After struggling for years with cheap supermarket ready-ground 'coffee's and worn-out old espresso machines we decided the Moka stove-top pot made the best shot. Lavazza Crema & Gusto was very satisfying. Eventually the combination of late middle-aged semi-affluence and lust for crema brought on the insatiable urge to once again make real espresso at home. We progressed from unthinkable excess of $200 expenditure on a new Sunbeam, through to several used 'real' Italian machines, until strenuous budget management allowed the purchase of a new VBM DS plumbed-in, with Mazzer grinder. We enjoyed espresso heaven for about 6 years, then changed circumstances required liquidation of the flash kit. We took a very noisy, awfully leaky 6910 with grinder as a trade-in, just to 'have a go' again.
Thanks to all the accumulated wisdom offered on this site and others we have now learnt how to overcome (centuries?) of fastidious neglect and to rejuvenate the Sunbeam duo.
Careful application of a die-grinder with tapered stone to relieve the burrs along the lips of the ring thing, much soaking and scrubbing of all accessible parts, back-flushing & de-scaling. Considerable flushing & test shotting until it is finally clear that Sunbeam triumphed utterly with this design and once any manufacturing limitations are sensibly dealt with it can produce a very fine ristretto. Adding frothed milk to it seems to be a good way to ruin a shot and produces drinks fit only for folk who are not yet weaned.
Well-used 6910's still abound and many are given up for next to nothing because they 'have stopped working'. The owners are possibly the same folk who cannot drive at night because their vehicle headlights have become opaque due to the lack of application of regular elbow-grease and headlamp polish.
We now delight in rejuvenating any available 6910 and teaching others how to enjoy their fine qualities.
N.B. We are not and have never been employed by Sunbeam or any related company.
Thanks to all the accumulated wisdom offered on this site and others we have now learnt how to overcome (centuries?) of fastidious neglect and to rejuvenate the Sunbeam duo.
Careful application of a die-grinder with tapered stone to relieve the burrs along the lips of the ring thing, much soaking and scrubbing of all accessible parts, back-flushing & de-scaling. Considerable flushing & test shotting until it is finally clear that Sunbeam triumphed utterly with this design and once any manufacturing limitations are sensibly dealt with it can produce a very fine ristretto. Adding frothed milk to it seems to be a good way to ruin a shot and produces drinks fit only for folk who are not yet weaned.
Well-used 6910's still abound and many are given up for next to nothing because they 'have stopped working'. The owners are possibly the same folk who cannot drive at night because their vehicle headlights have become opaque due to the lack of application of regular elbow-grease and headlamp polish.
We now delight in rejuvenating any available 6910 and teaching others how to enjoy their fine qualities.
N.B. We are not and have never been employed by Sunbeam or any related company.


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