The Italian Andreja Espresso Machine
I knew when I received my test model of the Andreja I was going to like it. Sounds like the start of a dime store detective novel, right? It's a bad cliche. But it's true... The Andreja has all the earmarks of quality, but I am talking about the ones that count ... the essential components needed to make great espresso, effortlessly. It has tons of power with a Ulka 52 watt vibratory pump. It has the E-61 brew head. It has separate guages for boiler pressure and group head pressure (so you can really see the force pushing through your coffee). It's a compact commercial-quality espresso machine perfect for use in the home, made in Italy by Quick Mill who has been doing this since 1945. A quick tour of their web site will give you an idea of what they do and take a good look at their image of the Andreja there too. Why? Because it's different. What we offer here is an upgraded version, technically this is the Andreja Premium with commercial steam wands, commercial shutoff knobs, and most importantly dual guages for both boiler and brew head pressure. It's a nice solid chunk of #304 Stainless Steel. Since commercial espresso machines are staggeringly expensive, and the Andreja has top-notch internals, it follows that a home machine priced over a grand is in once sense ... inexpensive! Most commercial machines are twice that much. But what am I saying? ... that's a lot to spend on a home espresso machine! |
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And yet, life is too short for bad espresso. For the price of 2 good home machines that are good quality, but always have excuses and "yeah, buts" in the description, here's a machine to last a decade or two. Unlike mid-range machines that need tinkering to squeeze out a good shot, the Andreja fires them out easily, and heck you can steam your milk at the same time! The feel of using this machine is hard to describe. It's for the real home barista. The coffee handles (you get 2 complete ones), the steam wands, the shut-off controls, the pull-lever on-off; they all feel great. It's something you realize the first the you fire it up. Speaking of that, this (like all commercial machines) really needs a good 30 minutes to warm up. Home machines that claim to be ready in 5 minutes never are. With the Andreja, the water is ready in 10 but the machine isn't really hot. Good news ... if the tanks full you can always turn it on the night before. Andreja is a no-worry tool - it's made to stay on, if need be. |
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The Andreja Premium -
We include in our price a set of
2 Moka Brown Amalfi Cappuccino cups (2 cups, 2 saucers)
a 58 mm Italian Tamper in either all-Stainless or Rosewood/Stainless and
1 Lb of our fresh Roasted
Espresso $1695 (50 Lbs. ship
wt.) We also stock the Direct
Connect Water Kit for the Andreja - so you can bypass the water reservoir
and connect the machine directly to a water line. |
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| Andreja Specifications | Width | Depth | Height | Height | Boiler |
Weight |
| 11 1/2" | 17
1/2" (machine only) |
15
3/4" (to top of rail) |
14
1/2" (without cup rail) |
1.6 liter | 46 lbs. |
Andreja special features:
Insulated boiler.
(Keeps your kitchen cooler and saves electricity.)
Best quality vacuum breaker valve.
(No vapor lock problems with this valve if you want to put machine on a timer.)
Large capacity drip tray.
(More capacity than Giottos and equal to Isomacs.)
Available direct connect includes everything you need.
(Well thought out for easy install includes regulator and pressure gauge.)
Best quality expansion valve on the market today.
(Very easy to make precise adjustments, Isomacs are very sensitive to minor
adjustments.)
52 Watt Ulka pump with brass ends.
(Not 41 Watt and no plastic ends that tend to loosen up.)
Premium quality commercial grade steam and hot water valves.
(The valves do not seat by compression and therefore don't wear out. They can
also be easily repaired by replacing a couple O-rings if needed.)
"No Burn" swivel Stainless Steel steam arm.
(Same as the Giotto Premium - simply put they are the best!)
Precise magnetic switch controls water tank level.
(No more springs and micro switch controlled by the weight of the water.)
Dual gauges, one for boiler pressure and one for group pressure.
(People would tell me they liked the looks of the Millenium but they wanted dual
gauges.)
Resettable hi-limit to protect your heating element.
(No fusible link that has to be replaced, just push down and it's reset.)
Access port to pressure stat for easy adjustment.
(Not necessary to remove the machine cover to adjust stat.)
Much easier to remove outer shell for service than many other machines.
(This was especially a problem for us with the Isomac Millenium.)
Power indicator stays on and heater lighs go off when water is needed.
(Giotto
gives no indication and Isomac turns the machine off completely.)
****Please note - On the newest models
of the Andreja - the top plate of the machine has been re-designed so you now
have to remove the top plate in order to refill the tank - unless you install
the direct connect kit. I guess spilled water was getting into the machines electrical
components. It basically means you can not store cups or accessories on the top
of the machine. Maria 5/24/06
Other Espresso Stuff:
Espresso Accessories:
Illycaffe
Espresso Coffee | Espresso
Cups | Stainless Steel Cups | Milk
Frothing Pitchers | Espresso
Tampers | Knock Box | Pavoni
Equipment Info.
Urnex Espresso Machine Cleaners | Espresso
Machine Cleaning Brushes | Stovetop
Espresso (Moka Pots)
Espresso Mills for the
Home:
Mazzer Mini, Rancilio Rocky, Solis
Maestro Plus, Anfim Haus
Also see:
Rancilio Silvia Espresso
Machine, Gaggia Espresso Machines,
the Pasquini Livia 90-S Espresso
Machine, and the Andreja home/commercial
machine from Italy.
 Sweet Maria's offers Roasted Coffee! Small-Batch Coffees-of-the-Week, roasted the day it ships... More Info... |
