Coffeefreak Senior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Houston Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Carimali ITA BETA, La... Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: none Drip: Technivorm Thermo KB 741 Roaster: Ambex 2 kilo & 10 kilo
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 10:58am Subject: Newbie to buy Carimali
Found a slightly used unit down the street at a foodservice company. The owners daughter used it in a small town coffee shop that only lasted a few months. There is very lttle info on this unit but the maker has been around for a long time.
It is the same unit but the electrical must be different for the US market. It has a 15 amp 120 v cord which is good for 1500 watts continusly.
He has all the parts for direct plumb, manual, filter, wood based steel knock box
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 11:52am Subject: Re: Newbie to buy Carimali
Coffeefreak Said:
Found a slightly used unit down the street at a foodservice company. The owners daughter used it in a small town coffee shop that only lasted a few months. There is very lttle info on this unit but the maker has been around for a long time.
It is the same unit but the electrical must be different for the US market. It has a 15 amp 120 v cord which is good for 1500 watts continusly.
He has all the parts for direct plumb, manual, filter, wood based steel knock box
Apparently this is a single boiler presumably HX machine. At $900 used not a great bargin. Check out new ISOMAC's at Chris' coffee. The auto frother option underwhelms me. Finally, maintenance will be a problem without a dealer to back it up.
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 12:29pm Subject: Re: Newbie to buy Carimali
brokencup Said:
Bill,
Apparently this is a single boiler presumably HX machine. At $900 used not a great bargin. Check out new ISOMAC's at Chris' coffee. The auto frother option underwhelms me. Finally, maintenance will be a problem without a dealer to back it up.
My opinion (for what it's worth) is that machine looks like a very expensive full-blown commercial unit. My guess is the build quality is superior to the Isomacs (bear in mind that I am extremely pleased with my own Isomac). It's an automatic machine, some like them and some don't.
Personally, I like the little shelf and I can do without the frother thingy - I would just use the regular wand.
As for support, we are in Houston, TX and Sunbelt Imports is here, and they sell and service commercial machines for a living. I went to the store and the service guy has 20 years experience working on these things...
Now that I think of it, maybe it would be prudent to stop by there and see what they have in the store, and ask the service guy what he thinks of the Carimali.
Coffeefreak Senior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Houston Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Carimali ITA BETA, La... Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: none Drip: Technivorm Thermo KB 741 Roaster: Ambex 2 kilo & 10 kilo
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 3:12pm Subject: Re: Maybe !!!Newbie to buy Carimali
Jon I did check out Sunbelt, They have the Wega and Rancillio S machines. The wega does not compair in build quality, its more like the s27. I think the person said it sells for 3k, but I am not sure. I also do not know about the boiler. Its is etl and NSF aproved.
I do like the Isomac Tea, but I like the quality and the fact that it is a plumbed in system.
Brewmatic is the American Importer ,so I will call them Monday Morning. I will also go and futher inspect the unit ( bring my glasses ) and maybe take the top off and peak inside
I could offer him 750.00 which would make this a better deal ( huh Bob)
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 4:31pm Subject: Re: Maybe !!!Newbie to buy Carimali
Coffeefreak Said:
Jon I did check out Sunbelt, They have the Wega and Rancillio S machines. The wega does not compair in build quality, its more like the s27. I think the person said it sells for 3k, but I am not sure. I also do not know about the boiler. Its is etl and NSF aproved.
I do like the Isomac Tea, but I like the quality and the fact that it is a plumbed in system.
Yes - It does look to me like the Carimali is probably VERY well built...but I have never seen one up close. Like I said, it's probably superior to an Isomac.
WEGA Lyra (mini nova) goes for $1300 - $1800 generally for comparison.
koffeekev Senior Member Joined: 21 Jul 2002 Posts: 683 Location: Connecticut Expertise: Professional
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 5:31pm Subject: Re: Newbie to buy Carimali
This is a commercial machine and certainly worth all of the $900.00 asking price. With a 4 liter boiler this would be in the same league as the Wega Atlas not the Lyra. Make sure it is what they say it is and if it has no sign of mineral build up buy it and get a great deal. This machine can easily be the last machine you ever buy and if you don't like it you could sell it for $1500.00 all day long. Kevin
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 5:36pm Subject: Re: Maybe !!!Newbie to buy Carimali
You might print out the Isomac listing from Chris with the price of $899. Point out to the seller that that includes a new machine and 1 year warranty then make your offer. ;-))
Also, you might ask the seller about her maintainence arrangements. During her one year in business, she must have had someone maintaining her machine on a regular basis. Both coffee shops in my area receive monthly service calls to clean and calibrate their machines.
Kiwibean Senior Member Joined: 4 May 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Auckland New Zealand Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Carimali Alfa
Posted Sat Jul 31, 2004, 9:26pm Subject: Re: Newbie to buy Carimali
Wow, some one else with a Carimali. I bought a 2nd hand Carimali Afla a few mths back and finding information or reviews on these machines is very difficult as it seems they are not very widespread.
The machine I have is step down from the Eta and is a model they no longer make. The Alfa has a 2.5ltr boiler and a commercial group. Their is a ton of brass in these things, so they are very solid and consequently should hold a consistent temp. I can only imagine the Eta to be more solidly built.
The boiler comes up to temp fairly quickly but you need a while to heat the group. Once it is up to temp you pull many shots in a row and froth milk without a problem.
This was my first machine and haven't had any problems with it (once it had been cleaned and descaled, which the prev owner had never done).
As a newbie probably the biggest learning curve is frothing milk. With the size of the boiler on the Eta it will put out alot of steam, consequently milk froths very fast without alot of room for error.
When you look at the price I would factor in the price of a service to ensure all is well with the machine. Best to start off with the machine working correclty to factor out one part of the equation to great coffe while you are learning.
Posted Mon Aug 2, 2004, 3:15pm Subject: Re: Newbie to buy Carimali
I'd also say: go for it! I've just finished refurbig a commercial Carimali myself and I love it. Yes it's old but really solid - I love how when you lock and load the machine does not move about. And pour-over just gets to be a pain after a while.
According to Carimali, The group is actively heated:
"Coffee group heating by means of a heating element"
Coffeefreak Senior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Houston Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Carimali ITA BETA, La... Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: none Drip: Technivorm Thermo KB 741 Roaster: Ambex 2 kilo & 10 kilo
Posted Mon Aug 2, 2004, 6:15pm Subject: Re: Newbie to buy Carimali ( the saga continues )
I made an offer of 800.00 but did not here back from them. I also inspected inside the machine and it looked very clean and extremly well built. I did notice the tank had two heating elements, I assume this is an HX machine.
What I can not figure is the rating of 2300 watts @ 120v unless both elements can not come on at the same time. It uses a 15 amp cord which would be 1440 watt continuous or 1800 non. A 20a cord would be 2400 continuous or 1960 non. I requsted manuals from Brewmatic who is the USA distributor
They also told me the price is 4600.00 list on this machine.
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