Latte Jed wrote:...merged with thread on closely related topic by moderator...
I just picked up a Cappuccino Amore ITALIANSTYLE Model CE 14. (photo of similar machine)
I would like to get operation instructions. Be glad to pay for a copy of the manual.
Perhaps someone out there has experience running one of these machines, and could share a few tips with me.
I assume the brass knob is there to change temperature settings from brew to steaming.
How full do you tamp the basket? Did they make a single basket?
How long do you hold the lever down, and do you assist or slow its return to the top?
Has anyone found parts. My steam wand has a crack.
I'll appreciate any help.
CoffeeGeek has some information:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/6638

Hello Chaz,
Please count me among the blessed group with a similar looking machine called the "Enrico" I await his arrival next week from ebay seller!

I would like to be privy to any information you find/found on your "Amore"
I've talked to "Happy Tamper" and we are deciding whether I would be able to machine a new piston for his when he gets the time to measure it.

Thanks for the foto it sure looks like the same machine!
sincerely
Richard / espressme

You sir, are out of control.. and whats with the avatar change to nothing....?

mogogear wrote:You sir, are out of control.. and whats with the avatar change to nothing....?

Well Mo,
Three levers is not so bad. Look at the new guy Paul ( # 84 ) from NZ, a Kiwi with, I think, eleven BIG monsters.

My problem is what to do with my other 50+ machinettas/mokas/steamers/Eggs/Neapolitans/pumps and various goodies since the 1880's. They have to take a back shelf and are jealous of the attention lavished upon the newcomers. The three levers and the Rocky will totally fill one counter.

As to the lack of avatar, The changes made by the HB access provider seem to make it possible only to show the URLs from outside photo storage URLs. It may be a server storage space issue now that the Group has gotten larger.
I haven't yet figured out how to do that....yet!

"Enrico" should show up later this week and I look forward to finding how lucky I am

Enjoy!
Sincerely
Richard /espressme

HB wrote:Oops, I disabled avatar uploading while debugging the site outage issues a couple weeks back. It turned out to have nothing to do with the problem, but I neglected to re-enable it. Sorry about that, avatar uploading is enabled now.

Thanks Dan,
I just tried and it worked! You might put it in a shout!
Thanks for a great site!
sincerely
Richard / espressme

bill wrote:Mitchell,
Looks like these were available with different size groups so be careful if you find a source for parts. The one pictured in Latte Jed's post has a diameter much larger then yours. The 58mm tamper I use with my Futurmat was much to small.

Hello Bill,
You seem to be correct:
The makings on this machine are "Italian style CE-12." The Instructions are "Enrico." Here is one. It is humungous.
Those are steam toys and a pump in the background.

The basket with it is LaPeppina 45mm, the big ma-moos are 68mm.

Enrico 68mm, Hamilton Beach 58mm, LaPeppina 45mm.

I think one could run a restaurant with one. Only a 12 cup boiler though.

Couple of shipping dings but the mechanics seem ok. Maybe time will slow down a bit soon and I can clean and check it out.

Have a great week
Sincerely
Richard / espressme

Sorry, my Amore has a faulty/non working thermostat, so it's been retired to the corner while I work with other machines.
I'm kind of fond of it since it was my first lever, but I had to keep an eye on the pressure gauge and switch it on and off to keep
it in the right temperature range and safe. And, yes, it has the huge 68mm basket. Never did find a proper tamper for it.
Earlier posters mentioned having a instruction manual, which I would like to see.
Notice the group head is different from the Enrico.

Seems these amores are a finnicky bunch. Oversized portafilters with no tampers available, faulty thermostats, corroded pistons, inexistant manuals, different shapes, different ornaments... And when they are working you have to watch out for explosions.

You just gotta love em.

I still cant get mine to work but it is still my amore.

Hey Richard, I found the piston and after my exhibition begins this weekend we can arrange what to do with it.

Congratulations Richard- Enrico looks great!!

Latte Jed wrote:Sorry, my Amore has a faulty/non working thermostat, so it's been retired to the corner while I work with other machines.
I'm kind of fond of it since it was my first lever, but I had to keep an eye on the pressure gauge and switch it on and off to keep
it in the right temperature range and safe. And, yes, it has the huge 68mm basket. Never did find a proper tamper for it.
Earlier posters mentioned having a instruction manual, which I would like to see.
Notice the group head is different from the Enrico.

Hi Latte Jed,
Aha! yours appears to be a lever spring action machine and the "Enrico" is a direct lever machine. The small basket is for 1 or 2 dt cups ( 2oz. ea.)and the large for 4 to 6 dt cups or 8-12 oz. total. ) of strong brew! The one I have may have a pressurestat, but the instructions seem to indicate that one must vent steam ( false pressure) to keep the needle in the brown( below 1bar. Green ( 1 -2 bar )only for the steaming and red ( JC! ) is low water.=vent steam and fill the boiler. Seems about the same routine as a LaPavoni Professional.

I don't have a clue as to what the brass knob on the left of yours is for.
Could it be a pressurestat/temperature control? It seems near enough to the switches. The top cup tray comes off easily and the two screws hold it to the boiler through a rubber drip gasket. Put the boiler cap back in or stuff paper towel into the fill before removing or replacing the screws! ( don't ask me how I know. ...) Then you could see what it is connected to. My gadgetry is on the bottom of the boiler and seems much like that seen on the boilers of the later LaPavs.

Boiler and element are Stainless Steel ( Inox)

The boiler cap on mine has a safety / overpressure vent valve built into its long shaft and vents into the fill funnel. Bye the way, the instructions say to drain it if it will not be used again that day. Use a suction bottle with a long hose! Do not tip the machine over.

Maybe a search for Timmo888 and LaPeppina would locate some decent directions for that similar but much smaller spring lever machine.

I do make tampers, but no material I now have is 2-½" in diameter. Will wait and order some when I get the monster working. I do need a new portafilter gasket at least as this one is way hard and I don't trust the very few degrees of PF turn I get to hold under pressure! I shall start cleaning and inventorying when my life slows down a bit.

PM me and I'll find time to copy and send these instructions for you. It may be the weekend though..
Sincerely
Richard
PS, I have a 5" brass eagle in the studio at school and will she look cool just 'sittn there all cocky like!