BakTaLo Senior Member Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Macau S.A.R, China Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Bezzera Strega Grinder: Pharos and Lido Vac Pot: Hario Drip: V60 and Clever Roaster: Quest M3
Posted Wed Mar 28, 2012, 8:11am Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
I bought a Strega and had it shipped to me in Macau SAR, China from Italy. What city do you live in China? Macau residents can only import one item with a value over $500 USD every six months, that rule may be different in the mainland.
I went through the same decision process as you, I got the Strega after reading about the issues with the Elektra overheating, I am very glad I did. I love the Strega, and I have had many days where I pull 9-10 shots in a row on the Strega, no overheating, and it does this while also providing very strong steaming for milk.
The Strega not only makes great tasting shots easily, it is also very well made, and easy to maintain, and I think it is very good looking. I am not a fan of the Elektra style, it is not a match for my home, they do make it in a silver or chrome color that I like more that the gold and bronze colored one I more commonly see.
accessd Senior Member Joined: 14 Mar 2012 Posts: 8 Location: China Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2012, 6:38am Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
joatmon Said:
Yu,
I had an MCaL for many years but have not used a Strega. The MCaL is hot to the touch because it is an exposed boiler. For me and my usage, I found the MCaL temperature management to be fairly easy. After brewing, if I wasn't going to brew another within a few minutes, I turned her off. The time to warm up when I needed another shot depended on how long it had been off. It was 10 minutes to warm from room temperature, and otherwise, I estimate it took about 1 minute for every 15 minutes it had been off. Don't let the temperature scare you. It's more manageable than you think.
Thank you Joat, I am very appreciate of your method of MCal. I think I am sure to buy elektra after some years.I really like it, it will be the indispensable collection of my coffee career,but not now.Because I have to buy them one by one,the reason both of my spare time energy and money~ In fact, I still have a little hesitate of the two machines.But anyway,I will make a good decision without regret.
accessd Senior Member Joined: 14 Mar 2012 Posts: 8 Location: China Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2012, 6:53am Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
BakTaLo Said:
I bought a Strega and had it shipped to me in Macau SAR, China from Italy. What city do you live in China? Macau residents can only import one item with a value over $500 USD every six months, that rule may be different in the mainland.
I went through the same decision process as you, I got the Strega after reading about the issues with the Elektra overheating, I am very glad I did. I love the Strega, and I have had many days where I pull 9-10 shots in a row on the Strega, no overheating, and it does this while also providing very strong steaming for milk.
The Strega not only makes great tasting shots easily, it is also very well made, and easy to maintain, and I think it is very good looking. I am not a fan of the Elektra style, it is not a match for my home, they do make it in a silver or chrome color that I like more that the gold and bronze colored one I more commonly see.
I really very pleased for you to have the Strega. You are in Macau,though we are in the same country,but there are too many differents rules between Macau and mainland.I am in Beijing,the tax of import is higher than Macau and Hongkong.and there is another law is that the electrical must achieve the 3C Certification.It's a really difficult task to pass the 3C.maybe it will cost much more money.So I have to find some way to make sure I can get the Strega in an easer way. And you are very lucky of in Macau.Maybe we can communication in Chinese? To enjoy your Strega and making wonderful espresso!
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2012, 7:12am Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
I've owned a Microcasa for 2.5 years & a Strega (tank version) for 3 months. I'd definitely recommend the Strega over the MCaL as it is a much more versatile machine that can produce very good to exceptional shots with little effort all day long.
I use the Strega primarily for my Single Origin espresso as I prefer the Strega's S/O shots over what I get from my Speedster. Alternatively I prefer the Speedster for blends. Haven't even turned on the Microcasa since buying the Strega as I much prefer the 58mm group & resulting shots. As for the Strega "cutting off the flavor peaks" I don't see that with my S/O shots, in fact just the opposite is true in my experience. It is possible to end up with the type of shot Denis describes if you grind too fine but using a grind very close to what I use in my Speedster I've had some truly exceptional shots.
As Jim states in his H-B review there are better basket choices available then what comes with the Strega so consider buying a few alternative baskets if you buy the Strega. I like the ridgeless HQ 14 & 18 (now called 21) from Espressoparts & Jim likes the microfine Faema style basket.
BakTaLo Senior Member Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Macau S.A.R, China Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Bezzera Strega Grinder: Pharos and Lido Vac Pot: Hario Drip: V60 and Clever Roaster: Quest M3
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2012, 10:22am Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
Well, we could have yours shipped to Macau, I could have someone carry it over the border to Zhuhai and then ship it domestically to Beijing, or you could drive down and take it back to Beijing by car, but that would be one serious road trip!
accessd Senior Member Joined: 14 Mar 2012 Posts: 8 Location: China Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Fri Mar 30, 2012, 8:05am Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
BakTaLo Said:
Well, we could have yours shipped to Macau, I could have someone carry it over the border to Zhuhai and then ship it domestically to Beijing, or you could drive down and take it back to Beijing by car, but that would be one serious road trip!
Good idea,but if we ship it from Macau to Zhuhai,it will must passing Customs.If the Customs workers unhappy the shipments will be impound. So it's a danger job. Do you have any idea to pass the Customs smoothly? I am not mean to tax avoidance,I just worry about if we can let the shipments pass the Customs.
Posted Sun Apr 1, 2012, 4:43pm Subject: Re: help,I am puzzled to choose BEZZERA Strega Lever or ELEKTRA leva.
Huiyang, these decisions are always difficult, but be at peace with the fact that either machine will yield delicious espresso. Personally, I believe the Strega "new" way to deliver consistency makes it a great choice, not to mention, there are excellent resources for advice. Try click here Watch, and re-watch Jim Schulman's videos! You won't find a better explanation of the Strega, how it works, and all the options you have.
2 other things. IMO, your Rocky will be fine, especially if you did the modification to your burr holder, to keep it stationary. And, it is not difficult to get consistent shots with a non spring lever. Not at all. Just some practice, and time to get to know your machine.
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