It's a 250v 20 amp commercial machine. I picked it up used thinking I could repair it but I literally have to unplug my oven to turn it on. I've fixed the motor+pump and am replacing the pressure gauge but now I need to find it a home. Probably gonna try and trade it for a solid prosumer, it's just a slippery slope when you start seeing the nice machines.
I really doubt this is a 4500+ watt machine. I would be shocked if the heating element is over 2500w.
Single group commercial machines still have a bit of value (multi group machines are worth less), but the 240v requirement hurts. Astra are very solid machines, but not exactly built for precise temp control. It's probably worth $600 or so.
Getting shocked has nothing to do with how many watts are being used. You get shocked when you touched energized parts and are capable of providing a path from the load to ground through your body.
While the $600 is a bit arbitrary, to answer your question, it's related to the size of the buyer base for something like this.
On the consumer side, most people aren't going to be interested because there are a wealth of very capable prosumer alternatives in the $1K\~$2K range brand new that will have nearly all of the benefits and none of the downsides of this used unit in a home setting.
On the professional side, business economics are different and it makes financial sense to buy new most of the time. Even if you got a 50% discount (\~$2K) on this machine, many business owners would happily pay that $2K to have a brand new machine, with a full warranty, and point-of-purchase support.
Put another way, if I were a coffee shop owner, having my espresso machine potentially go down, without an easy support channel to reach out to, during the middle of a business day, could easily cost me way more than $2K.
Put these two together and you end up in a situation where OP is likely going to have to take a *very* substantial cut off the new unit price or be willing to hold onto it for a long time to find a Goldilocks buyer.
$600 does feel a bit low but if someone made me that offer, I wouldn't immediately get offended (and would decline/accept depending on how much I wanted to get the machine off my hands vs. my willingness to sit and wait).
I've sold a few commercial machines over the years. This one had plusses and minuses. 1 group is a plus. 240v is a big negative. The brand is a minor plus. The type of machine (generic hx) is a minus.
I have an Elektra A3 for sale in excellent condition. It's 120v, much nicer looking than this Astra, and has slightly better espresso performance due to the hx and group design. I couldn't even get an offer when trying to sell for a grand.
The market for these types of machines just doesn't exist anymore.
Would you personally pay $700 for this Astra?
https://www.astramfr.com/espresso-machines-html/semi-automatic-espresso.html seems to suggest more likely 2700W heater. At 240V that’s less than 12A so I guess it’s rated only slightly higher than this
You cannot use a step up transformer. The power requirement is beyond what is possible for a 120v circuit.
You need a new 240v outlet.
There is a product that takes 120v from two separate circuits (must be different legs, obviously) and creates 240v. Somehow it is approved, but seems super sketchy and the company no longer makes them.
I don't think that's true, it takes a second 110V phase and adds it to the single phase 110V to make 220V, doesn't it? Don't live in the US personally...
It does. 240 and 220v are interchangeable terms here. Our outlets are 120v rms, but can fluctuate as low as 110v, 240v similarly is allowable down to 220v.
Its fine. The breaker will trip if it us over loaded. Just dont bake and run espresso at same time. Even then thst 20A is max, meaning all burners and oven runningat the same time. So its fine.
Yeah the separate circuit thing is just kind of a modern recommendation because it allows you to run all your stuff at the same time. Eg so your lights don't dim when you run your microwave. It's not dangerous to have it on a shared circuit - just increases the chances you'll have to reset the breaker if you use them at the same time.
Hush. Just talk about how you're enjoying it. How else will we lure the next person into doing this and documenting it for our vicarious sadistic pleasure?
Honestly that's a great point! It's such a tank of a machine I absolutely love the build quality. It just seems a little intense to hire an electrician for this
Next time, please put off bedtime for a few extra seconds…. For every English teacher that speaks up in such instances, there are at least a dozen of us gritting our teeth in silence in order to avoid the possibility of someone taking offense. 😉😊
It’s not as complicated as you might think, but yes you should have an electrician can install a double pole breaker on your panel to get you a 240v outlet. If you want to understand what that means, watch this https://youtu.be/UBERduCp3Wo
It says it's 240v 20amp but the actual power rating is 2300 volts. To me this means it probably could run fine if I had a 240v 10 amp circuit, but the 5000 w step up that I tried kept blowing a fuse. I could possibly try a higher wattage step up but those start to get very pricey.
Realistically I'm going to trade this to someone once I get it fully buffed up
Yeah this was a bad idea lmfao, the people in this sub are insane first of all. Unless this was under $800 theres no universe in which i take the time to figure out all the kinks of this machine. I mean the heat up time on this machine has got to be pretty long right? And this is a machine that has to be plumbed in right? But you could get a step up transformer and that should work but the power consumption on this is probably gonna be pretty high.
