Another Ponte Vecchio Export Applies to the LMWDP

[Dogshot]

Inspired primarily by Karl's posts about the joys of espresso from his spring lever Microcasa, and by the documented experiences of Peacecup and prof_stack, I picked-up Ponte Vecchio's little spring lever machine. I have been extremely happy with my Brewtus II over the past year, but I wanted a machine for the cottage; one that could be easily emptied and left alone for a few weeks, that would not be too big, that would not be too hazardous around little kids, and that was a bit different from what I already had. The Export seemed like the ideal choice. My only problem was finding one.

Used Samas and PVs are not easy to come by, so I looked into a new purchase. It seems there are currently 2 dealers in North America that carry this unit. As prof_stack had nice things to say about A Good Coffee Company in Seattle, I tried them first. Joe at GCC is a very nice guy, but he is not really set up for cross-border, long-distance sales, and the hassle (combined with a possible excess of questions from yours truly) soured his interest in shipping me a machine! Gensaco was my second choice, since they did not seem to have the same level of machine knowledge or interest, but they sell the Export a little cheaper, and...they would sell me one.

So here it is, sitting prettily next to my Brewtus II, just to give a sense of proportion to an E61-style machine:



Everything about the machine is new to me, and the tamper that comes with the machine does not fit into the filter baskets, so until my Reg Barber 45mm piston shows up, I will refrain from posting any shots:



The elegant simplicity of this machine appeals to me. The stamped steel pieces covering the top of the machine and the drip tray are interchangeable:



The qualities that make the machine appealing to me carry through to the inside. I noticed that the boiler cap has a little hole drilled into the threads in case an over-eager user attempts to unscrew the cap while the boiler is still under pressure:


I also liked the way the water level appears as the colour of the casing in the sight-glass:


The Export takes about 10 minutes to get to heat. I have so far only tried the double basket using 12 grams of coffee, and the single basket using between 5 and 7 grams. The other reason I wanted the Export was that the low water draw lever machines are built for low volume shots that use low volumes of coffee. I really like the idea of making smaller coffees, more often. Also, the coffee market seems to be going in a direction where the home-barista can snag some expensive, ultra-premium coffees. A 5-6 gram single or 10-12gram double yields a lot more shots from a small roast batch than what I would be brewing up in a 58mm PF.

I'm really looking forward to getting down to some brewing. While I've read pretty much every post in the lever forum, I would certainly appreciate any advice for a first-time lever head.

Mark

[peacecup]

I would certainly appreciate any advice for a first-time lever head.

Sell me the red PV at a very low price...

I like the red finish - it compliments the black nicely. I once spoke with Mr Gensaco on the tele - seemed like he knew something about the machines. There isn't much to know - a day to learn and a lifetime to master. I've done nothing but put water in mine for 16 months of daily use, including a weekly commute to and fro the offic. . And a drop of olive oil on the top of the piston rod occasionally, and also on the rubber feet and on the group head gasket. I tend to turn mine over to empty it occasionally, and I recently read that this is a good idea. I drain the leftover water to the bottom of the sight glass every day, and refill with fresh filtered water right before brewing. If you empty it to the bottom DO NOT FORGET TO UNPLUG IT UNTIL YOU"VE REFILLED - TURNING IT ON EMPTY FOR EVEN A MINUTE IS A NO-NO.

Then there is brewing - you will need a tamper, but it you grind fine I'll bet you can get a decent shot with the plastic one. I've been reading Jim Schulman's article on downdosing, and experimenting with lesser doses lately - supposed to get a sweeter extraction, but I haven't mastered it yet.

If karlschneider's posts inspired you the PV is the perfect machine - absolutely total control, and a small volume of water - really a purist's pursuit -

good luck!

PC

[timo888]

I bet you guys did not know that there is an inner circle of LMWDP. We have a fabulous ritual on the night of the blue moon, in which we sacrifice an E61 machine to the lord of the underworld. We nod as the last drops of its copious cooling flushes fall into the river dividing that nether realm from our sundrenched world. That stream flows black, a thick layer of tiger-flecked crema upon its surface. Shaped like a vintage lever's single basket is the ferry that moves from bank to bank. On the far side along the shore the rocks glow red with heat, and there, where the current swirls against the pier, the crema thins; if one should happen to gaze down, a face stares back. Some say the head belongs to Bezzera, Luigi and below the surface a serpent's body wriggles out of sight.

To join this elite cadre one must post a close up picture and provide exact dimensions (in mm) of one's filter baskets, and send $25 in cash, check, or postal money order to:

Espresso Underworld
PO Box 666
Grand Central Station
NY NY 10013

[TUS172]

timo888...
Author! Author! Is the critics review... An eye grabbing introduction which is followed by a vivd and "flowing" body picturing another world, that of fantasy and delight... climaxing in a mysterious and elusive scene of that which can only be created of the mind just before rema, in dreams and illusions of the ultra imaginative... awe....oooh...
4.1 stars out of 5.

