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Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: Alaroast on November 06, 2015, 06:04:20 AM

Title: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Alaroast on November 06, 2015, 06:04:20 AM
Anybody have any experience with a Salvatore Famosa machine? I've been to his website and looked around. Found one locally that I may go look at but wanted others input as well. I'm currently using a Kitchen Aid Proline with double boilers which is no longer available and limited parts.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 06, 2015, 07:52:49 AM
Anybody have any experience with a Salvatore Famosa machine? I've been to his website and looked around. Found one locally that I may go look at but wanted others input as well. I'm currently using a Kitchen Aid Proline with double boilers which is no longer available and limited parts.

Interesting Screen name and picture.

From what I understand they are E61 group but they lack gauges and even a water level indicator. Did you find one cheap?
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Alaroast on November 06, 2015, 08:20:57 AM
Anybody have any experience with a Salvatore Famosa machine? I've been to his website and looked around. Found one locally that I may go look at but wanted others input as well. I'm currently using a Kitchen Aid Proline with double boilers which is no longer available and limited parts.

Interesting Screen name and picture.

From what I understand they are E61 group but they lack gauges and even a water level indicator. Did you find one cheap?
Yes, the one I'm looking at has no gauges and a heat exchanger rather than a boiler. It can either run off internal tank (no level indicator or be hard lined in. Guy said it was a mid 90's model and is asking $350.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Alaroast on November 06, 2015, 08:54:37 AM
Oh and about the interesting screen name and picture...I live in Alabama and the pic is one I adopted from my time across the pond last year. I can see where the combo of the name and pic might cause a little stir ;)
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 06, 2015, 09:11:32 AM
Oh and about the interesting screen name and picture...I live in Alabama and the pic is one I adopted from my time across the pond last year. I can see where the combo of the name and pic might cause a little stir ;)

I have been "across the pond" a lot myself. Where was that picture taken?
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 06, 2015, 09:15:08 AM
Anybody have any experience with a Salvatore Famosa machine? I've been to his website and looked around. Found one locally that I may go look at but wanted others input as well. I'm currently using a Kitchen Aid Proline with double boilers which is no longer available and limited parts.

Interesting Screen name and picture.

From what I understand they are E61 group but they lack gauges and even a water level indicator. Did you find one cheap?
Yes, the one I'm looking at has no gauges and a heat exchanger rather than a boiler. It can either run off internal tank (no level indicator or be hard lined in. Guy said it was a mid 90's model and is asking $350.

That's a good price for what it is. I have heard of them going as cheap as $300 on a garage sale but you will never regret an E61 for $350. You could possibly mod it with Guages and such. I would hard plumb it in myself but seeing as how that is an option I am assuming it's a vibe pump. 
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 06, 2015, 09:17:32 AM
If you get it and you don't like it. I would possibly trade a nice La Pavoni Europiccola Lever which cost me the same. I upgraded it to a one-hole steam tip too.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Alaroast on November 06, 2015, 11:22:07 AM
Oh and about the interesting screen name and picture...I live in Alabama and the pic is one I adopted from my time across the pond last year. I can see where the combo of the name and pic might cause a little stir ;)

I have been "across the pond" a lot myself. Where was that picture taken?
No idea where the pic was taken other than from the internet. I found it used it for a t-shirt design while in Kuwait.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Alaroast on November 06, 2015, 11:44:45 AM
Anybody have any experience with a Salvatore Famosa machine? I've been to his website and looked around. Found one locally that I may go look at but wanted others input as well. I'm currently using a Kitchen Aid Proline with double boilers which is no longer available and limited parts.

Interesting Screen name and picture.

From what I understand they are E61 group but they lack gauges and even a water level indicator. Did you find one cheap?
Yes, the one I'm looking at has no gauges and a heat exchanger rather than a boiler. It can either run off internal tank (no level indicator or be hard lined in. Guy said it was a mid 90's model and is asking $350.

That's a good price for what it is. I have heard of them going as cheap as $300 on a garage sale but you will never regret an E61 for $350. You could possibly mod it with Guages and such. I would hard plumb it in myself but seeing as how that is an option I am assuming it's a vibe pump.
Not sure if it has the E61 group or not, here is a picture of it. This would take a little getting used to with no knobs, only buttons/switches. Also, the extended warmup times over my current machine are longer.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 06, 2015, 12:14:08 PM
Ohh that's an old one I think. Salvatore is still around. They are actually in California. I would send them an email about that specific model number etc. I have a feeling it is not an e-61 based on what that group head looks like. It actually reminds me of the Olympia Maximatic group head which is plenty good. However I have heard that the porta filter for this model on the older ones is very difficult to source or impossible to find. Usually not a problem if you have one but definitely not ideal.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 06, 2015, 12:16:14 PM
Oh and about the interesting screen name and picture...I live in Alabama and the pic is one I adopted from my time across the pond last year. I can see where the combo of the name and pic might cause a little stir ;)

I have been "across the pond" a lot myself. Where was that picture taken?
No idea where the pic was taken other than from the internet. I found it used it for a t-shirt design while in Kuwait.

Been there a lot and got some free gas in Kuwait, quite a few times. There used to be a wild dog that would visit us on the tarmac in Kuwait when we would land there. Usually we would stay in UAE though.
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Alaroast on November 10, 2015, 07:12:37 AM
The Salvatore is sold but not to me; I waited too long to pounce. Even though it was an older machine,  I think I would have gotten it had I gone and seen it and liked what I saw. From the threads I have read, they seem to be a solid machine. Will keep looking...
Title: Re: Salvatore Famosa Espresso Machine
Post by: Joe on November 10, 2015, 07:30:14 AM
The Salvatore is sold but not to me; I waited too long to pounce. Even though it was an older machine,  I think I would have gotten it had I gone and seen it and liked what I saw. From the threads I have read, they seem to be a solid machine. Will keep looking...

Olympia and pasquini is a good one to look for. If you don't have a Gaggia classic yet you should ;)