malfet Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Jan 26, 2008, 6:28am Subject: Non-electric boiler?
Hello, I've been lurking in the forums these past few weeks. There's a lot of knowledge here, so thanks to everyone for that.
I have a perhaps unusual question: I'm looking for a high-quality espresso machine that doesn't use electricity. I suppose that means a lever machine that either comes pre-built with a kerosene or propane heating unit (unlikely) or a machine with boiler/piping design that lends itself to some kind of a custom by-pass hack.
Some background: I run a coffee shop in Kathmandu, Nepal, a place without terribly reliable electricity. I'm not talking about occasional brown-outs. In the wintertime, if 12 out of every 24 hours have power, that's a good day :)
The coffee thing is starting to kick off here and, though things have been going quite well with french presses and mokas, I'd really like to get into serving some real espresso. Unfortunately, if I need constant electricity, it ain't going to happen. The added benefit of course is that a fully manual setup would be a great sight to see and might get more people into good coffee (in a land where instant nescafe is king, no less).
For commercial duty propane powered machines are available. Used and new propane power seems to be restricted to lever machines. A google search for propane espresso machines gives a lot of results. You could look on ebay or other sites like ebay.
johnnyguitar Senior Member Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Location: idaho Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Jan 26, 2008, 12:06pm Subject: Re: Non-electric boiler?
Hello!
We have a friend who runs his Astoria lever (a rather vintage model lever machine) from a tank of propane. It is a commercial 2 group machine, and I'm sure he had to make a few adjustments to use the bottled propane, but it works quite well! He is in the process (a very long, long, mostly single handed process) of restoring an old hotel, but he wanted espresso sooner, rather than later.
On a much smaller scale, we have a La Peppina that we use - it is an open boiler lever machine, that we can use as a pour through - meaning boil the water, and pour it into the kettle, then make the espresso. A Caravel would work this way as well. We lose power only occasionally here in North Idaho, but when that happens, I still want my morning cup!
channo Senior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 5 Location: france Expertise: Professional
Espresso: GAGGIA classica (1947) Grinder: MAZZER (1952) Vac Pot: general electric 1936... Drip: MELIOR(france) Roaster: antic roaster 1850
Posted Sun Jan 27, 2008, 7:10am Subject: Re: Non-electric boiler?
hello is possible utilisation to gas for a level machine so propane or butane. the coffee like gas because the temperature is more stabilisation like electric mrgnomer give to you good address to ebay for occasion material. exist new material on big manufacture : pavoni,cimbali,san marco ect.... the machine is possible in "mixed" gas and electric. bye
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2008, 6:54am Subject: Re: Non-electric boiler?
Why not just get a small generator large enough to power the espresso machine, could run on gasoline, propane, or diesel, whichever is more readily available.
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