Hoffman's latest video is fascinating: https://youtu.be/6Kv1e00rCbc I dare not visit that place lest I walk about with a EU6,000 Faema.

> @"SteveBRS"#p10787 Now where did I see that bargain again on fleabay…. It seems to me there are very few real bargains on fleabay now. Since JH did his espresso on a budget video even the humble Gaggia Classic seems to be way overpriced. > @"Systemic"#p10814 Atkinson’s Lancaster had the above Faema in their Halls coffee shop I remember that! …..and I used to love the aroma of coffee roasting that permeated the town on the days that Atkinsons exhausted their fumes directly out of the roaster into the street 🙂

Vintage Espresso machines

tompoland

Hoffman’s latest video is fascinating:

I dare not visit that place lest I walk about with a EU6,000 Faema.

SteveBRS

Yes, an interesting away from the kitchen video. Great restorations happening in that shop, a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner, and the museum a must visit IMO. Was that Faema the right choice? There was the finished later model at only 4k (plus shipping, VAT), but I suppose the earlier edition won him over, even if it’s a month’s wait for the restoration (quite fast really). And for JH it’s a business expense and not a hobby… nice position to be in really. Now where did I see that bargain again on fleabay….

Flat_Eric

SteveBRS Now where did I see that bargain again on fleabay….

It seems to me there are very few real bargains on fleabay now. Since JH did his espresso on a budget video even the humble Gaggia Classic seems to be way overpriced.

Systemic Atkinson’s Lancaster had the above Faema in their Halls coffee shop

I remember that! …..and I used to love the aroma of coffee roasting that permeated the town on the days that Atkinsons exhausted their fumes directly out of the roaster into the street 🙂

Cuprajake

The idea is nice, but they need to be fully restored

When the pressure relief went on my l1 that was enough to scare the living daylights out of me,

Loud bang, loads of steam and water shooting out all over the electrics. Scary stuff.

To boot most coffee stuff is outrageously expensive atm

Systemic

Atkinson’s Lancaster had the above Faema in their Halls coffee shop - had been fully restored but created a bottle neck at busy times so was moved to lab/test area. Looked stunning and produced fantastic espresso when the barista got it right. And there’s the thing. With modern state of the art high end commercial machines, the element of variability is reduced to virtually nothing once tuned in - will bang out perfect shots endlessly with no barista input needed skills-wise. Is that a good or a bad thing?

Systemic

Flat_Eric I remember that! …..and I used to love the aroma of coffee roasting that permeated the town on the days that Atkinsons exhausted their fumes directly out of the roaster into the street 🙂

Haven’t been back to Lancaster since Covid kicked off. They were still using that gas fired Uno roaster which vented on to the street. Think it’s 1948 vintage. Recall the owner, Ian, being warned by the previous owner to take great care as it was prone to catching fire. They have other bigger roasters at the back including a Loring which cost a bomb. Found this article which is worth a read.

https://dailycoffeenews.com/2015/08/26/a-century-old-uno-roaster-brought-back-to-life-will-breath-fire-again/

DavecUK

Systemic Sainsburys in West Byfleet (not there now of course), wooden floors sawdust manned counters (wasn’t a supermarket then…used to use a smallish Uno roaster. I was 3 years old and still remember the smell of roasting coffee wafting down the high street.

They didn’t roast so well but had that ability to produce lots of smoke…which smelt quite unique….