control, touchscreen guidance and automatic milk texturing. I found owners who liked how approachable it was, including for family members who weren’t interested in learning every detail of espresso.

The downside is the integrated grinder. If you eventually want a better grinder, you’re paying for something you may stop using. Since I already have the K6, that matters to me.

You’ll still need to dial in your beans. The touchscreen doesn’t make that part disappear.

3. Gaggia Classic E24 — around ₹65,000

One of the more established enthusiast choices, with a 58mm portafilter, brass boiler and plenty of accessories and modification options.

The biggest drawback for me is the lack of a factory PID. People do get excellent coffee from it, but many use temperature surfing, basically timing the shot around the heater cycle.

An owner reported good consistency with medium and dark roasts, with light roasts being more hit-and-miss.

I’d be more interested in this if I wanted to tinker with the machine later. For straightforward temperature control out of the box, Anna makes more sense to me.

Also, check that you’re buying the E24 brass-boiler version. Older Classic/Evo listings can make comparisons confusing.

4. HiBREW H10 Plus — around ₹47,000

This looks like a good middle ground if you don’t want to spend ₹65–70k.

It has adjustable brew and steam temperatures, pre-infusion settings, a 58mm portafilter and a three-way solenoid valve for pressure release and easier cleanup.

There are positive owner reports about espresso quality once it’s dialled in. The hesitation is long-term reliability and after-sales support. I also wouldn’t assume that having PID on the specification sheet tells us exactly how stable the temperature is during a shot.

I can see the appeal at this price. I’d want to be comfortable with the seller’s repair process before buying.

5. Rancilio Silvia V6 — around ₹90,000

A traditional machine with an established reputation, a 300ml boiler and substantial construction. Durability is a common reason people recommend it.

But the standard V6 doesn’t have PID, and it’s another single-boiler machine. You’re spending quite a lot while still having to pay attention to temperature management and the brew-to-steam transition.

For my priorities, I find Anna easier to justify. Silvia becomes more interesting if its construction and potential for future modifications matter more to you.

Stock availability in India also seems inconsistent.

6. Breville/Sage Barista Express — around ₹85,000

A convenient package with an integrated grinder, PID-controlled heating, pre-infusion and manual milk steaming.

I found satisfied owners, including someone who reported using it in Delhi for three years without problems. The concern is making sure you understand the Indian warranty and servicing arrangement.

Check the actual regional model and voltage too, because some listings mix model references.

It’s worth considering if you want a grinder included. For someone already happy with a separate grinder, part of the value is less useful.

7. De’Longhi La Specialista Opera — around ₹1 lakh

It has PID temperature control, an integrated grinder, an assisted tamping station and a manual steam wand.

An owner liked the steam wand and the fact that De’Longhi has an Indian service presence, while describing the grinder as okay rather than exceptional.

At the price I found, it uses almost the entire budget before any extra costs. Personally, I’d need a good reason to choose it over the cheaper Touch, such as specifically wanting its tamping system and manual steaming workflow.

8. HiBREW H21 — around ₹73,000

Interesting if you regularly make several milk drinks. It has independent brew and steam heating, separate pumps, PID control and a dedicated hot-water outlet.

A six-month owner review was positive about the shots and steam power. That owner also reported getting a portafilter issue resolved by the seller.

The concerns were limited pre-infusion adjustment, compatible portafilter availability and the lack of much longer-term ownership evidence.

There were also complaints about other HiBREW models in the comments. Those don’t prove the H21 has the same problems, but they’re something I’d consider before spending this much.

9. Budan Sofia — around ₹50,000

On paper, this is worth a look: dual thermoblocks, PID temperature control and a 58mm portafilter.

My problem is that I couldn’t find enough detailed, independent ownership feedback to feel confident about it. Most discussions I found were people asking about it or comparing its specifications.

I’d want a demonstration, clearer information about spares, and feedback from someone who has used it daily for a decent amount of time.

10. HiBREW H10A — around ₹27,000

A lower-cost option with adjustable temperature and a 58mm portafilter. It comes up quite often in budget recommendations.

Compared with the H10 Plus, you lose the three-way solenoid valve, so cleanup and pressure release are less convenient.

