Good or great espresso machines? Let the arguing begin!

[Tex]

I have read the last 5 pages or so and I think not much has happened after the post on the Isomac Millenium II.  I also found a Tea for $600. Neither is within driving distance. I would have to hope the machine is available and that they are willing to ship.

Mike is the one to ask about the Tea - that's his baby. My experiences with the E61-type lever group has been less than positive. That may have been more my fault than the machine.

I had one back in the 80's and I could never master the flipping of the levers to get a consistent cup of coffee. Management of group temp was the culprit - I think. I don't think the flush was cooling the group - now that I know more about HX machines I think that if I'd pulled more water before pulling a shot I'd have gotten better results.

But the Tea is a beautiful machine and $600 seems like a good price.

[staylor]

Indeed.

This is why they made the BII with the ability to slide over a little bit.  

And the ability to be sold to Py at a reasonable price.

Bhaha, one of my neighbor wants it and has been bugging for something like it ever since he first tasted my four ouncers, I'm still not that close to letting it go yet, in fact I'm off to go pull a couple of shots on it right now. ;-)

[Tex]

Indeed.

This is why they made the BII with the ability to slide over a little bit.  

And the ability to be sold to Py at a reasonable price.

$300 plus S&H and this could be setup in you home by July! Ask milo about Brasilia machine - I understand he's using something similar to this - without the pimped dome.

This looks like a good fixer-upper; probably less than a hundred or so in parts and some elbow grease would make this baby hum!

[staylor]

Local pickup only on that piece. The truth is I'd like to get something locally off Craigslist, Kijiji or eBay that I can see before I buy. It probably won't happen so then I'm left with putting a lot of trust into a party that I don't know. I've got some leads already, I'm PM'ing right now which has been really helpful.

I'm leaning more towards an MCaL or something like that, though I am open to all solutions. The priority still lies with excellent espresso, repeatability, ability to do multi-shots and give good milk. So far it seems the MCaL's limitation seems to be it ability to do much more than 3-4 shots before it starts to overheat.

[yorel23]

Local pickup only on that piece. The truth is I'd like to get something locally off Craigslist, Kijiji or eBay that I can see before I buy. It probably won't happen so then I'm left with putting a lot of trust into a party that I don't know. I've got some leads already, I'm PM'ing right now which has been really helpful.

I'm leaning more towards an MCaL or something like that, though I am open to all solutions. The priority still lies with excellent espresso, repeatability, ability to do multi-shots and give good milk. So far it seems the MCaL's limitation seems to be it ability to do much more than 3-4 shots before it starts to overheat.

Seems like Orphan Espresso always has a few levers available.  Have you checked with them?

[Tex]

Local pickup only on that piece. The truth is I'd like to get something locally off Craigslist, Kijiji or eBay that I can see before I buy. It probably won't happen so then I'm left with putting a lot of trust into a party that I don't know. I've got some leads already, I'm PM'ing right now which has been really helpful.

I'm leaning more towards an MCaL or something like that, though I am open to all solutions. The priority still lies with excellent espresso, repeatability, ability to do multi-shots and give good milk. So far it seems the MCaL's limitation seems to be it ability to do much more than 3-4 shots before it starts to overheat.

That's preferable, but if you know someone in the area that could drop by for a look-see and could palletize it for you, I believe you'd be OK.

[BoldJava]

http://www.orphanespresso.com/Elektra-A-Leva-MCAL_c_211.html

Shore is pretty.  Doug and Barb are very good to work with.  Suggest putting in a call to them and ask him to alert you when the machine of your needs visits Doug's workbench.

Doug always does a nice job laying out the photos.  See the last four links here:

http://www.orphanespresso.com/Vintage-Espresso-Machine-Tours_ep_561-1.html

B|Java

[mp]

http://www.orphanespresso.com/Elektra-A-Leva-MCAL_c_211.html

Shore is pretty.  Doug and Barb are very good to work with.  Suggest putting in a call to them and ask him to alert you when the machine of your needs visits Doug's workbench.

B|Java

Or maybe splurge on a new one:

http://www.1st-line.net/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=ART.S1

You know you want a brand new shiny one.

 

[gratefulroast]

I do.


:drooooool:

[Tex]

http://www.orphanespresso.com/Elektra-A-Leva-MCAL_c_211.html

Shore is pretty.  Doug and Barb are very good to work with.  Suggest putting in a call to them and ask him to alert you when the machine of your needs visits Doug's workbench.

Doug always does a nice job laying out the photos.  See the last four links here:

http://www.orphanespresso.com/Vintage-Espresso-Machine-Tours_ep_561-1.html

B|Java

Shoot, if I'd have known anyone wanted one of these I had a line on one last week for $275, plus S&H. Looks like it's gone now - the CL listing is deleted. FWIW: These are no better than La Pavoni levers.

[mp]

Speaking of which ... La Pavoni Lever $525.00:

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/app/1699157601.html

 

[Warrior372]

I would not pay that much for a Pavoni, you can get them for under $200 pretty easily.

Tex, I say that Elektra as well, and immediately looked a few days ago when Staylor mentioned interest. My take on new Elektras is a bit odd. I love the shots you can pull on them, they steam better than any other lever and you can make microfoam on it so so easily, but the shiny / flashiness of it is a double edged sword. They get dirty so easily and regardless of how meticulous you are with cleaning it (I am very obsessive compulsive when it comes to keeping my machines clean) micro-scratches are inevitable. For that reason I told myself I would never buy one new again, especially when you can find them on CL for $500 or less somewhat regularly. Although, I guess if you have $1,000+ to spend (you can get them shipped to you from Europe new for about $1,065) on a new one it is always nice to know the machine is new, in perfect condition with no problems. It is always nice to have the original box IMO too.

[Tex]

I would not pay that much for a Pavoni, you can get them for under $200 pretty easily.

Tex, I say that Elektra as well, and immediately looked a few days ago when Staylor mentioned interest. My take on new Elektras is a bit odd. I love the shots you can pull on them, they steam better than any other lever and you can make microfoam on it so so easily, but the shiny / flashiness of it is a double edged sword. They get dirty so easily and regardless of how meticulous you are with cleaning it (I am very obsessive compulsive when it comes to keeping my machines clean) micro-scratches are inevitable. For that reason I told myself I would never buy one new again, especially when you can find them on CL for $500 or less somewhat regularly. Although, I guess if you have $1,000+ to spend (you can get them shipped to you from Europe new for about $1,065) on a new one it is always nice to know the machine is new, in perfect condition with no problems. It is always nice to have the original box IMO too.

The seller and I agreed on $275 and I'd send him a UPS label; but I backed out - just too much on my plate right now. The Elektra MC A Leva is OK, though I actually prefer this one. There was one kicking around CL for a long time that I'd negotiated down to $850, but I didn't pull the trigger. Gotta leave something on the table for everyone else once in a while, right?

[Tex]

Speaking of which ... La Pavoni Lever $525.00:

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/app/1699157601.html

 

Too pricey.

[Tex]

Here's a sweet looking machine for pyment. I wonder if Costco Canada would ship to the US?