I don't have any particular reason to believe the machine will immediately need descaling, I'm just trying to get as much information as possible about owning a HX machine

Thanks for the advice!

EDIT: mind you, the epoca isn't E-61, apparently it uses the same grouphead as the silvia

Descaling is a snap. The epoca has a convenient boiler drain valve under the machine. Empty the boiler and refill with citric acid solution. Run enough water through the grouphead to fill the HX. Let it sit about an hour. Drain. Rinse. Refill.

No worries.

Also, I wouldn't get too hung up on the grouphead design. From the bottom, it's the same as Silvia. Same Pf, gasket, shower screen. Up top it's a different ball of wax (preinfusion, etc.). You won't go wrong if you choose the Epoca.

fantastic, thank you for the info.

One question -- the seller told me:

"You should know that the steamer is loose as the nut is loose. However it can be easily tightened into place."

and later

"It was actually used for personal use by the owner of the company - it was never used for catering at all.
It is still in great condition and everything works great. He wasn't using it much at home so decided to sell it.
As I mentioned, the steamer is loose, but can be easily fixed by tightening the bolt."

Does this sound legit from your experience with the Epoca?

Steamer? Does he mean the steam wand? If so, then it's probably just the bolt. Even if something's wearing with the valve itself, you can buy a complete rebuild kit for the steam valve for about $18 from Espresso parts.

Funny he should mention it, though. If I were selling a machine with a simple fix like that, I'd probably just fix it first, and not bother mentioning it. Is this a friend of yours?

These machines are built like tanks. Mine experienced 3 years of heavy use before it came to me. The previous owner thought it was on its last legs. I gave it a descale and a really good cleaning. Changed the group gasket and shower screen, readjusted the pressurestat, and now it's working fine. Took about 2 hours work. Easy stuff.

If you do need to replace something, parts are relatively cheap and easy to find.

From what I can gather the seller owns a catering company and is having his assistant list and sell the machine, all her info is second hand. I'm planning to pick it up Friday unless I get any serious second thoughts looking at it.

from the sounds of it though unless it was dropped from a roof it should be a pretty great deal

Even if it was, it's probably still a good deal. Like I said, these machines are tanks.

Please let us know how it turns out, and post some pics when you can.

well, I picked up the Epoca. I'll post pictures shortly.

the steam arm dangles completely loosely, there is no tension holding it into place at all. I'll be popping the lid off soon enough

brokemusician77 wrote:Steamer? Does he mean the steam wand? If so, then it's probably just the bolt. Even if something's wearing with the valve itself, you can buy a complete rebuild kit for the steam valve for about $18 from Espresso parts.

Funny he should mention it, though. If I were selling a machine with a simple fix like that, I'd probably just fix it first, and not bother mentioning it.

Agree. With the fix normally being something so simple, it's hard to imagine not tightening it so that it's a non-issue upon selling.

Worst case is some bonehead cross-threaded the valve/steam arm nut, leaving valve replacement as the only option (provided tapping isn't working). Still, even that is a cheap fix.

I've started a new thread:

My (ongoing) experience with a "new" used Rancilio Epoca!

i am thinking i need a new spring?