The photographs on these pages were taken by a
good friend -
using his Nikon CoolPix 990
__________________________________________________________________
I have long collected old espresso making equipment, and other "strong
coffee" equipment, for want of a better word
like stovetop espresso makers, but I found this Gaggia in a 2nd hand
Catering supplies shop here in Portsmouth, and just had to have it!
It is a late 70's/early 80's three group manual lever machine, which I bought for £120 (less than $200), and apart from needing some seals, worked straight away.
The shopkeeper didn't believe that a) it would work, or b) I could use
it at home - wrong!
I was lucky enough to find the company that originally sold this machine
(Gaggia GX re-badged as a Visacrem VX), and the MD was very helpful in
several ways, such as giving advice on how to minimise electrical consumption
(and heat output) for home use by lagging (insulating) the boiler etc.
The construction is of the age old Gaggia style - heavy chromed piston/lever
assembly (x3)
with 2 steam wands and a hot water wand
all fed from a massive 23 litre copper tank with 2 immersion heaters
consuming 3.7kw @ 240v
(fitted out in red by the importers, quite rare I'm told)
Below is an image map of the Gaggia - move around and click to view inside!
Hint - there are 4 hotspots (one quite hidden)!
Below - pulling a shot
(Excuse the *$ advert!)
___________________________________________________
____________________________________________