My only suggestion is that he makes sure he can master the two variables. ;D
I'll take that; at least you don't have to shovel rain.
If budget isn't an issue, how about Kee's Idocompresso?
If budget isn't an issue, how about Kee's Idocompresso?
My only suggestion is that he makes sure he can master the two variables. ;D
My only suggestion is that he makes sure he can master the two variables. ;D
100% ruthless.
We all know what he is!!
We all know what he is!!
:o
Now that you mention it I've never seen him in the daytime.
On a serious note I'd say shoot a PM to Warrior372 and ask him about commercial levers.
I remember he had a good bit of knowledge about the brands and had an opinion on a certain one....I just don't remember what it was.
If budget isn't an issue, how about Kee's Idocompresso?
Freaking WORD!!!
If money was not a concern of mine I'd go press the order button right now.
I was going to recommend warrior372 as well, but I'm pretty sure Orphan Espresso will be a good 'go to'.
My only suggestion is that he makes sure he can master the two variables. ;D([url]http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/donderwolk.gif[/url])
([url]http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=8308;type=avatar[/url])
What exactly is your friend looking for? How many groups? What type of look? New or old? If there is interest in a San Marco I have a very swanky looking one that is steps away from being finished (and has been for quite a while now. . . with my schedule a few simple things can take a really longtime ;) ). It is a La San Marco 75 Series Leva with a hand-hammered copper hood and a fairly unique setup. It is a single group with the boiler capacity and heating element of a 2-group. 75 Series are rare in and of themselves, but that setup is even more unique.
The guys at Slayer did a little piece on the Vita BOSCO.
[url]http://www.slayerespresso.com/2008/05/12/caffe-vita-leveraging-the-bosco/#more-132[/url] ([url]http://www.slayerespresso.com/2008/05/12/caffe-vita-leveraging-the-bosco/#more-132[/url])
Having pulled shots on the Slayer, and spending a couple of days with the guys who invented it, I like that they think outside the box. Being able to create such huge adjustments/approaches to the shot production is something quite unique to the Slayer. Having experienced the massive cup impacts via the Slayer simply by machine manipulation is quite an eye opener. I don't think it's the ideal solution, really I have no idea if such a thing exists - how can it, as everyone has their own interpretation of what espresso is and how to get there.
Ultimately I think most decent barista/home users can achieve a quality espresso with the machine they have in their own kitchen, assuming it meets a certain level of quality control via predictable temp, pressures, etc and assuming they know what they are doing.
The guys at Slayer did a little piece on the Vita BOSCO.
[url]http://www.slayerespresso.com/2008/05/12/caffe-vita-leveraging-the-bosco/#more-132[/url] ([url]http://www.slayerespresso.com/2008/05/12/caffe-vita-leveraging-the-bosco/#more-132[/url])
Some interesting points made, particularly about lever machines, HX boilers, and temp stability. Sounds like the ideal lever machine would be double boiler or open boiler with no steam capability.
I'd like to see one with saturated groups too. Temp stability is such a critical issue that you'd think someone would design a machine around that, not some esoteric feature that has little impact on the quality of the coffee in the cup?
What exactly is your friend looking for? How many groups? What type of look? New or old? If there is interest in a San Marco I have a very swanky looking one that is steps away from being finished (and has been for quite a while now. . . with my schedule a few simple things can take a really longtime ;) ). It is a La San Marco 75 Series Leva with a hand-hammered copper hood and a fairly unique setup. It is a single group with the boiler capacity and heating element of a 2-group. 75 Series are rare in and of themselves, but that setup is even more unique.
Do you have pictures of this beauty?
The guys at Slayer did a little piece on the Vita BOSCO.
[url]http://www.slayerespresso.com/2008/05/12/caffe-vita-leveraging-the-bosco/#more-132[/url] ([url]http://www.slayerespresso.com/2008/05/12/caffe-vita-leveraging-the-bosco/#more-132[/url])
Some interesting points made, particularly about lever machines, HX boilers, and temp stability. Sounds like the ideal lever machine would be double boiler or open boiler with no steam capability.
