BEZZERA NEW HOBBY REVIEW: THE BEST VALUE ESPRESSO MACHINE?

The Bezzera New Hobby is a premium entry-level espresso machine at a shockingly low price point!

Are you tired of shelling out big bucks for espresso at your local cafe? Or sick of the sub-par shots you’ve been pulling with your cheap home espresso machine? 

The Bezzera New Hobby espresso machine is affordable and compact but still delivers cafe-quality espresso, best-in-class steam power, and impressive build quality. 

If you think that sounds too good to be true, I felt the same way. But after testing this model extensively, I am now convinced that it’s truly one of the best-value espresso machines on the market. Read on to learn why.

A Full Review Of The Bezzera New Hobby 

Bezzera’s New Hobby is the brand’s entry-level prosumer espresso machine, but it’s by no means low quality. On the contrary, even at the lower end, these machines are serious pieces of equipment.

In this review, I’ll look at all the details of this surprisingly affordable Bezzera model. I’ll also compare it to its closest competition, the popular Rancilio Silvia, as there’s a good chance that if you’re here, you’re considering both.

How We Rated It

• Brewing Capability
• User-friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

4.3

SEE ON WHOLE LATTE LOVE

Brewing Basics: How It Works

The Bezzera New Hobby is a commercial-quality semi-automatic espresso machine that is capable of making incredible espresso (1). Its primary sacrifice versus the more expensive machines is that it has a single boiler. So you can’t make espresso and steam milk simultaneously.

The brass boiler is relatively tiny, at 250 mL, but it’s comparable to others in its class. For example, the Silvia has a 300 mL boiler, and the Gaggia Classic Pro has only 100 mL.

The New Hobby uses a vibratory pump, which is expected in an espresso maker priced around a thousand dollars and is true for all coffee machines in this class. It’s a little noisy during operation, but my grinder is still the loudest part of my espresso prep.

The 58 mm group is a variation of the custom Bezzera BZ group, which relies on heat from the boiler and a substantial thermal mass to maintain temperature stability. As such, both group head and portafilter are made of heavy chrome plated brass.

The temperature stability is good but not great – similar to any entry-level design without a PID. I measured fluctuations ranging from 3 to 5 degrees F during extraction.

How To Use The Bezzera New Hobby

Entry-level machines tend to be simple to use, and this one is no exception. The Bezzera Hobby espresso machine is operated with four rocker switches on the front of the machine: power, pump, brewing, and steaming.

The hardest part of using any espresso machine in this style is dialing in all the variables, like coffee dose, grind size, tamp pressure, and shot timing. The actual interaction with the machine is simple, following these steps:

1. Turn it on and let it preheat for at least 10 minutes with the portafilter installed. I’d give it 15 or 20 if you have time. A green ready light lets you know when it’s heated, but I like to give it a little extra time to stabilize and fully heat the portafilter.
2. Remove the portafilter, add freshly ground coffee, tamp, and reinsert it into the group.
3. Flip the brew switch to start the shot.
4. It should take 20 – 30 seconds to pull the shot. Flip the brew switch again to stop.

That’s all it takes to make a perfect espresso with this machine! If you want to make a milk-based specialty drink, flip the steam switch and wait for the green light to illuminate again, indicating it’s ready to steam. In my experience, this takes less than a minute – much faster than the Silvia.

The top of the New Hobby serves as a passive cup warmer as the heat from the boiler radiates up. It’s pretty effective, but only after the machine has been on for a while.

Large Water Tank

One of the nicest features of this model is its impressive 3-liter water reservoir, a rarity in such a small machine. If you often make a lot of back-to-back drinks to serve a crowd, you’ll appreciate not having to refill as often. A small window on the outside of the machine serves as a visible level indicator, and you should keep an eye, as there is no warning as it runs low.

Above-Average Milk Frothing

Single boiler machines tend to prioritize espresso quality over steam power, so I had low expectations when testing milk frothing with the New Hobby, particularly given its small boiler. But I was blown away (not literally, but almost!) by the impressive steam pressure.

