NEW MACHINE

The only heat exchange machine under $1000.00 with a 6 year warranty

O N E

B L A C K

(click here)

Reviewed by Todd Salzman I must say I am very excited with my latest discovery and anxious to share it! For all of you who know me and have worked with me over the years you probably know that I don’t tend to exaggerate and I do love a good product. Well, we have a great product thanks to the fine work of a man named Salvatore. Salvatore Cisaria came from Italy in 1986. He had a great love for espresso and a skill for machining. As a tool and die professional in Florence, Italy, he built dies for coins, cutting, shaping, stamping and forming. His designs were elegant yet simple. Some of his customers were Fendi, Gucci and Valentino, to mention only a few. He started Salvatore Espresso Systems in 1988, selling coffee, importing espresso machines, and performing repairs. Salvatore began to realize that the American market for espresso drinking had arrived and knew he had the skill to design and build a machine that he could proudly put his name on. In this world it is rare to come across a real gentleman. We are proud that this gentleman, Salvatore, has chosen to work with us. The Salvatore comes in two styles, Semi Automatic and Fully Automatic. Internally the only difference is how you control the flow of water over the coffee. With the Semi Automatic you start and stop the pump with a manual switch. With the Fully Automatic you can program two buttons that will control the volume of coffee dispensed or you can operate it manually like the Semi Automatic. The Salvatore’s are heat exchanger style machines that can brew and steam at the same time. They have a separate wand for steam (left side) and hot water (right side), both of which are mounted on ball joints for extra flexibility. The thought process Salvatore used when these were designed focused on performance, dependability, versatility and durability. We back this machine up with a lifetime warranty on the brew group and boiler. It is small enough to fit into any kitchen and I would have no problem recommending it for a small commercial operation as it can be left on all the time. It can be operated with its standard 64 ounce water reservoir or easily hooked up to a water line. For a commercial application we can supply taller and adjustable stainless steel legs that are required for kitchen use and a drip tray with a drain line hook up. The espresso quality is second to none. The Salvatore delivers the proper water temperature and brew pressure on the coffee, its as simple as that. The E61 brew group is made of chrome plated brass and has a thermal siphon system that is constantly circulating hot water through it, keeping it hot and ready to brew at all times. Now lets talk about durability and performance. First lets look at the boiler. It is a 2 liter, 1550 watt (@110 volts) boiler that has 1/8” thick walls and a 3” brass end plates. It heats up quickly and has excellent steaming capabilities. On a personal note, I love frothing with the Salvatore! The pressure is properly delivered creating a great swirl and flow in the frothing pitcher. It makes texturing milk a pleasure. The steam wand is very easy to use. It is on a ball joint that can rotate in any direction for easy access. Notice the rubber sleeve that keeps you from being burned. The Salvatore comes equipped with an easy froth tip and my favorite commercial 4-hole tip. Check out the images below to get a feel for the quality that Salvatore puts into his machines. Salvatore Heat Exchanger Salvatore Flow Meter Salvatore Pressure Stat Standard Heat Exchanger Standard Flow Meter Standard Pressure Stat   Notice that there are no Teflon or rubber tubes. All of the tubes are made of standard US sized (3/8” and 1”) copper that is custom bent by hand to fit. Take a look at the frame. It is all cut, welded and powder coated to prevent rust. The three-way solenoid valve is located behind the splash plate and is used to dry out the coffee when you are done brewing. The side and back panels and drip pan are made of brushed Stainless steel. The drip grate, cup warmer and front panels are made of 1/16” thick aluminum. I would describe the Salvatore as compact but not to compact. It is 15” tall, 12” wide, 15” deep and weighs 52 pounds. It is larger than many home machines, yet is smaller then a standard commercial machine. The Salvatore’s pack a lot of power into a comparatively small body. Check out the Compare-O-Matic for all the “Tech and Performance Specs.” You can have personalized engravings on machine when requested at no charge such as Happy Birthday/ Anniversary signed by Salvatore and dated. Other options include taller legs, a fitted drain pan for drainage directly to a floor drain or plumbing system and a flow restrictor for hook up to a water line. Please call for any special request they will take a little longer. The standard accessories include: a heavy aluminum coffee tamper, 20oz stainless frothing pitcher, sample of back flush cleaner, group brush, stainless steel blinked filter basket, single and double brewing basket, coffee scoop, and drink recipes as well as the owner's manual. The Salvatore is more than a just an espresso machine. It is the creation of a man dedicated to the best.
