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Moka Efti – espresso coffee with a unique history directly from Espressivo’s own warehouse

This autumn we can offer a new espresso coffee, this time from the Italian roastery Moka Efti. Initially, the range includes two coffee blends: the very traditional Italian espresso Extra Bar and the slightly more intense Bar Verde. More blends may be added in the future.

Unlike before, the coffee will be delivered directly from Espressivo’s own warehouse in Korsholm, which means significantly lower shipping costs. We import small batches at a time to ensure the freshest possible roasting date.

Offer! To celebrate the collaboration with Moka Efti, Espressivo offers 1 kg of Moka Efti coffee beans with the purchase of a new espresso machine or coffee grinder (the offer applies to all machines, regardless of brand and model). Update: this offer is currently available only for select machines.

From ‘Babylon Berlin’ to Northern Italy

The original Moka Efti was founded in 1926 by Greek-Italian coffee roaster Giovanni Eftimiades. A fictional version of his legendary café is depicted in the TV series Babylon Berlin, where it is presented as an extravagant nightclub.

The interior of the real-life model on Leipziger Strasse is said to have been even “wilder”, including a lift, which reportedly was a popular attraction in its own right. Unlike the TV series, there was no brothel, but the spacious premises offered plenty of opportunities for dancing and playing billiard games. The café quickly became popular, serving up to 25,000 cups of coffee a day.

However, the success did not last long. Eftimiades ran into financial difficulties and the brand was bought in the 1930s by Angelo Monti from northern Italy. His entrepreneurship proved successful and the company had the honour of becoming the official court supplier to the then King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III.

Since then, the company has been run by the Monti family, who have developed the business with an emphasis on constant quality development and respect for Italian coffee traditions. Today, the coffee is roasted both in northern Italy and in Switzerland and is also marketed under the more modern brand name Pitti Caffè.

However, the link to the historic café in interwar Berlin can still be seen in the design of Moka Efti’s packaging.

Images are used with permission and are the property of Moka Efti and may not be reproduced without explicit permission of the owner.

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Coming soon: compact high-quality espresso machines

ECM Puristika Creme espresso machine with olive tree details

Image: Puristika Cream is a stylish machine with details made of olive wood. This model will be available in Espressivo’s web shop soon.

Update: The products mentioned in this post are available in Espressivo’s web store now!

This spring we will get more machines from ECM in stock. Some are entirely new models, while others are the most update versions of well-known classics. A common theme among most of them are a compact size as well as a strong focus on the coffee side of things.

As a matter of fact, the newcomer – ECM Puristika – is a single boiler machine that comes completely without the possibility for steaming milk. However, it does have a PID and an easy to use dial for adjusting the brew pressure.

As an optional extra the machine can also be fitted with the flow control system from ECM. In short, this is a highly specialized espresso machine for those who want to experiment with all the variables for getting the most out of the coffee. Or as the name implies – the coffee purist.

Learn more about the ECM Puristika in this video:

More single boiler machines

The same shipment will also include the espresso machines Casa V and Classica PID. Unlike the Puristika these do come equipped with the traditional steam wand. All these machines are exceptionally good value for money and an excellent choice for the home barista in 2022.

In addition we will also get the dual boiler flagship, Synchronika, as well as a selection of ECM’s coffee grinders back in stock.

Specific product pages will be added to the online store shortly. In the meantime you are welcome to ask questions or place a pre-order using our contact form.

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Good news from Caffè Izzo

We have received a lot of good news from Caffè Izzo lately. Their coffee has received a prestigious award as Italian espresso coffee of the year and their famous espresso machine Alex Duetto has seen a range of technical improvements.

Awarded espresso coffee

Caffè Izzo won first price for “coffee of the year” in the category Italian espresso coffee at a competition held in Rimini at the end of October.

 

Izzo on vuoden espressokahvi

Congratulations on this achievement!

New improvements for Alex Duetto

Izzo’s espresso machine Alex Duetto, a favorite among many espresso enthusiasts all over the world, has reached a new version number. All new machines delivered from the factory will now officially be called version four and have received a number of improvements that have been on customer’s wish list.

Externally the machine looks exactly like the previous version, all improvements have taken place under the hood. New on Alex Duetto IV is:

 

The motor of the pump is now mounted above the pump and the adjustment screw is easier to access.

1) Inverted pump motor. The motor of the pump is now mounted above the pump, which means the electric motor is safe even if the pump where to develop a leak. In our experience this hasn’t been a real concern with previous versions of the machine, but even so it is a welcome safety detail.

2) Pump pressure adjustable without removing the outer casing. This is a significant practical improvement, the screw for adjusting the pump pressure is now accessible through a small hole in the side panel.

3) New PID with integrated shot timer. Perhaps not a completely indispensable feature but definitely a very nice option to have.

 

Drain plugs and heating elements that are easy to get to.

4) Easily accessed drain plugs on both boilers. This makes it a lot easier to drain all water from the machine for transportation, storage or when descaling. At the same time the heating elements are now much easier to access and replace, should the need ever arise.

5) Sprinkler (gicleur) and “mushroom” of the E61-brewhead in stainless steel. The original parts of chrome plated brass where quite susceptible to calcium build-up that was also more or less impossible to clean off without some of the chrome flaking off in the process.

“Mushroom” and sprinkler in stainless steel.

6) Option for boilers in stainless steel. Last but certainly not least the buyer of a new Duetto is now offered the choice between boiler in copper or in stainless steel. The latter alternative is a bit more expensive but well worth the money when investing in an espresso machine of this caliber.

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Pre-order your Rocket Espresso machine now

The next shipment from Rocket Espresso will likely arrive in april-may, but has to be ordered now.

In case you are interested in any particular machine model from Rocket we ask you to pre-order your machine by email during week 10 at the latest. Note that the prices on Rocket Espresso machines will be going up slightly with the next shipment but all pre-ordered machines will be sold at the current prices.

Do have a look at the new exciting machines from Rocket: the new flagship R60 V and the compact Appartamento.

 

Rocket Espresso Appartamento espresso machine
Rocket Espresso Appartamento

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Coffee directly from one of Italy’s oldest roasteries

Through Espressivo you can now order espresso coffee from one of the first coffee roasting companies in Italy – Caffe’ Bontadi.

Bontad old photo

The company was founded in 1790 by Carlo Bontadi in Rovereto, northern Italy. In accordance with the northern Italian roasting style Bontadi’s coffee is a “slightly lighter dark-roast” and they offer several different blends that all have their unique character.

Acquaint yourself with this remarkable coffee through our opening offer: a 20 percent discount on all coffees from Bontadi (the discount has expired). The offer will be available only for a limited time and the discount apply to the actual coffee, not to the shipping costs. You can order the coffees from Bontadi here.

 

Bontadi museum
Bontadi recently opened a museum in Rovereto, where visitors can see how various coffee related equipment have advanced over the years.