Good or great espresso machines? Let the arguing begin!

[Tex]

Ponte Vecchio was formally SAMA not Gensaco. I believe Gensaco and Riviera have had ties though.

Gensaco sells machines made by Ponte Vecchio or vice versa, but I do know the Gensaco Lusso is identical to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso. It's been awhile but my notes indicate the Lusso has very severe group temp problems - reminded me of the La Pavoni; I had to use wet tea towels after three pulls to get the temp down into the working range.

[John F]

but I do know the Gensaco Lusso is identical to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso. It's been awhile but my notes indicate the Lusso has very severe group temp problems - reminded me of the La Pavoni; I had to use wet tea towels after three pulls to get the temp down into the working range.

I think maybe your notes are off.


"..the Olympia Cremina, La Pavoni Europiccola and Elektra Microcasa a Leva have the grouphead bolted to the boiler. In contrast, the Ponte Vecchio Lusso's grouphead is detached from the boiler and warmed by two thermosyphon tubes going to/from the boiler (photo right). The result is a temperature-stable lever espresso machine, espresso after espresso.

The Lusso idles cold; if you haven't used it in 10+ minutes, flush for a brief 2 seconds and then allow the group another minute to stabilize before starting the extraction."


http://www.home-barista.com/ponte-vecchio-lusso-review.html
 

[Tex]

but I do know the Gensaco Lusso is identical to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso. It's been awhile but my notes indicate the Lusso has very severe group temp problems - reminded me of the La Pavoni; I had to use wet tea towels after three pulls to get the temp down into the working range.

I think maybe your notes are off.


"..the Olympia Cremina, La Pavoni Europiccola and Elektra Microcasa a Leva have the grouphead bolted to the boiler. In contrast, the Ponte Vecchio Lusso's grouphead is detached from the boiler and warmed by two thermosyphon tubes going to/from the boiler (photo right). The result is a temperature-stable lever espresso machine, espresso after espresso.

The Lusso idles cold; if you haven't used it in 10+ minutes, flush for a brief 2 seconds and then allow the group another minute to stabilize before starting the extraction."


http://www.home-barista.com/ponte-vecchio-lusso-review.html
 

My notes don't indicate any idling temp problems, so the thermo-siphon probably did its job OK. When I note something like a particular temp problem when pulling multiple consecutive shots, I'll stand behind what I wrote. But that was strictly from my notes; I remember very little about the machine.

edited: The biggest problem I had in the rebuild was finding a cheap/readily available source for parts. That's the biggest real problem with owning an off-brand - parts availability!

[John F]

I've never seen the machine (yet) but it looks like the group cools and it's the shot that warms to temp.

So if you pull back to back you would overheat at some point but they say after ~3 min you stabilize and after 10 min you might want to do a warming flush. So unless you have preloaded baskets on a one group it might be pretty stable.

But I think Mr. Roboto has talked me into the 2 group and then the ability to go group to group (and back again) looks on paper like you could pull back to back shots until you run out of water. 

[BoldJava]

I can't keep up.  Link to the levered machine you are considering.

T'anks,

Swifty

[Pyment]

Then its settled. Staylor gets the Athena 2-group.

[John F]

I can't keep up.  Link to the levered machine you are considering.

I think there are several lookers and machines going in this thread...

I was thinking of getting this one:

http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/ponte_vecchio/ponte_vecchio_export.htm

But Staylor is probably talking me into this one:

http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/ponte_vecchio/ponte_vecchio_lusso_2group.htm

It will take me a few months but I'm pretty well set on one of these after doing a good bit of research I'm convinced this is the next port of call.

[mp]

Just to throw another option ... check this out:

http://www.gensaco.com/esprequip_comp.html

The Export that you were looking at in red and chrome is going for $500.00.

 

[John F]

The Export that you were looking at in red and chrome is going for $500.00.

That is cheap, and I like the red.

It looks the same but Warrior says it's different..... :icon_scratch:

[mp]

The Export that you were looking at in red and chrome is going for $500.00.

That is cheap, and I like the red.

It looks the same but Warrior says it's different..... :icon_scratch:

How so?

 

[mp]

According to Orphanespresso the machine has gone by Sama, Dampa and now Ponte Vecchio with the only difference the older ones had the the ceme pstat and the newer ones have the mater pstat.

http://www.orphanespresso.com/SAMA-Export-Espresso-Machine_c_203.html

 :icon_scratch:

[John F]

According to Orphanespresso the machine has gone by Sama, Dampa and now Ponte Vecchio with the only difference the older ones had the older ones had the ceme pstat and the newer ones have the mater pstat.

Ok but...

Ponte Vecchio was formally SAMA not Gensaco.

You are showing Gensaco right?

[mp]

Then its settled. Staylor gets the Athena 2-group.

You're not letting that bargain go ... are you?

 

[mp]

According to Orphanespresso the machine has gone by Sama, Dampa and now Ponte Vecchio with the only difference the older ones had the older ones had the ceme pstat and the newer ones have the mater pstat.

Ok but...

Ponte Vecchio was formally SAMA not Gensaco.

You are showing Gensaco right?

Yes ... I was showing Gensaco ... you have to understand that Gensaco does not manufacture anything ... they just re-badge machines.  As far as I can tell you are getting the Ponte Vecchio but the name on it is Gensaco.

http://www.home-barista.com/levers/another-ponte-vecchio-export-applies-to-lmwdp-t3519.html

 

[John F]

http://www.home-barista.com/levers/another-ponte-vecchio-export-applies-to-lmwdp-t3519.html

 

Wow, that could be Staylors kit in a few weeks.