Restoration projects

Posted on September 21st, 2012

Restoration projects

creating functional classics

It could be argued that espresso machine design reached it’s peak in the workshops and foundries of northern Italy in the mid 20th century, and everything since then has been a bit boring! There’s a certain character about machines of that era that just exude flair, passion and artistry. And while not many of us are lucky enough to own a Gaggia Esportazione, Cimbali GranLuce, La Pavoni Concorso, La San Marco Lollobrigida or Faema Urania, it’s certainly true that any vintage coffee machine is eminently restorable to perfect working condition given enough love and attention.
Whether you’ve got an older second hand machine that you want to bring up to scratch for domestic or cafe use, or you’ve uncovered a gem in a forgotten corner of the garage, I can help you with either a complete restoration from start to finish, or a particular aspect if you’re doing most of the work yourself. My aim with restorations is always function before aesthetics – what’s the point having a shiny beautiful machine if it makes rubbish coffee or no coffee at all. After that, anything is possible including installing modern electrical systems, re-plating or re-manufacturing worn parts, re-spraying paintwork and reproducing original factory artwork. My preference and advice is always to preserve original finishes where possible, as this preserves character and adds value to the machine in the long term.

 

Naturally these hands-on processes can be very time consuming, and I assess and quote each restoration project as a flat labour fee plus expenses, according to the result you want to achieve.

Repairs and servicing

Posted on September 21st, 2012

Repairs and servicing

Keeping you extracting – commercial or domestic

Repairs and servicing are what I spend most of my waking hours on. When things aren’t working as they should, you need the problem rectified quickly so you can keep enjoying your equipment. With many years of experience working on all brands of commercial and domestic espresso equipment, I’ll ensure that you’re back up and running with the minimum of fuss – whether it’s as simple as changing a filter or adjusting pump pressure, right through to a major breakdown.

 

You’ll also get the kind of personal service and attention to detail that you can only expect from a dedicated individual. I want you to be happy with my work, and I’ll take the time to make sure that you are. Crucial to that is that I don’t just know machines, I know coffee and I can have a conversation with you about how different parameters in the machine affect the results, and look at your whole system including the machine, grinder, coffee and water source to identify issues that may not have been readily apparent.

 

For domestic equipment, if you are dropping off at my Northcote workshop location I aim for a 48 hr turnaround. Otherwise, an on-site call may be required if the equipment is hard to move, or in commercial use. See the FAQ page for more details.

 

For commercial clients, if it’s not a breakdown I’ll work with you to attend at a time that suits your business. The last thing you want is to be turning customers away because your machine’s out of action.

Improvements and modifications

Posted on September 21st, 2012

Improvements and modifications

Getting the best from your gear

While most domestic and commercial espresso equipment on the market is capable of achieving excellent results, there are occasions where better performance can be gained from making a few simple internal modifications. Through monitoring how the machine is behaving, we’d be able to assess what, if anything, could be gained in terms of temperature stability at the group or other usability improvements eg. better steam pressure, quicker recovery time etc. If you’ve got something in mind, I can tell you whether it’s going to A. give you the result you want, and B. remain safe and cost effective.

Thermosyphon Restrictors

In most cases, excessive group temperatures in traditional heat-exchanger machines can be controlled through the addition of a thermosyphon restrictor (a small disc with a precisely sized opening, placed into the heat exchanger) that is tuned to the particular temperature that you want to achieve. This allows you to lower the temperature at the group without losing steam pressure, and negating the need for a cooling flush. It’s a very simple but significant upgrade for most domestic E61-group machines that run hot – associated with burnt or bitter flavours in espresso and steam/spluttering from the group when the pump is activated.

Temperature studies, PID control and boiler upgrades

For the ultimate temperature control, some machines may benefit from replacing stock thermostats or pressurestats with modern PID hardware. This often has a dual benefit in terms of easy temperature adjustability, and long term reliability as digital controllers and associated devices have no moving parts.

Usability improvements

The list of possibilities are almost endless. If you’d like to improve your existing machine rather than upgrading, give me a call and we’ll see what can be done. Some suggestions to get you thinking:

  • Swapping steam and hot water wand locations
  • Upgrade to lever-activated steam valve or cool-touch wands
  • Custom steam tips for more usable steaming
  • Two-stage pre-infusion switch for semi-automatic solenoid groups
  • Upgraded heating element control system incorporating solid state relays for greater reliability
  • Adding auto-fill controllers to older manual fill machines
  • Plumb-in conversions for tank machines

Custom work

Posted on September 21st, 2012

Custom work

bespoke additions for your machine

From a simple naked group handle conversion to a full overhaul/upgrade and paint job, I can help you with any custom work – even custom panels, dual-boiler conversions or brew pressure control modifications, if you’ve got the vision for what you want, I can probably make it happen – depending on whether the result is going to remain functional and safe.
 

Some examples of custom work:

  • By far the most common, conversion to naked group handles. Machine-cut, beveled and polished, 100% accurate.
  • Pre-infusion control for solenoid group semi-automatic machines, domestic and commercial
  • Actively heated groups for fine control over brew temperature (dependent on group design)
  • Fabrication of new parts where the originals are unavailable – eg. lever pistons
  • Brazing new copper pipes and fittings to replace worn originals
  • Adding brew pressure gauge where none is provided
  • Custom handles in hardwood or delrin plastic

Again, just give me a call to discuss your ideas and we’ll see what can be done.