timo888 wrote:There are no new machines in your price range--unless you can find the odd close-out.

This is a new Ponte Vecchio Export sold by Gensaco. Last week it was on sale for $500 on their web-site, so you could consider just making the seller a buy-it-now offer:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RED-LEVER-ESPRESSO-CAPPUCINO-MACHINE-NIB_W0QQitemZ140097074849QQcategoryZ38252QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But there is no Buy It Now option. There is a starting bid at $529 plus $40 shipping (without insurance). Moreover, the Seller does not indicate a shipping method. UPS Ground? Fedex Ground? Parcel Post? USPS Priority? I avoid sales like this on eBay, where things are so indefinite. But that's my personal risk-aversion, augmented by some less than ideal eBay experiences, my own and those reported here by others.

Regards
Timo

I have the Cunill Tranquilo, it works great with my Gaggia.

It is very possible you can find an Ebay la pavoni europiccola for around $300. Used yes but relatively easy to fix and quite easy to get parts for. For a grinder I agree that a hand grinder would be great. Nice and old school to go with the old school espresso. Or another option is the Nemox Lux. It will run you somwhere around 150-170. (not including shipping) While it is not a semi pro quality like a mazzer or macap, it will produce a grind fine enough to choke an espresso machine. I know because I used to use one for decaf espresso in a coffee shop I used to work at (With a doser). Very hard to come by these with a doser now though. Great inexpensive grinder if you can live without a doser.
Go this route and you can probably also get a nice tamper to go with all for around 600. (less with a hand grinder)
Then just buy the other small items you feel you need when you can spare the funds.

Kaffee Bitte wrote:........ For a grinder I agree that a hand grinder would be great. Nice and old school to go with the old school espresso. Or another option is the Nemox Lux. It will run you somwhere around 150-170. (not including shipping) While it is not a semi pro quality like a mazzer or macap, it will produce a grind fine enough to choke an espresso machine. I know because I used to use one for decaf espresso in a coffee shop I used to work at (With a doser). Very hard to come by these with a doser now though. Great inexpensive grinder if you can live without a doser.........

or he could struggle ahead with the Cunhill.............

True mogogear. I was just trying to help him stay in his budget. Because by the Gods I just took a leap outside of what I wanted to spend. (Don't get me wrong I could afford it, and I wanted it so bad I could taste it and SOON I will be able to) It's all up to JeffNYC once he's got some leads. Also many home espresso geeks prefer the doserless.
Another option in the hand grinder price range is a turkish coffee mill. between 30-40 on ebay. or around 100 new.

Hate to say it, but if lever machines are too finicky for my Cunhill, I'll probably just stay with what I have or look for another pump. I'm getting very good espresso now and improving with more and more experience in roasting (just started). I agree a good grinder is critical, so don't need the lecture there. Everyone has to pick their point on the cost/benefit curve...

Anyone out there think I can do better with a lever machine and a Cunhill Tranquilo than with my Gaggia Coffee?

JeffNYC wrote:Hate to say it, but if lever machines are too finicky for my Cunhill, I'll probably just stay with what I have or look for another pump. I'm getting very good espresso now and improving with more and more experience in roasting (just started). I agree a good grinder is critical, so don't need the lecture there. Everyone has to pick their point on the cost/benefit curve...

Anyone out there think I can do better with a lever machine and a Cunhill Tranquilo than with my Gaggia Coffee?

I have read reviews that say the Tranquilo is a good grinder. It has micro-adjustment with a worm gear, doesn't it? What can be inadequate are the stepped grinders with too few steps in the espresso range. Those grinders might not give you the nuanced control over the grind that you need to manage the extraction time and flow. BTW, I just pulled a very tasty 7g-dosed single on the Lusso using a tiny micro-adjustable KYM hand-grinder that I bought for ~$75. The grinder had never been used. The burrs were pristine.

What you need to decide is whether you would like the operational simplicity and repeatability, and the mellower, sweeter espresso of the domestic spring lever with its 45mm baskets, 6-7 bars of brew pressure tapering off to ~3 bars at the end of the shot, or the greater operational complexity and bolder espresso of the manual lever with its 49-51mm* baskets and brew pressure that can attain and exceed 9 bar under the barista's hand (piston seals permitting).

Regards
Timo

*I am excluding antiques like the Italianstyle with their large 68mm (?) baskets.

timo888 wrote:*I am excluding antiques like the Italianstyle with their large 68mm (?) baskets.

Timo,
Aren't you also excluding the popular Elektra spring lever?

bill wrote:Aren't you also excluding the popular Elektra spring lever?

Elektra was not excluded but bumped to the bottom as outside OP's stated budget. I advised the OP that "La Pavonis outnumber Ponte Vecchios and Elektras on eBay 500 to 1 --you could wait a very long time to find a used PV or a used Elektra and also win the auction."

original poster wrote:... modestly-priced (less than $600) lever machines ...

Regards
Timo