Now this is Art & Craftsmanship - Italian Coffee Machines Related (NGC)

[PJPR01]

Love this type of craftsmanship - dedication and commitment to art...almost like a Guzzi garage.

Buellton (home of Pea Soup Andersen's)...great scenery...old stomping grounds near Santa Barbara.

Enjoy!!!

http://www.bicycling.com/culture/people/man-makes-worlds-coolest-espresso-machines

[donn]

Cool, good article.  The price for one of those things can be rather steep, but by most accounts they're great machines.

What would work for me though - maybe even economically - is on the other end of the spectrum, this guy in Eindhoven NL, http://strietman.net making these almost awkwardly minimal no-boiler levers.

You don't need a pressurized steam boiler to make espresso, in fact it's a real problem in small machines.  The brewing water comes out of the boiler far too hot, so it needs to cool down on the way;  once a small machine heats up too close to boiler temperature, the espresso tastes flat and nasty because it was brewed too hot.  Open boiler lever machines usually put the group right in or on a hot water reservoir heated to brew temperature, so the system is closer to stable.  No steam to froth milk with, so you need to make separate arrangements to do that if it matters (doesn't to me, never touch the stuff.)

Anyway, Strietman's ES3 gets decent reviews so far, I'd have to do a little more research if I were in the market but it would be on my list for sure if I were looking and had the dough.  And he really makes them completely from scratch.  It isn't exactly my esthetic ideal, but I could get used to it.

[PJPR01]

Those are nice actually!  I could see mounting one of those in the garage as well - would be quite a conversation piece to be sure.  Ironic...my dad lived in Eindhoven for almost 20 years!    I do like the look as well...quite original.  Nice explanation on the process as well! 

A friend of mine is a distributor/dealer for Lavazza (machines and coffee) in Los Angeles...I'll have to check with him if he's been up to visit the guy in Buellton.

[boatdetective]

I've got an antique Pavoni from the 70s. It still doesn't make espresso as good as what I get downtown. It's also terribly complex and has (surprise) awful electrical circuits.

After a certain point, it's just a cup of coffee.

[Penderic]

ZZZZZZ.  I want to see something like a steam locomotive starting up!

Bells! Whistles! Wake the whole family! The barrista better wear ear plugs and safety glasses!

[PJPR01]

ZZZZZZ.  I want to see something like a steam locomotive starting up!
Bells! Whistles! Wake the whole family! The barrista better wear ear plugs and safety glasses!

  That would have to be the Centauro of espresso makers!  What a machine!  :)

[PJPR01]

I've got an antique Pavoni from the 70s. It still doesn't make espresso as good as what I get downtown. It's also terribly complex and has (surprise) awful electrical circuits.  After a certain point, it's just a cup of coffee.

  Ah...but it's the art of making the coffee, the social scene standing at the counter waiting for the espresso, the flair, the theatre of life and the irreplaceable ambience of enjoying that first coffee in the morning surrounded by the lovely ladies walking by, the give and take of the cashier taking the order and the man making the coffee...THAT is what is carefully embedded in the coffee machine.  Or, one could say...it's just a motorcycle, yes it is, but then why buy a Guzzi!   

[Penderic]

Exactly! Like the Japanese Tea Ceremony. It becomes a calming ritual art form including many senses ...  with smells and sounds along with the necessary motions.

The tools become ritual and overvalued, stylistic and iconic. Cups, spoons, containers, trays, all get the class treatment.

[PJPR01]

Right!!  The Chanoyu...the whisking of the tea, the careful positioning of the cups...all of the details! 

[Guido Valvole]

After using a variety of cheap "espresso" machines and moka pots for ages, I got an entry-level Gaggia semiautomatic about 10 years ago. Better, but still couldn't do 80w140 ristretto. Then I pickup up a simple lever La Pavoni. Better but not quite there. Got distracted once and the water dripped through the puck in the basket. Hmmm��experimented a bit. I found that if I let the water just start to drip, enough to cover the bottom of the cup, and then pulled the lever, perfection! Subject to grind, atmospheric pressure, whims of the gods, and whether or not I got distracted while waiting. Done right it can work as well as a $$$$$$ pro machine, for espresso at least. Milk steaming is not so great, much better to use the Gaggia. But good espresso, like good liquor, is best not adulterated.

The La Pavoni is a classic Italian thing. Build quality is dubious, mine had some leaky gasket problems and needs a complete gasket and seal replacement every few years. Which is rather similar to the same sort of job for a DellOrto carburetor -- same sleazy, cheezy gasket and seal materials. Get it right and it's better than anything. Expect it to do everything for you without you having to know anything and you're wasting your time.
cr

[PJPR01]

Thank you...we have now managed to connect carburetors and coffee...I can remove the NGC label on the thread!  Love the analogy there!!

While not perhaps the best, I have not been disappointed using my Nespresso machine for convenience or the Bialetti for more flavorful gradations of espresso (using Lavazza Gran Riserva coffee beans).

[oldbike54]

 The best part of visiting San Francisco are the myriad of coffee shops , some allow a bit of theater , some are quite basic , all are a fun way to start the day . Well , maybe the second best thing , incredible numbers of old motorcycles running the streets as everyday riders . Wait , is that another carburetor and coffee connection ?