Users Reviews of the Salvatore machines
I've had one of Salvatore's semi-auto machines for nearly two years. I make an average of five drinks a day, and the machine is a joy to work with. While it's easy to use for daily home use, I have used it on occasion as the centerpiece of a coffee bar for charity events at church. At one event, the machine made about 60 drinks with hardly a break in the action, with me pulling shots and a friend steaming and pouring milk. The machine never missed a beat. Two other semi-autos (non-Salvatore) stopped making steam after about 6-7 back-to-back drinks and they had to be rested repeatedly to give them a chance to heat up again. We eventually quit using them and just let the Salvatore handle the whole load. It was an awesome performance. Thank you, Salvatore! (And thank you to my dad, who surprised me with this for my birthday!) Brent Baldwin
"I purchased two machines from Salvatore; an automatic and semi automatic for two of my houses. After getting the first one I had to get the second one! I have owned almost every machine made over the past 20 years. They all had problems and were maintenance headaches. Salvatorie's machines are different. They a beautiful and functional and do not break! They make the most incredible coffee you can imagine. They are made with skill and the love that can only come from a master craftsman. I feel like I own two collector items that are already famous. You will never find a better made, better designed machine with better customer service. Thanks Salvatore and Wendy!!" Neal
Salvatore machines are so beautiful and they work perfectly. We are lucky to have such an artisan living and working close by. Heather Bedford
Earlier this year we purchased the Salvatore Automatic, stainless steel. It functions like a fine tuned sports car. Making micro-foam is a snap with this machine. It has commercial grade parts, which provide powerful steam and consistently perfect brews. Its foot- print is ideal and it looks great. The water tank has a stainless steel protective cap. If you enjoy espresso, heck if you like coffee, treat yourself to this machine. It is a great way to start every day or end a meal. Al
Having used this machine for just about one year, I have two things to say about Salvatore and his hand-made espresso machine. First, the espresso shot that one can create from this machine is among the best I have ever had anywhere in the world (and that includes most of Northern Italy). Compared to other espresso machines (particularly the super-automatics), this machine produces an entirely different level of espresso. If you are used to starbucks and their water-downed version, this is not the machine for you. If you are willing to work at technique you will be rewarded with a true cup of espresso by following the Golden Rule-> I promise you will not be disappointed. More importantly, Wendy (the customer-relations point person at Salvatore) and Salvatore care about their customers and their product. My machine had a small issue almost one year into use and rather than give me a difficult time, they have gone above and beyond the call of duty to solve the issue (at no cost to me including shipping). I wish Apple and ipods would offer similar service. I doubt this level of personal service from the designer and builder of a prodcut is offered by other mass produced units. Although pricey, when you buy this machine you buy a piece of art that the creator will back up and standby. I cannot say enough about them and their machine. Eric Nadler
I purchased the Salvatore machine after extensive reading and also after abusing all of the plastic machines at Williams Sonoma for two days! Customers thought I worked there. I found Salvatore's machine on the internet and was very intrigued that his machine shop was just above Santa Barbara in California. So, being that I live in Hollywood, just an hour and a half drive away, I jumped in my car and made a day trip to see his machine up close and personal. Probably the most important feature that impressed me was the quality of the construction. It's all Stainless Steel, brass and copper. No plastic hoses or unecessary/superfluous gadgets or functions. So it's very simple to use. You can manually control the extraction, or program the single/double shot exactly to