The Plus looks like a workflow upgrade, but I wouldn’t assume the extra money guarantees noticeably better coffee in every cup.

Availability and seller support would influence my choice here.

11. De’Longhi Dedica Duo EC890 — around ₹24,000

Compact, relatively affordable and recommended as a starter machine when paired with a suitable grinder.

It offers a convenient everyday workflow, though less control than the more expensive options. One owner specifically mentioned finding the steam wand difficult to use.

I’d consider it if keeping costs down was the priority. For my own upgrade from Flair, I’m inclined to spend more on something I’m less likely to want to replace soon.

12. HiBREW H10B — around ₹20,000

The cheapest option on this list, with adjustable temperature and a pressure gauge.

It uses a 51mm portafilter rather than the H10A/Plus’s 58mm format. Supplied accessories are fairly basic, and the usual questions about longevity and support apply.

I found a user who liked theirs before moving to a Lelit Anna. Seems worth considering for someone entering semi-automatic espresso on a smaller budget, but it isn’t where I’m leaning for this upgrade.

A few things that changed my shortlist

The Lelit Victoria deserves a mention. It adds 58mm accessories, pre-infusion and a shot timer, but the listings I found were just over ₹1 lakh. If someone can get it below that with proper warranty support, it becomes a serious contender.

The Bambino Plus also looked appealing, but sourcing one in India with a clear service arrangement seems to be the complication.

With HiBREW, seller choice seems particularly important. I found both positive repair experiences and frustrating unresolved complaints. More recent comments were generally favourable about Coffee Plus’s responsiveness, but these are individual experiences, not a guarantee.

For me, the shortlist has come down to:

• Anna PID for temperature control and espresso with my existing grinder.
• La Specialista Touch for an easier daily milk-coffee routine.
• Gaggia E24 if I decide I’m happy to learn temperature surfing and potentially modify it later.

I’m currently leaning towards Anna, but I’d like to try making two milk drinks consecutively on it before deciding.

Would be useful to hear from people who have owned these for a year or more, especially about repairs, spare parts and whether you’d buy the same machine again.

I'm from a coffee-growing family from Chikmagalur, Karnataka. A lot of people here drink Indian coffee without knowing how the year goes on an estate, so here it is, starting where the crop actually starts: the blossom.

🌸 Late Feb – March: blossom shower
🌧️ March – April: backing shower
🌱 May: before the monsoon
⛈️ June – August: monsoon
🍒 September – October: berries filling
🔴 November – January: Arabica harvest
🔴 December – February: Robusta harvest
🔁 Then the sky again: The cycle starts over.

In short:
•⁠ ⁠India's crop is made by two rains in March and survives (or doesn't) the monsoon.
•⁠ ⁠India's price takes its cue from London (Robusta) and New York (Arabica). Those markets watch Brazil's frost and flowering, and Vietnam's harvest.

Growers here, what would you add or correct for your area?

I am asking this because i used to love Fraction9 microlots, was go to.
I now find them strictly average.

Same with Blue Tokai and Naivo.

I reckon those coffees still taste the same, its not like they have regressed, but perhaps our tastes evolve? Esp after trying out s-tier coffee?

I just realised r/ChennaiCoffee already exists, but it seems pretty dead at the moment.

Would anyone here be interested in reviving it and turning it into an active Chennai-specific coffee community?

I feel like there are enough coffee enthusiasts in the city who would be interested in discussing specialty coffee, brewing methods, cafés, equipment and interesting beans, but most of those conversations seem to happen elsewhere and are fairly fragmented.

It could be a place to:

- organize coffee meetups and cuppings

- coordinate group buys for Indian and international coffee

- discuss interesting cafés and roasters

- trade beans and equipment

- discuss brewing methods and setups

- post about workshops and coffee events happening in the city

- organize any other coffee-related activities

I’m personally really interested in discovering new and unusual coffees and varieties, and I think it would be fun to organize group buys or trades for some of the harder-to-find offerings.

It definitely wouldn’t be restricted to people already deep into specialty coffee either. Anyone interested in coffee would be welcome, whether you use an AeroPress, French press, espresso machine, pourover, or are a complete beginner. I’m fairly new to this myself.

If enough people are interested, maybe we can actually get r/ChennaiCoffee active again.

Anyone up for it?