Before & After
Restoration
Gaggia Classic Pro
Found in rough shape on Facebook Marketplace. Full teardown, group gasket swap, solenoid valve cleaned, descale cycle, and a deep clean. Pulling clean shots within a week.
The Work
Projects
Every machine has a story. Here's what came through the bench.
Before & After
Vintage
Rancilio Silvia (Gen 1)
Spotted at a thrift store for $12. Boiler element had burned out, pump was seized. New element, rewired pump, and a full exterior polish. Now a daily driver.
Before & After
Donation
Breville Barista Express
Neighbor was going to toss it. Grinder burrs were shot and the steam wand was completely blocked. New burrs, full wand rebuild, grind calibration. Works like new.
Before & After
Vintage
Faema E61 (1970s)
The holy grail of vintage machines. Picked up from an estate sale — completely seized. Six weeks of parts sourcing, rebuilding, and patience. Still working on this one.
Before & After
Restoration
DeLonghi La Specialista
Bought non-functional. Pressure sensor fault and a cracked brew unit. Sourced a used brew unit, replaced the sensor, and recalibrated the pressure profile.
Collection
Collection
The Bench
A gallery of machines currently in the collection — some repaired and in rotation, some waiting their turn on the bench, and one or two that are purely decorative at this point.