By the way how do I get to that other shore... I have a booming business selling semi-autos right now on Ebay.

[Dogshot]

Sell me the red PV at a very low price...

Thanks for the suggestions. Next time you get upgrade fever, you could just spring for a new case in a different colour for your Export . Not sure when I would know to put a drop of olive oil on the piston shaft - when it begins to lose its smoothness during the upstroke (spring release)? I like to clean the group after use by turning off the machine, placing a mug up over the group, and pulling the lever down to the point where water is pushed out the group into the mug.

Timo - cheque is in the mail. I appreciate the tip .

I received my 45mm piston, which fits well in both the single and double baskets. Both baskets are ridgeless, and despite the fact that there is no retaining clip in the PF, the coffee knocks out nicely. Since I bought a spare single basket, this makes it easy to either knock out the spent puck and reload, or to pull the entire basket out and place a loaded one in the PF for the next shot.

It's a very enjoyable machine to use. The lever has no play at all (either side to side or up-down), and the machine does not need to be held down during the downstroke (loading the spring). Working with the single basket, I am finding that the best shots are the ones that flow (like in Peacecup's videos) rather than drip from the PF.

Mark

[peacecup]

If you want extra crema you can grind finer, stand directly over the machine, and force the piston down by pushing on the lever near the yoke. This probably exceeds the specs for the poor little cotter pin that attaches the piston to the lever - might void the warranty.

I never noticed any real need for the oil, just thought it might be preventative.

PC

[peacecup]

BTW, replacing the case would be a bit more trouble than it would at first appear. Once you've removed the back plate you'll see that the rest is bolted under the boiler, so it, and the group, also need to be removed. Given the quality of the machine, I'll probably need to do something like that about thirty years from now.

PC

[timo888]

By the way how do I get to that other shore... I have a booming business selling semi-autos right now on Ebay.

You must gaze into that stream where the crema thins, eye to eye with the shade looking up at you -- and play the blinking game. You blink, and it's back from whence you came.

Regards
Timo

[mogogear]

With all this banter- don't forget to get registered for your LMWDP #-!!

[Dogshot]

I adjusted the p-stat down by a 10-minute increment last night. To make sure I had not gone too far, I steamed some milk this morning.

This breakfast beverage courtesey of Export (PV, not Molson):

[prof_stack]

I adjusted the p-stat down by a 10-minute increment last night. To make sure I had not gone too far, I steamed some milk this morning. This breakfast beverage courtesey of Export (PV, not Molson):

Awesome!

I am so impressed, and ... jealous!

[carrie kennedy]

Holy Moly Dogshot, nice art.
Funny, I drooled over a Brewtus II for a while before ordering my Lusso.
Maybe I'll have a cottage to buy the Brewtus for someday.
I did, BTW, have to oil my lever within the first month.
Just place a drip on the top and let it run into the hinge.
I flushed a bit after because I think I was generous and it gets into the group.
Have fun!

[Dogshot]

Awesome!

I am so impressed, and ... jealous!

Thanks! You and Peacecup were instrumental in guiding me toward this machine, for which I am very grateful. It is a real pleasure to use. This morning I made 2 capps: I loaded 2 baskets with coffee - the first was with 11gm in the double basket, using 2 pulls. During the second pull I steamed the milk, then poured the capp. I removed the spent double basket, refilled the pitcher, and placed the single basket in the PF. My wife prefers a low-caf capp, so I used 7gm in the single basket and a single pull for hers. I steamed hers while it was pulling as well. Two capps was a snap, and very tidy.

Adjusting the p-stat takes a screw-driver and 3 minutes. At the current setting, my Export requires a 2oz warm-up flush, which I catch in my cup. The steam wand holds next to zero condensation, which I spritz into the cup as well. Basically the only thing going into the drip tray is the remains of the shot if it goes into over-extraction. The whole process is quick and neat, and clean-up is a breeze.

When I pull a shot, I lower the lever to the 90-degree point, then while holding it there, lock the PF in the group, and slowly lower the lever further until I hear water entering the group. I start to count once I hear the water entering, and lower the lever to the bottom of its range of travel. I aim for drops to emerge somewhere between the 10-15 second mark, and then release the lever, and wait for the magic to happen.

Carrie - thanks for the olive oil tips. It's great to know how much and where to put it.

Mark

[mrgnomer]

So you got the machine, Mark. Good for you. How much was shipping and who do they ship with?

