LMWDP Rollcall - Page 3

[jameseric]

I'm one o' the new kids (chortle) on the forum. Here goes.

A sort of middle-aged La Pavoni Professional continues to beguile from the top of my filing cabinet. Cabinet is next to grinder by Mazzer, near the Variac where the Hottop is kept plugged in to save energy (mine). Smallish burlap sacks of you-know-what line up in roll-call order across the floor. Let's see, the next one is, um, El Salvador... This Lady Pavoni is my second. Am giving the first Professional, a nearly-new millennium model, for a wedding present. Best I have to offer to a dear neice.

The above is at work. An Isomac chrome thingie with dials and knobs and such, with adjacent Rancilio Rocky, help define the granite counter at home: my wife pulls a sort of good shot there, when I'm not available to help -- just a hint of chauvinism there: actually she's simply interested in other things, sigh.

Porsches. Sigh again. Had a red, really red, Porsche red, '84 944 some time back. Fun, challenging, irritating, excellent car. Way beyond my budget to maintain, now a delightful memory. The analogy to lever espresso machines is apt: the performance is there, waiting to be released by the loving hands...

Hogfire, those are awesome pics. Crema to boggle the senses.

Have lost track of the numbers. 40's maybe?

Eric

[Paul L]

Hi Eric and welcome.

There must be thousands of levers out there so one assumes the roll-call can only grow and grow steadily. I've just enjoyed reading back through the whole thread, there must be some interesting stories from folk who have not posted yet. I also did not appreciate that there are gaps in the numbers to be filled in. For entirely personal reasons I would have preferred no 009, never mind. Would it not be a good idea to fill in those blanks in some way anyway?

Isn't it amazing sometimes when you stop to think that you can go through many years of ignorance before discovering something and then sometimes wonder afterwards how you never knew what you now take in your stride?

For over 10 years I lived with an old Krups machine which would produce filter coffee, espresso or Capps and I would buy tins or packets of (stale) pre-ground or beans that I would then chop up in a £20 blade grinder. I simply had no idea of even the basic principles of pressure, temperature, the 4 'M's or any other aspect of coffee. And yet, I considered myself to be a conniosseur.

I did not bother at all for about 7 years before taking a look at things again early this year. That initial £120 Gaggia purchase led to reading, absorbing, hours on the internet, articles, reviews, chemical explanations, every bit of every process dissected and described. Then the grinder investment, then the seeking out of fresh beans to buy, then the purchase of a home roaster (iRoast), the experimentation with beans, the purchase of a Pavoni and the basic relaxing into it over a couple of months. The frustration of ruining jug after jug of milk, drinking it anyway, making the breakthrough with frothing after about 2 months and then the perfectionist anxiety slooowwwlllyyy calming down.

So, after an amazing 6 months or so I now wonder how on earth I could have gone through 10 years of home coffee and a basic 25 years of adulthood being so blissfully ignorant. How do I now casually take in my stride what looks to 95% of people who visit to be a foreign language or a different world as I casually and skilfully amble through a series of precise steps with strange machinery using strange ingredients as if I have done it for years.

I guess because it is actually all very simple, certainly a lot less demanding than playing a musical instrument. I still find it amazing that a cup, hot water and a jar of granules remains the most common illusion of a cup of coffee.

Whilst I spent many years behind this illusion and many behind a 'superior' one that wasnot actually that much better, I now enjoy my 6-year old daughter sitting on the kitchen counter bossing me around as she tells me which step is next. I guess she will wonder one day why so few understand coffee properly. At least she doesn't have to spend years drinking the rubbish I did, only I did not know it was rubbish of course...

[espressoperson]

So, after an amazing 6 months or so I now wonder how on earth I could have gone through 10 years of home coffee and a basic 25 years of adulthood being so blissfully ignorant. How do I now casually take in my stride what looks to 95% of people who visit to be a foreign language or a different world as I casually and skilfully amble through a series of precise steps with strange machinery using strange ingredients as if I have done it for years.

Thanks for talking about a journey many of us may have taken.

