People seeking a lever machine for a domestic environment are generally looking to improve their quality of coffee in the cup. It is not their first espresso machine, and they seek a machine that has been well engineered and constructed. To achieve this they seek commercial quality in a smaller package to fulfill a domestic footprint. They appreciate the work that people like Kees van de Westen and Attilio Bosco have done to achieve a machine able to produce outstanding espresso. Currently there are three machines in this class for people to choose from. In the commercial segment there are numerous single group machines to choose from, but they have to be plumbed in. A major deal breaker for many. Clarity and quality in the cup is one of the major deciding factors for this group of people. Most of them have also gravitated to other coffee sites where others share their passion.
Essentially all espresso machines are stainless steel boxes with a group head (be it lever or E61) bolted to it. They all look boxy and have no resemblance to the machines of old. Kees will not produce a single group lever, and even if he did, it would probably be in the price range of a Speedster, which is out of reach for many enthusiasts. To argue one stainless steel box is uglier than another is something I will leave to others. The Fracino machine put forward as an option is a commercial machine. It is their factory which is producing the Londinium 1 for Reiss. They do have a distributor in my neck of the woods, but their presence in the market is very tiny. The reason for this is obvious. As to looks it is my (and to be honest, quite a few others) opinion, that the Fracino was beaten mercilessly with the ugly stick.
While disliked with a passion here, the L1 is developing quite a following on all the other coffee forums. I look forward to reading the reviews of the L1 elsewhere. I will now get back to my so called misogynist ways ( a phrase frequently used by lying inept rangas), raping and pillaging our country of its natural resources. My colleagues and I enjoy exceptional espresso at my home whilst indulging in our favourite pastime of pommy bashing.
Cheers.
PS: Chris I do need a soap box, I am not vertically challenged.
Essentially all espresso machines are stainless steel boxes with a group head (be it lever or E61) bolted to it. They all look boxy and have no resemblance to the machines of old. Kees will not produce a single group lever, and even if he did, it would probably be in the price range of a Speedster, which is out of reach for many enthusiasts. To argue one stainless steel box is uglier than another is something I will leave to others. The Fracino machine put forward as an option is a commercial machine. It is their factory which is producing the Londinium 1 for Reiss. They do have a distributor in my neck of the woods, but their presence in the market is very tiny. The reason for this is obvious. As to looks it is my (and to be honest, quite a few others) opinion, that the Fracino was beaten mercilessly with the ugly stick.
While disliked with a passion here, the L1 is developing quite a following on all the other coffee forums. I look forward to reading the reviews of the L1 elsewhere. I will now get back to my so called misogynist ways ( a phrase frequently used by lying inept rangas), raping and pillaging our country of its natural resources. My colleagues and I enjoy exceptional espresso at my home whilst indulging in our favourite pastime of pommy bashing.
Cheers.
PS: Chris I do need a soap box, I am not vertically challenged.


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