OK, it has been about 9 months since I started on this journey. It started with a Super Jolly that I bought on Craigs List and refurbished plus a doserless modification. The Espresso Machine is a Marcusi (Expobar) Office Control. I bought locally form a person on this board. I have finally begin to figure it out how to use it. I had to replace the P-Stat, adjusted it down and insulated the boiler.

The set up is in our laundry room on a new cart. We do not have any open countertop space in the kitchen and there is not enough clearance between the countertop and the bottom of the upper cupboards for the Expobar to fit.

My wife doesn't drink coffee so I had to remodel the laundry room in order to have a place for the Espresso Machine.

I can get a pretty good shot when I use the flush and go technique. Man are they ever good! I have lots to learn and do appreciate all of the help I have received from those on this site.

Gary

I've really enjoyed this thread so decided to add my latest toy I just setup today. I think it's a fairly common upgrade path....PID Silvia ---> La Spaz Vivaldi II. Have a Rocky but moved up to the Super Jolly. Just waiting for a new 53mm Tamper to really start knocking some good shots out.

Before:


I guess the paper towel holder had to go bye bye...

After:

That's my setup since 1st quarter of 2009

My set-up has changed this year with my new Vario, 17-ounce Bodum press and Zojirushi CD-WBC30 Micom Electric 3-Liter Water Boiler.

Really like the new kit, coffee made easy...

I'm still a few days into the honeymoon with my Brewtus III-V and I'm really liking it so far. I don't miss the HX flush at all

Here is my setup: Ascaso i-mini grinder, La Pavoni professional (pre-millenium), self-made tamping stand (I know it's definitely to improve but works too great to suggest a new build), new tamper (Heavy Espresso coffee tamper stainless steel from Precision Tamper Maker) just purchased, on the way to arrive.

My new/first setup. I really appreciate all the help I recieved from the boards to help me put this together.

Bezzera BZ07, Handmade knockbox(thanks Dad), Handmade Mug(college pottery class), Airscape Container, Random Jar from 2nd hand store, OXO kitchen scale, Mazzer SJ(canning funnel & yogurt cup for WDT).

The bottomless portafilter has accelerated my learning curve drastically.

mikeh wrote:I'm still a few days into the honeymoon with my Brewtus III-V and I'm really liking it so far. I don't miss the HX flush at all
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Hi Mike. Congratulations with your new machine.

I noticed that your brewtus III has a blue color display in the PID. Do you know the maker and model? I also have a BIII but mine has red LEDs. I haven't had a single glitch with mine for a year. Nice solid machine.

BTW. The toroid pitcher http://www.espressozone.com/espro-toroi...-5685.aspx works very well with the single tip BIII.

Arpi wrote:Hi Mike. Congratulations with your new machine.

I noticed that your brewtus III has a blue color display in the PID. Do you know the maker and model? I also have a BIII but mine has red LEDs. I haven't had a single glitch with mine for a year. Nice solid machine.

I believe it is still made by Gicar. The manufacture date on my Brewtus is Oct. 09. I noticed that my steam tip is also shaped differently than the one shown on the WLL site here: http://www.wholelattelove.com/articles/...ewtus3.cfm

Perhaps there are some small running changes as they are being built.

New house, new espresso bar. I have two 36 inch cabinets and a Formica counter top. I put them in the finished basement by the entryway. I had a half wall put in when the house was built so it is nice and open. You can see the Elektra logo over the half wall when you walk in. I ran a 3/4 inch line from the house mains through the wall and into the cabinets. From there it steps down to a 3/8 line, then the regulator out to a T. Then to two shut-off valves and then hookups for machines. Plenty of table space.

The down stairs is the man cave with my old big screen HDTV, the game console and other things. Still working on it but it is coming along.

I took the shell off the Elektra. It was getting a little dull after a few years of use. I gave it a buffing and polishing to bring it back to a mirror shine.