Well that answer is pretty simple, no it isn’t. The original valve works as following, when you turn the shaft inwards the valve pin will push a gasket holder. The steam can go out, close it again and no steam can go out. In the case of the modern E61 valves is that behind the gasket holder is a small stainless steel ball with a spring.
From the beginning of the Faema E61 brewing group are basically no differences between the parts installed inside the brewing group. Parts such as the valve gaskets, springs, valve assemblies and portafilters have all remained the same. The biggest change is the small cleaning hole on the front of the brewing group. With the earliest models this hole didn´t exist.
There are 5 types of boiler used on the Faema E61 espresso machine. The most well known is the double flanged model. You have on one side the heating element flange and on the other side the water level flange, both are out of production. These are held in place with aluminium boiler rings. For the single groups you have a boiler with a flange on one side.
The next model is a stainless steel boiler, with one flange. This type of boiler is less common then the copper boiler above. There is also a later model stainless steel, which doesn’t have a removable flange. Both these boilers have corrosion issues, this has to do because of the stainless steel.
The latest model is also a copper boiler, this boiler has a single heat exchanger(HX) in the middle. Most modern espresso machines have for each individual brewing group a individual HX.
Yes it is, but this depends on various factors. The first thing is experience, seen this is a manual operated espresso machine it requires a lot more attention from the barista then a solenoid operated model. There you need to stop the brewing process manually. If you don’t have the experience you probably can’t hold up with the tempo which is required at such a bar. Then I would advice to go for the Faema E61 Jubilee, this is the solenoid operated version of the Faema E61 Legend espresso machine.
The Faema e61 was the first successfully semi automatic espresso machine which was operated with the help of a pump. Prior to this the pressure in the brewing group came from compressing the springs inside the brewing group, which exerted about 9 bars of pressure on average. The idea is that the 9 bar also comes from this average.
Seen the Faema E61 is a older type of espresso machine you will also find less electronics, but more mechanical parts. Which means also more maintenance over time, but the advantage is that normally mechanical parts such as gaskets, springs and valve parts are relatively inexpensive. Especially when you compare it to electrical components
The portafilters used on the Faema e61 brewing group have become one of the most common sizes of portafilters used on espresso machines. The Faema E61 portafilter for the vintage Faema E61 espresso machine has a unique handle design, which you can also find with the modern Faema E61 espresso machines. But in the past they where made from black Bakelite, nowadays they are made from black nylon.
The standard espresso machine brewing group, e61 style, originates from the Faema E61 brewing group. In it’s time this was one of the most revolutionary brewing groups ever made on a espresso machine. With it’s various springs, gaskets and valve holders.
Keep in mind that the “original” e61 brewing group has a lot of similar components with the e61 style brewing groups. But there are a variety of small and bigger components which are not interchangeable.
The Faema E61 has been in production for a while, but at some point in history the production of this iconic espresso machine stopped. But around the turn of the century this iconic design was technically modernized. They made a version which is closest to the original, the e61 legend. There has been made also a modernized one which is volumetric, that is the E61 Jubilee.
The Faema E61 Legend espresso machine is the manual version of the modern E61 series of Faema. This espresso machine is technically very similar to the original. But has been fitted with various new safety features such as a thermostat. But also the internal pump(not in all cases) is new. A other handy feature is the autofill system. Which makes sure that there is always plenty enough water inside the boiler. The Faema E61 Legend is made in a S1, S2 and S3 version, so the amount of brewing groups
This one is the volumetric version of the classical Faema E61 espresso machine. This means that the brewing group used on this coffee machine does not have the valve mechanism, but it is solenoid operated. This can be done with a push on a button of the coffee selection panel on the front of the espresso machine. So the design will be slightly different then The Faema E61 Jubilee is made in a S1 and a S2 version.
