Help! real portafilter wanted for Saeco pump machine

[peacecup]

I have been looking for a real portafilter to replace the plastic pressurized one I have with a Saeco Via Venetto. All I want is a real portafilter (i.e. brass, spouts, nothing else!). After an exhaustive web search I can't even find out exactly what group size Saeco uses, nonetheless what size portafilter, or if another will fit. The Saeco website is hopeless, and the best I've heard of is their own non-pressurized portafilter, which is more plastic with little brass. Help!

PC

[papalatte]

A LaPavoni should fit with slight modification. I have a Barista (made by Seaco SP?) and was playing around with the LaPavoni PF and discovered it would fit, But It turns the opposite direction. I filed the opposite end of the tabs..... it aint perfect but it works. It's a millennium model And they aren't cheap. But what the hay........

Skip

[YuKnoMe]

What did you end up doing to get a "REAL" pf for the Saeco?

I have the Saeco Classico SS and I also want a real portafilter. In fact, I am looking into bottomless pf's but none seem to be available for Saeco machines. I know that La Spaziale uses a 53mm pf as does Pavoni. I do not know which fits, and so I am curious what you have decided to do. Thanks.

[annp]

I did this a while ago, but I ordered two of em from Saeco direct. One I made bottomless with a dremel tool in the vice and finished on the grinder, the other I left by itself.

Worked ok, but I never got real crema, just a thin layer of almost-crema.

Still, it was a good start getting rid of that non pressurized thing.

Ann

[annp]

I did this a while ago, but I ordered two of em from Saeco direct. One I made bottomless with a dremel tool in the vice and finished on the grinder, the other I left by itself.

Worked ok, but I never got real crema, just a thin layer of almost-crema.

Still, it was a good start getting rid of that pressurized thing.

Ann

[YuKnoMe]

Why don't you think you got real crema? How is the espresso from the non-pressurized pf with the bottom? still no crema? How does the non-pressurized compare to the pressurized?

[annp]

Why don't you think you got real crema? How is the espresso from the non-pressurized pf with the bottom? still no crema? How does the non-pressurized compare to the pressurized?

Sadly, because the tiny boiler in the Saeco just doesn't make a ton of steam pressure. If I steamed milk, then let the machine recover, then tried to flush (or not), not a lot of pressure happened, even with a single. It's the nature of these things.

I got something more resembling crema from the pressurized portafilter than from without. I'm not sure exactly how the pressurized portafilter works, but there is a reason for em.

Still, I learned a ton about dosing, distribution and tamping from a standard portafilter then from the pressurized, which all applied when I got a more stable heat exchanger machine.

Ann

[jesawdy]

My brother has a *$'s Barista (Saeco) machine. We bought it used and and it included a non-pressurized portafilter. The previous owner indicated to me that the standard PF was ordered direct from Saeco.

Our crema experience was actually quite good with the standard PF. I felt it actually fared quite well against my Silvia. I was really surprised. My only complaint with the machine was the steam, but my brother says that he has figured it out and can steam for two cappas now.

We never used the pressurized PF. If you believe the literature with the machine, the idea behind the thing is that you do not tamp the coffee, you fill the PF, level and let the water pressure and pressurized PF "tamp" the coffee. The thing seem to have a lot of "monkey motion" in it to me.

Try to get a nice tamper as well, it'll be a 52 or 53MM according to EPNW.

Oh yeah, the PF isn't real pretty. It had a hard plastic grey handle, not rubber and contoured like the one that came with the machine. It also is a cup design with the small spout holes in the bottom, not the traditional looking double spout design. I do not think it was brass either, some other sort of cast metal.

-Jeff

[OlywaDave]

Say... If you haven't found a solution yet our parts guy Devon says the Solis non-pressurized PF will fit a Saeco. Hope that helps you out some.

[beanmuncher]

I cut my teeth on an Estro Profi and was able to obtain a NP portafilter from Saeco USA... cost me on the order of $30 shipped at the time. Not the greatest build quality, but it stood up to a year of use and abuse (from myself and others).

