Anyone out there using a Gaggia Achille?

[GreatDane]

I read the old thread on the Achille. Has anyone on the forum bought a 110 volt model? What has been your impressions? I was hoping to get a brand new Olympia Cremina, but with the cost going over $3,000.00 and the number imported getting cut according to an inside source, I am thinking of upgrading to something in a more reasonable price range. When I get my new office at work next year, I am hoping to take my Cremina to work. I am also planning a rebuild and don't want to be without a lever. So, anyone out there using an Achille?

Les

[hperry]

The descriptions of the product have interested me, and now that they are for sale in the US I hoped someone would buy one and review it. So far though, I have seen little info. Based on the specs if I were in the market for a small lever I would be inclined to buy one under a "no remorse" policy in the hopes that it is as good as its description. Someone must have bought one who would be willing to review it.

[cannonfodder]

Stay Tuned...

[peacecup]

I have seen some things written about them, possibly here on HB, from buyers in Europe. You might try searching the archives. One thing I remember is that more than one of them leaked water at the base and needed to be repaired. Also, the Euro price compared favorably with the dollar price - seems they have tailored prices to the US market.

It certainly does look like an nice machine if it works the way it should. One concern I have is 58-mm portafilter size - I've lately been coming to the conclusion that the small-diameter portafilter (relatively deep vs. wide) serves an important purpose in creating uniform extraction. I know there are folks out there who have had plenty of experience with both, and it would be interesting to get their impressions of the pros and cons. Obviously with a deep enough 58 (triple) you can pack in more coffee!

PC

[Alchemist]

Stay Tuned...

Is that a subtle way of saying you know something but are not saying it?

[HB]

Yes, Dave's research for The Buyer's Guide to the Gaggia Achille begins today.

[hbuchtel]

Yes, Dave's research for The Buyer's Guide to the Gaggia Achille begins today.

That is great, it'll be nice to finally learn more about the Achille!

I hope Dave doesn't forget to mention that gravity-fed levers don't overheat

Henry

[timo888]

I hope Dave doesn't forget to mention that gravity-fed levers don't overheat

As if we would let him forget it

Regards
Timo

[cannonfodder]

But it is not an open boiler, or gravity fed. Lever pressure fed with a HX in the top of the boiler bathed in steam. Keep an eye on the bench review, it will be there. I even have a lever shootout lined up with KarlSchneider (Mr. SO espresso), two grinders, a Gaggia Factory (La Pav), Gaggia Achille, Elektra and a Cremina. We will see how it matches up.

[timo888]

But it is not an open boiler, or gravity fed. Lever pressure fed with a HX in the top of the boiler bathed in steam. Keep an eye on the bench review, it will be there. I even have a lever shootout lined up with KarlSchneider (Mr. SO espresso), two grinders, a Gaggia Factory (La Pav), Gaggia Achille, Elektra and a Cremina. We will see how it matches up.

Eyes are on the review, you can count on it. But I don't follow the description "Lever pressure fed with a HX in the top of the boiler bathed in steam. " The HX heats the water. But what makes the water flow from the reservoir into the HX tube and from there into the piston cylinder? Is it a gravity-induced flow?

Regards
Timo

[cannonfodder]

The water appears to be driven strictly by the lever. No water is drawn on the lever upstroke. On the down stroke water is pulled out of the HX reservoir and pushed into the piston. There is no static pressure. If you lift the lever half way and let go, it just hangs there, lift it all the way and it just hangs there, no water. I am still trying to figure it out myself. No water is drawn, drips, leaks etc from the group until the lever is pulled down. During that stroke water is pulled from the HX water tank into the boiler HX.

The action reminds me of the old hand pump water wells.

I have a parts diagram that will be posted to the bench thread in time.

[timo888]

The water appears to be driven strictly by the lever. No water is drawn on the lever upstroke. On the down stroke water is pulled out of the HX reservoir and pushed into the piston. There is no static pressure. If you lift the lever half way and let go, it just hangs there, lift it all the way and it just hangs there, no water. I am still trying to figure it out myself. No water is drawn, drips, leaks etc from the group until the lever is pulled down. During that stroke water is pulled from the HX water tank into the boiler HX.

The action reminds me of the old hand pump water wells.

I have a parts diagram that will be posted to the bench thread in time.

Check out #18 in the parts diagram (we'd been discussing the machine in the Incomplete List of Gravity-Fed Lever Machines thread).

Regards
Timo

[cannonfodder]

I have sent an email off requesting some information. One of the things I asked about was clarification of exactly how the heat exchanger/lever pumps water through the system.

For further posts, please put them in the bench thread. I don't want to split the conversation between two threads and I don't really want to merge this one with the bench.

[peacecup]

The review of the Achille is great - timely and very interesting. I'm looking forward to the shootout, although I'm already sure of the results. Its 95% barista and 5% machine!

We should probably have a sticky link to the bench review here on the lever forum.

PC

[cannonfodder]

Good idea, done.

[luca]

Good idea, done.

Whilst we're on the subject of housekeeping, the link to the bench review on the main page - or at least the one that I'm seeing - is the following:

http://www.home-barista.com/forums/the-bench-f15.html

Shouldn't it be this:

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...achille-t2359.html

Also, it doesn't seem to appear as a subject in the "on the bench" forum ...

Cheers,

Luca

[HB]

Last year there were frequently more than one review in progress at the same time, so the home page linked to the forum, not a specific thread. Since there's only one, I've linked to it directly as you suggest, under Buyer's Guide to the Gaggia Achille.