Espresso Maker

[chobochobo]

Originally Posted by amerikajinda

By the way, you can order Sant'Eustacio coffee from here:

http://www.gustiamo.com/cgi-bin/fron...dotto?id=20272

About three times the inshop price though

 

[freshcutgrass]

Other machine I'd add to this thread is a La Pavoni Europiccola (or other lever La Pavoni??)

Yes, fully manual piston-lever machines offer many advantages, including the ability to produce an excellent shot. They are simpler machines, as they don't have as many parts that are the most prone to breakdowns (like pumps), and therefore can last for a very long time, as well as being fairly cheap for what they are. All you see are just the few very high quality machined parts, and are relatively small in size, making it suitable for most kitchens. They also look very cool, and can add a certain eye candy/status symbol factor in your kitchen, as well as giving the impression you have some sort of "expertise". They also give a higher sense of accomplishement and "artisan" quality, because it's all so manual. BUT....they have a very steep learning curve, and only recommended to those willing to invest the needed dedication to master it properly. Being able to manually pull exactly the right pressure and timing required to extract an excellent shot every time is not easy, as opposed to a high quality semi-automatic/automatic machine. Even top barristas or espresso enthusiasts don't bother with manual lever machines. Although there are spring-loaded versions which "cheat" a bit because it does the work of consistent pushing. If your budget only allows for no more than $500 on a machine, and you're dedicated...go for it.

 

[speedster.8]

I really enjoy mine, a Elektra Nivola, named after a 30-50's race car driver (Tazio_Nuvolari)

Will take a better pic, this was the only one I had "on file" Constant GOOD shots, I do grind my own beans, but regular Lavazza "Qualita d'oro" always comes out perfect anyway.

 

[freshcutgrass]

I remember seeing a Nivola when they first came out, and was taken by the looks. But as it turns out, I found it to be built more for show...than go (sorta like a Francis Francis).

As a counter queen, it's a winner, but for the same price or even considerably less, you can get a machine that is a better performer.

 

[eg1]

Originally Posted by rjmaiorano

ooooooooo, not true.

Originally Posted by Johnathan

In that case, everything north of Rome is Swiss.

The usual retort of my Italian friends of more southerly extraction is "Trevisans are Austrians"

 

[mikeman]

I have recently go into drinking espresso.I was wondering if any of you use a Moka pot,and if so,do you like it?

 

[matero30]

Victoria Arduino makes the most classic espresso machine. each one is still hand crafted in Italy, they come in copper, brass or chrome.
Very functional, it gives you am excellent shot of espresso. I would get the Venus Family model for home use.
Very expensive, but you did say Bentley.

 

[rjmaiorano]

Originally Posted by Angela

I was so happy to see this post!

I have my Sicilian grandparents stovetop espresso maker and it only has 2 chambers, not like the 3-chambered pots I keep finding on the internet. I would love to make myself a shot of espresso in the mornings but I have no clue to how to use it. The spout is on the bottom chamber and the second chamber is a flat bottomed filter (not funnel shaped like the moka). Can you tell me how to use it and how much coffee per amount water to use? Thanks!!

This should have three pieces. a bottom piece which is basically a cup with a handle, then a filter piece which slides down the sides of the bottom piece. It looks like a cup as well, but at the top of the cup there is a convex filter where you pack the espresso, mine has a screw on lid which has part of the filter in it. The third part pops onto first cup part, with the filter sitting in between. This third piece will have the spout on it, and while it is boiling on the stove, the spout will be upside down. Once the water is boiled, you flip the whole thing so the boiling water is now on top and the spout is pointing up. Gravity does the filtration for you and soon enough you have great espresso to drink.

I gather that might be confusing to picture without photos, I'll try and post pics of mine.

 

[A Y]

I just had a good customer service experience with Capresso and wanted to pass it along. I got an Infinity burr grinder last week, and found out that it wouldn't grind: the burrs were turning, but the beans weren't being pulled into the burrs. Instead they kind of went on a merry-go-round ride on top of the burrs, and then jumped back out into the hopper. I called Capresso, and after a few basic diagnostics, they decided to ship me a new unit along with a UPS label to ship back the old one. No fuss, no drama.

--Andre

 

[beatrice ughi]

Originally Posted by Baron

I have a Gaggia Tebe, about 6 years old now and going strong. However, some small part of me wants it to die so I can buy a manual-lever Italian chrome machine like the one a friend of mine owns. I think he has this one:

Sorry I get here so late. Somebody just mentioned to me that this thread talked about us, Gustiamo and Sant'Eustachio coffee.
Did somebody already answered to the post above? The one in the picture is a Pavoni. A beautiful looking coffee machine. I had it for a few years, but I was never able to make it work right. Something was wrong with the water pressure and nobody was able to fix it. Since then, I use a Bialetti and I am very happy with it. I also read, above, that some friend did not know how a Bialetti would work. Well, we actually made a (really embarrassing) video of How to Make Coffee. Might it help? Grazie mille,
Beatrice

 

[the shah]

Originally Posted by mikeman

I have recently go into drinking espresso.I was wondering if any of you use a Moka pot,and if so,do you like it?

that's a stovetop but makes coffee not espresso, it doesn't have the crema

it's still really good coffee though, and you get more than a one-shot pleasure of the espresso
pair it with a good frother and you can make some nice cafe au lait (though not the European cafe latte or cafe au lait since they don't have a name for this made with drip-brewed coffee)

 

[gregaz]

Originally Posted by chorse123

I have the fixed wheel bike level "machine": a Bialetti Moka.
I have been drinking coffee from one of these for over five years, and I STILL think it is some of the best out there! I have a Nespresso machine at the office, because we don't have a sink and needed something clean and low maintenance. If you get the stronger pods (like black), I find it quite good, and VERY easy. Where does everyone buy their pods - direct from Nespresso?

 

[fdbaker]

I use a Rancilio Epoca which does a very nice job:

I also use the excellent KitchenAid grinder discussed above. But the biggest advancement in my coffee making occured when I began to roast my own coffee, using one of these (Hottop):

I buy green beans online -- http://www.coffeebeancorral.com/ -- and roast them in my basement. There is really nothing like a consistent supply of freshly roasted beans. And the aroma of roasting beans is fantastic.

 

[Maharlika]

I have a trusty Francis Francis!X5 espresso maker and use Illy coffee every single morning.

 

[wetnose]

Strictly speaking, this doesn't make espresso, but it's sure close to it, for a lot less than a lot of any of the machines previously featured:



http://www.singleservecoffee.com/archives/004326.php

Highly recommended. I have one for the office and one for the home. Excellent value for the money.