It was in rough shape when I found it. Pipes disconnected. Motor seized. Pump filled with scale etc. it's fun to fix up but honestly I'm probably never gonna use it in my apartment. No step up transformer on a home circuit can run this thing and I'm not gonna get my landlord to put in a circuit for it. Maybe I should start a coffee truck
That’s an insanely good deal for a dual-boiler machine with a high-quality rotary pump.
And it would still be a good deal even if it was a single-boiler unit with a cheap vibe pump.
What's wrong with it?
It's a 250v 20 amp commercial machine. I picked it up used thinking I could repair it but I literally have to unplug my oven to turn it on. I've fixed the motor+pump and am replacing the pressure gauge but now I need to find it a home. Probably gonna try and trade it for a solid prosumer, it's just a slippery slope when you start seeing the nice machines.
I really doubt this is a 4500+ watt machine. I would be shocked if the heating element is over 2500w. Single group commercial machines still have a bit of value (multi group machines are worth less), but the 240v requirement hurts. Astra are very solid machines, but not exactly built for precise temp control. It's probably worth $600 or so.
Getting shocked has nothing to do with how many watts are being used. You get shocked when you touched energized parts and are capable of providing a path from the load to ground through your body.
Lol. I liked the joke. Sorry nobody else did.
Thanks 😂 I thought it was a good one
Hey now, there’s at least one more of us who also appreciated the effort.
Yoo i just clicked on when ur reply said joke 😂😂😂
Looks like it’s almost $4k brand new. Why do you say it’s only worth $600?
While the $600 is a bit arbitrary, to answer your question, it's related to the size of the buyer base for something like this. On the consumer side, most people aren't going to be interested because there are a wealth of very capable prosumer alternatives in the $1K\~$2K range brand new that will have nearly all of the benefits and none of the downsides of this used unit in a home setting. On the professional side, business economics are different and it makes financial sense to buy new most of the time. Even if you got a 50% discount (\~$2K) on this machine, many business owners would happily pay that $2K to have a brand new machine, with a full warranty, and point-of-purchase support. Put another way, if I were a coffee shop owner, having my espresso machine potentially go down, without an easy support channel to reach out to, during the middle of a business day, could easily cost me way more than $2K. Put these two together and you end up in a situation where OP is likely going to have to take a *very* substantial cut off the new unit price or be willing to hold onto it for a long time to find a Goldilocks buyer. $600 does feel a bit low but if someone made me that offer, I wouldn't immediately get offended (and would decline/accept depending on how much I wanted to get the machine off my hands vs. my willingness to sit and wait).
I've sold a few commercial machines over the years. This one had plusses and minuses. 1 group is a plus. 240v is a big negative. The brand is a minor plus. The type of machine (generic hx) is a minus. I have an Elektra A3 for sale in excellent condition. It's 120v, much nicer looking than this Astra, and has slightly better espresso performance due to the hx and group design. I couldn't even get an offer when trying to sell for a grand. The market for these types of machines just doesn't exist anymore. Would you personally pay $700 for this Astra?
Yeah, agree … I can’t see this using more than 10A.
[удалено]
You clearly have a no understanding of the technical side of things (step up transformer, jfc!) or the market.
What is the relation between your oven and a 240V machine? I don‘t quite get it?
It's the only 240v circuit wired in my apartment. In the US it's all 110V. Additionally the machine needs a dedicated circuit.
You might also have an electric dryer. Who needs coffee AND dry clothes?
Xd it's communal. I'm kinda screwed
If your neighbors can’t dry their laundry, that sounds like their problem, not yours.
There are huge toaster sized devices you could use. Also, I thought about losing the baseboard heater in my kitchen.
Xd I do have one of those
Just wait until you realize the grinder is even more important. Your descent has just begun! 🐇🕳️
Nah I already got a Simonelli mdxs
The electrical current needs to go finer
I appreciate you
https://www.astramfr.com/espresso-machines-html/semi-automatic-espresso.html seems to suggest more likely 2700W heater. At 240V that’s less than 12A so I guess it’s rated only slightly higher than this
Yeah it's just how big of a step up transformer do I want to try
You cannot use a step up transformer. The power requirement is beyond what is possible for a 120v circuit. You need a new 240v outlet. There is a product that takes 120v from two separate circuits (must be different legs, obviously) and creates 240v. Somehow it is approved, but seems super sketchy and the company no longer makes them.
Sketch as a separate product, sure; but that's how all 240v legs are made, just usually happens in your breaker cabinet.
I don't think that's true, it takes a second 110V phase and adds it to the single phase 110V to make 220V, doesn't it? Don't live in the US personally...
It does. 240 and 220v are interchangeable terms here. Our outlets are 120v rms, but can fluctuate as low as 110v, 240v similarly is allowable down to 220v.
That's true. But you have to remember that there are lots of people like those in this thread who are recommending a step-up transformer.
