How to repair overheated Elektra Microcasa a Leva?

[cacophony]

Just inadvertently bought myself this beautiful machine, after not being able to sell it at my coffee roastery (just closed, for sale). Second time using it, I apparently burned out the heating element..got distracted, waiting for it to heat up, didn't realize the top wasn't screwed on..water boiled away..I know I don't deserve this thing, but I've got it. I also have an industrious savvy boyfriend who would like to fix it. Should I order the part and go from there? Is it doable? He thinks so, after taking off the base and looking inside. Also, speaking of the base, I must have sprayed some kind of kitchen cleanser accidentally on the copper and it ate through the clearcoat and turned black. First-Line says no chance of cleaning it. I am really furious at myself but it's the best espresso shot I have ever tasted, including my two-group lever Victoria Arduino at the shop..(also, what will I do when I can no longer roast and blend my own espresso???) Who wants to chastise me first?

[Tim356]

Michelle,

I'll take a shot(no pun intended)at giving you some advice because I've been there, done that.

Check out pictures I posted of the base off in a previous thread. There is a red switch to reset the heating element underneath the black plastic base. To remove the base, take out the single screw under the drip tray. The fun part is working your way around the plastic base with equal pressure to pop it off. Just reset the red switch. Hope this works for you as it did for me. The same thing happened as I left the unit on to long and ran the sight glass dry. No harm to the element because of this safety feature. Hope this helps.

Now let's pay better attention to our beautiful machines!

Tim

[orphanespresso]

Don't give up hope on the base either - try polishing the black spots (any metal polish would do - I use Simichrome), and then, if you get it polished up, re-lacquer that spot. The hardware store will have spray lacquer, and if it's a small spot, you could spray some in a disposable cup, use a brush to dab a bit in the spots. Or, you could remove all the lacquer from the base, polish it, then use automotive clearcoat (auto parts store) or spray lacquer. Basically the lacquer coat keeps the air away from the copper so the copper doesn't oxidize (tarnish).

[shadowfax]

I totally agree with Doug. Metal is always fixable unless it's been rusted/oxidized all the way through. There's nothing in your kitchen that will do that to copper. So it just needs polishing. I have had impressive luck cleaning oxidation off of copper with Bar Keeper's Friend, though there are probably more professional products out there.

I think that your best bet may be to take the base somewhere and get it professionally re-finished, if you want a great look on it. I would be surprised if you couldn't find a place to strip the clear coat, repolish it, and put a new, possibly much higher-quality clear coat on it.

[stefano65]

Based on the year of the machine you could have the new style reset ( pictured from the link above)
or the old style
if is the old one it will be much smaller to identify
look between the heating element terminals
and the little push button is there
see pic