Need Espresso Machine!!!

[talllatte]

What is the problem with your Francis Francis machine? They are really simple to work on.

[petrm]

I use "La Pavoni", Italian made hand-press espresso machine. It makes espresso, latte and capucino much better than you can buy at any of the HK coffee shops.

My machine is actually made for the US market with 120 voltage. One of these days I will reorder another La Pavoni for the 220 voltage.

These La Pavonis are not cheap, about $500 USD, but well worth it!

Whenever I drink coffe at Pacific Coffee, I suffer. I boycott Starsucks!

[talllatte]

Those small Pavonis are really tricky to use well. Also they overheat after making 1 maybe 2 shots which isn't good for the coffee. I agree that it is possible to get a good drink out of them but a pump machine is a better bet.

The machine is so simple inside you can just replace the 110V element with a 220V, no need to buy an entire new machine.

[pearlgirl]

My broiler is leaking water, like a fountain, coming out from all sides! And when they took it to repair, they told me they can only replace brass broilers and not aluminum!

I have been looking at the Delonghi model which I don't have the model no.s right now (with the heating milk chamber) and the Krups one that is pretty simple (and cheaper). Both at City Super, around $2600 and 2000. Any thoughts?

[talllatte]

Well if the boiler is cracked then it is toast. The early FF machines used aluminium boilers, then after a few probs they switched to steel and again after probs switched now to marine brass.

Really for any few thousand $ machine the internal components and performance are all the same. It is poss to get a good drink from them but only with a decent >$3k grinder.

[boblam07]

http://www.coffeeclub.hk/promotion.htm

Maybe I'm a bit late on this one but if you want to get a decent coffee machine, try this shop out. I got my Solis 166/Starbucks Barista Grinder, Dualit Grinder from this shop at around HK$950 + two 1lb bags of coffee.

The shop is sort of accessible via MTR though you need to walk a bit. I think the direction from www.centamap.com help.

Call ahead and ask them how to go there.