"In these, water is boiled in the coffee maker and is forced by the pressure of the steam once only throughout the ground coffee into a second vessel from which you pour it.
We found and tested eight brands, buying the most popular size - nine Italian cups, about three-quarters of a pint. There were two types.
In the Atomic and Vesuviana, the boiling water was forced downwards through the coffee into the serving vessel (the same system as the machines in Espresso coffee bars).
In the rest, the water was forced upwards through the ground coffee into the top half - as the Diagram shows. We filled the coffee baskets full of ground coffee, except for the Nova which specified three- quarters full.
Four of the brands specified fine ground coffee and the Nova roughly ground. The other three said vaguely 'not too fine'. We tested all eight with finely ground coffee , and the Nova with medium ground as well. All were fitted with a safety valve. We tested these by blocking the normal outlet. All were satisfactory, except for the Nova whose safety valve worked only after the base had become permanently distorted.
The coffee made
All had a high extraction rate, and so were economical of coffee and gave a rather bitter brew. Using the quantities of ground coffee recommended in the instructions, all except the Atomic made strong or very strong coffee particularly the Jolly which specified much more coffee than the others. For the same strength of coffee as you get by steeping in a jug, you need use only about two-thirds of the amount of ground coffee. With the Nova, we found it more economical to use fine ground coffee, as with the other espressos, than roughly ground as specified.
Convenience
Only someone with the smallest of hands could grasp the Verbanus handle without touching the hot pot. Some people found the handle of the Jolly uncomfortably hot at the top.
The Atomic and the Vesuviana, in which the water flowed down through the ground coffee into an open serving jug, were the easiest to use and to clean, and the most robust. But after 10 minutes the coffee made in them was not nearly as hot as in the others. They were more expensive, particularly the Atomic.
Conclusion
There was little to choose for ease of use and cleaning between the Caffexpress, Luxa, Moka and Nova. But the Caffexpress was the quickest and made the most coffee, followed by the moka, which was a few shillings cheaper. The Luxa was the slowest.
There was little to choose for ease of use and cleaning between the Caffexpress, Luxa, Moka and Nova. But the Caffexpress was the quickest and made the most coffee, followed by the moka, which was a few shillings cheaper. The Luxa was the slowest.
We think the Caffexpress and the Moka the best value for money of the espresso coffee makers."
*****
The 8 espresso makers tested were all made out of aluminium.
Here they are listed alphabetically with their price in 1964, their country of provenience and their capacity.
In the original article, they appeared in a chart, far clearer than my rendering here (sorry!):
In the original article, they appeared in a chart, far clearer than my rendering here (sorry!):
Thank you Lucio Del Piccolo (here) and Andrea Moretto (here) for sharing your collection.
The above links to the coffee machines of Italian production come from their website, both very impressive!
It gives me the opportunity to see A.&M.G. Sassoon's competitors at that time, which is for me very interesting.
The above links to the coffee machines of Italian production come from their website, both very impressive!
It gives me the opportunity to see A.&M.G. Sassoon's competitors at that time, which is for me very interesting.
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