My last 3 years of coffee experience are in a different dimension than the previous 20 plus years. And that's even with the Olympia Cremina I used all those years. Then: braun grinder, any coffee, any extraction time, spoonable styrofoam, tamping? Now: mazzer grinder, homeroast monkey espresso blend, golden rule extraction, pourable microfoam, perfect Thor tamper tamp. Perhaps, because of our history, we enjoy our newfound discoveries and results even more than those who start at the top rather than climb there incrementally like we have.

But while I too am amazed at the transformation and could never go back, I do have fond, happy memories of my coffee consumption all those years. (Ignorance is bliss - and a fuzzy memory helps too ).

[bill]

I think I qualify for membership as I've owned several espresso machines over the past 25 years. After using a steam machine for almost eight years, moved to San Francisco area and found out what real espresso tasted like. Bought my first serious machine, a Gaggia Espresso, in '91 when we moved back to Big D and tried, unsuccessfully, to make decent drinks until the machine gave up the ghost after only a couple years. About this time Starbucks came to town so I gave up on trying to make good coffee at home. Either my appreciation for good espresso increased or Starbucks quality was slipping (probably some of both) and I again went looking for a good home machine. I remembered seeing a La Pavoni lever machine at a Williams-Sonoma store in the bay area and decided that was the answer to my craving for good espresso.
After months of searching I found a used La Pavoni Ambassador down in Austin; bought it on the spot. After completely disassembling it (I'm and engineer and have to do these things even though it probably didn't need it!) I completely rebuilt it and then happily used it for several years.
A couple years ago I saw a Riviera lever espresso machine on Ebay. Having seen one of these beauties at the Thomas Cara shop in San Francisco I had to have it. When it arrived in Dallas I was surprised to find the machine hadn't held up well during the long trip via UPS from California. So armed with the insurance money from UPS I sent the machine back west, this time to the Cara shop. Christopher did an outstanding job of repairing the damage, installing a new gasket set, and adjusting it.
The spring-operated group on the Riviera enabled me to make consistently good drinks; something I'd never been able to master with the Ambassador. Although at times the La Pavoni produced really great espresso. I sold the Ambassador on Ebay a couple months ago, using part of the proceeds to buy an old, very old, Elektra Micro Casa a Leva.
It's getting late and I'm using up too much space on your forum. If I promise to finished the rest of the story later can I get a number? I'd like to get no. 43 if it's still available. That's the year I was born so it'll be easy for me to remember. At my age my memory isn't what it used be (other things, too, but we won't go there!).
Bill
Riviera
Elektra Micro Casa a Leva
Enrico of Italy (currently being made into a lamp!)
Futurmat Palanca

[Walter]

Hello again, one and all,

some may remember my story: I had ordered a Micro Casa a Leva in Italy late in August (and already made a bold claim on #20) but somehow the delivery got postponed and when the machine was ready to be shipped the dealer claimed problems with my tax-number. To cut the long story short, I got suspicious and cancelled the order.

Meanwhile I have been giving the issue more thought and eventually decided that a spring-lever machine might not be the right one for me. Last weekend - being again in Italy - I made a spontaneous decision and since Saturday I am the proud owner of a LaPavoni Professional.

After all the talk about the difficulties with lever machines I was quite anxious and expected a serious level of frustration which I simply did not encounter until now. On Saturday after the first two or three sink-shots (maybe due to some residue on the metal surfaces or whatever) the shots were drinkable and getting better with each shot. And yesterday I was up for a big surprise: I had 2 Espressi, 3 Macchiati and one Cappu (steaming takes some more getting used to) which were at par with - or even better than - the best shots I manage with my Butterfly. Mere pot-luck, I think, but still ... I am getting quite enthusiastic about the potential the little thing has...

Today I was on the road again, but throughout the next days (or maybe next weekend) I intend to make some direct comparisons between my Butterfly and the Pavoni. Maybe I can add some images then too...

[h00ktern]

...I also did not appreciate that there are gaps in the numbers to be filled in. For entirely personal reasons I would have preferred no 009, never mind. Would it not be a good idea to fill in those blanks in some way anyway?

