Having difficult time priming Estro Vapore machine. It is approx 10 years old but have hardly used it. Opened the steam valve with the brew and steam buttons in off position but did not prime. Any suggestions would be appeciated.? I don't know about Estro Vapore machines, but with Gaggia machines.
See the article in its original context from May 1, 1996,Section C, Page1Buy Reprints
TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.
Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems. Please send reports of such problems [email protected].
WATER was leaking from the filter head, steam was erupting from the frother, and I was convulsed with laughter. My son, Michael, who can lay tile, fix plumbing, refinish floors and repair computers, couldn't understand why the difficulties he was having with an espresso machine were the cause of such hilarity.
I had already gone through similar experiences with the first two of nine machines that I was testing for The New York Times. I assumed that the problems were my fault, since I am equipment-challenged, whether the equipment is Windows 95 (for which I have had four hours of training and I still don't get it) or espresso machines.
But after Michael's experience, the light went on: the operating instructions that accompany espresso machines are in Urdu.
When I started the tests, there were coffee grounds underfoot, flying hot milk on the walls and puddles of hot water and coffee all over the counter top, as I tried to figure out the incomprehensible. What did '11b' in the instructions refer to, when there was no '11b' in the schematic? How should the rubber cover be used, since the instruction booklet never mentioned it? And why did a light that was supposed to turn red turn green instead?
Last Thursday morning, after nine days in the kitchen with these machines, I received a phone call from the public relations company representing Starbucks, which sells the Estro Vapore. I had called when the instruction book made no sense. 'I thought I should let you know,' the voice on the other end said, Starbucks 'isn't happy with the instructions, either.'
Starbucks acknowledges that the only way to successfully operate any machine is to have an expert demonstrate it first. Tom Mcdowell, the manager of the Starbucks at Columbus Avenue and 67th Street in Manhattan, said that when people buy their machine by mail, they usually end up calling and asking for advice.
Several companies, aware of the inadequacies of their instruction books, include videotapes. They are of no help at all.
Maybe that's why so many espresso machines end up as dust collectors, taking up valuable counter space. And why a number of people, aware of my 10-day experiment, were delighted to learn that someone else had done their dirty work. 'Great,' they would say. 'Now, we'll know which one to buy.'
Not so fast. Among those that made the final cut, not one is perfect. The machines for the test were selected after consultation with several experts. They were to be in the $200-to-$300 range.
But one machine, the Gaggia, has such a good reputation that it was included even though it costs around $400. All of these are pump machines, which rely on an electric pump.
The Europiccola, the cheapest model by la Pavoni, was also about $400, but was included as an example of a piston-driven machine, which is operated manually and is considered the standard against which the pump machines should be judged.
The machines tested were, in alphabetical order: Amalfi (model A300), $279 to $299; Braun Baristamaster (KFE 750), $180 or less; Briel Portofino (EG-82 CA), $299 to $329; Cuisinart (CDE-2), $180; DeLonghi (BAR-29U), $279; Estro Vapore, $249; Gaggia (Coffee), $400; Krups Espresso Maximo (863), $250 to $320, and la Pavoni Europiccola, $399 to $599.
Espresso was made with each of the machines at least six times, using two different kinds of beans. With the machines that were hard to tame, espresso was made two dozen times.
Dge 530t driver. Manufacturer:D-LinkHardware Type:PCI AdapterModel:DGE-530TCompatibility:Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10Downloads:85,178,069Download Size:3.4 MBDatabase Update:Available Using DriverDoc:Optional Offer for DriverDoc by Solvusoft This page contains information about installing the latest D-Link DGE-530T driver downloads using the.D-Link DGE-530T drivers are tiny programs that enable your PCI Adapter hardware to communicate with your operating system software.
There's no question: the longer you do it, the better you get. But frothing milk for cappuccino is so easy that one or two tries with each machine was all that it took to master the art.
Here are some general rules, no matter the machine.
* Preheating the machine is essential.
* Always wipe off the edge of the filter holder, or else the seal may be compromised and the espresso ruined.
* Preheat the cups.
