Coffee Forum
frame
› ›
After the old forum software breaking in a way that we were unable to fix, we've migrated the site to a new platform.

Some elements aren't working as we'd hoped - some avatars didn't survive the transition, and we're still having issues with attachments that weren't added as inline images, but we're hoping to have that all sorted out soon.

My new (old) Expobar Office Control - Using Lelit Basket

RichardMRichardM
edited January 1970 in Espresso Machines
So as some of you may know I recently obtained a Yellow Expobar Office Control.

On receiving it, it had a faulty OPV and no steam tip (apparently my idea of "Good Condition" is different to the seller), but still a good price overall, and it's working well (thanks CoffeParts - ordered them wednesday night, got them Friday). As I've discussed with AM, I think I'll track down a better OPV in the future, but that's not the point of this post.

The one thing that struck me, after upgrading from the Lelit was the baskets were very different - the expobar ones were shallow, and the double couldn't take nearly as much coffee. I stuck my 57mm basket from the Lelit in, and to my surprise, it still sealed, and the coffee gave a much nicer pour - this is a major plus because I don't need to upgrade my tamper now (have a spare basket to sell with the machine from when I got my tamper).

Has anyone else has experience with using the Lelit baskets in anything other than Lelit's??? I know heaps of people change baskets, but haven't had anyone mention using them with any HX machines before.
Share on Facebook

Comments

  • RichardMRichardM
    Seriously, forget this thread. Keep it here, just to know that this was a REALLY bad idea. After about the fifth shot, the basket slipped in at an angle and wouldn't lock. I then tried to pry the basket out (with coffee in it....wtf was I thinking?????) and then ended up with ~18g of coffee EVERYWHERE.
    Share on Facebook
  • MusclesMuscles
    Bugger, I know that feeling when the gound coffee goes EVERYWHERE... Every few weeks my Synesso double will decide it doesn't like being in my naked portafilter and literally jumps out. Seems to only happen when it's full of ground coffee - never when it's empty  ???
    Share on Facebook
  • RichardMRichardM
    on 1313316023:
    Bugger, I know that feeling when the gound coffee goes EVERYWHERE... Every few weeks my Synesso double will decide it doesn't like being in my naked portafilter and literally jumps out. Seems to only happen when it's full of ground coffee - never when it's empty  ???
    Glad to hear I'm not the only one that has happened to. Coffee grinds get into everything. It's especially hard to get off tile grout, as it sticks in the roughness, but you can't use a wet cloth or it stains.
    Share on Facebook
  • LacehimLacehim
    RichardM, Did AM look over your machine for ya?  Your in Toowoomba aren't ya? I like the synesso baskets 58mm when I had commercial groups.  They seem to be well liked and forgiving.  I had a double and a triple but the triple might need a naked if your groups are shallow. Also, wheres the piccy of the new machine?  Would love to see the new set up.
    Share on Facebook
  • RichardMRichardM
    on 1313317357:
    RichardM, Did AM look over your machine for ya?  Your in Toowoomba aren't ya? I like the synesso baskets 58mm when I had commercial groups.  They seem to be well liked and forgiving.  I had a double and a triple but the triple might need a naked if your groups are shallow. Also, wheres the piccy of the new machine?  Would love to see the new set up.
    I'm in Toowoomba, yeah. AM gave me a fair bit of advice and reassurance to get it up and running via PM. I probably will get synesso's soon. Have kind of decided against VST's. I'm really impressed with the coffee it puts out though. So much more body in the cup than the Lelit had (which surprised me actually). I've only got a dodgy cameraphone pic because the batteries are dead on the camera (the missus had her hens night on saturday.....). The yellow looks pastel in the photo, but think Bumblebee from Transformers. Will update the photo in a few days: expobar.jpg
    Share on Facebook
  • MusclesMuscles
    Nice, are you planning on transforming the SJ to bumblebee's offsider?
    Share on Facebook
  • RichardMRichardM
    on 1313320268:
    Nice, are you planning on transforming the SJ to bumblebee's offsider?
    While it would look awesome in red (or dressed up as Megan Fox), I will leave it as it is. The paint job on the SJ's are just too damn good to mess with.
    Share on Facebook
  • shape_shiftershape_shifter
    Richard I actually really like the yellow :)
    Share on Facebook
  • RichardMRichardM
    So I bit the bullet today and ordered a new base for the Pullman Deluxe and synesso ridgeless double basket. When the missus said "we need to get a new base for the tamper", I logged onto Things Coffee and placed the order before she'd finished pulling the shot.
    Share on Facebook
  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    Man that's a serious amount of coffee cups / glasses on top of your machine - are you planning on entertaining ? Pat
    Share on Facebook
Sign In or Register to comment.

Coffee Forum

@ 2026 The Coffee Forum, All rights reserved.

Policies

Privacy Policy

Social