I generally had good experiences with my profi (same machine as the Starbucks Barista)... but I'm far, far happier with my Gaggia.

[peacecup]

I'm anxiously awaiting delivery of a non-p pf for my Via Veneto from Saeco ($20 plus shipping). I also have an Estro Vapore (also Saeco-made, pre-SB Barista), which has a by-default non-pressurized PF (the valve is broken). These old-style PF's have the option of being used non-pressurized anyway (turn to the left). Because the Estro PF does not fit the Via Veneto, I want a traditional PF for it. I'm planning to sell the Estro.

I get PLENTY (basically 2 full ozs) of crema with these machines, using any decent fresh beans. Here's a photo using the Saeco pressurized, but I get just as good or better with the Estro non-pressurized:



I use the Via Venetto as a backup machine when I'm not pulling shots on my lever machine:

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...o-export-t977.html

Lever machines typically produce a little less crema, but I love the fuller flavor and quite, elegant operation.



PC

[nobleviola]

Will the np solis portafilter work on the newer *$ Barista machines, too? Does anyone know the part number? Also, is there a way to turn the standard pressurized pf into a np one? Thanks for you help.

[peacecup]

I got the NP PF from Saeco direct mail in good time, for $20. Just started experimenting, but results are promising. It fits both the Barista and the Via Venetto. I'll post photos of the crema when I get it dialed in....

PC

[OlywaDave]

Can't wait to hear about or see the results.

I got the NP PF from Saeco direct mail in good time, for $20. Just started experimenting, but results are promising. It fits both the Barista and the Via Venetto. I'll post photos of the crema when I get it dialed in....

PC

[misfist]

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject:
I got the NP PF from Saeco direct mail in good time, for $20.

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject:
Say... If you haven't found a solution yet our parts guy Devon says the Solis non-pressurized PF will fit a Saeco. Hope that helps you out some.

I'm happy to have found a recent posting about this topic... All sources for a non-pressurized portafilter I've seen have been fruitless: http://www.saeco-usa.com (http://products.saeco.com/index.asp?id_lingua=ENG&id_paese=7) doesn't even list a NP and http://www.1st-line.net (http://www.1st-line.net/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=NonPressure&type=store) appears to be out of stock.

Peacecup mentioned ordering from, "Saeco direct mail." Is that different than the saeco-usa.com website, which lists the item as out of stock. In any case, where specifically did you locate it?

Devon from espressoparts.com says, "the Solis non-pressurized PF will fit a Saeco," but, based on their site, they cost $56.35. (http://espressoparts.com/product/SL_1)

Any insight would be most appreciated!

[Viewer]

I just got one this week from Saeco USA. Told me they only had one in brown, so I took it. But seems like often when I call, the customer service rep "thinks there's one around."

Anyway they say more should be coming from Italy soon.

[peacecup]

Try calling this number for Saeco, 8-6 EST:

Tel: 440-528-2000

You'll need to be persistent, because once you've been put on hold for customer service you'll often wait and then be asked to leave a message. Once you've finally gotten to talk to a human its a simple credit card purchase, and mine arrived in good time even though it was backordered, cost ~$20.

They're built a bit differently than commercial PF's, and they don't have removable spouts, but the body is chromed brass, with a plastic handle. I pulled some very nice 100% crema shots with it on my Estro at work last week while my lever machine was at home. It also fits the Via Veneto, and I hope to have a go with that this coming weekend - I have my digital camera back, so I should be able to post a photo of the crema -

PC

[Kristi]

Say... If you haven't found a solution yet our parts guy Devon says the Solis non-pressurized PF will fit a Saeco. Hope that helps you out some.

So does a Saeco pf fit a Solis SL70?

I'm looking for some pf that fits a Solis that I can cut the bottom out of...

Thanks!
Kristi

[Pac008sr]

Call starbucks at 8003345553 and ask for the replacement part for the Barista cappuccino machine its about 40 dollars with shipping same as the original that came with it solid part I have been using mine for years you have to listen to the automated system until you get a rep then you can order it