* If the resulting brew is too strong, do not let more water run through the coffee, because you will extract some of the bitter components. Add hot water to the cup separately.
* If you haven't used the machine for a day, prime it by running water through it, not only to clean it but also to get rid of any air pockets.
* Don't feel you have to buy a metal pitcher to foam the milk. A ceramic pitcher I used worked perfectly.
* Make sure the steam pipe for the frothing is adjustable so that it will fit into pitchers and cups.
* For better control, use a hand-held coffee tamper with a flat bottom instead of a tamper attached to the machine.
* Always vent the steam pipe before using to get rid of excess water.
* Use fresh beans only. Store them tightly wrapped. I keep mine in the freezer, although not everyone agrees that is a good idea.
* To grind coffee for espresso, use a burr-type grinder. If you buy ground coffee, make sure it is intended for an espresso maker.
* And remember that cleanliness is next to godliness.
The three top machines tested were the Amalfi, La Pavoni Europiccola and the Estro Vapore. The Amalfi provided the best and longest-lasting crema -- that desirable golden, foamy, creamy topping found on the finest espressos. The coffee was rich with a hint of bitterness.
The crema from the Vapore did not last quite as long as that on the Amalfi, but the coffee was just as good. The crema from the Pavoni was not as strong, but the coffee was the deepest, by a hair.
The reason the Vapore and Amalfi produced the best espresso among the pump machines can be found in their special filter holders, which allow additional pressure to build up. Once you figure out the right amount of pressure to use with the Pavoni, it is their equal.
My fourth choice was the Gaggia, but with a serious caveat. The first machine I tried was a demonstration model, and it broke down. The second model was new, and it didn't work at all. The third machine, also new, worked well, but the crema was not as thick or as long-lasting as that of the Amalfi or Vapore.
The e'siest machine to use is the Briel. It produces a thinner crema and a coffee not quite as strong as that of the others. But it comes with some bells and whistles that make it very simple to operate.
Estro Vapore Espresso Machine Parts
Among the remaining four machines -- the Braun Baristamaster, Cuisinart, DeLonghi and Krups Espresso Maximo -- the crema was fair, sometimes very thin and often short-lived. The machines did not produce the same rich results found among the first four. Sometimes the coffee poured out unevenly; sometimes there was no crema.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the machines that were tested.
Amalfi
ADVANTAGES It made rich coffee and the thickest, longest-lasting crema. It provided plenty of froth easily. And it had a large, easy-to-fill water reservoir.
DISADVANTAGES The schematic in the instruction booklet was difficult to read. The instructions contained information about 'position A' and 'position B,' but there were no corresponding drawings. I couldn't remove the filter basket from the filter holder, and the instructions do not say that it is not removable. And the cover for the water reservoir was flimsy and did not fit well.
Estro Vapore
ADVANTAGES It made very good crema and coffee. It made good froth. And unlike the other machines, it came with a cleaning tool for the brew head.
DISADVANTAGES There was no schematic, and there was also no tamper. (A company spokesman said the brew head does the tamping, but I think it is better to tamp the coffee before putting it in the brew head.) The instructions also said that the light on one button would change from white to red when the machine was ready; instead, it changed to green. And the water-reservoir cover was difficult to open.
La Pavoni
ADVANTAGES It made the best coffee and a reasonable crema. It provided plenty of froth. And it was the best looking of all the machines.
DISADVANTAGES The two-cup espresso basket provided did not fit. It took more skill than the others to learn to operate. The instructions were not clear, and an accompanying videotape was of no help. Parts of the machine became scalding hot. And emptying pater from the reservoir was cumbersome because the reservoir is not removable.
Gaggia
ADVANTAGES It made good crema and coffee. It provided plenty of froth easily. And it comes with a rubber disk to increase the amount of crema. DISADVANTAGES The first two machines tested malfunctioned. The instructions referred to diagrams that were nowhere to be found. Some parts of the machine listed in the instruction book were not on the machine. And the water reservoir was not easy to fill.
Briel
ADVANTAGES It was the easiest machine to use. It came with an easy automatic milk frother attachment. The amount of espresso d'sired can be set automatically, a feature not available on other machines. And an attached grinder can be set to produce the exact amount of grounds automatically -- from 1 to 6 cups.