Thanks to the high-wattage heating element and commercial-grade steam wand with a 2-hole tip, it steams 5 ounces of milk for a latte or cappuccino faster than any machine in its class, including the Rancilio Silvia and the much pricier ECM Casa V.

According to Neil Soque, a UK-based roaster and barista, there’s an industry-wide trend toward more power and control in steam wands on domestic machines (2).

A rarely seen feature of this machine is a dedicated pump switch for manually refilling the boiler after a lot of steam. It can also be used to dispense hot water from the steam wand for tea or Americanos. 

Cleaning and Maintenance – 4/5

The nice thing about a single boiler machine like the Bezzera New Hobby is that it has fewer parts and less to go wrong.

You need to do very little to keep this machine in tip-top shape. Wipe its surfaces with a microfiber cloth, backflush on the manufacturer’s schedule, and use filtered water in the reservoir. If you live in an area with hard water, consider using softened water to avoid the build-up of scale in the boiler.

This model features a 3-way solenoid valve that redirects excess water and pressure in the brew group into the drip tray. This means that after pulling a shot, your coffee puck is dry and easy to knock into a waste bin — no sloppy grounds mess. Just remember that the drip tray will fill faster than you might expect.

The Quality That Comes With A Century Of Experience

Bezzera is one of the oldest manufacturers of espresso machines. Its founder Luigi Bezzera is credited with one of the first espresso machine patents well over a century ago (3).

With that kind of experience, it’s no surprise that all Bezzera machines are remarkably well-made. Indeed, the brand has built its reputation on combining tradition with innovation. Take a look at the modern manual lever Bezzera Strega espresso machine, for example!

Simple, Classic Good Looks

The New Hobby is an ultra compact machine, measuring just 9.8” deep by 8.6” wide by 13.7” tall. It has a sleek design that won’t look out of place in small kitchens and can slide easily under upper cupboards. Just be aware that you don’t have a ton of clearance under the group for larger mugs.

The durable stainless-steel exterior is available in four colors – plain stainless steel, matte black, white, or a striking red – all of which have the iconic snake logo subtly embossed on the front.

I’m a big fan of the angled handle on the portafilter. That tends to be a rare feature at this price point, allowing it to lie flat on the counter for tamping.

Is The New Hobby Good Value For Money?

The Bezzera New Hobby costs roughly $700, which is amazing value for a machine of this quality. I am consistently wowed by the pricing of Bezzera machines. 

It’s nearly $200 cheaper than the Rancilio Silvia, despite similar specs and operation. In fact, it’s the second least expensive prosumer machine I’ve ever reviewed. (The cheapest is the Gaggia Classic Pro, which simply can’t match the New Hobby in performance or build.) 

If you’re keen to enter the prosumer market on a budget, this is probably the first machine I’d suggest you look at.

Don’t Buy the Bezzera New Hobby If…

• You make a lot of milky drinks: If you make a lot of milky coffees, it’s worth paying extra for something that can steam milk and brew coffee simultaneously. Consider the Bezzera BZ10 espresso machine, a heat exchanger machine with impressive specs. Or go top-of-the-line with the pricey but fantastic Bezzera Matrix DE or MN.

• You’re too advanced for entry-level: If you enjoy the workflow of a single boiler but want a machine that you won’t be inclined to upgrade, take a look at our Bezzera Unica review. While still affordable, it is a bit more advanced, with an E61 group head and PID temperature control.

• You want to tinker: If you like the idea of buying an entry level espresso machine like the Hobby so that you can DIY some upgrades, you’re not alone. There are online communities dedicated to modifications for both the Rancilio Silvia and the Gaggia Classic Pro.

The Verdict

The Bezzera New Hobby is an excellent choice whether you’re brand new to espresso or ready to break into prosumer-grade espresso machines for the first time. This compact and stylish little brewer is easy to use, makes fantastic espresso, and outpaces the competition in steam pressure – all at a price that’s hard to beat. You won’t regret giving it a home in your kitchen.

CHECK PRICE