CoffeeOwl wrote:I'd get Elektra either a Leva or Semiautomatica....

I agree with Pawel on this one, but have the Elektra at home. Assuming the machine at the second location will be used less frequently, it makes more sense to have a better familiarity with it.

So, Doug, I have a question:

Equipment: Semiautomatica, Astoria lever, Cremina, Lusso . . .

Are these four machines all set up in your home? If not, which is located elsewhere? If so, which is your primary "go to" machine for daily use?

TIA,
Jason

zin1953 wrote:So, Doug, I have a question:

Are these four machines all set up in your home? If not, which is located elsewhere? If so, which is your primary "go to" machine for daily use?

TIA,
Jason

The machines are set up in 3 different locations, my home, the company owned condo and the office/roastery. The Semiautomatica at home sees more use than all of the other machines combined.

Thanks.

My espresso-making habits changed within five days of getting my Alexia. If I were to get another set-up, I'd first get a MACAP M4 and pair it with Alexia, who would move to the cabin. Then, I'd keep the Max Hybrid at home and buy a brand new Vibiemme Domobar Super Double Boiler from Stefano to sit on the counter with it.

The second location is a temporary (project) office where I would work for months or longer. The office coffee would make me sick. So I would bring a simple, easily transportable coffee machine. Also, I would not bring a grinder. My coffee vendor, next to their professional espresso bar bean products, also has pods: individually sealed (under nitrogen?) These are very good. My 2nd machine does not heat cups (too small and curvy). But it runs a bit too hot. Short pre-flush into cup solves that and heats cup. Throw water away, pod into machine, brew espresso. Pod out. No mess.
My current project facility does not allow me to bring the machine. It sits at home next to Andreja.
My wife uses it when I am not around. She feels it does good espressi. Mine (Andreja) are usually better, but she would argue the pods are the same all the time - between 7 and 8 on a scale of 0..10 - and occasionally I would screw up a cup that would be rated a 6 maybe. My current beans are more forgiving and I am consistently over the pod score, now.
My coffee vendor charged me around €100 for the machine (SGL or essegielle), if I remember well, although it might sell in shops somewhere in the world for 200 or more. Even though it does not have a vacuum breaker valve, it does not build vacuum when cooling down, so it could be on a timer. It only suffers from internal air if the pump is run dry (no protection), which is solved by opening the steam valve after which additional heating time is needed.

Interesting alternatives in my circumstances, IMO, would also be, but maybe not imported into the USA, a Quick Mill Cassiopea (http://www.quickmill.it/MyIndex.php?Lan ... id_prod=31) or its pod-only version Meissa (http://www.quickmill.it/MyIndex.php?Lan ... id_prod=78). Small enough to only have 4 demitasse cups on top. These have two heat exchangers: one for coffee, the other for steam. The steam part can be switched off (energy saving). The group is an interesting design that seems like a water spiral and heating element spiral were cast into a metal block integrated with the group. It might even be possible to PID that. To me these machines were even more interesting if they had no steam section at all (cheaper).

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe