..for a lever espresso. And I did. Last week. In Anchorage. I walked a mile across frozen sidewalks and icy streets in 10-degree weather (windchill not included) to get to Side Street Espresso in downtown Anchorage:

http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akbldg/sidestreet.htm

I passed about three people on the entire walk. Unfortunately, I arrived at 3:15 PM, only to find they'd closed at three. The next day, after a few more pump espressos from a NS semiautomatic at the Sheraton, I did the frigid trek again, this time being sure to arrive before 3. I did get a great shot, and had a nice chat with Debra and George, who are very fond of their SS Astoria. It is a very nice machine, and they've been pulling shots on it since it was new or thereabouts, 20 + years ago. Not sure if that old Astoia made it through the Quake in '64, but the building did, and Side Street Espresso has been there a long time.

Despite the best efforts of a very patient barista and some Cafe D'arte Firenze, the shots from the NS pump machine at the Sheraton just couldn't compare the the one I got from Debra on the Astoria.

PC

Ciao,

I think it'd be great to compile a list of coffeehouses that have lever machines and people who know how to use them -- that is, if such a list doesn't already exist somewhere (if you know, please post a link).

The Blue Bottle Cafe here in San Francisco is the only one I'm aware of so far (theirs is a La San Marco 2-group). Let's put our heads together -- it'll be good for all of us when we travel around.

Grazie mille,
Wayne

Lux Caffe in Phoenix also has a LSM lever. I can't recall whether it's a 3 or 4 group though. Perhaps some Home Barista's in Phoenix can confirm

Somewhere way back in the lever forums there is a thread almost identical to this, where we posted photos and even maps of shops with lever machines. If someone can find it we can merge them, and make it a Sticky thread so its always available.

PC

The General Merchantile. Helena Montana. Two vintage La Pavoni two group levers.

It was my introduction to lever machines (and really espresso in general).

Ciao Peacecup,

This must be the thread you were referring to -- it just turned up in the "Related Topics" box:

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...f-world-t1574.html

Neato... BTW, I wouldn't mind having a Ponte Vecchio as my next macchina! In red, if possible!

"Mmmm, two levers."



Happy Brewing,
Wayne

Ah the General Mercantile in Helena... I used to live in Helena in what now seems like several lifetimes ago... That was back in the 1975-1979 time frame... and I do remember the General Merc - though I really wasn't a coffee drinker back then and don't recall what machines they might've had. However, I was indeed a drinker of other liquid refreshments back then - and, along those lines, if I recall correctly the General Merc was in the same building as the original Bert & Ernie's (which, from what I now see on the web, appears to have moved since I was last there, all those many years ago...)

r-gordon-7

roastaroma wrote:Ciao,

I think it'd be great to compile a list of coffeehouses that have lever machines and people who know how to use them -- that is, if such a list doesn't already exist somewhere (if you know, please post a link).

'The Safehouse' in Tucson, and the baristi don't suck at all. Not even a little. The coffee is not my favorite, but that doesn't mean that it's not good, just not my choice. The atmosphere is a great combi of new youth and old vintage coffee shop. Weird and eclectic, focussed on the coffee.

Clean-up on post two!

roastaroma wrote:The Blue Bottle Cafe here in San Francisco is the only one I'm aware of so far (theirs is a La San Marco 2-group). Let's put our heads together -- it'll be good for all of us when we travel around.

As I understand it, a lot of places won't let you put in a lever
machine anymore- code regulations because they can present
a physical danger (spring loaded lever snapping up). Precedent,
if I remember correctly, was a woman in Colorado who broke her jaw.

But perhaps that's just chatter. I dunno.

I am curious as to how James got permission. Maybe
because he already had an automatic machine as his
main machine, and the San Marco is a backup?

Sadly, I can't think of a single cafe with a lever machine,
at least off the top of my head.

Edit: I believe Blue Bottle runs a lever machine (Astoria maybe?)
at the Temescal Farmer's Market on Sundays. It's on Claremont
in Oakland, near Telegraph, in the DMV parking lot.

I am adding that since this will be something of a reference and
I want the reader to have SOMETHING in the East Bay.