I'm slowly cleaning out the massive amount of stuff that I have...there always seems to be more projects to pick up, but I have to get rid of the old to make room for the new. I have the following that I would like to find new homes for:
Bezzera Strega (tank model) - This has been replaced by what I hope to be the last heavy weight espresso machine that I buy for a while, a GS/3. I need to move this ASAP before I decide that its unique nature merits a permanent spot in the coffee lab. Right now the GS/3 is a much more valuable professional tool for me. For the truly inquisitive home barista I think that the Strega might be a better choice (certainly a better value). The depths and complexity of what it can do are absolutely unique. I have never found myself presented with a more interesting challenge, and I'm a little miffed that I need to let it go before having mastered it. Of course, there in lies the rub. The GS/3 is a tool for exploring the making of espresso. The Strega in a tool for exploring the making of espresso with a Strega. It's in immaculate condition. Although I would really like to find a local buyer for this one, I have all of the original packaging and will ship it double boxed via FedEx at the buyers cost. $1300 + shipping
La Cimbali Micro Cimbali (yellow-brown)- This is/was a restoration project that I just can't seem to get around to. It's in good working condition. It needs a PF, which is rather hard to find and probably the reason it has been low on my list of projects. $200 shipped
Vintage Pasquini Livietta (Olympia Maximatic rebrand, year unknown) - 54mm group, new FOT 1106 pump, adjustable OPV, stainless drip tray, no missing parts. $500 + shipping
La Pavoni Romantica PG-16 Millenium - This was replaced by BBHuell's more cosmetically pleasing PG-16, which now lives at a cafe in downtown LA. Allmost all brass including base and drip tray grate (the lever arm is brass finished steel, I don't know what the steam assembly pin is made out of). Wooden lever handle, PF handle, and steam knob. Good condition including the lacquer. Vacuum breaker in the boiler cap. Bayonet steam arm (compatible with frothing accessory). New piston seals, new group gasket. Working well. Although the brass is really not my taste and doesn't go well with anything else in my kitchen, this particular configuration of La Pavoni features makes for the best used LP (IMHO), especially for those taking their first steps into leverland. The pstat and gauge are nice convenience features. The big boiler provides enough water for a good amount of experimentation before having to depressurize and refill. The Millenium group is quite temp stable shot to shot, requiring only a small bit of cooling. The almost all brass construction means no rust , and rust is common in used LPs with steel bases. $500 + shipping
OE Pharos #253 - lightly used, in original box with all the original accessories. $200 + shipping
'76 La Pavoni Europiccola - brown base, rubber mat, three postition switch, regular bolt on group, new group seals, new drip tray grate. This is in pristine condition. It came to me with hardly any signs of use, and I just sort of added it to the collection. I've used it a hand full of times just to get a feel for this era of Europiccola. $300 shipped. Updated - Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/russelp/sets/72157631459594784/
Eureka MDM - This was one of my mod projects, but after frying a timer by not checking the specifics of its particular model I decided to save the timer mod for a big burr that could really use it. This is a 60mm light duty commercial grinder, actually made by NS. It's basically the MDX's little brother. It's in like-new condition. The burrs have maybe 50lbs on them. The only wear is some small paint wear on the front feet-things. $300 shipped
Bunn LPG - I can never nail down the right brew grinder. I thought this was it, but it's too "in between" for me. It doesn't single dose a effortlessly as certain big shop grinders. It isn't as space efficient as certain smaller grinders. Its a great grinder, some might say a good balance between shop and home, but its not for me. It's in excellent condition with new burrs. $200 shipped
Mahlkoenig Kenia - I don't really want to sell this, but I can't think of a way to fit it into my kitchen and when I mentioned to my wife that I was thinking of replacing it with a Vario W she whole-heartedly endorsed the plan. This is in almost perfection condition. It has new burrs. It is a monster of a grinder. $750 + shipping (if you dare to ship such a heavy thing). I have an extra set of burrs and if you want them I can include them for $50, although I don't know why you would need them unless you're buying this for commercial use.
Astra Gourmet Auto Pourover (G.A.P.) - This just got replaced by a Strega. As far as big HX machines go, this has been my favorite so far (I'm working on a Junior D1 and a commercial Elektra Deliziosa at the moment, I still prefer the GAP). It's huge, built like a tank, and is an outstanding performer. It has just about the best steam/hot water knobs that I have used (very similar to LM knobs), and if you steam a lot of milk, they are one your primary points of tactile interaction with a machine. It has a stainless water tank, which is a really nice step up from the plastic ones on the sub $2000 prosumer class machines. In general the stainless used throughout is a heavier gauge than on prosumer machines. It comes with single and double spout PFs that are rather beat up, and a nice shiney bottomless PF, and of course a single and a double basket. I just replaced the group gasket and the boiler gasket. It's 110v and runs off of my rather flakey 15amp wiring. It has a 4L boiler and an 1800w heating element. It has a regular dispersion screen, not the "self tamping" one. It's stainless inside and out (there is actually only one piece of non-stainless steel frame, which is about 1/8 of an inch thick and painted black, everything else is bolted to a stainless steel "sled" with stainless brackets). It has a full size Procon rotary pump. It has a commercial Sirai pstat. More info here: http://www.astramfr.com/gourmet_auto_pourover.html At the moment I'm hoping for a local sale because this guy is big and heavy. At $1000 this is a boat load of machine for the money.
Other stuff:
Mazzer conical hopper w/ lid. I think this is from a Major. it is the previous style with the big black collar without the safety switch. It's not new but has gone largely un-used and is clean. $30 shipped
Mazzer grounds catch tray - this still have the protective film on the top. $35 shipped
Mazzer doser finger guard - $0 + shipping
Pasquini espresso cup + saucer x2. $20 + shipping
Lots of 58mm double baskets, most ridged, a variety of styles. $3 each + shipping
Gaggia Visacrem PF, single and double. $50 each
I have more stuff to get rid of, but its not all in order right now...I will try to add pictures, email me if there is something specific you want to see.
Listing Details Asking / Suggested Price: 300 Seller Name: Russel Philip Seller Location: Los Angeles Sale Type: For Sale
Hey, if you want to torture yourself who am I not to oblige. It you haven't used shop grinders and Mahlkoenigs in particular, the really sexy part if the deep industrial hum of the motor. It's similar to the sound of a good shop table saw motor. The grind is great, and instantaneous.
I added my Astra GAP to the clean out. It just got replaced by a Strega, which is more at home in the lever-lever-land that is my kitchen. At $1000 it's a serious deal on a machine that will last more or less forever. If you have the room (it's a pour-over, 110v, and runs off of 15amp lines, so space is the only real concern) I don't think you can do much better for the price.
So, I purchased something big (GS/3) and now I really need to get rid of all the extra stuff that's filling up my kitchen. Stuff that has to go includes an LP Romantica, Pasquini Livietta, and the Pharos that I never use. I also have a commercial Elektra Deliziosa (1group w/ external Procon, compact body) and a Cimbali Junior D1 that have been sitting around and could use a little sprucing up before going back into use. And some odds and ends.
I'm also thinking of selling of my Strega as I find I prefer using my various vintage levers. I feel bad selling something that I haven't yet mastered, but there is just so much detail in its use that I just don't have the time to fully appreciate it. I don't know how much I would want for it, but I would prefer a local sale.
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