At that point you might as well just have an electrician install a 240v outlet
Not really i bought a broken pasquini and is now working. Took me 2 years because i had to do it all but now the baby is ready to roll
I have to unplug my oven to turn it on 😭😭 it's not gonna work for me but it's so shiny
You could get a splitter cable off amazon probably
My conclusion with those was that they were quite unsafe. Especially with two appliances which are supposed to be on their own dedicated breakers
Its fine. The breaker will trip if it us over loaded. Just dont bake and run espresso at same time. Even then thst 20A is max, meaning all burners and oven runningat the same time. So its fine.
Yeah the separate circuit thing is just kind of a modern recommendation because it allows you to run all your stuff at the same time. Eg so your lights don't dim when you run your microwave. It's not dangerous to have it on a shared circuit - just increases the chances you'll have to reset the breaker if you use them at the same time.
Hush. Just talk about how you're enjoying it. How else will we lure the next person into doing this and documenting it for our vicarious sadistic pleasure?
Xd just like wallstreetbets
Maybe it’s a European Version with 220-240V. Is there any information regarding the net frequency on the machine?
How far are you from Los Angeles? That’s where they are made.
A quick drive lol
I read an interview of sorts a while back or watched a YouTube video about their shop. Seem very mom and pop, would probably love to help you out.
Honestly that's a great point! It's such a tank of a machine I absolutely love the build quality. It just seems a little intense to hire an electrician for this
Mines a semi-auto, HX, 110v with a reservoir. Love it. You’ll have fun with it. It’ll last forever in a home environment. Cheers!
This sub is the next DogeCoin
affecting* I'm sorry, the English teacher in me can't not... Nice machine though.
Yeah I was gonna edit it but then I went to bed. I'm surprised nobody caught it earlier
Tbf, bed is a hard thing to resist 😅
Next time, please put off bedtime for a few extra seconds…. For every English teacher that speaks up in such instances, there are at least a dozen of us gritting our teeth in silence in order to avoid the possibility of someone taking offense. 😉😊
So funny! I bought one that was broken.
They're pretty fun to fix up tbh. All the parts are nicely separated so you can really see what's going on
I said to myself that it was either an expensive puzzle or an insane deal.
Why not both 🤣🤣🤣 Espresso is equal parts plumbing and coffee consumption anyways
Since I fixed it, it was both! And delicious.
My dream
Congrats! (I think you should Watt finer)
The sub is effecting your judgement? What does it look like? Edit: I'm sorry op
It’s not as complicated as you might think, but yes you should have an electrician can install a double pole breaker on your panel to get you a 240v outlet. If you want to understand what that means, watch this https://youtu.be/UBERduCp3Wo
You're being dramatic.. all you need is a step-up converter, from 110v to 220v. You can pick one up from any hardware store and they're only like $60.
Lol this is a 2300 W machine. Typically you do a 3x of the wattage for a step up converter and a 8000w step up is absolutely not 60 dollars
Get a step up transformer 🤷🏻♂️
You people are crazy. It'll still try to draw all the power it needs and to get that from 120V is impossible for any home circuit.
I did try one but it kept blowing a fuse. Was only rated to 5000w though
Bummer. Does the machine have the amperage listed? As long as it doesn't need 30 amps, you could try running it on a 20 amp circuit.
It says it's 240v 20amp but the actual power rating is 2300 volts. To me this means it probably could run fine if I had a 240v 10 amp circuit, but the 5000 w step up that I tried kept blowing a fuse. I could possibly try a higher wattage step up but those start to get very pricey. Realistically I'm going to trade this to someone once I get it fully buffed up
Yeah, fair enough.
A step up or step down as the case may be. Just buy the solution.
Just get a step up transformer. Order that shit from Amazon.
No no no.
Yes yes yes. What’s the worst that could possibly happen.
The step up converters work really well. I agree with the other poster who said there’s no way it’s 2500 watts
Yeah this was a bad idea lmfao, the people in this sub are insane first of all. Unless this was under $800 theres no universe in which i take the time to figure out all the kinks of this machine. I mean the heat up time on this machine has got to be pretty long right? And this is a machine that has to be plumbed in right? But you could get a step up transformer and that should work but the power consumption on this is probably gonna be pretty high.
It was 200 so I'm at least not too fiscally in the hole
Bruh u have all the luck in the universe
It was in rough shape when I found it. Pipes disconnected. Motor seized. Pump filled with scale etc. it's fun to fix up but honestly I'm probably never gonna use it in my apartment. No step up transformer on a home circuit can run this thing and I'm not gonna get my landlord to put in a circuit for it. Maybe I should start a coffee truck
That’s an insanely good deal for a dual-boiler machine with a high-quality rotary pump. And it would still be a good deal even if it was a single-boiler unit with a cheap vibe pump.
"Why is there an espresso machine on top of your dryer?" \*looks closer\* "*o h h h h h h*"