Fresh from firing up the Rev. Jim Schulman yesterday after we threw rocks through his glass temple to Strega, we thought we might as well finish the week with more of the same, because what comes next is for those of you who love espresso machines with heat exchangers and E61 groups, but wished you didn’t need to always engage in the ritual of a cooling flush
Below are 3 excellent machines, all with forged brass E61 groups, not a lever in sight, that have a properly engineered heat exchanger with a thermo-siphon incorporated into the design so they do not require a cooling flush
The 3 machines are;
None of these machines are expensive, yet the engineering that lies beneath is exceptional and frees you from the idol worship of the cooling flush that almost every other espresso machine with a heat exchanger demands from you
Every one of these machines is made in the UK, not just assembled
They have so much power you can open the steam wand wide open and run the pump and it maintains full steam pressure and correct coffee extraction temp unlike you run out of water and the low water level sensors shut down the party
Before you dismiss them out of hand because they are a brand you may not be familiar with, try one
Shouting out on the coffee forums to those who already own these machines would be one way to get some answers if you live outside the UK and have never heard of any of these machines before
If you are looking for the best engineered E61 machine, that produces espresso every bit as what you will get in a cafe, one of these machines is for you
There is a substantial, and growing, worldwide dealer network for these machines, stretching as far afield as Australia