Incomplete list of Gravity-fed lever machines - Page 4

[timo888]

How do you compare the difference between the Caravel and the La Peppina, or the La Pavoni?

The Peppina as a spring-powered lever is consistent from shot-to-shot in its brew-pressure. The Caravel as a manual lever allows variation in brew-pressure from shot-to-shot and also within shot. Repeatability versus nuance.

The Peppina will reach a full boil. The Caravel is set to turn the heating element off at a lower temperature. So the Peppina offers a greater range of temperature than the Caravel. But the Caravel will hold its temperature (if the thermostat works).

The Caravel has suction cups to keep it on the counter

The La Pavoni (and other pressurized boilers like the Cremina) run very hot and their group is designed to act as a heat sink, lowering the brew water temperature before it hits the puck. But once the group is heat saturated, it loses the ability to cool the water and you have to employ tricks like wrapping the group in a cold dishcloth or running the portafilter under cold water and locking it in place. The open boilers run cooler and have much greater temperature stability than do the pressurized boilers. The lever/piston assemblies of the Pavoni and the Cremina are much more robust than that of the Caravel. Much greater brew pressure is possible with them than with the Caravel.

Regards
Timo

[timo888]

The lever and piston assembly on the Caravel is, as I mentioned, a delicate thing compared to the robust lever on the Cremina. Further experimentation with the Caravel is leading me towards the conclusion that this little ship has been optimized for the lightest levelling tamp.
Regards
Timo

[mogogear]

The lever and piston assembly on the Caravel is, as I mentioned, a delicate thing compared to the robust lever on the Cremina. Further experimentation with the Caravel is leading me towards the conclusion that this little ship has been optimized for the lightest levelling tamp.
Regards
Timo

When did you get your Caravel???

[timo888]

When did you get your Caravel???

The Caravel arrived yesterday.
Timo

[mogogear]

The Caravel arrived yesterday.
Timo

I now have all my La Peppinas. One is a great 220v Red -1000w steamer, great shape and I have a very, barely used Black 110v / 700w non steamer , also in great shape. I have one 220v Brown one that is going to be parted out. No drip tray grate, lid or PF and insert. I may keep the 110v model. The other two will go away soon. I will post a few shots I took of the whole crew maybe tomorrow. I asembled a Silvia that I have on CL, My Cremina( which also may get traded), and the three La Peppina for a group shot on the counter tonight, it was kind of weird after searching ebay for so long.... oh well. Such is the search...now if I only knew for what.

[timo888]

No luck whatsoever after three or four shots on the Peppina with Paradise Roaster's Indian Sitara from Sethuraman Estate. You wouldn't believe how bad it tasted. I kept pushing the grind finer and tamped with more weight: a 10-second shot that tasted like the air over the Walt Whitman bridge to Camden when the old distillery was belching fumes past midnight. Now, I could go much finer on my grinder but out of stubborness I don't. Instead, I says to meself, that Caravel yonder is much more easily stalled than the Peppina, put some of the same grind into the Caravel. The Caravel has a little trouble with the tamped puck but the o-ring holds up as I bear down. Delicious! This Indian robusta has double the caffeine, they say. I'm going to make the Caravel my morning machine while the Sitara lasts.
Regards
Timo

[happytamper]

Just received the Caravel "Little" this morning.

I pulled a shot and it had alot of crema and was super. Compared to the Peppina this is a great machine.

It is also a very simple machine. Works well and is a very simple design, fully manual with no spring. It is just for espresso and there is no steaming capability. The cover is on hinges and the tank is open and can warm the cups as it boils. The tray is also on hinges and the water collector slides out when you lift it. Thermostat looks like it is adjustable but have not used that yet.

I have had more luck using this machine in one night than with the La peppina in one month. I think I prefer the manual lever machines to the spring lever types.

[hbuchtel]

Just received the Caravel "Little" this morning.

I pulled a shot and it had alot of crema and was super. Compared to the Peppina this is a great machine.

It is also a very simple machine. Works well and is a very simple design, fully manual with no spring. It is just for espresso and there is no steaming capability. The cover is on hinges and the tank is open and can warm the cups as it boils. The tray is also on hinges and the water collector slides out when you lift it. Thermostat looks like it is adjustable but have not used that yet.

I have had more luck using this machine in one night than with the La peppina in one month. I think I prefer the manual lever machines to the spring lever types.

That's great! The hinge'd top is nice, I'm starting to warm to this re-design. Good to hear it works well too, I'm looking forward to getting my Caravel!

In that last picture is it perched on your Urania's driptray? Looks like a kid sitting on Daddy's lap!

