DeLonghi PrimaDonna coffee machine

[bojan]

Like the name says, Primadonna it is and behaves like one.
The problem is sometimes, for no apparent reason, it refuses to deliver coffee and issues "less coffee" error message instead (after disposing of the perfecly good grounded coffee dose.

Web was not helpful, service either (after general "advice" like "try this or that", they say basically "buy a new one" as it is the case recently with almost everything these days).
Does anybody knows about the solution to this problem? I am desperate :P

[Atmos]

I was looking at coffee machines over the weekend... I know one I’m keeping away from!

[theodog]

While you two were posting, I was cleaning the scale out of my machine.
Sitting down to a fresh cup as I type.;)

[JA]

Hi Bojan,

Sorry to hear of your woes. You can try Brighton Coffee Machines either for service work or perhaps some advice over the phone. They fix all manner of machines. On the corner of North Road and Hawthorn Road in Brighton, VIC.

https://www.coffeemachineservices.com.au/

Best
JA

[bojan]

Thank you! Calling them now...

[Peter Ward]

Not that it will help, but we have had a Bezzera Mitica machine for several years now (our second Bezzera machine...the first lasted some 14 years)
which is still working flawlessly....if you are in the market for a new machine: fully manual operation (nothing can fail) a rotary pump and twin boiler design is essential IMHO.

[tlgerdes]

Get a new one :D

I love my Breville 870. I wont say I take it everywhere, but it has been on holiday with me more than once :lol:

But while a good machine is good. Great coffee comes from great beans.

[Wavytone]

Buy a new one - but not the same one.

[bojan]

I do have another one actually - it is $50 from Aldi ~10 y ago, similar (and simpler) to the one on picture. It is completely manual, uses ground coffee (not capsules!), but the coffee from it simply can't compare with automatic ones - it is way, way better.
No way I am buying a new one.. I want to repair PrimaDonna, it was given to me and it is a challenge.. and it is easier to dispose off used coffee pellets..

[OffGrid]

G’day Bojan,

Mate, your doing my head in. A coffee machine that refuses to deliver coffee...

Unheard of, despicable, a shameful state of affairs.
All the best with getting that ‘thing’ fixed.

But, if it dam well refuses to deliver coffee again, get a real manual machine, I mean a real MANUAL machine, that has never refused to deliver me a coffee for the last 10 years.

I have the older Presso version of this newer ROK.
https://espressounplugged.com.au/products/rok-espresso-gc

[billdan]

I just use a simple electric coffee percolator, so why are these coffee machines better?

[bojan]

Because they make espresso coffee.. something percolator is not capable of..

[Renato1]

It's not a matter of better coffee, but of one's preference in coffee extraction method, and variations within that method as to what one likes.

Some people prefer espresso - extracted under high pressure, usually with a good crema on top.
In most of Italy, people prefer coffee extracted at a much lower pressure in a stove-top Moka machine.
Percolators, drip machines, plungers and aeropress machines extract through either immersion or infusion without pressure, and some people like those best.
And some people don't like any of the above, preferring instead their favourite instant coffee.

In our house, we have all the methods except for a percolator.
Regards,
Renato

P.S. I forgot Robert Timms coffee bags - quick and nice smooth coffee.

[Wavytone]

My parents had a percolator for decades... I absolutely loathed the coffee they made with it - you could apply it for an artificial suntan and I’m certain it would have stripped paint. Gave me a permanent dislike of coffee, until when I travelled to Italy and had real coffee for the first time.

[The_bluester]

I have one like yours Trevor, and it goes to astro camps with me, where it gets a complete hiding!



I personally prefer Espresso to percolated coffee hands down Nice Cap every morning with breakfast.

[tlgerdes]

And beans, don't forget the beans. I've had complaints from 2 colleagues after I have given them good beans, that they couldn't look at 12 month old supermarket coffee ever again. :shrug:

[billdan]

I think I had Espresso once, and it had this fine grit in it that I didn't like, maybe it was badly made.
I do love Cappuccino that I get from the Wild Bean Cafe in the BP service stations, if it wasn't so expensive I would be buying it every 2 hours.

[mynameiscd]

Get one of these.
Not as easy as capsule but cool as.

https://www.ebay.com.au/i/132125568454?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&itemid=132125568454&targetid=468509332949&device=t&adtype=pla&googleloc=1000567&poi=&campaignid=1793098970&adgroupid=74958854288&rlsatarget=pla-468509332949&abcId=1139236&merchantid=119149838&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6cHoBRDdARIsADiTTzb7d cW48zafrzud2ocJcIb1YPsuiNCLVd-A2ggNhDfqqCWXNb3uMRgaAgAEEALw_wcB

[billdan]

Too much money for me Andy, I would rather invest those dollars into astronomy.

[Renato1]

I watched the video - there is no crema on top of the coffee.
This machine appears like a variation to the normal Moka machine.

Among our pod machines, the MAP Luna puts out the closest thing to a dual boiler espresso, and strong Nespresso pods do a good job too.
Regards,
Renato

[bojan]

Well, while googling a bit more, I found this blog (http://chris-eigenheer.blogspot.com/2013/07/final-cappucino-maker-fix-hopefully.html)... it seems the solution to my problem is there :)

[mynameiscd]

Hi Bojan,
Hope you get it fixed soon
Looks like a bit of work but a good coffee is well worth the work!
I know im a bit old fashion but i still love my old atomic. Not much has changed since the 40s.
Mine is an old 60s type but its at my beach house.

http://www.francescoceccarelli.eu/Caffettiere/atomic_eng.htm

Good luck
Cheers
Andy

[bojan]

Wow Andy, that is a good one, bare essentials :-)

It seems it doesn't have a pump.. does it rely on water pressure from tap? or hot steam pressure?

[mynameiscd]

Yeah these type just put on the stove and be ready for the eruption.
As long as the rubber seals are good it strarts to boil and then the stream starts to build up pressure.
A bit of an art with how fine or how much tampering the coffee to keep the right pressure up but once they start these no stopping it.
Ive got another 70s electric type with a steam spout for frothing milk but this is even more of an art. You have about a 40 to 60 second window to grt the milk done othrrwise the pressure drops and coffee is done.
Ive got a small little pod type but i still love these old boilers.
The only thing is at my beach house the salt air is starting a bit of electrolysis on the retro atomic.
Time to bring it back to vic and put it on display before theres too much damage.
Cheers
Andy

[bojan]

OK.. so it is sort of similar to this one..I still have couple of those... The best is the one made of stainless steel, I found that aluminium one should never be washed (especially not with detergent), and it must be used every day - otherwise the coffee aroma is affected. Stainlkess steel one is more neutral in that respect...

[mynameiscd]

Yes the same type of coffee maker but it's "atomic" and that 50s feel.
Just cool and retro and messy.