A bit of lever action

[Tex]

OE also has a good history of re-conditioning the machines and a good reputation amongst the home espresso person for good products and good support.

I think it will be a good move for both companies.

 

I'm a bit hesitant about their becoming a distributor, rather than a VAR. There are two importers/distributors who immediately come to mind when I think of misleading statements or outright lies being told about machines.

On the plus side, I don't think OE can sell enough new machines to become seduced by the dark side.

[staylor]

Haha, you guys are funny. And John, you know me all too well.

Gotta admit that machine is beautiful and I've looked at them a bunch of times before I looked at the PVL. As nice as they are and as good as their reputation is I just can't see the pricing making sense. I think I would get really interested if it was around the $2000 mark. I'm not saying OE should charge less, they should charge whatever the market will support and OE deserves to make a decent profit but somehow the retail price just doesn't make sense to me.

[BoldJava]

You physicists and heat engineers -- why is the Cremina's boiler stainless steel rather than brass.  I though brass was the 'gold standard?'

B|Java

[staylor]

You physicists and heat engineers -- why is the Cremina's boiler stainless steel rather than brass.  I though brass was the 'gold standard?'

B|Java

Brass isn't Swiss-enough.

[Tex]

You physicists and heat engineers -- why is the Cremina's boiler stainless steel rather than brass.  I though brass was the 'gold standard?'

B|Java

Material doesn't matter - the element is internal so there are no heat transfer issues. Copper & brass were traditional because they're easier to work with than s/s. Off-hand I'd say an 18 gauge stainless boiler is stronger than any of the commercial boilers made of copper or brass.

[BoldJava]

Thx, both.

B|Java

[BoldJava]

Been looking at the PVL more earnestly.  Much of the literature/critiques talk about its forgiving nature compared to the Elektras.  I like the size of the boiler for temp stability (3 liters) compared to its brother, the Export's .9L.  Both are nickel plated brass boilers.

http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/pdf/PonteVecchiocloserlookv3.pdf

B|Java

[John F]

 I like the size of the boiler for temp stability (3 liters) compared to its brother, the Export's .9L.

I've recently been laughed at for thinking I only need to pull a couple few shots per session causing me to second guess my pick of the Export. 

[BoldJava]

I've recently been laughed at for thinking I only need to pull a couple few shots per session causing me to second guess my pick of the Export.  

Doesn't a 30 ounce boiler strike you as small? Friend wants a latte or two and then refill...

[John F]

Most of the time I warm up with 1-2 oz and pull one 2oz shot.

~3 oz of water from a 30 oz boiler leaves me plenty of thermal blanket for stability.

That is a typical session for me. Then if the mood strikes me a couple of hours later I do the same thing.

With the Export sitting right next to the tinfoil bamboo mega machine I think I'd be OK for most of the time.

[BoldJava]

Most of the time I warm up with 1-2 oz and pull one 2oz shot.

...

Understand.  Coming from the 12-oz Silvia (plus reservoir), I guess I want to error on the side of volume.

My wife chuckled at the price of the new Cremina.  Then I introduced the PVL.  Postured well.

B|Java

[staylor]

Let's pretend for a moment that you aren't going to want to explore a particular coffee on a sunny casual morning in the kitchen, and let's agree that there's nooooooo way you are going to want to see where that coffee takes you when the mood strikes you.

Because that will never happen.

Now let's talk about what might happen, even though it's a teeny-weeny small might...

You will get the new machine. You will have the coffee to play with. You will want to pull some shots on day one. You will screw up some shots and you will make some shots that... whoops, times up, you ran out of water. Ahhhhhh, what do you care anyway, you only pull one or two shots, right? ;-)

[John F]

You will screw up some shots and you will make some shots that... whoops, times up, you ran out of water. Ahhhhhh, what do you care anyway, you only pull one or two shots, right? ;-)

Perhaps I've forgotten what it's like not having years on the same machine/set up and am taking for granted routine.

And I really should not because even testing the dosing funnel put me off balance.

Point taken...

[staylor]

All I can say is roast a couple of pounds for that first week of ownership, you'll need them. ;-)

[FinerGrind]

Saw this beauty at the show last week. I like that it shows honest wear and is not restored to showroom condition.