Espresso machines

I'm still a fan of my La Pavoni bought as an export 110V model in Milan in the 1990s for the best, not-bitter, short espresso under my control using whatever high-roast Arabica I can find locally available though preferring Illy's pre-ground espresso but I admit that I use a FrancisFrancis Iperespresso capsule machine for the first thing in the morning shot of cappuccino-like milky wake up elixir and for quick refreshment shots during the day where the La Pavoni just takes too much time. The La Pavoni is for taking the time to enjoy. I fantasize about having the space and finding a real, large 1960/1970's Italian bar espresso machine with the eagle on the top to install in my workshop to go with the late 60s, early 70s Laverdas there.
 
I have a Pod machine in the truck. Can stop in the middle of BFN and make a coffee.

Sits on a shelf over my head, in sleeper cab. Hit a bump one day and it clouted me in the head. Is now Velcroed to the shelf.

Uses about 38mm dia pods, now looking for a reducing attachment to retro fit the smaller (more readably available) pods.
 
We've been using a DeLongi with inbuilt grinder for years and years and years and years. Seems to need a new boiler and tune up every 5 or 6 at around $200 a time. Pretty bullet proof and the coffee's good, especially first thing in the day.
 
When it rains it pours. The shop machine threw a wobbly too. The lime scale is so bad that the sight glass feed pipe was closed off showing the machine had water, but in fact it didn’t , which meant the element over heated and blew. I thought I could get away with replacing a few parts Eg element etc , but I was dreaming. Friday I took a mental health day at work and broke the machine down , luckily the frame fits in the glass blasting cabinet so I blasted it and sprayed it with rattle can Galv/ zinc spray. Assembly started today at the shop. I keep enough parts to rebuild about 6 machines like this at a time , as a few mates have machines from me that I look after here on the island. All the chrome and external parts etc are 59 years old. They are in great shape. I have discovers a local Spanish supermarkets all purpose cleaner with the magic white sponges brings the chrome back to like new I will finish re assembly tomorrow and hopefully we will have espresso in the shop again Monday. Emergency over !!!!! Espresso martini’s Monday night ! Some parts are now not available and I have started making my own. I’m pretty stoked with the cast Ali drip tray , I had the blokes from the Uk that cast up our home light switches cast the drip tray , they came out pretty good. I drew the tray in 3d and sent the file to them and they did the rest. You can see old against new in photo 4. They work out about 20 quid a pop
 

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I love a proper espresso made in a beautiful machine, will one day make the effort and by a thing of beauty. I do like the stove tops but I have to say that for everyday value for time/money/taste I find my Nespresso the right balance. Not the same full experience as a proper machine but pretty decent and very convenient if, like me, you drink coffee all day!
 
And we are back in business, I had 5 hours on the machine yesterday in the shop, the first 3 hours we had no power, so I couldn't open the shutters or turn the lights on, so a mini mag light stuffed up some dyneema cover hung over my bench gave me enough light to carry on. All seals, springs and gaskets etc and consumable pieces were replaced. I calculate from starting to pull the machine down to plugging uit in was 14 hours of work....... damn good to have espresso in the shop... 6 hours to go till espresso martinis!
 

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Stovetop takes the same amount of time to make instant, fucking heathens ….
Yep. Still a heathen but a stovetop convert. Graduated to a 6/9 Giannina after being given a smaller maker by someone taking pity on my taste for international roast. The Giannina has a simple but effective lock mechanism so no more cross threading the lower part.

First saw bikes and coffee insanity at the Ragged Fringe in 2011. Some bloke with a machine bolted to his guzzi. Now that's a heathen.
 
Yep. Still a heathen but a stovetop convert. Graduated to a 6/9 Giannina after being given a smaller maker by someone taking pity on my taste for international roast. The Giannina has a simple but effective lock mechanism so no more cross threading the lower part.

First saw bikes and coffee insanity at the Ragged Fringe in 2011. Some bloke with a machine bolted to his guzzi. Now that's a heathen.
Funnily enough, it was the Guzzi mafia at my classic race meets who always had stove-top (gas-ring) espresso for proper coffee.
 
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