'82 Olympia Cremina Lever...

[Tex]

If I told you what I've been researching the last 2 hours you would not believe me. 

What I'm able to confirm at this time is that the wife is on board (finally after some less fun purchases) with new machine being the next major purchase... lights are greening up.

A new, new machine or a new, old machine?  Lever?

Is it a simple lever machine or complex?

The Lever, a Simple Machine

[John F]

A new, new machine or a new, old machine?  Lever?

Well.... it's been an all over the map day.

For a couple hours I just about had myself convinced to give up on the lever machines entirely and was looking back at double boilers.

A few emails off line with Mr. Taylor and I think I'm back to a lever.

For the price I'm trying to figure out if there is a better deal than a new PVL single group from 1st line. It's starting to shape up to be the best bang in this category from what I can tell. My thinking is that either a second portafilter or at least basket will allow for very quick back to back shots and maybe the second group isn't needed for my situation. This puts a brand new lever machine on my counter for 1K.

The export only saves $150.. Would I regret going smaller over $150?

I'm not sure paying for shipping from Italy but taking off 20% VAT saves anything after converting to Euros and so on..

I'm not sure that rebuilding something vintage is the best option for me either...I've got no brand allegiance or even any strong opinions so there is no strong allure of owning an "xyz" so if the price to restore comes too close to new... 

I don't really want a big commercial machine...

So while I was looking at comparisons of double boilers and admiring the Salvatore hand craftsmanship sitting here right now It's looking like the PVL is going to be difficult not to aim at when the trigger finger actually starts squeezing.

[peter]

A new Cremina, amortized over its life, will be more cost effective than anything.   

[John F]

A new Cremina, amortized over its life, will be more cost effective than anything.   

Pthffffff!

Crazy talk.

[BoldJava]

...
So while I was looking at comparisons of double boilers and admiring the Salvatore hand craftsmanship sitting here right now It's looking like the PVL is going to be difficult not to aim at when the trigger finger actually starts squeezing.

Good choice. That is right where I was going until Mike's Cremina rose from the ashes.

Grab a second PF and basket, if needed, but I think your concern over shot size will moderate once you tuck your lips around that first nailed shot.

Pull.

[John F]

Pull.

I'm just about satisfied that I'll avert the "you got the wrong tv sillyhead" syndrome.

But I don't have all the cash set aside just yet  I did however make a brilliant move on getting this item on the last purchase agenda list. There is a new list in place already but the machine (that somehow obtained the lowest priority for purchase)  :icon_scratch: must be procured before the new list comes up for purchasing.

It's getting real. 

[Warrior372]

If you do go with a PVL think about this too. The 1 and 2 group machines have an identical footprint, so they will both take up the same amount of counter space. At 1st-line a Black 1-group PVL is $969.00 and a Black 2-group is $1,229. If you go on Orphanespresso a second portafilter with a handle costs $82.50 and a PF Basket costs $18.50 for a total of $101. So, with this setup a 1-group will cost $1,070 with the 2-group still at $1,229, so the second group is costing an additional $160.

[John F]

At 1st-line a Black 1-group PVL is $969.00

Back order....

But I have no idea how often they restock.

I've seen pictures of red ones, white... But I don't know who sells those colors.

[Tex]

If you do go with a PVL think about this too. The 1 and 2 group machines have an identical footprint, so they will both take up the same amount of counter space. At 1st-line a Black 1-group PVL is $969.00 and a Black 2-group is $1,229. If you go on Orphanespresso a second portafilter with a handle costs $82.50 and a PF Basket costs $18.50 for a total of $101. So, with this setup a 1-group will cost $1,070 with the 2-group still at $1,229, so the second group is costing an additional $160.

Excellent point - assuming someone would want both a bottomless & regular PF. Are they available already cut?

[BoldJava]

At 1st-line a Black 1-group PVL is $969.00

Back order....

You are back to Europe with Shaun.  I believe 1st-Line told me November.  They were quite ... non-chalant <being generous>... about it.  OnWineTime lists it but they are out of stock as well.

[John F]

You are back to Europe with Shaun.

This place?

http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/store/pontevecchio_lusso_red.html

[Warrior372]

If you do go with a PVL think about this too. The 1 and 2 group machines have an identical footprint, so they will both take up the same amount of counter space. At 1st-line a Black 1-group PVL is $969.00 and a Black 2-group is $1,229. If you go on Orphanespresso a second portafilter with a handle costs $82.50 and a PF Basket costs $18.50 for a total of $101. So, with this setup a 1-group will cost $1,070 with the 2-group still at $1,229, so the second group is costing an additional $160.

Excellent point - assuming someone would want both a bottomless & regular PF. Are they available already cut?

Yes. A bottomless one on OE is $95.

[BoldJava]

You are back to Europe with Shaun.

This place?

http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/store/pontevecchio_lusso_red.html

Shaun can confirm but I believe he ordered directly from Italy.

[John F]

Shaun can confirm but I believe he ordered directly from Italy.

That place is in Italy.

By the time you subtract the VAT but pay shipping  and convert to Euros I think it's the same price as 1st line.

But it's red! 

[BoldJava]

$1191 shipped to NAmer, chrome or red.

No black <sad face, very sad face>