[Coffeeguy]

What makes an espresso machine "manual"?

[Chuck_Swillery]

It would have a lever to open the steam and water - you control the duration of the pour, it doesn't happen with just the push of a button.

[kau]

I've never seen a manual machine before, I assume rare?

[Austin]

Not that rare, just not as easy as the auto ones. I know Gaggia still makes a full line of manual machines.

[bigmike787]

La Pavoni is the most common lever machine out there. I've owned several different lever machines and they are cool to work with. The La Pavoni suffers from a small portafilter.

[Austin]

Bo you enjoy the manual more mike?

[Lvx]

Originally Posted by kau

I've never seen a manual machine before, I assume rare?

This one could be the most "manual" ever..

[bigmike787]

Austin, that's like asking which of my kids I love more! LOL The manual machines are the equivilant of 35mm film cameras. They've fallen out of favor with the mainstream, but in capable hands they can produce great art. The manual machines are more sensitive to grind and water temperature. I got rid of my La Pavoni, because it tended to run hot. I don't currently own a manual machine, but I do miss them sometimes.

[KimmyDe]

Love the pic Lvx! A real cutie!

[MistahBean]

In general I hate automation when it isn't necessary. We carry an ESE pod machine... one restaurant complained and returned it because "you have to press the button again to stop the pull". Ok... is that the height of laziness and uselessness? I asked them what else they were going to do during the 18-second pull that would make it so hard to press the button to stop the pull, and he had no answer. Imagine pressing a button twice to get a nice espresso! Way too much work for some people.

I don't think every shot pulls the same. Depends on the tamp, the humidity, the temp of the water and bar pressure. So why would you not want to control the time of your pull to stop when it looks good? I can understand the need for total automation in a busy shop, but then... some of the worst espressos I have had have been from the most expensive and automated machines. What went wrong? Stale coffee? I just think that human control is a good thing and worth a few seconds of time.