Any opinions on this machine? Is it too good to be true since it has a burr grinder built in? There are a few consumer reviews on CoffeeGeek, but not enough for me to make a decision to buy or stay away from it.
joesmells Senior Member Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 1 Location: colorado Expertise: Pro Barista
Posted Wed Sep 12, 2007, 7:24pm Subject: One group machines
I am trying to find a one group machine for a small coffee catering company I'm starting. I need something with an internal pump and water tank, but I still want it to be manual, and I don't want to spend more than $2500. I also need something commercial grade that can stem milk fast and pour a great shot at the same time. I'm looking at the Pasquini Livia 90, and the Rancilio Epoca. Any comments, suggestions or recommendations? I'd really appreciate it!
It's a nice macine for the money 57 mm portafilter, 6 ounce brass boiler, stepless grinder (I believe) with the same burrset as the nemox lux ibertal conical etc. I do not know if it has an Overpressure release valve.
the Nemox caffe del opera has similar main components and the lelit pl0-41 and the nemox fenice have similar components and no grinder. Do not keep coffee in the hopper it will get warm and spoil.
Alan, I am curious as to why you chose Lelit vs the Nemox brand for resale? Does Nemox also come out of Gemme?
You said that at one time there were 3 manufacturers of these lookalikes, would you know where the Salda brand fits into this picture? They also made a Junior and Napoletana models.
I have been nursing along a "Napoletana By Salda Italy" since I found it on ebay in 2005. It's an older but fantastic PL042 equivalent, including stainless steel case and heating element, brass boiler, 3 way valve but only a 53mm portafilter. It also has the conical burr grinder which you can micro-fine adjust with a worm gear for infinite settings.
Late in the summer the boiler tube developed a crack. Optimistically, I bought a Lelit replacement from 1st-Line but it was about a 1/4 inch too short and had the wrong thread on one end. Edward Harris of partsguru.com kindly offered to have a replacement machined to fit the Salda.
But back to the original question, I would definitely buy another unit in this family, these combis are good value and feature rich. After breaking the aluminum portafilter handle on an earlier Krups Novo, I'm also convinced that the 3-way valve is essential. And unless you are inclined to leave it on all day, the built-in thermal separator will also keep the boiler heat away from the coffee in the hopper.
Salda was the original company, absorbed by Illy then renamed Quaha. This was sold & became Imat. Nemox is a separate company (as is Gemme/Lelit) but as for actual manufacturing, dunno right now. I'll tell you when I get back from Italy next month, because I'll be visiting Brescia after the HOST show.
Reason I went with Lelit was that the rights for Imat & Nemox were held by Lygon Imports, even though they weren't actually bringing the machines in at that stage. When Lelit sent me the initial test machine, it still had the Imat factory number on the base, which was a bit of a clue.
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