The good wife came across an espresso machine while doing her weekly thrift store runs. This she presented me as the final Christmas "gift". After my eyes popped back in to their sockets I snapped some pictures, reduced them, and post them below.

My question is simply this: Is this spring-lever machine worth restoring or worth getting restored (Will at the Home Espresso Repair here in Seattle would do the work) and put to work in my kitchen. I'm not a collector per se and I'm not asking what it's worth because that's not my game.

It is missing the portafilter and basket. The inner diameter of the grouphead is 75mm and the screen measures 60mm across. Thor would keep Les busy building a tamper for this one. The innards could be corroded and the heating elements might be shot and virtually impossible to get. Heck, it might just be worth shining up and keeping as a museum piece!

Anyway, thanks for any assistance you can toss my way!


Next to the Gaggia Factory, clearly larger




Looks grundgy in there!

Three more pictures:

850W, made in1982


Holy moley, looks like an octopus under there!


Wide body grouphead

I had one of these. Mine was in 'almost new' condition and complete. Here's a photo:

I just got back from the Home Espresso Repair here in Seattle. Owner Will looked at the Enrico and pointed to two of them he has on his "museum" shelf above the door.

He didn't have one portafilter. He had TWO!

Will filled the tank, turned it on, warned me of potential failures and the impossibility of getting gaskets/seals. But it pressurized, the gauge worked, and steamed out of the wand and pulled some coffee, although we didn't sample any. Made some crema as well. I'll have to go into the forest to find a tree big enough to serve as a tamper.




Pot-metal needs some cleaning...


And it fit!

So he sold me one portafilter for a song along with some decalcifier and suggested cleaning the machine with The Barkeeper's Friend and a hot towel. Wow, this man is amazing! Even had a couple Cremina's fixed for customers and one for sale ($1600 or ebay).

I'll keep ya posted how this little adventure plays out.

The Mrs Stack just gained much in capital for the 2008 year ... good for you and she.

That Will is an amazing and kind resource! he helps many a home espresso enthusiast

bill wrote:I had one of these. Mine was in 'almost new' condition and complete. Here's a photo:
<image>

Bill, can you give me a quick review of your experience with the Enrico? Now that mine appears to be useable, I'd like to get some tips.

It's old, funky, and kinda cool. Adds life to the years!

I'm afraid I can't be of much help. I tried to get a decent espresso several times but failed. It may have been due to a lack of a good tamper, poor seals, the operator, or a combination of these. I couldn't find a source for spare parts and ended up selling it. That was prior to finding this forum so I might approach it differently today!
In my opinion, the Enrico is a conversation piece and worth having if only for that.

bill wrote:I'm afraid I can't be of much help. I tried to get a decent espresso several times but failed. It may have been due to a lack of a good tamper, poor seals, the operator, or a combination of these. I couldn't find a source for spare parts and ended up selling it. That was prior to finding this forum so I might approach it differently today!
In my opinion, the Enrico is a conversation piece and worth having if only for that.

Thanks for the reply, Bill.

Well, after some vinegar treatment the steam is a little dryer. Water comes out of the grouphead around 200F. More flushings are in order.

It has agreeably gotten brighter with a soft cotton cloth and some Barkeeper's Friend and gentle elbow grease.

The lack of a sight glass is bothersome but I'm game to teach it to make a quality shot. Then it will look pretty in the kitchen and get some use.

Here's a funny bit of corroboration: a picture of your Enrico in the wild.



I saw this in the Ballard Goodwill store the Saturday before Christmas. I took this picture thinking, "the folks on HB will surely know what this is." Your wife must have picked it up later that afternoon. Another funny thing is that I had just come from Home Espresso Repair, after dropping off our Gaggia for repair.

-Tom

Prof,

Well I'm glad you found a PF. I don't see why the machine won't make good espresso once you've got ti cleaned up. The big, shallow basket is just the opposite of the old Sama - it will be an interesting contrast. I hope we'll be seeing some photos of espresso soon!

pc