prima-coffee.com: coffee & espresso equipment and accessories

Skip to content

Alloy in old brass boilers?

Postby NickH on Thu May 26, 2011 8:03 am

I use a pre-millennium Europiccola (late 80s if I had to guess) which, like all Pavonis, has a brass boiler. I just had a thought; as far as I understand, arsenical brass was banned from food-grade appliances in the US in the 60s, but I don't know about Italy.

Anyone know anything about the brass alloy used for Pavoni boilers? Particularly earlier models? I assume lead is out of the question, being too soft, but arsenic content could be worrying.....
NickH
 
Posts: 20
Joined: May 05, 2011
Location: Canada
Top

Postby ANeat on Thu May 26, 2011 10:48 am

I think the boiler is copper, with all the fittings being brass. That being said I couldnt tell you what the alloy is. You would really need an analysis of the material to get a 100% answer. There are places that do that type of thing but I cant recall the price per piece
LMWDP #332
User avatar
ANeat
 
Posts: 88
Joined: Apr 19, 2011
Location: SW Ohio
Top

Postby NickH on Thu May 26, 2011 2:10 pm

Upon further investigation, it seems you're right. Copper boiler. I hadn't really thought of it before, but I wonder if there have been any problems with older metals/alloys being exposed to such high temperatures over time (in terms of metals leaching into the water).

Anyone heard of anything like that?
NickH
 
Posts: 20
Joined: May 05, 2011
Location: Canada
Top

Postby Benjammer on Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:46 am

I know sometimes there's small amounts of lead in copper or brass (I'd think more so in brass) but I believe I read that it's in small amounts and it's not likely going anywhere. May be similar to asbestos, its fine as long as its not disturbed :)
User avatar
Benjammer
 
Posts: 133
Joined: Dec 08, 2011
Location: Toronto
Top

Return to Lever Espresso Machines

ContactContact Us

Legal disclaimer and copyright: This content and all its parts are copyrighted, all rights reserved. Content including all text and images in part or in whole may not be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission. Home-Barista, Home-Barista.com and related logos are trademarks of Home-Barista.com, LLC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. By accessing this site, you agree to the terms of service.

Overall speed: , current page: s, avg: s, max: s