I have been travelling in Bolivia/Peru for the last 2 months. Much lousy coffee (typically if it's not instant it is a "distilado" which means they filter/screen brew some strongish coffee and then keep it in a bottle, they then add a little to warm milk or water.....it is actually worse than instant. I came across a few spring levers in cafes but all but one of them were broken or close to (they were used as large steam/hot water dispensers). Memorably Cusco Peru had a 2 group Pavoni that had me all excited, 'til they told me it was just for hot water, I informed them they could get parts for it and it was not that hard to repair.....they suggested I fix it but my SO would not have appreciated me spending time with a machine during our vacation. Anyhooo, the machine pictured produced some awesome shots, and the barista there appreciates coffee. It is located just before the entrance of the train station at Ollantaytambo which is the closer train station before Aguas Calientes the jump off town for MP.

Offsite images are not permitted: well well that is a PITA

I cannot be bothered resizing go here to view...

http://s392.photobucket.com/albums/pp3/...0Machines/

BTW The Royal Cafe in La Paz Bolivia was the only other good shot I had in my travels, they supply some of the only decent preground coffee in Bolivia, and you can buy it in any decent sized town, unfortunately it is usually too old when bought anywhere but in the La Paz outlet. The ladies there are proud of the nice tight shots they can make if requested.

thanks for the pics. I have a photo of a 50s gaggia internazionale in use in Peru. It was in a busy cafe. Fascinating how these are kept going without parts; the one in my pic has all manner of bodges.

Looks like left group needs a new porta-filter gasket Awesome machine!!!!!!