E61 Group Espresso Machine: Is its reputation justified? - Page 5
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- Posts: 61
- Joined: 18 years ago
Inspired by Lino's modification i started thinking would it be possible to make a really "cheap" E61 espresso maker by just attaching the head to a boiler - running the entire boiler up to the magical 9bar - tweak the handle, open the valves & out comes glorious espresso under 9bars?
Of course it would not be a heat exchanger cuz no water would be circulating unless you are brewing.
But would it work? (E61heads are sometimes very cheap, used..)
Of course it would not be a heat exchanger cuz no water would be circulating unless you are brewing.
But would it work? (E61heads are sometimes very cheap, used..)
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- Posts: 130
- Joined: 19 years ago
Yes that works (with one notable exception).
It is just what I did.
and it makes quite good coffee too. A little finicky, since it's different than a thermosyphon E-61, but yes it works.
Only thing is...
Wasn't cheap...
As I recall, I added up what I spent to make mine (which I tracked carefully), and the total came to about $750. HOWEVER, that didn't include any machining or raw materials, as I scrounged those and did the machining myself...
Add in those costs and it's clearly cheaper to buy an entry level E-61 machine...
But if you are doing it just to do it, that that's a whole different matter...
ciao
lino
It is just what I did.
and it makes quite good coffee too. A little finicky, since it's different than a thermosyphon E-61, but yes it works.
Only thing is...
Wasn't cheap...
As I recall, I added up what I spent to make mine (which I tracked carefully), and the total came to about $750. HOWEVER, that didn't include any machining or raw materials, as I scrounged those and did the machining myself...
Add in those costs and it's clearly cheaper to buy an entry level E-61 machine...
But if you are doing it just to do it, that that's a whole different matter...
ciao
lino
- HB (original poster)
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I'd have to check, but I believe most espresso (steam) boilers are tested at the factory at 2 or 3 bar. Lino used a thick-walled stainless steel boiler that he machined for this purpose. Really, really bad things are sure to occur if you pressurize a stock steam boiler beyond its factory-tested limits. An explosion of hot water, steam, and flying debris is certain to ruin your day, if not your life.j7on wrote:Inspired by Lino's modification i started thinking would it be possible to make a really "cheap" E61 espresso maker by just attaching the head to a boiler - running the entire boiler up to the magical 9bar...
Dan Kehn
- luca
- Team HB
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Surely you would have better temperature control if you just got a single boiler machine where the group is basically the base of the boiler, then added a second boiler for steam. This would give you a LM-style saturated group, of sorts. Of course, you wouldn't have the PI.
Cheers,
Luca
Cheers,
Luca
LMWDP #034 | 2011: Q Exam, WBrC #3, Aus Cup Tasting #1 | Insta: @lucacoffeenotes
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- Posts: 61
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Yeah, ofcourse i would make the boiler out of something like, old diving bottle(small), fire extinguisher bottle = anything you can set your hands on for free:)
Ofcourse i would have to chrome it or similar from the inside for the water...
Lets see if i have some spare time during the winter.
Ofcourse i would have to chrome it or similar from the inside for the water...
Lets see if i have some spare time during the winter.
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In other words, Silvia with the addition of a steam boiler?luca wrote:Surely you would have better temperature control if you just got a single boiler machine where the group is basically the base of the boiler, then added a second boiler for steam.
(Enter La Spaziale S1, stage left) . . .
-- Richard
- Compass Coffee
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Not really. Silvia's group passively heated versus saturated as being proposed.Richard wrote:In other words, Silvia with the addition of a steam boiler?
Mike McGinness
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I decided to swap the vibe pump in my Faema with a rotary pump and delay relay.
I bought a used carbonator (without the tank), because it came out quite a bit cheaper that way.
BUT, if you were to build a single-boiler, a used carbonator with tank would be a great start (and probably under $100). The tanks are stainless, and the pumps are usually set to 250 psi, so 130 would be no problem. You'd just need a solenoid valve, an element, and a group.
I bought a used carbonator (without the tank), because it came out quite a bit cheaper that way.
BUT, if you were to build a single-boiler, a used carbonator with tank would be a great start (and probably under $100). The tanks are stainless, and the pumps are usually set to 250 psi, so 130 would be no problem. You'd just need a solenoid valve, an element, and a group.