  Dusty

[rodekyll]

I too putzed about with cheeep  espresso machines over the years.  None lasted more than a year or two with the duty cycle I gave them.  About 12 years ago I bought a Kitchenaid "pro line" espresso machine like the one in this link (they can be had for fewer quid):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KitchenAid-KES2102CA-Pro-Line-Series-Espresso-Maker-with-Dual-Independent-/161837956273?hash=item25ae4b3cb1

This will go all day, endlessly, and makes whatever you want.  Even at this price, and counting the cost of ingredients, it paid for itself in less than a year (v bought latte's).  After 12 years of daily driving, sometimes one cup, sometimes a dozen, mine finally blew the thermal fuse on the frother side while I was pulling the 7th or 8th shot of a continuous session.  The fuse was a symptom of another problem that I have not been able to sort out.  So, although I can still do the coffee side (microwave the milk), I've got a new one in shipment.  Hope it gets here today!

Since I gave up wimmins and tobacco and booze and movies and all manner of costly fun 'cept inventing stuff, my morning latte is approaching my last vice.  It's the only 'daily routine' I have.  So I take it serious.

[Jurgen]

I too putzed about with cheeep  espresso machines over the years.  None lasted more than a year or two with the duty cycle I gave them.  About 12 years ago I bought a Kitchenaid "pro line" espresso machine like the one in this link (they can be had for fewer quid):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KitchenAid-KES2102CA-Pro-Line-Series-Espresso-Maker-with-Dual-Independent-/161837956273?hash=item25ae4b3cb1

This will go all day, endlessly, and makes whatever you want.  Even at this price, and counting the cost of ingredients, it paid for itself in less than a year (v bought latte's).  After 12 years of daily driving, sometimes one cup, sometimes a dozen, mine finally blew the thermal fuse on the frother side while I was pulling the 7th or 8th shot of a continuous session.  The fuse was a symptom of another problem that I have not been able to sort out.  So, although I can still do the coffee side (microwave the milk), I've got a new one in shipment.  Hope it gets here today!

Since I gave up wimmins and tobacco and booze and movies and all manner of costly fun 'cept inventing stuff, my morning latte is approaching my last vice.  It's the only 'daily routine' I have.  So I take it serious.

Wow, I can buy a whole lot of cups of Espresso for $900.  And ride to the Cafe on a Breva besides.  Jurgen

[Markcarovilli]

Wow, I can buy a whole lot of cups of Espresso for $900.  And ride to the Cafe on a Breva besides.  Jurgen

Yeah - but can you do it in your undies 

Mark

[oldbike54]

Yeah - but can you do it in your undies 

Mark

 Sure , Jurgen lives in Europe 

  Dusty

[Bill Hagan]

  Ah...but it's the art of making the coffee, the social scene standing at the counter waiting for the espresso, the flair, the theatre of life and the irreplaceable ambience of enjoying that first coffee in the morning surrounded by the lovely ladies walking by, the give and take of the cashier taking the order and the man making the coffee...THAT is what is carefully embedded in the coffee machine.  Or, one could say...it's just a motorcycle, yes it is, but then why buy a Guzzi!

Perfetto!

Bill

[rodekyll]

A 20oz 3-shot latte is ~$5.50 down the street from me.  If I paid $900 for the machine, it pays for itself in 183 days.  Add ~$0.70/dose for ingredients and it's still under a year to pay off @ 1 drink/day.  Plus, like they say, I can get the cuppa in my skivvies.  Life without pants is good.  I don't care what they say.

[Guido Valvole]

PJPR01 - Further connection: the group head to boiler bolt spacing of the small La Pavoni is the same as the intake manifold of a V50 Guzzi. Yeah, I had to measure  . Last time I had that off for gasket replacement I also just happened to have to have carbs off of one of the smallblocks. You can see where this is going... well, no. The passageway in the La Pavoni is even smaller than the 24mm of a V50II. Would have made for a fine humor pic, DellOrto hanging off a La Pavoni boiler. Someone's gonna have to `shop it. Unless Penderic has a pic somewhere.

Dusty, lots of coffee in SF and the rest of the Bay Area. And plenty of old Guzzis in the city, too. Most are beyond used up, alas. I saw a really ratty-looking V50II for sale at a show earlier this year. Looked questionable until I looked more closely. I've never seen a rear drive that was cracked wide open before. How much did you say you'd pay me to haul this away?
cr

[PJPR01]

Bravo Guido...Bravo!  That would be a fantastic picture...I'd buy you a cup of coffee to see that!  :)  A few months ago while out in Palo Alto for work, I hopped up to Alice's restaurant where I used to ride many years ago...there were quite a few Guzzi's there - including a LeMans and Griso - nestled amongst the rest of the brands.  On that same trip, riding up thru SF near the Presidio, a couple riding a Jackal as well stopped at the light next to me.  I had my Guzzi baseball cap on...he looked over, did a double take and then grinned in recognition! 

Ok...sounds like we might have to bring our portable Espresso makers to the GRIT and Okie rally!  :)

[oldbike54]

Bravo Guido...Bravo!  That would be a fantastic picture...I'd buy you a cup of coffee to see that!  :)  A few months ago while out in Palo Alto for work, I hopped up to Alice's restaurant where I used to ride many years ago...there were quite a few Guzzi's there - including a LeMans and Griso - nestled amongst the rest of the brands.  On that same trip, riding up thru SF near the Presidio, a couple riding a Jackal as well stopped at the light next to me.  I had my Guzzi baseball cap on...he looked over, did a double take and then grinned in recognition! 

Ok...sounds like we might have to bring our portable Espresso makers to the GRIT and Okie rally!  :)

 Do it , you do however realize that most Okies have no idea what an Espresso machine is 

  Dusty