Hi Steve

The two photos that I posted are both of my red 1981 machine. I really like the red color scheme. It looks like new. I have not yet posted any photos of my 1977 machine which is brown. I will try to post some photos of it soon. It is in need of clean up, but appears to be in good shape. It is interesting to me in that it has an older style thin name plate on the lower rear and a different serial number plate as well.

Olympia Cremina 67

LMWDP #047

I haven't posted in a while....been super busy with the cafe opening. My general contractor has finally been working on my project now, so an opening of Feb 1st 2006 is set. I will be welcoming all central Ohioans down for some free shots on the Linea. Anyhow, I was just wanting to say that my Elektra MCL will be proudly displayed, and hooked up, at the coffee shop, so I'll proudly restake my original LMWDP #011 number....I'll share if I need to

If number 48 is still available, I would like to have it. The year of my birth...
I just bought a Brass and Copper Riviera from ebay, complete with the eagle. I wish the eagle was missing and the shower screen was present. Even Chris Cara can't help. Other than that, it seems functional. Once I get the screen, I will be able to enjoy it. PLEASE HELP!

Has anyone compared the Cremina to Riviera/Elektra Micro Casa Leva type?

Edward Bank
Riviera, Mazzer Major
LMWDP #048

Hi Steve,

I have a La Cimbali Eleva which is a plumbed, single-group, lever-operated, commercial espresso machine in bought new in London in 1975 by a friend who had it modified for 110v when he came back to America in the late 70's. He gave it to me in 1995, and I spent the better part of two years rebuilding it and trying to understand how exactly it was supposed to make espresso: La Cimbali didn't start exporting to the US until the early 80's, the newsgroups were 99.99% home equipment users, and I had broken up with that fluent Italian girl only months before...

It gave me years of service until I decide to embark on a series of performance modifications that resulted in a burned-up heating element. Since then it has sat on my clothes dryer, begging for attention, as I've fixed up and modified a manual single-group Faema, and an automatic, two-group Gaggia (re-badged as Bunn). With all the fine-tuning possibilities of the new machines and the inexplicably varied results they can produce, I've yearned to get that simple classic fired back up! What, with it's perfectly measured shot and its simple, perfect pre-infusion and extraction pressure system, and now with the advent of the bottomless portafilter holder and the big brains lurking about this website, especially taking interest in lever-operated machines, of all things...who'd a thunk it?

Count me in!

Hey what is the count now? Is '50' still around?

Anybody know someone who can build a custom heating element?

Hi,

I would like to take #49 if its still open. I'm not sure if I'm qualified, having never actually pulled a shot on a lever machine. After a couple of years of learning on a couple of Saeco pump machines, I finally took the plunge and ordered a lever machine this week (I had to sell a 77' Les Paul Custom to afford it!). After lots of research here, on CoffeeGeek, and on other websites I finally settled on a new Ponte Vecchio Export. Of course I'll probably always have Cremina envy, but after reading about a few of the necessary restorations of used levers (one of which ended up as a lamp as I recall) I decided I just don't have the time or expertise to mess with this. The PV was the most affordable new machine I could find - I got it on sale at Vanelis - and I thought I'd do my learning on it, and save my pennies for a new Cremina or similar high end lever (I came across some very nice machines as my search broadened). The PV's have a 45 mm group, the smallest I've seen, and I'm a bit concerned about this. On the other hand, I read somewhere that the Italians like the small caffeine dose of a single, and I like the idea of brewing twice as many shots a day! It turns out that the PV designs have been around for a long while (previously as Samas), so I concluded that they must be capable of making a decent espresso. I've never seen a used one for sale, so either people really like them, or they don't hold up long (hopefully the former!!!). I also had a couple of very nice emails from the people at the Ponte Vecchio factory, and I liked this personal contact.

So, I hope to join the ranks here, and will post a mini-review of the PV Export as soon as I manage to pull a decent shot.

Happy Holidays to all!

espressoperson wrote:IMO the portafilter diameter emphasis is overrated.

Espressoperson, I agree! My Riviera has a 45mm group, too. I pull 1-1 1/2 oz shots using the double basket and the coffee is normally excellent. I'm looking forward to hearing about peacecups experience with the new machine.

And my Riviera has a 45mm PF. I just need to find the screen for it . Maybe they have it at Vanelis.

Edward Bank
Riviera, Mazzer Major
LMWDP #048

high time i busted in here and got me a number. i own a copper and brass riviera, refurbed off ebay, augmented with gleaming new portafilter and steam knob, among other parts. most delectably, however, it has a hand-lathed tamper made of wild african olive (as opposed to the cultivated varieties) for company. pics of both below.




a loose history of the riviera has been blogged right here:
http://ben.szobody.com/blog/index.php?cat=22

Edward: Let us know if you find a screen. I'm especially curious, given the need to track the availability of parts into the future.

Lever Machine World Domination Plot - I love it. Mind you, it took me nearly two days to discover what LMWDP actually stood for. I guess it would have helped if I had actually read the first post instead of skimming it. Anyway, I want a number and as of today, I am actively part of it.

I started down this path liking "just" coffee, but could not abide espresso. It was too strong at the time. Through out, I have kept my coffee obsession mostly in control and actually have saved money along the way buy not rushing it, taking small well researched steps, and luckily, not being afflicted with upgrade fever. I started roasting my own because every thing local was old and charred and where as I loved coffee, I have always been picky and liked it MY way. Anyway, I went from a Freshroast, to a modified West Bend P1, to a home built inexpensive 1 lb drum roaster. Throughout, I have ground with a DG169 Zass. I am one for simplicity.

As for the brewing techniques, on a "challenge" I accepted a DeLonghi espresso machine as a Tradition gift on the Sweet Maria's list. Through some odd coincidences I also received a low end (no I won't mention the name - to embarrassing) machine, and lost both in a house fire. Due to a house fire and insurance, I replaced the two with a well researched Gaggia Classic.

A few months ago the thermostat went out on the Gaggia, and with distinct lack of time to fix it, I was loaned a Sama lever by Les of Thor Tampers. That was my intro to levers. Actually, my interest in levers started a few months earlier during some mental research into pressure regulation, and wondering how difficult it would be to modify a lever for very even pressure via a linear actuator or servo motor. I never got much along that line, expect I started liking the simplicity and quite of a lever.

On a whim, I was looking on eBay and came across a Gaggia lever. I have this thing for Gaggia for some reason. The Gaggia mini looks sweet too. Well, it went beyond my price range, but got me looking around. While looking around here, I came across the Gaggia Achille. I want this machine. Wow. But either it will have to come down in price and go 120v or I will have to get lucky. In the mean time, I have a Gaggia Factory on the way that I got a good deal on. I will have decide whether I take it crotchless - I probably will, but I am not sure. I noted someone else's disappointment taking a Pavoni crotchless.

Anyway, that is it. I have a place all ready for my Factory and am eyeing the Achille. I will need to get a tamper for it from Thor Tampers, but that will wait until it is here. So, I see the next available number is LMWDP #051, but I also note #013 is unclaimed. Could I have that one if I ask nicely?