Faema Faemina

[AndersNygaard]

Does anybody have information about the Faemina lever machine. Is it spring loaded? Can parts still be found? Anybody own and use one? What should I check before buying? What is that weird looking circular thing on the group head? (Google has lots of pictures). I was thinking of buying this machine for use in my summer house.

Thanks in advance

/Anders

[peacecup]

Hi,

I have no personal experince, but have watched several of the old ones go on Ebay. They appear to be spring loaded, and to have a sight glass to view when the cylinder is filled, which might be useful. Some of them look very nice, and I wouldn't be surprised if they worked very well.

[AndersNygaard]

Is that a sight glass So you can see the spring work. How cool is that Must own! The group head looks smaller than the spring loaded ones I have seen. Could be fun to try. Thanks.

Best regards

/Anders

[peacecup]

I assume the sight glass allows you to tell when the chamber is full of water (pre-infused). My first lever machine is a new Ponte Vecchio, which has a 45-mm group (see the Ponte Vecchio thread). My best espressos so far have been single pulls which only produce about 1/2 oz. of coffee. If the Faema has a group this small you'll be limited to small coffees (part of the reason I went with the PV is that I wanted to go to more small, rather than fewer large, espressos). Another reason I went with the PV instead of a used lever like the Faema is condition and the availability of parts - I was afraid I'd end up with a restoration project for which parts would be rare.

If you do get one I hope you'll post the results!

[fashla]

Hi Anders,

I've just saw your post. I have a working Faemina. It's a really good machine. The only problem are the seals, they came like stone rubber, so i had to break them and clean.

Now im using some self made cork seals and it works fine.

Please let me know if you finally have a Faemina

Regards

[luca]

Hi Anders,

I've just saw your post. I have a working Faemina. It's a really good machine. The only problem are the seals, they came like stone rubber, so i had to break them and clean.

Now im using some self made cork seals and it works fine.

Please let me know if you finally have a Faemina

Regards

I'm kind of looking at buying a faemina now ... could you tell me if it uses a standard 58mm portafilter?

[timo888]

Does anybody have information about the Faemina lever machine. Is it spring loaded? Can parts still be found? Anybody own and use one? What should I check before buying? What is that weird looking circular thing on the group head? (Google has lots of pictures). I was thinking of buying this machine for use in my summer house.

Thanks in advance

/Anders

The Faemina is similar to the Microcimbali, which is still being sold by Cimbali, if I am not mistaken.

Regards
Timo

[fashla]

Hi Luca,

I'm new on this subject, but the portafilter measures 54mm on the inside (where the basket lays). Hope thats the measure you were looking for.

Regards,

Fashla

[CremaKatz]

Hi All,

New to this forum, but not to espresso machines.

I have a Faemina in need of gaskets. I note that fashla
created his own gaskets from cork. Looks to me like
there are some piston gaskets and I can't imagine making
them from cork. I guess fashla only made cork gaskets for
the tank and portafilter?

A while back I posted an exploded diagram of the Faemina
that the kind folks at Faema sent me. You can find them here:

http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/leverespresso/36497#36497

If anyone has a US source for a gasket set for this fine machine,
please do post it.

Fashla, what type or brand of cork gasket material did you use?
Is it certified food safe?

Thanks!

[tcvt]

I have a Faemina which I picked up at a Goodwill store for $5 about 10 years ago. It's looking more possible to get this working than it did ten years ago but I need a Portafilter. I haven't looked at it in may years and somewhere I have a portafilter from another machine that was a close fit but not a very good fit.

Tom

[fashla]

Hi CremaKatz,

I've just seen your post, sorry for the late response.

I've made the cork gaskets only for the portafilter, boiler and sight glass. The piston gasket is the original.

the cork i've used can be bought in Home Depot or similar store. It's sold on big sheets and its 1/8" thick.

Maybe you can use the rubber gaskets made for blenders, joining 2 or 3 of them.

Best regards,

Fashla

Hi All,

New to this forum, but not to espresso machines.

I have a Faemina in need of gaskets. I note that fashla
created his own gaskets from cork. Looks to me like
there are some piston gaskets and I can't imagine making
them from cork. I guess fashla only made cork gaskets for
the tank and portafilter?

A while back I posted an exploded diagram of the Faemina
that the kind folks at Faema sent me. You can find them here:

http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/leverespresso/36497#36497

If anyone has a US source for a gasket set for this fine machine,
please do post it.

Fashla, what type or brand of cork gasket material did you use?
Is it certified food safe?

Thanks!

[tcvt]

fashla,

Could you give me the outside diameter measurements of the portafilter both across the retaining ears and across the part without the ears? Thanks.

Tom

[CremaKatz]

Hi CremaKatz,

I've just seen your post, sorry for the late response.

I've made the cork gaskets only for the portafilter, boiler and sight glass. The piston gasket is the original.

the cork i've used can be bought in Home Depot or similar store. It's sold on big sheets and its 1/8" thick.

Maybe you can use the rubber gaskets made for blenders, joining 2 or 3 of them.

Best regards,

Fashla

Thanks. I'll look into that.

[zin1953]

The Faemina is similar to the Microcimbali, which is still being sold by Cimbali, if I am not mistaken.

Timo, there is nothing on the corporate Cimbali site (http://www.cimbali.com/) that mentions anything about the Cimbali "Microcimbali."

However I did find them here: http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/store/la_cimbali.html