First espresso machine in OZ?

[gazman_56]

I was watching an Australian movie called "Loves Brother" tonight, and was surprised to see a beautiful old machine with a solid brass looking GAGGIA brand mounted on top. The scene was of an Italian community in 1950s Victoria. The local Catholic priest was performing a blessing on the machine because it was the first one in Australia.
Anyone else seen the movie? I wonder if the Gaggia was in original condition. The extraction sounded a bit like water dripping into a cup ;D Gary

[russellm]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

N ow thats something Ive never been asked to do!

I guess theres always a first time, but if Im asked, should I insist on also blessing the grinder?

Best wishes, (Rev) Russell.

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

I havent learnt the Espresso Machine blessing yet at Theological college.
Gazman where did you find the video? (out of interests sake, not so I can learn the blessing technique)

Brett

[gazman_56]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

My wife bought it a couple of years ago. Probably borrowed it at Block-Buster too. The cover looks like pure romance, so many "blokes" wouldnt even pick it up. Its a pretty good story though, and an interesting portrayal of early italian immigrant life, which included marriage by proxy. Anyway the poor elder statesman was in the depths of depression, having not had a decent coffee since leaving the homeland. I can well understand the Gaggias arrival would have warranted great ceremony ! Gaz

[Andy]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

Great post Gazman, interesting question and I look forward hearing the answer.

Totos in Lygon St, Carlton (Melbourne) is famed as the first Pizza shop in Australia and I would have thought they would have been pretty quick to get an espresso machine in there too. It would have been around the same time I guess but may have been the 60s.

...any CSrs local to Lygon St and can ask some old timers about the coffee history?

[grendel]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

I havent learnt the Espresso Machine blessing yet at Theological college.
Gazman where did you find the video? (out of interests sake, not so I can learn the blessing technique)

Brett

Not sure if that subject would have made the ecumenical crossover from the Catholic seminaries yet. I understand that appliance blessing has long played a role, particularly among the Mediterranean orders of the Catholic Church. From my detailed understanding of the Jewish faith (gleaned from watching Fiddler of the Roof at least twice and paying attention to the scene where the Rabbi blesses a sewing machine) the origins of this practice are in Judaism.

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

Well if it is in Fiddler on the Roof that is good enough for me. Look out Expobar a blessing is heading your way, but I will pull short of an immersion baptism for it. Dont think drowning will be covered under the 12 month warranty.

[Javaphile]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

So thats the secret to pulling a God Shot! Using Holy Water to brew it!! ;D :


Java "Making a run to the church" phile

[TC]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

So thats the secret to pulling a God Shot! Using Holy Water to brew it!! ;D :


Java "Making a run to the church" phile

So that would imply that God must have an e-61 :-?.....I wonder what Satan uses??....Guess its not the cold press method ;D

[Lovey]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

So that would imply that God must have an e-61  :-?.....I wonder what Satan uses??....Guess its not the cold press method ;D

A thermoblock  ;D

[Javaphile]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

So that would imply that God must have an e-61 :-?.....I wonder what Satan uses??....Guess its not the cold press method ;D

He uses an open pot with a handful of grounds thrown in over the fires of hell where its kept at a constant boil and topped off occassionally with more grounds and water. Hes been doing it for so long now that its gotten to the point where it pours like hot tar.

One of the burning questions under discussion down in the pits is what hes going to do when it no longer pours.


Java "A cup of mud anyone?" phile

[grendel]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

So thats the secret to pulling a God Shot! Using Holy Water to brew it!! ;D :


Java "Making a run to the church" phile

So that would imply that God must have an e-61  :-?.....I wonder what Satan uses??....Guess its not the cold press method ;D

A Nespresso of course!

Javaphile would seem to be implying that God drinks either Greek, Turkish or Armenian coffee - that in itself could spark a major religious war.

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

I thought we would know that Instant is coffee of the devil. Maybe I should suggest this to my church so that we can move up the coffee food chain and away from instant.

[gazman_56]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

We did just that. My missus got a stack of Bodums, and visited the local roastery. Now, instead of the "mass exodus" after church, a big chatfest ensues.

[gazman_56]

Re: First espresso machine in OZ?

Google has the answer I found a SMH article.
In early 1954, Gino di Santo, appalled at the the lack of variety in the Australian diet, took a ship to Italy to visit the Gaggia factory. Meanwhile, one of his friends took a plane and installed the first machine in the University coffe shop in Carlton.
Di Santo instead took up the agency with Cimbali, and installed his first machine a few weeks later in Lexington Cafe in Exhibition Street.
In 1956 he installed his Universal coffee machine in David Jones, Sydney.
We have lots to be thankful to Gino for; gelato, olive oil....