your liking. The steam is "perfectly dry" and endless. The steamer doesn't fade or squirt hot water after you clear the nozzle. The Salvatore machine can be plumbed directly into a water line from your sink. I saw first hand that the grind has to be right for perfect creme. As an experiment we used my pre-ground Kimbo Gold Espresso then we used his whole bean Lavazza which he ground in his burr grinder. The difference in the creme was impressive. His burr grinder and the Lavazza coffee made a beautifully thick creme, whereas the Kimbo Gold creme was about half as thick as the Lavazza. However there is an important detail that must be mentioned because creme is not everything. The Kimbo Gold Espresso had the same thick and rich viscosity (not watery) as the Lavazza Espresso and the Kimbo tasted much better than the Lavazza. The creme just isn't as thick and "pretty." Also the Kimbo is not as caffeinated as the Lavazza - which is important to me. Anthony Voci
The quality, the pride of workmanship and the user-friendly design are evident in every operation and function of this machine. Since I love a latte, the ease of simultaneous brewing and frothing is a real treat. Ron Williams
The Salvatore Semi-Automatic has far exceeded my expectations. This machine has an unmistakable feel of quality with the simplicity of use that even a beginner can quickly master. It is beautifully crafted with aircraft tollerances to every button, knob and fitting. John Vukich
An awesome machine. It looks and performs great. Reviews for many other machines complain about the coffee not being hot enough, which is definitely not the case with this machine. The steam is instantaneous and extremely powerful. I can froth milk for 1 cup in less time than it takes to extract the expresso, and I actually have to cut back on the steam pressure to get a good froth. The automatic model is well worth the extra price in terms of convenience and consistency. Arni Johnson
If you really like expresso and can afford this machine, buy it. You will be blown away. 2 - If you can set up the machine for automatic water supply and drip tray drainage, that will eliminate the need for two of the suggestions a made above. 3 - Be prepared to wait about a month or so to get your machine. I got antsy waiting and called Salvatore a few months ago. He's a real pro and will not comprise quality to get a machine out fast. It was obvious from talking to him that he really loves making these machines. 4 - Don't be afraid to buy a 'manual' machine. With the exception of maybe 5 cups, all of the coffee I have made since getting this machine has been fine, some more so that others, but definitly drinkable. Just follow the 2 - 20 formula and it's really easy. I started with a coarser grind and worked my way to finer until the coffee took too long to extract and started tasting bitter, that way the worst that could happen was coffee that was a little too weak. 3 - With the Rocky grinder, my setting varies between 9 and 11. 4 - A few years ago, I purchased a Saeco super-automatic which does the grinding, tamping, and extraction at the touch of a button. I get decent expresso from this machine, but not even close to the flavor and aroma I get from using the Salvatore. Arnie Johnson
The Salvatore Automatic Espresso Machine is a wonderful blend of quality, art and science. From the very first shot, every pour has been absolutely spectacular in every way! And...The steam pressure and frothing capabilities are magnificent! This machine has truly put us in "Java Heaven". Alan horber
In my view, Salvatore has "bridged" the gap for those just starting out all the way up to the most skilled and experienced barista. With its ease of use, easy learning curve and potential to produce consistent phenomenal espresso; this unit is an exceptional value. No contest. This is the best machine I've ever used, and I've fooled around with a few (see above). It makes peerless espresso and wonderfully creamy foam. If you've been lucky enough to enjoy espresso on home ground in Italy, this machine will transport you there. Jay Cocks
Makes stunning espresso the Italian way - rich, dark and with a great crema. Heats up quickly and is very consistent in performance. Each cup turns out great with little or no variation. Vents in top really heat espresso cups to working temperature. Jere Brown
Dear Wendy & Salvatore, I was so very pleased to visit your place of business last Saturday morning. As I told Salvatore I was amazed that anybody was really involved in such craftsmanship (in the US) in our day and age. Thank you so much for the tour and your very patient and thorough explanations of the details of the functioning of your equipment. That too is noteworthy in our world of today. Thanks again for your graciousness, Kurt J. Berg