Lever Coffee Machines
 

The lever coffee machines are also known as piston espresso coffee machines or manual espresso machines, they are a great gift for the espresso enthusiast or culture buff.

These machines require a fair bit of practice to use, but once mastered the resulting espresso will definitely match, if not better, than that of your favorite cafe.

Buying considerations:

1. USE - you need to be strong enough to apply the necessary pressure when using the piston. The action involves pulling on the piston to force the water through the coffee grounds. Being consistent with every pull also requires practise and is necessary for good coffee every time.

2. WATER RESERVOIR - the lack of water reservoir means these machines are not very good for large gatherings.

3. MILK FROTHERS - most machines have a milk frother. Some come with an automatic milk frother.

4. MAINTENANCE - because these machines are usually chrome, brass or sometimes copper, they are difficult to keep shiny.

4. SAFETY - These machines should not be operated by youngsters.

Lever coffee machines have very little or none that can go wrong with them.

Why are Lever coffee machines superior to a pump driven machine (Hyperlink)?

The very low end and annoying espresso coffee machines utilize a cylinder to produce pressured boiled water which is then forced through the coffee grounds. This extremely hot water scalds the grounds and burn the coffee, its oils and aromas, resulting in a bitter espresso without the delicious taste of a decent brew.

The better machines solve this problem with a 15bar pump that forces hot water without boiling it through the coffee grounds. These machines have a thermal block that heats the water instantly and controls the temperature through the grounds.

Since the pump and thermal bloc take some wear and tear with usage they tend to break. If they do break always buy new with a warranty on it.

The lever or hand operated machines require a bit of muscle but they combine the best of both worlds:

- A large boiling cylinder large (800mls) that heats the water to produce steam.

-  The lever replaces the pump and you control the speed at which the water is forced through the coffee grounds.

- The larger and stronger mechanical parts in a lever machine result in a longer live versus the smaller parts in pump machines.

This boils down to how much money you are willing to part with for the love of coffee, because the lever coffee machines are rather expensive. On the other hand, you get what you pay for!

Lever Coffee Machines

La Pavoni Europicolla EO-8 Espresso Lever Coffee Machines

From la Pavoni, this Special Edition, lever-pull espresso machine is right out of an Italian coffeehouse. In Citrus Orange, the espresso maker has a20-ounce boiler capacity and makes eight 2-ounce cups of espresso - make one or two cups at a time.

An internal thermostat controls the pressure. The unit is nickel plated with a painted metal base and a solid chrome boiler. Made in Italy, it comes with an instructional video.

About la Pavoni: Since 1905, craftsman have built each la Pavoni machine by hand using only the finest materials. Superbly polished chrome or brass finishes accent the highly efficient design.

La Pavoni has set the standard for quality and style - stylish espresso machines found only in Old World cafes and now in your home or office. Each machine is designed to last for years. This does not include frother. 

Lever coffee machines User Review:

I have owned this machine (in chrome) for over ten years and everyday when I make my morning cappuccino I love it more. You can spend more for a machine that measures the coffee, tamps it, pulls the water through and steams the milk for you, but you can tip the kids behind the counter at Starbucks and they'll do the same thing. Making espresso should be a little art and a little science and this machine an impeccable balance of the two. If you aren't the kind of person who takes joy in mixing the perfect martini, making a risotto that whispers with flavor, or whipping a meringue to impossibly tall peaks, this probably isn't the machine for you.

The La Pavoni is for the person who will find tremendous joy in going to the lengths required to make a perfect cappuccino by hand everyday. (And don't bother using anything less than Illy Cafe coffee in it.) 

Illy roasted coffee beans. Box of six 8.8oz cans. (Link to Amazon.com store)

Gaggia 11400 Achille Espresso Lever Coffee Machines

The designers at Gaggia know a good thing when they see it. Just one look at this lever operated espresso machine and you'll journey back to the golden age of espresso, when Gaggia founder Achille Gaggia was king.

Beauty and function, old and new collide in this modern lever machine. Lower the lever to brew the perfect cup of coffee, then froth like a skilled barista with Achille's Turbo frothing wand.

This lever operated stainless steel espresso machine is simply elegant. It is equipped with a large capacity stainless steel boiler.

Lever coffee machines User Review:

I received this beautiful espresso machine in June. It is a stunning work of functional art. Out of the box it had two problems: a leak in the boiler water level gauge and the steam valve would not turn off completely. Read full review

 La Pavoni Professional PBB-16 Espresso Lever Coffee Machines

The la Pavoni Professional is a lever-pull espresso machine with a 38-ounce boiler capacity that makes sixteen 2-ounce cups of espresso - make one or two cups at a time. An internal thermostat controls the pressure.

The unit also features a mounted pressure gauge, a dual frothing cappuccino system and a re-set fuse. Nickel-plated with solid brass boilers. Comes with an instructional video.

 About la Pavoni: Since 1905, craftsman have built each la Pavoni machine by hand using only the finest materials. Superbly polished chrome or brass finishes accent the highly efficient design. la Pavoni has set the standard for quality and style - stylish espresso machines found only in Old World cafes and now in your home or office.

Each machine is designed to last for years.

Lever coffee machines User reviews:

Gorgeous machine that makes great espresso, this is my fourth espresso machine. I bought it after the La Pavoni "Carina" (that I bought from Zabars) started to get unreliable, and I decided I'd rather replace it than to put more money into the Carina ... and still face a week or two of drip coffee.
Read full review...
 

The classic espresso, also called a 'short black' forms the base of every coffee style. Proper espresso is made from freshly roasted beans that are measured in the correct amount, finely ground and firmly packed before being extracted under pressure. The result is an intense flavor - a rich concentration of coffee taste, color and aroma - topped with a dense golden brown foam called crèma.

Espresso and Other Coffee Styles

Coffee styles including long black, flat white, cappuccino, macchiato, latte, etc. can be made by varying the number of 'shots' of espresso, along with the amount of water and milk.

Making and Serving Espresso
One shot of espresso is made using approximately 6-7 grams of compacted, dark-roasted, finely ground coffee and 40-50ml of pressurized hot water (93-96 deg celsius) which is forced (pumped or steamed, depending on the espresso machine) through the coffee for at least 20 seconds. The resulting liquid is generally served black, in a 60ml pre-heated demitasse cup (an espresso), or with warmed frothy milk (a cappuccino).

Serve your espresso in a pre-heated demitasse cup.

Espresso Beans
Beans roasted especially for espresso are a particularly dark roast. We recommend whole beans, ground at home. Illy roasted coffee beans. Box of six 8.8oz cans. (Link to Amazon store)

For CoffeeSnoop.com tips for a great espresso coffee brewing with dark reddish-brown crema click here!

How to use gourmet coffee beans in coffee recipes

Buying Espresso Lever  Coffee Machines

Lever coffee machines can be bought at several of the online merchant sites in the World Wide Web. These include the more famous ones, like Amazon.com and eBay.

Make a quick search here for Lever coffee machines and gourmet coffee beans or visit our link sponsors below:

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