07
06
2.ESPRESSO EQUIPMENT
Hot water tap
The hot water tap on the Barlume
is operated with a rotary knob, like
a normal water tap. However, the
“feel” is different. In a normal
water tap you feel the washer
tighten as you close the tap. On
the Barlume, the hot water tap has
a spring loaded washer, which
means that as you turn the knob
clockwise (for off), a point is
reached when the knob feels
loose. This is the off position.
Turning the knob anticlockwise
progressively opens the tap,
allowing more hot water to flow.
•
The hot
water tap
feels “loose”
when closed
Steam wand
The Barlume has two steam
wands. Like the hot water tap,
these are operated with a rotary
knob. Again the knob will feel
loose when the tap is closed.
The steam wands can be moved
horizontally to suit. Always move
the wands with the rubber clip, as
the metal wands will be very hot.
Remember that the steam passing
through the wand is hotter than
100°C because the boiler is
under pressure.
However, you will also find that
the temperature of the steam a
few centimetres from the wand
will have very little heat, so the
danger is from steam heating the
metal tap, and from steam near
the wand’s outlet.
•
Steam wand.
Always move
wand with
rubber clip.
Lever operated valves
Some other Elektra espresso
machines have levers to operate
the hot water and steam outlets.
Moving the lever away from its
normal horizontal position opens
the valve.
•
hot water lever
rubber
clip
Elektra espresso machine
with levers to operate
the steam and
hot water.
Moving a lever
in any direction
opens the valve.
2.ESPRESSO EQUIPMENT
Elektra espresso
coffee machine
There are various models in the
Elektra range,
including the
Barlume, shown below.
The Elektra Balume features pushbutton
operation, and flow meters to guarantee
just the right amount of water into a cup,
regardless of the grind density.
Boiler. Made from sanitary copper,
the boiler pressure is typically 1 bar
(14psi), protected with a pressure
release valve set to 1.5 bar.
Pump. Driven by an electric motor
(behind), it delivers a pressure
of 8 bar to the handles.
The boiler and pump in an Elektra espresso coffee machine.
Group
head
(above) single cup handle.
(above) two cup handle.
(below) single cup
filter basket.
Single cup handle filled
with grounds; locks into
group head shown above.
(below) two cup
filter basket
Group head, handles and
filter baskets
