Gear

Espresso · Gear

Lamp espresso

Hand-made espresso: you, or a pier, generate the pressure with a lever. A lot of control and no bomb.

Indicative price
€150–1500
Capacity
1 taza
Grind
Fine

In a lever machine there is no pump: the pressure comes out of your arm or a spring that is compressed when the lever is down. Some heat water in a boiler, such as the La Pavoni; others, such as the Flair or the Cafelat Robot, are completely manual and the water is heated apart, in a kettle.

So you control the pressure during all the extraction: you can start soft to predamp the coffee and then climb up. The recipe is the usual, 18 g of fine coffee for about 36 g of drink in 25-30 seconds, but the pressure profile is decided by you.

  • For real espresso, no bomb or noise.
  • In favour: the manuals are very durable and easy to repair.
  • In favour: fine pressure control.
  • Against: more work per cup.
  • Against: the manuals do not vaporize milk; you need a separate foam.

Guidance prices from €150 to €1,500: manuals start at about €150-350; boiler prices cost more. See that he has a manometer to see the pressure and that the group can preheat. Like any espresso, you need a fine grinder.

Cheapest alternative: a portable espresso, which works with the same small idea.

This coffee bar runs on coffee… literally. And the odd ko‑fi.

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