sbandcb Senior Member Joined: 1 Jun 2009 Posts: 22 Location: CA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Apr 10, 2012, 7:03pm Subject: What to do with a Brasilia Portofino?
A friend of mine who owns a coffee shop knew I wanted to upgrade my home system. He offered me his old one. It is a Brasilia Portofino, 2 Group, Dig, 1997. It has been sitting for a while but he says everything is working. I didn't realize what I was getting. I thought it was a double boiler home machine but this is a commercial size machine (there is a bit of a language barrier :). Anyway, I am trying to decide what to do with this thing. Is it worth restoring? Is it better just to sell it and get a smaller home machine? I have no idea what it might even be worth? Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Posted Tue Apr 10, 2012, 8:01pm Subject: Re: What to do with a Brasilia Portofino?
It will have to be run on 220 so it will need a dedicated circuit. It will also take quite some time to stabilize at brew temp, and probably is designed to be left on 24/7. And it's big. Did you buy it already?
sbandcb Senior Member Joined: 1 Jun 2009 Posts: 22 Location: CA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Apr 10, 2012, 8:44pm Subject: Re: What to do with a Brasilia Portofino?
Yes, I have the machine already. I have been reading up on them and I think it is much more machine than I am looking for. Is this something I could sell on ebay? Do you have any idea how much to ask?
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,642 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Apr 10, 2012, 10:08pm Subject: Re: What to do with a Brasilia Portofino?
Specifications Model Width Depth Height Weight Boiler Capacity Heater Electrical Portofino America Del-2 20" 20" 20" 108 lbs 6 liter 2400 watts 220 volt 20 amp
It is a very nice machine. I have an older two group myself and it performs excellent. It may be a bit large for a kitchen though LOL, well most kitchens anyway.
I have a slightly larger one though, not the compact listed above. One day you might get bitten hard enough to want this machine but I can see how you might be a little overwhelmed if what you were expecting was a starter sized home unit such as you see in department stores.
It will not ship well and would likely be a local sale if you choose to sell it. Where are you, perhaps someone here might "want to help you out" LOL!
It 's value will depend on condition and market.
It is a HX machine and they are my preferred style of machine. What do you have now that you are "upgrading" from?
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
sbandcb Senior Member Joined: 1 Jun 2009 Posts: 22 Location: CA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Apr 10, 2012, 10:33pm Subject: Re: What to do with a Brasilia Portofino?
fcrn, that made me LOL.
calblacksmith, I currently have a Rancilio Sylvia and I love it except when my entire family comes over for a party or something and I am trying to make 8 lattes. lol.
I was excited to get something that was a HX or Double Boiler machine but the more I have read tonight the more clear it is that this is going to be more than I can take on. I don't even have 220 in my very small kitchen.
I was excited to get something that was a HX or Double Boiler machine but the more I have read tonight the more clear it is that this is going to be more than I can take on.
A 2-group machine is a BIG thing for anyone to have in their kitchen, but there is no way around the need for that sucker to have 220v. So, yes -- sell it on eBay/craigslist/whatever . . . if you are a good "tinkerer," restore it first and you'll get a better price -- but, unless you enjoy that sort of thing, forget it and sell it "as is."
As for what sort of machine you should get/need vis-a-vis an upgrade, let's start with the
Standard Questions: 1) What kind of drinks do you like/want to make? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's capabilities.) 2) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself needing to make at ay one time? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's ability to work continuously.) 3) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself making in any given week? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's durability.) 4) Can you plumb a machine directly into the water supply, or do you want/need a pourover machine with its own reservoir? 5) Do you have a 20-amp circuit available, or only a (standard) 15-amp circuit? 6) What is your budget for a new machine? Does that also include a grinder? If not, what is your budget for a grinder?
sbandcb Senior Member Joined: 1 Jun 2009 Posts: 22 Location: CA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 8:48am Subject: Re: What to do with a Brasilia Portofino?
Thanks for the reply. I have an Ascaso iSteel Grinder and it has been great.
Here are the answers to your questions:
(1) I make espresso shots, capps, lattes and americanos.
(2 and 3) I have at least a couple of times a month where I have guests or family and need to make 8 - 10 drinks. In addition to the above, I would usually make about 30 drinks a week. This is why I was hoping to find a double boiler or HX machine.
(4) I could but it isn't absolutely necessary.
(5) I am not sure on this but I can try to find out.
(6) I have looked at several machines...the Alex Duetto, The Rocket (Espresso Giotto) and the Expobar are the kinds I have been looking at.
All of them are out of my price range which is why I landed on the Sylvia. I would need to sell my Sylvia and the Brasilia for enough to get within a couple hundred bucks of the new machine (or used but new to me).
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