SpruitCommuter

There are also DIY ideas here: http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/no-more-guesswork-naked-truth-of-e61-temperature-revealed-t319.html

As I understand the Linea Mini is a dual-boiler design with a PID (this is what you're using to set the temperature I presume). The grouphead design is also significantly different from the E61 - it's known as a saturated grouphead. Because of these design features the Linea will have far more temperature stability than a heat-exchanger E61 design. Have a look here: http://www.clivecoffee.com/learn/2012/05/e61-vs-saturated-brew-groups/ The HX E61 design is what requires the flush/temperature surfing: Quoting from here: http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/some-thoughts-on-heat-exchanger-vs-double-boiler-espresso-machines-t9682.html Heat exchanger (HX) machines, like levers, have a single boiler that is kept at steam temperature. Fresh, cool water is drawn through a heat exchanger and flash-heated to brew temperature. The heat exchanger is a thin tube of metal that runs through the boiler. The large volume of hot boiler water, typically at least ten-fold greater than the volume of the heat exchanger, heats the brew water on the fly as the shot is pulled. Double boiler (DB) machines take a brute force approach to temperature management. Need water at two different temperatures? Fine, let's just put two separate boilers in the machine. The brew boiler is kept at brew temperature, and the steam boiler at steam temperature. Primary disadvantages are additional cost and power requirements.

If you have a traditional E61 grouphead you can place an appropriately constructed/modified thermometer into the grouphead by removing the nut marked as plug in the attached diagram. check out http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/monitoring-brew-temperature-e61-silvia-t1352.html Alternatively you can attach a themocouple thermometer to the outside of the group - though this will only give you a proxy for the temperature of the whole grouphead...

I picked up a 1980s La Pavoni Europiccola off Gumtree - in pretty good nick. They seem pop up occasionally with a very wide range of prices. I paid R2700 for mine six months ago, but I have seen a couple of La Pavoni Professionals being offered for R10k or more. e.g. http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-coffee-makers/lansdowne/vintage-1959-caferina-dp-milano-la-pavoni/1001749764240910255633009

Going from memory and the images here: http://radventure.cc/cotic-soul-searching/ I would say about 110 x 65 x 25 cm http://radventure.cc/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/SM_CoticRoadRat_Green-9401.jpg

A friend of mine here in Jhb is taking this - so not available any more unfortunately

I'm looking to sell my Gaggia Classic. Any thoughts about what should I be asking for it? It's in good condition (newish group gasket) and I've backflushed regularly etc. It has a naked portafilter with 21g and 14g baskets. I've changed the steam wand out for a Rancilio Silvia one which works much better. I have also have a thermometer hooked up to the boiler to give better information about when to brew. Any interest/any suggestions about what I should ask for it? Some pictures:

Here's one of my ongoing espresso projects - It's a 1980s La Pavoni Europiccola I picked up on gumtree. I had the base chromed (was mild steel painted with brown enamel) and made the wooden bits, also chopped the portafilter. The fins around the grouphead are supposed to stop it overheating (it's an LED heatsink I chopped a section out of) - not 100% convinced about this, but thought I'd give it a go. Boiler cap is missing from this picture - also wood. I have a Pressure gauge en-route from eBay. Fun project. I got some tasty espressos out of it yesterday, though my lever technique needs some work...

Left Facebook a few years ago so that must be why I missed them

Does anyone know of a South African coffee/espresso forum? I frequently read threads and articles on http://www.home-barista.com/, http://coffeegeek.com/ and http://www.gaggiausersgroup.com/ mostly to get ideas about modding, repairing and maintaining my espresso machines. These resources are very useful, but not really when it comes to advice on sourcing spares etc locally and advertising and looking for second hand machines. Are there any local equivalents - this thread is certainly the most active SA coffee discussion I've come across, but that probably doesn't mean much.

#beanmachine

#jellylegs

Had this awesome person jump the red light as I was starting to cross the intersection in from of him/her. Note that in this still the light is green for traffic travelling into the intersection from the left of the picture (and consequently has been red for some time for the Audi already).

Here are some more pictures and the list of parts I used for my Cotic Escapade singlespeed build: On One Midge bars 110m 10 degree aluminium stem FSA Orbit MX headset Shimano Alfine FC-S500 Crankset (39t) SRAM single speed / BMX chain On One chain tug On One single speed spacers On One Groove Armada sproket (17t) Shimano PDM 520 pedals Shimano BR-CX77 cable actuated disc brakes Tektro RL340 aero brake levers Shimano SLX RT66 rotors (160mm front and back) Vittoria Creed Wheelset 40mm On One gravel road tyres - set up tubeless Selle Royal saddle Ritchey alloy 27.2 x 350mm seatpost

Will post some more pics when I've got it set up properly and put bar tape on.

Here's my new singlespeed Cotic Escapade build. My dog seems to like it

I also have a classic - in the end I just ended up ordering a bottomless portafilter and steam wand from ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GAGGIA-Bottomless-filter-holder-portafilter-with-3-cup-filter-steam-pipe-/141290201599?hash=item20e58d61ff The other thing that I have found pretty useful was getting a digital meat thermometer - something like this:http://www.yuppiechef.com/gefu.htm?id=7866&name=Gefu-Tempere-Digital-Thermometer cutting open the tube around the probe and placing the probe right next to the boiler to get a proxy for the internal temperature so I can figure out where in the Gaggia's rollercoaster heating and cooling cycle I am...