Espresso: Espresso Machines Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong?? Free Reg Barber Tamper Pre-order the Rancilio Silvia V3 before June 30th and receive a free RB tamper. www.idrinkcoffee.ca   Not Logged in: log in updated topics   new posts   new unanswered   search   faq   sign up   Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Buying an...   view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics showing page 1 of 2 last page next page Author Messages ELEKTRAMAN Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2003 Posts: 180 Location: UK Expertise: I live coffee Espresso: Elektra A3 Single Group! Grinder: Modified Mazzer Mini! Roaster: Hottop! (To be modified...) Posted Thu Nov 27, 2003, 3:45pm Subject: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   I'm about to buy an Elektra T1 single group (Home use). I've seen the machine and had a go of it, very impressed, particularly with the pressure it kicks out. It's also 2200 watts! It's very expensive and can retail for money that would buy a very good car. I'm a little nervous as to whether i'm making a mistake here. Anyone got a compelling reason why I should'nt buy it? (Reliability etc) You can view it at: www.elektrasrl.com/uk/bar/sixties/sixties.asp (the navigation on the site is bad, look out for the faint arrows!) There are only 2 people I know of in the uK who would supply it (La Macchinetta and Ferraris Coffee). I'd be glad of learning of other suppliers. Might be ordering it next week so info required is urgent! back to top ELEKTRAMAN Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2003 Posts: 180 Location: UK Expertise: I live coffee Espresso: Elektra A3 Single Group! Grinder: Modified Mazzer Mini! Roaster: Hottop! (To be modified...) Posted Thu Nov 27, 2003, 3:49pm Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   Still on the subject, anyone know a good resource to go to where you can compare espresso machine functionality i.e heating time, boiler pressure, output capacity etc? back to top ap_plano Senior Member Joined: 8 Aug 2003 Posts: 24 Location: plano Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Schaerer Ambiente, Euroca;... Grinder: Built-in Posted Sat Nov 29, 2003, 10:38pm Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   Just the price. I am somewhat familiar with construction, having completely taken apart and restored a 1991 T1:  http://sfsi2.home.comcast.net/Espresso/Elektra/parts-all.jpg  -- solid, straight-forward design.  Apparently La Deliziosa design has been successful, as it basically has not changed in 12 years.   I've seen the newest model close-up as well, and it is indeed a piece of art, which, as any art object, commands premium prices. As far as performance, I would not expect miracles -- it's a HX machine, and most HX machines have comparable characteristics. Al. back to top ELEKTRAMAN Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2003 Posts: 180 Location: UK Expertise: I live coffee Espresso: Elektra A3 Single Group! Grinder: Modified Mazzer Mini! Roaster: Hottop! (To be modified...) Posted Sun Nov 30, 2003, 3:24am Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   I found the frothing arm pressure massively different to my BZ99. As far as I know my BZ99 is a HX machine but the difference between the  2 is huge. Maybe it's to do with the wattage? The only double boiler machine I know of for home use is the LM Faema. Any others? In the UK a new T1 is about £2200 and more! Gotta be sure of what i'm doing! (Although I will be able to get it significant reduction.) back to top ap_plano Senior Member Joined: 8 Aug 2003 Posts: 24 Location: plano Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Schaerer Ambiente, Euroca;... Grinder: Built-in Posted Sun Nov 30, 2003, 7:30pm Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   It has to do w/both wattage and boiler size -- bz99's boiler is much smaller. I should have added to "most HX machines" ... " with similar boiler size, power & features." back to top Bdl Senior Member Joined: 20 Nov 2003 Posts: 11 Location: Oklahoma Expertise: I love coffee Grinder: Capresso Drip: Capresso MT 500 Roaster: Fresh Roast Plus 8 Posted Sun Nov 30, 2003, 8:44pm Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   If you can plumb in your machine you might check into the Reneka Techno.  It is a double boiler, rotary pump machine.  I don,t own one but the reviews are very good.  Price seems reasonable for what you get. www.reneka.com/en/        then click on "range" Bdl back to top ELEKTRAMAN Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2003 Posts: 180 Location: UK Expertise: I live coffee Espresso: Elektra A3 Single Group! Grinder: Modified Mazzer Mini! Roaster: Hottop! (To be modified...) Posted Mon Dec 1, 2003, 10:46am Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   thanks bdl - had a look, still considering.... back to top Irishman Senior Member Joined: 4 Jun 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Expertise: Just starting Espresso: Elektra Sixties - Single... Grinder: ECM Mini Posted Tue Dec 9, 2003, 3:03am Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   Hi BEZZERA, I bought an Elektra T1 in June and have never looked back... A few points to note. The web-site is a little bit out of date. The newer versions have chrome