I was lucky enough to come across a beautiful older (1996) Bezzera BZ40 on Craigs List for $225! (Had a bad heating element)

For anyone interested, you can see pictures here:
http://beefstorm.com/pics/Coffee/Bezzera/

I am dieing to hook it up and start using, but am a bit intimidated about plumbing it in, and am very limited by space. I am hopeing you all could give me some help/advice!

Issues:

1. Physical Connection To water supply.
-It came with a braided SS hose with a female BSPP connection.
BSPP - (Parallel) Seals on 30° chamfered seat
BSPT - (Tapered) Seals on Thread

I want to hook up a John Guest connection to the female BSPP connection on the SS Hose. The only problem is I can only find Male BSPT to John Guest connections online (Stefano's espresso Care & Chris's Coffee). I don't know if they are mis labled, or if they just dont make that connection. This doesn't make any since to me because from my understanding Euro espresso machines all use BSPP connections, but maybe I am mistaken.

2. Water Filtration/Softener
-The only water source I can tap in my kitchen is the one behind my refrigerator. I only have about 1-2in clearance max between the refer and the wall, which really limits my options for filters/softeners. Above the fridge is a short cabinet I could house filters in, but it is only about 10" high, so I wouldn't be able to mount most filter units in there.

I used a hard water test strip and my hardness is about 50ppm, which I believe is pretty good. At this level, is it possible to get away with not having an inline softener, as long as I keep up on my descaling?

If I am unable to fine an inline particle filter that will fit my limited space, how bad is it to run the setup without one?

My rough plan is the following:

Use a Max Adapter (Chris's coffee) off of my refer's water line and use John Guest tubing. In that line I want to have JG shutoff valve, JG Check Valve, and a pressure regulator. If I have room, and they are deemed necessary, a particle filter and softener. What do you all think?

I can't comment on #1.

Regarding #2:
There are a number of filter/softener units that use cartridges that are only about 1.5 - 2" in diameter; these tend to be quite expensive, but they are available.

There are also short and fat filter holders that could fit into your 10" high cabinet.

For both of these options look at the following site where I have been buying both softener and carbon inserts for my CC setup (you can buy all of the parts for substantially less than any coffee retail store from these folks if you know what you want/need):

http://www.wateranywhere.com/

Good luck,
Mark

Why not try running it from a bottle? I bet it can draw water easily, and you could always use a Flojet if needed.

I will be hooking up to the water supply before the refrigerator, so the water won't need to be filtered.

I think I have figured everything out except for the filter. The Omnipure K Series (2" by 6") inline filters with built in Quick Connect fittings will work well for my setup, however I can't decide which type to get. I only have room for 1.

My tap water tastes fine, and the hardness is about 50ppm, so the purpose for this filter would basically just be for protection, so taste is not an issue, and I am not sure if hardness is an issue as well.

Here are my choices:

Sediment only:
OmniPure K2305 - 2" x 6" inline 5m Polypropylene Filter
http://espwaterproducts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EWP&Product_Code=K2305

Chlorine, Taste, & Odor Reduction:
OmniPure K2321 - 2" x 6" inline 10m Carbon Block Filter
http://espwaterproducts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EWP&Product_Code=K2321

Chlorine, Taste, Odor & Scale Inhibitor:
OmniPure K2386 - 2" x 6" inline GAC & Phosphate
http://espwaterproducts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EWP&Product_Code=K2386

I don't know enough about filters, and what is needed for Espresso machines to make an educated guess. I am leaning towards the Sediment filter only, to protect the machine from any debris, since the taste is fine and my water hardness is at an acceptable level.

Although, maybe the Chlorine, Taste, Odor & Scale Inhibitor would be good, because it sounds like it does everything (Im sure it filters sediment, but maybe it isn't as good as the sediment only?) plus it has a scale inhibitor, which I am assuming is not a bad thing, because the less scale buildup the better.

Thanks everybody for your help so far, and to MDL (Mark) who turned me onto the water anywhere website, which helped me find the Omnifilter! If they accepted paypal, I would probley order from them.

Personally I would use the carbon block filter (chlorine, taste, odor). That will remove organics and particles. Most folks run a carbon block filter after their others and before the espresso machine (I have the same setup as Chris sells; softener followed by carbon).
Good luck,
Mark

So I added a copper "T" fitting between the cold water fitting for my ice maker, and the refrigerator. I used a 1/4 male npt to John Guest fitting to the T, and it seems to be working fine (no leaks so far)

I had problems using plumbers tape on the 1/4 male npt end of the John Guest fitting, so I tried it without plumbers tape, and it seems to be fine so far.

My questions:

1. Do you need to use plumbers tape on the npt ends of plastic John Guest fittings?
2. If it isn't leaking now, is it likely/possible it could develop a leak later?