Time to move on... to something new!

Lacehim

I've got itchy feet and feel it's time to move on from my lovely lusso for various reason. Any suggestions? Money is a bit tight with adding $14K of solar to the house, with the lusso sold, I would say maybe 2k max. Otherwise the wife (bread winner) will be on my case.

I like quiet (read I love levers), fairly small, easy to maintain, and makes a damn good cup. Tank or plumb is ok. Does need steam & HW though.

Any suggestions folk? I was nearly tempted by the Grimac La Uno on ebay for $800, it's just down the road from me but I know nothing about them or how old it is.

I will be keeping my lovely Vario.

beanflying

How are you off for bench space? Rotary pumped single group commercials will all go for well under $2k secondhand. Not all are that huge either 😉 Look for one with a 3l boiler rather than a 5l to keep the size down. It is either that or trawl the bay of evil and maybe get lucky in the next year? My one group was 18 months in the waiting and I had the $ sitting there at the time. Happy dreaming/browsing/buying 🙂

Kelsey

Maybe a project? There's a two-group La Cimbali lever in need of some love in Melbourne on eBay.

beanflying

Kelsey wrote:

Maybe a project? There's a two-group La Cimbali lever in need of some love in Melbourne on eBay.

I reckon he would actually come in under budget so as it will 'save' you money I think you should :thumb: :rofl:

UNM

that cimbali looks very like one sold not long ago as having been in storage for years.

Koffee_Kosmo

Not sure what to advise because if you get a fixer upper, it's not hard to blow ones budget due to unforeseen items If you are thinking of a used machine it would be preferable to get a near new machine KK

Brett_H

Lacheim, if you haven't played with a Strega you probably need to. I'm suffering a serious case of what ifs... They are a bit over ya price but you probably need to know. Remember, this could potentially be your last upgrade for 10.... months :rofl:

Lacehim

A fixer upper just won't work at the moment due to lack of time/space, and to be honest a 2 group is just too big because i'm the only one that drinks coffee in our house. The Strega is on my list, but has a pump which just puts me off. I might have to get a demo sometime, but getting to Brisbane is pretty hard these days.

Kelsey

I'll let you know when I'm heading up to pick up Betsy. If you don't mind a few non-coffee related diversions you're welcome to join me.

derrilex

Ahhh, you know you're gunna get a sweet strega brew at Chris's Kelsey. Lacehim wont be able to help himself :rofl:

Kelsey

I've found that even relatively poorly prepared shots work out pretty well on the Strega. I was impressed with the results I've gotten out of it the few times I played with it.

beanflying

Lacehim wrote:

The Strega is on my list, but has a pump which just puts me off. I might have to get a demo sometime, but getting to Brisbane is pretty hard these days.

Depumping it and plumbing it in is fairly simple if the non pump variety still isn't available locally. Pressure reducing valve, 240V solenoid in place of pump job fairly much done.

Lacehim

Ok. Not a lever but quiet maybe. There's a Bezzera BZ35e down the road from me on eBay. Any thoughts about this machine? Can it be run off a tank until I can plumb it in? He got it listed at $950, he's had it 3 years, services 12 months ago, and running ok. From what I've got off google these are a rotary pump. Not sure what amps they pull though.

beanflying

Rotary pumps with a check valve at the tank will be happy pulling from an under bench tank if needed. Just need to prime them in the first instance so the pump doesn't run dry. ??? Being a single group it will be under 10A and if it has 3 legs on the element then AM or a similar electrical type could drop one out for you (really doesn't save money) .

UNM

Bean Flying wrote:

Being a single group it will be under 10A and if it has 3 legs on the element then AM or a similar electrical type could drop one out for you (really doesn't save money) .

Main saving on lower current draw is in rewiring costs for the bigger beasties - installing 15 or 20amp circuits can get expensive. Running costs are MARGINALLY lower on de-rated elements as the heating time is longer, which changes the duty cycle a bit. Very little in it though.

Lacehim

So is the bz35e any good? It looks like KKs bz40 is design so is this 35e an older model? Any idea when they where made? Anything I should look out for if I go take a looky.

Koffee_Kosmo

Lacehim wrote:

So is the bz35e any good? It looks like KKs bz40 is design so is this 35e an older model? Any idea when they where made? Anything I should look out for if I go take a looky.

It's a good machine and a similar spec to the BZ40 Just has a smaller boiler, one element, and a single gauge The rest is the same KK

Kelsey

Anger Management wrote:

Further more, when it comes to a gathering and 6 or so coffee's needed ASAP. Then the Cremina and I can not cope.

Please explain... I'm finding that we're starting to have a bit of a social life, so the 'multiple coffees' thing is starting to be important to me too. Was very glad of the BZ99 this weekend just gone.

Lacehim

I have no social life! :rofl: Maybe I should go back to nescafe?

Koffee_Kosmo

One of the reasons I got the Strega is that it performers like a prosumer machine and has that lever goodness