DISADVANTAGES The crema it made had little staying power. The coffee was good, but not as rich as that of t'e top brands. Removing the water reservoir was not convenient. An instruction booklet for the automatic milk frother was missing.
Cuisinart ADVANTAGES The water reservoir was very easy to reach. The machine produced a good froth. And it heated water quickly.
DISADVANTAGES The crema was thin, and th' coffee only acceptable. The machine was neither heavy nor sturdy.
Krups
ADVANTAGES It was easy to use. The water reservoir was easy to fill. The machine heated water quickly and it produced good froth.
DISADVANTAGES The crema was thin, and the coffee only acceptable. The instructions were confusing. The machine was not heavy or solid.
Braun
ADVANTAGES It was very easy to use. It produced good froth.
DISADVANTAGES The first Braun machine tested broke; the second machine performed properly. The crema was inconsistent: sometimes it was good, and sometimes it dissipated immediately. The coffee was not rich. The coffee pot should not be used for espresso, because the crema dissipates when it is poured.
DeLonghi
ADVANTAGES It had a good schematic and key. It produced good froth.
DISADVANTAGES The crema and coffee were both thin. And it was also very awkward to put the water reservoir back in place after it had been filled. Next tg living over a good espresso bar, owning your own espresso machine is the best thing. Despite all the complaints, once you have mastered the art of making espresso, you will find that what you make at home is often much better than what is served at the best restaurants.
But is it too much to ask for intelligible instruction books? Or machines that pass the highest standards of quality control? Or the schematics and keys on facing pages?
Some Espresso Don'ts
FOLLOWING is a list of things you are not told in the store or in the instruction books.
Do not buy an espresso machine unless an expert sales clerk can walk you through the directions. Choose one that is sturdy and that has a solid, heavy filter holder.
Do not buy an espresso maker that uses only prepacked capsules of espresso, or you will be locked into the coffee blend the manufacturer chooses.
Do not expect to make good espresso the first one, two, three or even four times. It takes trial, error and experience to figure out the idiosyncrasies of each machine.
Do not allow the final drips of coffee to fall into the cups; they will ruin the crema.
Do not wait until it is time to use the machine again to run water through the empty brew head to clean it. Instead, do so after making the coffee, and then wipe the brew head to remove more grounds.
Do not leave cleaning until later, because dried coffee sticks. (Milk is even worse, and it clogs when dry.)
Do not use skim milk for cappuccino, because the foam it makes is too stiff. Use 1 percent or 2 percent milk, or do as the Italians do and use whole milk.
Do not forget to level the coffee grounds and then to tamp them in the basket.
Do not follow directions that say to tamp the coffee lightly -- but do tamp it firmly and evenly.
Do not tap the coffee filter basket on any metal surface to get rid of used coffee grounds, because doing so can damage the filter and basket.
Estro Vapore Espresso Machine Manual
Do not tap the filter on the side of a plastic garbage can, because the filter holder can easily end up in the garbage. Those who sell espresso parts say that one of the most frequently purchased replacements is the filter.
Starbucks Estro Vapore Espresso Machine
A useful book for serious espresso fans is the 'Espresso Encyclopedia,' by Bernard N. Mar'ano and Jill West. Available at speciality stores, or send $14 to Trendex International Inc., 1540 Merchandise Mart, Chicago 60654; $12.95). MARIAN BURROS
Price refinements - Carousel
Showing slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES} - Price refinements
Brand New
Top Rated Plus
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking provided
Pre-Owned
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking provided
Estro Vapore Starbucks barista espresso machine
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided
BOILER part for Estro Vapore Sin 006 Espresso Coffee Machine Starbucks Barista
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided
Steam Valve Body Estro Vapore Sin 006 Espresso Coffee Machine Starbucks Barista
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided
Saeco HD8645/47 Vapore Automatic Espresso Machine X-Small Black
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided
Estro Vapore SIN 006 Espresso Maker Replacement Part, Water Hose Tube