Kirk

[Dogshot]

Hi Kirk - Things are going very well with the PVE so far. The glass chamber on my i-roast fell apart a few weeks ago (the metal clip came out at the top of one side, which caused the other plastic end that is held together with a screw to simultaneously snap), so I have been making do with local roasters. My replacement chamber arrived from Sweet Marias today with a few pounds each of the Idido Yrg and the Yemen Sana'ani, and I am very excited about running these SO's through the PV.

Shipping was $42.70US, insured, USPS, and the package arrive in good shape 7 days after shipping. USPS does not charge brokerage, but I was charged 12% in Canadian taxes. I also got hit with duty, but have since submitted the forms to get that returned to me (the duty office assessed it as a coffee maker rather than an espresso machine).

I was going to email you to find out if you had found something yet.

Mark

[mrgnomer]

Hi Mark,

Not bad shipping.

I e mailed Gensaco yesterday to find out about the shipping on their Export and they got back to me to tell me they're out. They offered another spring lever machine and it looks pretty good but I don't know much about it. Anyone know if these machines are any good?

http://www.gensaco.com/Cap_SITE.html

Other than that I'm leaning towards a Europiccalo or Factory. Espressotec prices are pretty good and they've got free shipping.

[bobpaule]

Right on bro. Isomac Millennium, now waiting to get my Enrico to fix up. I love restoration projects and i love machines that require 100% commitment from the operator.

That is why i will never get a superauto, or drive an automatic car (300hp/AWD/6-speed Scandinavian brute) unless it belongs to la mia donna.

I know, the demons of espressione are beckoning and i am ready to submit to the almighty lever, may the piston seal well and the hand be steady for the aromatic oils to extract on the bronze and copper altar

And congrats to the original poster,beautiful machine, reminds me of a favorite cafe and book, "Le Rouge et Le Noir".

I bet you guys did not know that there is an inner circle of LMWDP. We have a fabulous ritual on the night of the blue moon, in which we sacrifice an E61 machine to the lord of the underworld. We nod as the last drops of its copious cooling flushes fall into the river dividing that nether realm from our sundrenched world. That stream flows black, a thick layer of tiger-flecked crema upon its surface. Shaped like a vintage lever's single basket is the ferry that moves from bank to bank. On the far side along the shore the rocks glow red with heat, and there, where the current swirls against the pier, the crema thins; if one should happen to gaze down, a face stares back. Some say the head belongs to Bezzera, Luigi and below the surface a serpent's body wriggles out of sight.

To join this elite cadre one must post a close up picture and provide exact dimensions (in mm) of one's filter baskets, and send $25 in cash, check, or postal money order to:

Espresso Underworld
PO Box 666
Grand Central Station
NY NY 10013

[Dogshot]

I e mailed Gensaco yesterday to find out about the shipping on their Export and they got back to me to tell me they're out.

I'm surprised to hear that. When I called to order mine, they said they had 2 in stock. The Factory from Espressotec does seem tempting.

The best shot I have had to this point was using 5gm of Daterra Reserve in the single basket. This ultra-low dose makes sense, since the single basket has the same bottom hole diameter as the e61 single basket (31mm), but has a much smaller diameter at the top. The tendency for the PV single should be to under-extract the same amount of coffee compared to the e61 single, especially given the limited water draw from a single lever stroke. A 5gm dose must be ground about as fine as what my Brewtus II requires to give a ristretto from a 15gm dose (in a double basket). THe 45mm tamper does not fit far enough into the PV single basket to do more than level the surface of the 5gm dose, which offers further evidence for the grind-fine-tamp-lightly philosophy.

Mark

[mrgnomer]

I'm surprised to hear that. When I called to order mine, they said they had 2 in stock. The Factory from Espressotec does seem tempting.

Mark

They're out, oh well. Espressotec has a Factory refurb buried in their web site but new stock is the Achille and the La Pavoni line. I think I'm going to go with a Europiccola: price wise it's the least expensive considering exchange rates, shipping charges, customs and taxes for a cross border purchase. I am more interested in a manual lever anyway. The PV would have been nice for the size as a portable machine and its design and construction quality are really good looking. I'm not keen on a unadjustable pressurestat or the overheating issues of the Europiccola but the manual lever and larger piston/basket size is a good trade off, I think.

[prof_stack]

I e mailed Gensaco yesterday to find out about the shipping on their Export and they got back to me to tell me they're out. They offered another spring lever machine and it looks pretty good but I don't know much about it. Anyone know if these machines are any good?
http://www.gensaco.com/Cap_SITE.html

The first thing I thought of was the Elektra Leva when I checked the link. But they sure are more expensive than the more plain-jane Export model, which probably is as good or better.

Anybody else know of these machines he linked to?