Greetings from the PNW! This is my first topic posting here, so a quick introduction: I live in portland with my wife of six months. A year and a half ago I started working at Starbucks where my interest for coffee, and espresso in particular, was sparked. I surfed the web and found you guys with a huuuuge resource of info. I bought a little mr coffee vibe pump machine from target to get my feet wet. I then found an old no-name hand grinder at goodwill for $2. I ended up depressurizing the filter baskets and cutting the bottom off the pf. Then I bought a Rossi rr45 on craigs. I have been brewing Hairbender, some SO's from Coffee Cottage in newberg (best espresso outside of the city by the way. Definitely worth trying), and some home roasts on a popper I also found at goodwill. With a lot of manipulation, precise distribution/disingenuous, and lots of luck I have been able to pull a pretty good shot once in a while on this mr coffee (and excellent microfoam to boot)...


I have quickly outgrown the mr coffee and I have now taken a step toward a new machine.
A box o' livietta! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...712wt_1141
I just won this on eBay and I am excited for it to arrive and for the project to begin! (See the description for photos of the actual machine.) I plan on reassembling it when it arrives so I can know what's going on before I start goin' at it. It is missing the drip tray, reservoir, and portafilter and baskets. Any help on locating these parts or alternatives is greatly appreciated. I contacted Stefano at espresso care, and he said locating body parts is next to impossible for these machines. So what are my options for the drip tray? I know I can get the grill from OE. Any ideas on a custom made piece? And for the water reservoir, can a custom reservoir be made? Or one from another machine retrofitted? I found this fitting at OE: http://www.orphanespresso.com/Olympia-F..._2887.html Is this the fitting that plugs the reservoir into the machine? If not is there a fitting out there that will work to attach to a plastic container to make a reservoir? I have learned that some liviettas have a 49mm group while others have a 54mm group. I guess I will have to wait 'til it arrives to find out which mine is unless anyone can tell by the pictures what era mine is (if that's what determines the group size used). I have heard that elektra microcasa and pre-millennium la pavoni baskets fit the 49mm livietta/maximatic. Does this mean the microcasa and la pavoni portafilters will also fit if the group is the 49mm group? If so, I am looking at this: http://www.1st-line.net/cgi-bin/categor...type=store Also stefano said these should work but I have a feeling they are actually for livia or commercial machines: http://espressocare.com/Qstore/Qstore.c...C+Pasquini I unfortunately cannot afford the beautiful espressme portafilters from OE Thanks for reading and your support. I have quite a ways to go!

Thanks everyone for keeping up this awesome forum and for all of your knowledge. More updates as soon as my box arrives

As a fellow newb I have to congratulate you on the nice score... Now to see how it turns up... I recently got my first real machine, a monsterous Rancilio S-20 two group which amazingly my wife let me put in the kitchen and wire in a 220V 20A circuit for (true love I think). Now if only I had a grinder... (I just received a broke-to-bits grinder off ebay, sent it back and am in conflict resolution)

Anyway, definite respect on the drinks so far, who knew Mr. Coffee could be so good? I started with a Starbucks Barista...

Thank you Thomas! And I have lots of respect for your wife! Mine encouraged me to by this old heap but it would have been as easy going if it were a beast like that!I have heard decent things about the barista for what it is. Similar to my experience with the mr coffee, but I really have had to twist his arm to give me some good shots once in awhile. Most other times, I get sprayers from channeling or a push just a little too hard and the group gasket pops and out comes water. Good times haha. My advice to you would be craigslist and some patience. The Rossi is pretty good besides being loud and messy. I got mine for $175 and I have heard of them being had for under $100. Keep an eye out. The grinder will really release the potential of the machine

Jonny: You scored with that find on Ebay. Rocking piece of gear you are going to end up with for a modest investment of $ and a bit of sweat equity. You'll also REALLY understand how it works and you'll easily be able to take care of it for as long as you want.

BTW: The insulation is likely asbestos and you'll likely want to safely remove it. (Remove while damp, place damp stuff into a bag, give to hazardous waste guy, etc. There are threads on this already by people that know what they are doing.).

Mark

mhoy wrote:BTW: The insulation is likely asbestos

Thanks for the heads up, Mark. I was afraid of that. It should arrive in a few days, so I'll read up on that.

Nice find!

I don't know if they'll have any of the spare parts, but, you might try contacting them directly, http://www.pasquini.com/. Pasquini may have some parts that will work for your older machine. Not sure how much they stock for older parts, but it's worth giving them a holler. I just wish I had known about this site before I bought *my* machine. Sigh.

Thanks for the tip Tracy. Unfortunately I called them and they were quick to tell me that the old pasquini company has been dead for years and they do not stock parts for or support old pasquini machines. I see you have a T2. Could you do a favor for me and measure the drip tray (the bottom of the tray where it fits into the frame) and measure the water reservoir and maybe take a picture of it. I realize the machine's frame looks very similar to the original and I'm curious if they used the same design or just copied the look.

Update: I received the machine today. Lots of work to be done. I am going to remove the insulation from the boiler as it is probably asbestos and is starting to flake in spots. I will be replacing all seals and gaskets. Also the group is the 49mm version. Do pre millennium la pavoni portafilters fit? Or are there any other options? Thanks for the help so far!

The La Pavoni pfs do not fit but the universal newd pf from OE does. They also have rebuilt quite a few of the Livietta/ Olympia Maximatics and much of the Cremina information they have will apply to your Livietta. Check out their Video vault and tech tips. Here They do have many parts for the machine also. You will have to send photos as there were some changes over the model years.
Respectfully
~Richard
Disclosure, I make some of the new and replacement parts they sell for machines

Richard, trust me, I have definitely lent a keen eye to your pf's and tampers. Top shelf work! Unfortunately, they are pushing the budget a bit. Although I may have to explain to my wife, "I had no other choice!" haha. If you don't mind me asking, if your 49mm pf fits livietta and Europiccola, what is different about the stock Europiccola pf that makes it not fit livietta? Anything a dremel can't fix?

Jonny,

Good luck with the restoration project. I just went through a Livietta restoration myself, but I was very lucky in that my machine was intact, and for the most part, only needed cosmetic TLC. I did end up changing the pump. As Richard said, Doug and Barb at OE are great, and will be an invaluable resource for your project. Doug would also be able to confirm a machine of that vintage would have asbestos insulation... sure looks like it to me. Be careful with that.

I also have to say that you're lucky to have the more standard 49mm PF. Mine is 54mm, and I was lucky enough to get a second basket before Olympia's distributor in the US closed up shop. For you, the Riviera baskets that OE sells should work... if they're compatible with Richard's PF. I have also have a LP Europiccola, and the PF will absolutely not fit Olympia machines (and your 49mm Livietta)... I have a Oly Caffarex with the 49mm PF, and they're different enough that even handy work with a Dremel wouldn't cut it.

Hate to say this, but you're missing some key parts and those parts are hard to come by - at least for little $. I'd recommend you shoot off an email to Doug at OE. He's your best hope for getting you Livietta back up and pulling shots. And for parts he can't get you, there's a distributor/reseller in the UK that may be able to help get hard-to-find parts. http://londiniumespresso.com/products/olympia-spare-parts-servicing.

Be patient and don't rush this restoration. Walk away any time you get frustrated... And you'll be happy with the work you put in once you're finished, and have dialed in your machine. Best of luck.