Restoring Vesuviana Caffetieres - Page 2

Equipment doesn't work? Troubleshooting? If you're handy, members can help.
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drgary (original poster)
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#11: Post by drgary (original poster) »

Last night I painstakingly created a flat PTFE gasket using a metal punch and scissors. This was enough to seal the boiler for brewing.

Here's the cap ready for the gasket. I didn't bother to polish smooth all of the metal since some of the surfaces were hard to get at, but it was cleaned well enough with steel wool and metal polish, soap and water, to be ready for a gasket.



Here's the gasket, which is obviously home-made. But the test I just did shows it works.

Gary
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What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!

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drgary (original poster)
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#12: Post by drgary (original poster) »

Dollhouse Vesuvius Erupts!

No, it wasn't a violent eruption, just a flow of sweet coffee magma. You'll get a kick of what is was like to dose the portafilter. Here I load it with home roasted Sumatra Aceh, just into second crack, so it's a gentle, dark roast. The beans look huge in that tiny portafilter! I've got some Maui Mokka that I'll use next. The very tiny beans will look normal sized. :lol:



Added: Here's the portafilter dosed with Maui Mokka. The screen size of these tiny beans is 14.



I used a LIDO 1 to grind to a fine pourover coarseness. A tiny amount of grittiness came through, so next time I'll try lining the bottom of the portafilter with paper since there is no brew basket. (Added: That solved the grittiness.) The coffee is sealed in the brew chamber with a sleeve that is close to the walls of the portafilter. The portafilter locks into the brew head and tightens up. I may experiment later with an o-ring to create an airtight seal and build more pressure.



Here's the test. We have an induction stove, so I use a small flat cast iron griddle scored at Goodwill for an induction plate.



Brewing started after a few minutes and went quickly in steady drips without much pressure. I had dosed the Vesuvius with the brew carafe mostly full, then emptied the boiler until the lower port in the inner pipe was exposed. That would ensure it wouldn't start brewing until steam started to build pressure.



Brewing stopped before it overheated, a built-in design feature. This is unlike using a Bialetti moka pot, where I stop brewing by dipping the bottom in a bowl of water before water starts boiling out of the spout. Not necessary here.

Here's how much coffee was produced. Remember that this carafe is demitasse sized.



The taste was quite good. In moka pot fashion I added some soy creamer (I avoid butterfat for heart health) and some brown sugar. It was quite good. Brewing starts in 8 minutes 15 seconds from starting to heat the pan and lasts for about 20 - 30 seconds.
Gary
LMWDP#308

What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!

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doubleOsoul
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#13: Post by doubleOsoul »

Great pics, Gary. The beans really give portafilter size prospective. It cleaned up very nice too.

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doubleOsoul
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#14: Post by doubleOsoul »

crazy4espresso wrote:Recently rediscovered the moka pot method of brewing coffee when my parent's superautomatic broke down, so it's with interest that I'll be following this thread. I might have to look around some local thrift shops as well for these beauties. I like the detail of the cup handle. Is that something that went away over time?
Nelson, I always had lots of luck finding Saltons and the odd Vesuviana in thrift stores over the years up there (before I defected, that is ...lol).

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cuppajoe
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#15: Post by cuppajoe »

Good score Gary. Cute little sucker and with the original jug to boot. For making seals and washers like that pick up an automotive gasket punch kit. Have made many and also used it for punching the fastener holes in larger and/or more complex gaskets. The included gasket material with the kits can also be used in certain machine applications.

As you also probably know with these, make sure to empty and let dry after use and put away with the fill knob loose or uninstalled.
David - LMWDP 448

My coffee wasn't strong enough to defend itself - Tom Waits

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drgary (original poster)
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#16: Post by drgary (original poster) »

Thanks, David. An automotive punch kit looks like the next toolset I need. Didn't know those existed and have been relying on leather punches of limited size.
Gary
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What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!

happytamper
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#17: Post by happytamper »

I have been following this topic and thought you might like to see this vesuviana. It has an interesting bottom. It has a built in heater.
Mitchell
LMWDP #77

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drgary (original poster)
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#18: Post by drgary (original poster) »

Nice! That has a similar cap to mine. Orphan Espresso has a manual showing your machine here. I wonder if there is a thread that shows successive versions?

Just searching the net, I see three versions. The first has a vertical ring at the top, and the portafilter is held in place by pins. It's pictured on Lucio's site. The second version is like mine and Mitch's. It has a Bakelite cap that is open in the middle for the movement of the overpressure valve, which is a simple weight. The third version has a closed cap and steam wand. Second and third versions can be found as stovetop or electric models. I saw a third version on eBay that wasn't bare aluminum but appeared to have orange OEM paint.
Gary
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What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!

happytamper
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#19: Post by happytamper »

drgary wrote:Nice! That has a similar cap to mine. Orphan Espresso has a manual showing your machine here. I wonder if there is a thread that shows successive versions?
Thanks for the link Drgary.
Mitchell
LMWDP #77

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trumz
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#20: Post by trumz »

I nice clean example just poped up in the Finnish craigslist. He's asking 110€!

https://www.tori.fi/pirkanmaa/Vesuviana ... 3.htm?aw=1