Welcome to the CoffeeCrew forum for registered users. - feel free to make yourself at home. This forum is dedicated to coffee and espresso based issues.
Forum spammers, scam artists, confidence artists, crooks and obvious commercial shilling is discouraged. Violation of this one simple rule will result in you and your immediate geographical region being banned from the site so do not post ads here! Capiche?
The coffeecrew guestbook and forum has been alive for more than 10 years! Please consider it your one-stop resource for finding out about all things coffee, espresso, specialty coffee and all associated gear and equipment.
We welcome long posts - there is no word limit in fact. Keep in mind that you can only type for 15 to 20 minutes in the forum-post submit window (session timeout)- so consider composing your posts or responses in a text editor - then cut and paste! Thank you and enjoy the forums!
Lever machines more "maintenance free" ? - 2007/05/16 13:29"In our experience, the la Pavoni lever machines probably provide the most maintenance-free espresso maker that is available today." - EspressoTec website
Can someone please help me understand just what this means? What goes wrong most often with other machines? What goes wrong most often with lever machines and how hard is it to fix at home?
This is a concern for me (being a tad obsessive) and having had the bad experience of waiting more than 3 months for warranty repair of my entry level machine.
many thanks,
Nick
p.s. yes, I know lever machines are more unforgiving & finnicky but that sounds like fun to me!
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 732
Karma: 19
Re:Lever machines more "maintenance free" ? - 2007/05/17 14:42If you can tolerate their quirks, the lever is the way to go.
The only thing they tend to wear out is a main gasket -- but that is something you can do with the most basic tools.
the cost for a replacement gasket? About 12$.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
Nick
Visitor
Re:Lever machines more "maintenance free" ? - 2007/05/18 10:25colin wrote: If you can tolerate their quirks, the lever is the way to go.
The only thing they tend to wear out is a main gasket -- but that is something you can do with the most basic tools.
ah hah!!! this is good news indeed.
I am now wavering between the Europicolla and Professional models. If I want to make more than 6 shots with the Europiccola can I vent the pressure from the tank by just opening the steam valve until it stops and then open the cap to re-fill with water OR do I have to turn the whole thing off and wait for it to cool down by itself before re-filling water?
Is the pressure gauge any safer or longer lasting than the Europiccola's automatic sensor (red/green light thing)? Does the Professional's gauge let you guess correct temperature better? Your review mentions something about turning the machine off and waiting 20 to 60 seconds for it to cool a bit. That seems a little iffy, no?
many thanks,
Nick
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
frege
User Coffee Lover
Posts: 3
Karma: 0
Re:Lever machines more "maintenance free" ? - 2007/05/18 15:27Nick-
I own an Elektra Microcasa a Leva (which I urge you to consider as well- if you read Mark Prince's detailed review of it at coffeegeek you'll be, at the very least, intrigued, or you'll be like me and run off and buy one), and since it has similar heating issues, I think can answer for the Pavoni too. You can indeed drain the pressure and then, with a glove or something else to protect your fingers, open and refill the boiler. You can do this all day. The problem is, and I think this is more what you're getting at, this is not going to do anything to cool down the brewhead. The only thing that you can do is wait, or use a cold wet towel (some use frozen ones) or some other means to cool the brewhead and, while you're at it, the portafilter. After 2 or 3 espressos both are scalding hot. If you just refill, the boiler will ramp up, the brewhead will not have had time to cool (I am pretty sure the Pavoni takes about 10 minutes to get to brew pressure just like the Elektra, so the machine will still be hot) and you're still facing too-hot espresso. So to answer your question, yes, you can bleed and refill, but it takes either time or a cooling fix of some sort to be able to pull shots right away.
These level machines are, to paraphrase Mark Prince, not about performance, but are about the experience, and I can say that my Elektra has absolutely made my routine a joy. Outrageously outstanding steaming and microfoaming capability too, as I've also heard about the Pavoni line. But they're not for everybody.
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
What are peoples opinions on Galileo Coffee, a small Roastery Cafe just south of Squamish in the little town of Britannia Beach on Highway 99? I've really enjoyed the Howes Blend that they use in thei...
The Breville was my first machine. It has been a good machine no complaints. When you are ready, move up but you did not make a mistake. I can make a Mocha that will bring tears to your eye's with min...
I'm pretty keen to try roasting for the first time. Getting pretty good at pulling espresso shots finally, and would love to figure out what it takes to roast great tasting beans :)...
Yea... it's been a headache, and that is understated, to say the least. Tonight, one of their reps came by to look at the machine and offer me some solutions. He was very nice. He actually said for th...
Saeco Incanto, in general, is garbage. We've had ongoing problems with ours (that you can see at the web link in my profile).
Have you had the machine serviced at all? Or just a call to ask if the...
Based on all the discussion and reviews, I am looking to buy either the 8 cup or the 12 cup model. Since the physical size of the units (other than the pot, of course) seems to be exactly the same, i...
Since you've posted in the $400 I'd say return the Breville and get a single boiler machine.
In this price range you can easily get an entry level Saeco or Gaggia, or a lesser known name like Moki...
Forum 