I'd like to see one with saturated groups too. Temp stability is such a critical issue that you'd think someone would design a machine around that, not some esoteric feature that has little impact on the quality of the coffee in the cup?
Commercial levers have more (or as little depending how you want to look at it) thermal stability through metal mass than an old e61. I would say the average group off of one of my commercial levers weighs just over 25 lbs (I just established that with a disassembled group in one hand and a 25 lb weight in the other), with the average e61 weighing in around 10 lbs. That is a lot more metal. You need to hook up one of your PIDs to a lever !
Here is a picture of the front of the San Marco 75 and one of the back copper hood. I do have all of the front paneling for it, but the powder coating turned out so well that I do not want to cover it up. I have been thinking about getting glass or plexiglass to frame the front of the machine so I can keep the powder coated pieces and inner parts exposed. I posted pictures of it on Home-Barista some time ago. The stainless is on the front in those pictures. Apparently I also posted pictures of the inside of the San Marco on that thread as well. They are a little further down the thread. My '80 Conti Prestina and then untouched '58 Conti Empress 2-group are in the same post, just scroll down from the top about 20%. Here is the link to those pictures: [url]http://www.home-barista.com/levers/lever-espresso-machine-gallery-t2692-270.html[/url] ([url]http://www.home-barista.com/levers/lever-espresso-machine-gallery-t2692-270.html[/url])
Here is a picture of the front of the San Marco 75 and one of the back copper hood. I do have all of the front paneling for it, but the powder coating turned out so well that I do not want to cover it up. I have been thinking about getting glass or plexiglass to frame the front of the machine so I can keep the powder coated pieces and inner parts exposed. I posted pictures of it on Home-Barista some time ago. The stainless is on the front in those pictures. Apparently I also posted pictures of the inside of the San Marco on that thread as well. They are a little further down the thread. My '80 Conti Prestina and then untouched '58 Conti Empress 2-group are in the same post, just scroll down from the top about 20%. Here is the link to those pictures: [url]http://www.home-barista.com/levers/lever-espresso-machine-gallery-t2692-270.html[/url] ([url]http://www.home-barista.com/levers/lever-espresso-machine-gallery-t2692-270.html[/url])
That copper is CLASS!
Here is a picture of the front of the San Marco 75 and one of the back copper hood. I do have all of the front paneling for it, but the powder coating turned out so well that I do not want to cover it up. I have been thinking about getting glass or plexiglass to frame the front of the machine so I can keep the powder coated pieces and inner parts exposed. I posted pictures of it on Home-Barista some time ago. The stainless is on the front in those pictures. Apparently I also posted pictures of the inside of the San Marco on that thread as well. They are a little further down the thread. My '80 Conti Prestina and then untouched '58 Conti Empress 2-group are in the same post, just scroll down from the top about 20%. Here is the link to those pictures: [url]http://www.home-barista.com/levers/lever-espresso-machine-gallery-t2692-270.html[/url] ([url]http://www.home-barista.com/levers/lever-espresso-machine-gallery-t2692-270.html[/url])
That copper is CLASS!
That copper was a royal pain in the butt to clean when I found the machine!
I echo the sentiments on the Bosco. Beautiful machines. It's hard to beat hand crafted in Naples, Italy. Cafe Vit@ claims to be the exclusive US distributor, which isn't really true. They might be the only, but they're not exclusive. They told me they only sell them to someone who commits to brewing their coffee exclusively (at least I got told a different story from Warrior). I'm not sure if your friends consumption levels would work for them. ;).
You could have them shipped in from : [url]http://londiniumespresso.com/products/bosco-lever-espresso-machines[/url] ([url]http://londiniumespresso.com/products/bosco-lever-espresso-machines[/url])
That is the only machine I own with copper on it. I like to try and do what I can with the machines I restore. With how many combined hours / days that hood took though I will seriously consider hiring someone to do it in the future!
Rubbing the lacquer off was much more tedious than the actual polishing of the copper underneath. I am not sure how you approach the process but the way I did it was both incredibly time consuming and extremely dirty!