Our primary objective when deciding what kind of lever espresso machine we needed to build was; one that was easy for anyone who is already making espresso to use. i.e. anyone who is already grinding beans, dosing, tamping.
While we won’t deny that various lever machines on the market have a range of weaknesses, we strongly disagree with the oft heard comment that lever espresso machines are by definition difficult cantankerous and unpredictable beasts.
Londinium I is about going beyond simply disagreeing; it is about proving a point with lots of sound engineering paired with quality materials and workmanship.
There are very few absolutes in life but one of them is this; spring lever machines leave manual lever machines for dead for consistency of results.
That’s not that same as saying you can’t make great espresso with a manual lever, you certainly can, but we very much doubt even the most proficient manual lever machine user can come close to the consistency that a spring lever offers.
Please understand at this junction that the Olympia Cremina is a unique product for a niche audience. There is no other machine on the market that has as small a footprint, and yet offers the opportunity to make exceptional espresso. We don’t mind going on record saying it deserves to have a stainless steel chassis, rather than a powder coated mild steel one, given that it is sold under the motto ‘no compromises since 1928’. We could have built a copy for rather a lot less, but we want Londinium I to appeal to a much broader audience. We don’t want Londinium I to be intimidating in any way for relatively inexperienced espresso enthusiasts. All you need is a good grinder to pair with the Londinium I. We don’t want it to be a niche machine; it must appeal to those who are considering buying a high end pump machine.
It was immediately apparent when we first prepared espresso on the Bosco that it was consistently delivering espresso that was above and beyond what could be achieved with an Olympia Cremina. It does to espresso what an optical prism does to light – it allows you to taste each and every subtle taste buried deep within the roast. As the Americans used to say when building racing car engines; there is no substitute for cubic inches; its much the same with espresso machines – there’s no substitute for mass in the group. A 58mm group beats a 50mm group, even though the Cremina group delivers exceptional espresso for its size it simply can not compete with a ‘full fat’ commercial spring lever group.
When you start looking for spring lever espresso machines for home use the choice is somewhat limited; the Elektra ‘Micro Casa’ or the Ponte Vecchio ‘Export’ and ‘Lusso’ machines.
The Elektra micro casa is a lovely looking machine, but unfortunately it is very much built to a price and so the necessary engineering just isn’t there. The chain of events runs something like; the machine is too light, so therefore the spring has to be light (otherwise you pull the machine over when you pull the lever), and therefore you can’t create the really dense mouthfeel that to my mind at least is an essential characteristic of real espresso. The fact that not enough thought has gone into the way in which the group is mounted on the boiler means the group is prone to overheating.
Its much the same story with the Ponte Vecchio machines, only the build quality is poor. They also suffer from low shot volume, which nobody enjoys 😉
While all of these things are true, here’s where it goes wrong; people take the above observations and conclude that all lever espresso machines are temperamental, thermally unstable, pieces of junk that should be avoided at all costs. This is simply untrue, and a perception that we are working hard to correct with Londinium I.
If you have had espresso made for you on a commercial spring lever espresso machine, assuming the operator knows what they are doing, the espresso will have been divine. You will have remembered the taste of that shot for years.
It was at this point we knew there was a gap in the market for a machine that to the best of our knowledge has never been made; a properly engineered lever espresso machine for the home, and small businesses with a customer base that appreciate espresso excellence.
The key challenge is to get the finest spring lever group in the world onto a chassis with the smallest possible footprint without the whole thing tipping over when you use it. Its not easy, and we’re still looking for ways to reduce the size, in particular the width.
The second challenge, although less difficult than the first, is optimising the design of the thermosiphon to ensure the group sets new standards in thermal stability. We are well aware that it is possible to use this magnificent group, yet mount it to the boiler in a way which significantly comprises the performance of the group. You need an experienced mechanical engineer to get the very best out of this magnificent group. Small changes to the materials and distances used to mount this group to the boiler make a big difference to the thermal stability (i.e the performance) of this group.
Finally the fun part, which will be the bringing together of high quality materials with high standards of workmanship. We will not ship a single machine that has not been assembled with care. The market is already full of shiny espresso machines that glint on the outside, but lack the necessary engineering for consistently high performance in the cup, and exhibit a poor fit and finish.
The reality is an espresso machine for the home is a luxury good, it is not necessary for survival; it is very much a want rather than a need. The build quality will reflect the fact that you are spending your hard earned discretionary income; we promise that it will bring you pleasure and world class espresso for the rest of your life.
This is what Londinium I is all about. Nothing like this has been built before.
The closest thing we know of is the Quickmill Achille, which you might want to consider.