(1) (adjustable) Capillary thermostat for the brewing temperature (2) bulb for the thermostat is placed in the middle of the boiler (3) brass boiler looks to be abut the size of Silvia's to ECM Botticelli's boiler (4) copper pipes for water flow under pressure (5) metal shield between boiler and pump and main body of the capillary thermostat (cool means longer life)
From the parts diagram and a common heating element wattage, I suspect that the Elektra is using the same boiler/group as the Brasilia Club. That would put the size of the boiler to be roughly the same size as the Silvia boiler.
johnjacques Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Salvatore Famosa / Elektra... Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013, 9:11am Subject: Re: Elektra Mini Vertical
Yes, they are gorgeous. Better looking even than the Semiautomatica. A real mini Belle Epoque. The issue is that it's not a HX machine but a straightforward single boiler. There must be reasons for this but it makes the Semiautomatica a no-brainer at $600 less. If it had the same internals as the SA, I'd happily pay that $600 for the even prettier bodywork.
Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013, 11:35am Subject: Re: Elektra Mini Vertical - disappointing
KGCafe Said:
This machine was bought in Dubai. When I asked about after sales service, the saleswoman said "Don't worry about that, Elektras never pack up", and anyway we have the expertise. Bought the machine, it ran well for a while. One thing that did initially disappoint was that for such a Chromed beauty (I bought the chrome version), the water tank is cheap plastic, hidden of course by the dome with Eagle atop. Anyway, after a couple of the months the espresso shots started coming out without any crema. The shop took it back, "fixed it" and gave it back to me. Same problem with lack of crema. Unfortunately by this time I'd brought the machine to India so couldn't go back to Dubai shop to complain. Anyway, sent a few emails to Elektra asking about service in India and or even at least a service manual - to no avail. Now the machine doesn't even switch on, and no reply from Elektra on anything. Won't be buying Elektra again...
Just to note, Italian espresso machine manufacturers do not provide end user warranty. This is up to the dealer you purchased from. This is why
a) the choice of the dealer should be an important factor in the purchase decision as it will be the dealer providing support and warranty, and b) this is one reason we do not export equipment (at the time of this writing) outside the USA as our ability to service our customers to our standards would be very challenging (time zones, language, etc) and the sale of one machine here or there is not worth damaging our reputation.
Sincerely, Jim Piccinich Business Partner 1st-line Equipment, LLC www.1st-line.com
johnjacques Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Salvatore Famosa / Elektra... Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013, 11:52am Subject: Re: Elektra Mini Vertical - disappointing
Jim's absolutely correct, of course, and you really shouldn't abandon Elektra because of the lack of factory support. One of my two current machines is a twenty five year old and as best I can judge unrestored Semiautomatica. Unrestored because it simply hasn't needed any restoration. The build quality is excellent and long-term reliability speaks for itself.
KGCafe Senior Member Joined: 23 Jan 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Mumbai Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Rancilio Classe 6 Compact,... Grinder: Mahlkonig automatic,...
Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013, 6:56am Subject: Re: Elektra Mini Vertical - disappointing
@1stline - I understand that Elektra does not service it's own warranty, but that the dealer does. In my case the dealer did a bad job with that service, so to me this reflects partly on the dealer, but equally on Elektra for lack of adequate dealer training. In any event it's now post-warranty period and all I wanted was some communication from them with a service centre number or a parts diagram or some instructions. And what I get instead is no reply from the company. It's worth mentioning here that the product has now completely stopped working. For a product that is clearly in the top end of it's segment pricewise and purports to be a design piece that would last you decades, this lack of customer service to me is unacceptable. They could have just put the aforementioned information up on their website but haven't done so.
The fact that 1stline doesn't just sell where they can't support is commendable, and reflects well on 1stline. You also have a great website. Any help in the direction of the diagrams, online repair videos, instructions, etc would be appreciated as I still want to get this machine fixed and will try myself - just too expensive to have this pretty sculpture occupying space in my kitchen...
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