Henry

[timo888]

I have had more luck using this machine in one night than with the La peppina in one month. I think I prefer the manual lever machines to the spring lever types.

She's a beauty, Mitch, and I think the Arrarex will be more amenable to your Zass and your style than the unforgiving Peppina would ever be. The Little's manual lever will give you the chance to compensate in medias res for variations in your grind/tamp, whereas the Peppina's spring always exerts the same amount of force. The Arrarex piston also wants a much coarser grind than the Peppina requires, so you won't have to work as hard to get an espresso

I wonder if the Arrarex piston is the same on the Little and the Caravel. I'll post some measurements tonight and maybe we can compare the diameter of the piston chamber and the throw of the piston.
Regards
Timo

[timo888]

Mitch,
How many watts is the Little?
Regards
Timo

[mogogear]

Mitch,
How many watts is the Little?
Regards
Timo

Go ahead Tim, there is another one just like her on fleabay, quick though!!

[mogogear]

I now have all my La Peppinas. One is a great 220v Red -1000w steamer, great shape and I have a very, barely used Black 110v / 700w non steamer , also in great shape. I have one 220v Brown one that is going to be parted out. No drip tray grate, lid or PF and insert. I may keep the 110v model. The other two will go away soon. I will post a few shots I took of the whole crew maybe tomorrow. I assembled a Silvia that I have on CL, My Cremina( which also may get traded), and the three La Peppina for a group shot on the counter tonight, it was kind of weird after searching ebay for so long.... oh well. Such is the search...now if I only knew for what.

Ok here they are.....



Sure, the flip side.... nice tails:lol::lol:




And just the Little Peppers....




Tim or others:

The 220v brown kettle is going to anyone with a need for parts. No top, no PF, no drip grate and no rubber base trim. It has a 2 prong Euro plug, she is 700w the top housing looks to have gotten hot , the La Peppina sticker is discolored. I have taken it apart all works fine, and the element is clean and in good shape/ Kettle is undamaged and also in good shape/ Base is in good shape, no chips etc. Lever is fine also- make me an offer via Pm if you are interested.

The Red La Peppina is spectacular. Excepting that the steamer top lever is replaced with a knob, she is in perfect condition. Only one double basket. All seals are in new condition. she is a 1000w / 220v with a three prong Euro plug. I would like to get what I paid for her- $150- +I'll keep the shipping in the US low-$10( I have to eat a little crow!!)
P.S. the Rancilio Silvia is on CL for sale as we speak. Still in warranty - plastic still on the drip tray, WLL Silvia "tips" CD rom and extra 3 hole frotthing tip , factory scoop and tampe, baskets -complete. all reciepts if someone is interested( Portland CL)

For now Iam holding on to the Black one( single and double baskets)(110v / 700w). Till I see who is the keeper -The Caravel or...

[timo888]

Mo,
I like your lineup of FE-ARettes!

I just put up a nice 110V 700W Peppina on eBay -- the auction starts at 7pm PST tonight.

I might bid on the Little if it has a larger piston than the Caravel.

Regards
Timo

[mogogear]

Mo,
I like your lineup of FE-ARettes!

I just put up a nice 110V 700W Peppina on eBay -- the auction starts at 7pm PST tonight.

I might bid on the Little if it has a larger piston than the Caravel.

Regards
Timo

The Little is gone- no one bid on it. I'll send you the link to the seller if you want to drop them a line and do a little fishing...

[timo888]

The inner diameter at the top of the Arrarex Caravel portafilter is 44mm. It is cylindrical about a half of its height and then becomes slightly conical, tapering to ~36mm outer diameter at the bottom. It is ~26mm tall. Outer diameter at the top (including the rim) is 52mm.

Is the filter of the Little the same size?

Regards
Timo

[hbuchtel]

I just found out that the Zerowatt CA310 uses huge baskets, 60mm inner diameter!

Henry

[mogogear]

The Little is gone- no one bid on it. I'll send you the link to the seller if you want to drop them a line and do a little fishing...

That Little Caravel that no one bid on in Italy is back....

[timo888]

[hbuchtel]

(pictures of another gravity lever)

Thanks Timo, what to call it, "The Bruni Brunella?" "Brunella by Bruni?" "Bruni and his Brunellas?"

Interesting design, do you know where the heating element is? Perhaps behind those holes in the kettle? It looks like a tall thin cylinder for the piston.

Henry

[timo888]

I think you're right, Henry, about the location of the heating element. The hump on the back of the machine lines up with those holes in the wall of the kettle. The piston cylinder reminds me of the Caravel's. With piston cylinder inside the kettle, Brunella resembles the baby of Peppina and MiniGaggia.
Regards
Timo