feet and a "Super-Silent" pump. (BTW: I find the machine anything but silent when the pump start's a pumpin!). The steam pressure is amazing - sometimes too amazing for my untrained self. It works best for me when I steam alot of milk - otherwise it just blasts the milk out of the jug. It can make OK coffee after being on for about 15 minutes - but it is far from warmed up.....I think it begins to make good coffee after 45 minute - 1 hour..... I don't have a electricity timer and so mornings I often find myself staring at the machine waiting for my 'caffine-fix'. I never had a plumbed-in machine before - it makes such a difference (once the initial pain of drilling sideboards/walls/complaining-neighbours phase is over). The machine is expensive - especially when you take into account the fulltime cleaning lady you will have to employ to polish the masses of chrome! Actually it is a pleasure to polish this machine - it is truly beautiful and exudes quality. I have the automatic T1 version where you just press a button and viola!....it's quite useful when you are steaming milk and pouring at the same time. There is also a 'start/stop' button so you can decide the volume/time. I read somewhere that Elektra have some of the most reliable electronics in the business...so repairs should be far and few between.... It is really well built - you might want to start thinking about who will inherit it from you! Best Regards, jb I put a few picures on the web for one of the other forum members - forgive me I had not cleaned it at the time! http://www.coffeebean.de/DSC02547.jpg http://www.coffeebean.de/DSC02548.jpg http://www.coffeebean.de/DSC02549.jpg back to top ELEKTRAMAN Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2003 Posts: 180 Location: UK Expertise: I live coffee Espresso: Elektra A3 Single Group! Grinder: Modified Mazzer Mini! Roaster: Hottop! (To be modified...) Posted Tue Dec 9, 2003, 3:14am Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   Hi Irishman You say exactly what I thought about the machine! The milk blasting out the jug was a novelty (I can see I'll need to refine my method of frothing milk). The boiler is a 6 Ltr one so i would imagine a 1 hour warmup time - no problem i use a timer At first I thought of buying the T1 I liked the semi auto bit. I was then informed it was volumetric not time driven which leads me to wondering how good an auto shot would be. I'm now nearly completely convinced the A3 is the one for me (Manual) it's also £100 cheaper (as if that makes a difference on a post £2000 machine). Incidentally where did you buy your machine and for how much? I'm looking at getting the machine for £1600 and may yet be able to wangle some serious discount through a friend in the biz. Also, what do you know about service agents for them in the UK? back to top Irishman Senior Member Joined: 4 Jun 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Expertise: Just starting Espresso: Elektra Sixties - Single... Grinder: ECM Mini Posted Tue Dec 9, 2003, 4:01am Subject: Re: Buying an Elektra - am I doing anything wrong??   Hi BEZZERA, I bought my machine in Germany (as I am living there)...got a great deal from an Elektra dealer who had ordered 'one too many' and did not want to hold it in stock...cost me < €2000..a once off unfortunately... I was concerned about a 6 ltr boiler..that it would take too long to heat up... ..but the 2200 watt heating element takes care of it....and the boiler (as far as I know) is only ever 1/2 full so it only has to heat up 3 Ltrs in reality... which is better news for the electricity bill.... Best of luck & let me know how you get along.....'microfoam' is still eluding me...."megafoam" is more the norm in this house... so I am very interested in your experiences here... Regards, jb back to top showing page 1 of 2 last page next page view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Buying an...   updated topics   new posts   new unanswered     search   faq   sign up   Not Logged in: log in Discussions Quick Jump: Select Espresso Discussions --Espresso Machines --Lever Espresso Machines --Grinders - Espresso --Espresso Mods and Restorations --Espresso Blends --Questions and Answers --Latte Art and Etching --Barista Jams Around the World --General Discussion Coffee Discussions --Machines and Brewing Methods --Home Roasting Talk --Questions and Answers --General Discussion Columns, How-Tos, and Reviews --Holiday Gift List Feedback --CoffeeGeek Columnist Feedback --Detailed Review Feedback --Products First Look Feedback --Quickshot Review Feedback --Guide Article Feedback --How-To Article Feedback --CoffeeGeek Podcast Feedback Members Forum --Bug Reports and Suggestions --Buy, Sell and Trade --Retail Coffee Jobs Offered / Wanted Ads --Coffee Recipes --Cafe and Bean Reviews --CoffeeGeek Site Info and News --General Off Topics World Regional --United States West --United States Central --United States East --Western Canada --Eastern Canada --United Kingdom --Western Europe --Eastern Europe, Nordic Countries, and Russia --Central and South America --Australia, New Zealand and Asia Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit      = No New Posts since last visit     = Newest post Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. 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