I'm sorry I have not been able to patrol the number assignments and update the list. I have not enjoyed perusing the forums for some time now due to natural occurrances beyond my control. I will try to find some time shortly, line up the posts and update the list.

Safe trips,
Dave

[h00ktern]

Updated: See the Official list of LMWDP members.

[IronBarista]

As much as I would like, I cannot claim #11 for I don't have a lever machine...yet.

[Teme]

This may not come as a surprise to many, especially those who followed the thinking of a lever machine... thread, but I was recently made an offer on a three month old La Pavoni Professional Lusso with the Millenium Grouphead (and a 51mm Reg Barber) that I simply could not refuse. I mean this was a sweet deal and the machine is in as new condition (the owner switched to a La Valentina). I had abandoned the idea of going for the Elektra after all and was planning on getting a new Europiccola when I visit my mother in Rome in the spring. When this deal came up and the price was right (despite the machine being the Pro instead of the Europiccola), I saw no point (financially or otherwise) in holding back any longer. Below is the first, slightly out of focus pic. I guess I may now claim my LMWDP number? It'll be #39 then I assume, unless someone wishes to allocate one of the lower ones that also seem to be looking for their owners

Br,
Teme

[espressoperson]

As much as I would like, I cannot claim #11 for I don't have a lever machine...yet.

Keep the number! You can be the first member of the "Wannabe" branch.

[IronBarista]

LMWDPW #001. Yess!! We will take over the world one day but not today but someday ! (said in Mojo Jojo voice) Muah ha ha!!

[khiron]

I have a La Pavoni, the story of how I came by it is long and full of coffee.

Basically I like coffee. I really like it. I once went to Rome for an $100 espresso ... errr ... Let me start at the beginning.

So about 20 years ago I was a drinker of instant. Not the cheap stuff, the good stuff, you know freeze dried Moccona I was a struggling student in Australia, dating an Italian girl and she had one of those hexagonal aluminum Moka pots which utterly fascinated me ... until I tasted what came out of it. I bought one that weekend and I have been forever lost since to the joys of espresso.

About 15 years ago I graduated to a Krups Thermoblock automated machine, and I would feed it gold label Segafredo bar coffe in 10kg bags (Still the best non fresh coffee I have found). I once had to go to a conference in Orlando about this time and couldn't get a return ticket so I bought an around the world ticket Sydney-Orlando-Rome-Sydney for an extra $100 and got off the plane in Rome literally to get an espresso. and it was good.

So 7 Years ago I moved from Sydney to Florida, but I had to leave my Krups with my brother. So I bought a temporary machine (Starbuks Barrista) and went on a 12 month search for a permanent machine.

Then I move to New York, about the same time my Grand mother passed away, and she left me a little money with a request to spend it on myself and buy something frivolous that I would not otherwise spend that kind of money on. Well I decided to buy a coffee machine with price being no object. I went to Little Italy and I could find only Moka pots, a $200 automated machine and a $680 La Pavoni Professional 16 cup .... Chrome peacock it is. Every day since I have had 4-5 shots a day from it and every time I cherish the wisdom of my ancestors who knew a thing or two about priorities.

After 9/11 I moved to Las Vegas, and my La Pavoni has slowly been getting older and weaker ... this last year I noticed if I leave it with a boiler of water over night by morning it magically levitates outside the boiler and on the counter. But you know if I send it away for repairs that is 2 weeks without espresso (ex. starbucks which doesn't count). Finally I decide to repair it, with help from ExpressParts.com and European Gifts and Housewares ... and 4 days without coffee I finally got it working again last night ... ahhhhhhhhhhhh coffee

OK I'm ready for the lever machine world domination plot, anyone mind if I take #40?

[Walter]

This may not come as a surprise to many, especially those who followed the thinking of a lever machine... thread, but ...

<snip>

I guess I may now claim my LMWDP number? It'll be #39 then I assume, unless someone wishes to allocate one of the lower ones that also seem to be looking for their owners

Br,
Teme

Didn't we both decide to wait and save for the GS3?

Here's the first image of my new "family":


(click to enlarge)

If none of the lower numbers is to be reallocated I'll claim #41 then...


Edit: Link to image replaced

[windowrx]

My new to me Europiccola arrived today from cpl593h! Not only my first lever machine but my first real espresso machine ever. She sustained a little damage in transit and after much handwringing I resorted to brute strength and ignorance and bent her back into shape, plugged it in and it seems to work fine. Now if I can just figure out how to work it. Believe it or not, my first two shots weren't too bad. At least compared to the espresso I've had from local shops. It was all downhill from there, though. I discovered the overheating grouphead thing, the portafilter sneeze (I think) and learned that I have no idea what proper grind and tamp are. I am undaunted however. I'm looking forward to learning more about this fascinating aspect of coffee after many years of journeying through grinders, beans, drip, press, moka pot, homeroasting, etc.
If it's acceptable for a complete newbie to claim a LMWDP number I would like to claim #45. I'll take the previous number if it's bad form to skip but 45 is a favorite of mine.

[srobinson]

Welcome aboard. The only way you progress is though learning from your mistakes. You are learning your machine and understanding how it works. Keep playing and you will steadily improve.

[bobcraige]

Hi

About a dozen years ago, I went to a local temple bazaar. From across the room, I spotted this mint 1981 Olympia Cremina.



I went directly to it, and before I even got close, I knew I had to have it. While I knew knothing of the machine, all I had to do was look at its build quality to know what a superb machine it was. At that time, Zabars still had parts for it and I contacted them for a gasket set and any missing accessories. I replaced the appropriate gaskets and the machine has worked flawlessly ever since. I had been led to understand that Olympia was out of business due to a fire. It was only about three years ago that I saw a brand new Olympia Cremina 2002 in a shop in Zurich and was delighted to learn that factory support was available. It was through a great chat with Markus at Olympia that I discovered Home-Barista. It is wonderful to have this source of information and passion.



I also have a 1977 Olympia that is in need of overhauld. Although it is missing all the loose parts, the machine appears to be in excellent condition just needing some TLC.

I would like to request number 47 if it is available.

Bob Craige

[srobinson]

Bob welcome aboard. Boy, the Olympia ranks are swelling. Please tell me you paid more than $3 for yours. I can see mine devaluing already. Look forward to your comments.

[bobcraige]

Hi Steve

Don't worry, I paid more than three dollars for mine. As I recall, it was forty dollars! What was amusing to me was that behind it at the sale, was a new or at least in the box, piece of junk Taiwanese espresso machine that was twice the price. I chuckled to myself about the pricing, but paid as quickly as possible lest someone beat me to my prize.

I was always convinced that the machine was very special, but it was gratifying to come to find there are others of like mind out there.

What year is your machine? My other machine is a 1977 and has a different flat label on the rear and the serial number tag is different as well. I will take some photos of it when I get a chance and post them if you would like to see it. I need to slowly refurbish it, it appears that it will clean up to a really superb machine without too much trouble.

Bob

Olympia Cremina 67

LMWDP #047

[texican]

I found my Cremina in a thrift shop about ten years ago. At the time I was pretty new to the concept of fresh roasted coffee. But, after reading Ken David's book on homeroasting, I was hooked. I've been wanting to do an overhaul, (or at least clean the boiler and replace all of the seals) so I am truly grateful to the forum members and especially to Steve Robinson for the information provided on lever machines! Thanks, I'll take keep you updated when I finally decide to do the machine surgery.

Steve.

[srobinson]

I think we now have the largest community of Olympia owners on the planet now. Bob, my machine is a 1985 Cremina 67. Now I am starting to covet that red case of your 77. I was telling Dan that if if could find a good one, I would refurbish it Ferrari style. Red case, carbon fibre front and a 6-speed shift knob for the handle. I have located some carbon fibre laminate if you are interested. For what you paid, we can do a full tilt restoration and still have room to spare.

Steve, welcome aboard. Hopefully we have given you enough into to try your maintenance. Let me know if you need any specific help. Please post some pics if you have the chance.