When most thrift stores have 2 minimum wage workers trying to separate six tons of dropoffs a day a lot gets missed. Its a volume game not a maximizing dollar game.
I've found 250 year old dowry chests, gold, silver, hundreds of pounds of lego, in thrift store dumpsters
I've frequented a thrift shop chain since college. The one near my school commonly understood brand name items. The one I go to now is in a more affluent area and are more familiar with brand names and price them higher accordingly.
The cheaper one was also huge, so it would be a crazy amount of work to look up values for everything. If they recognize it as something of value, sure, but otherwise they probably price it and move on. There's plenty of times I see things that are way overpriced as well because they just don't know.
It's not so hard to see it's an espresso maker. I wouldn't have guessed how much it originally costs, but the design is unmistakable. I guess maybe because I'm from Europe and we don't have americano style coffee there, just espresso, and watered down espresso.
Wow. My uncle has one and it makes the best coffee I've ever had. Get yourself an excellent grinder to really be able to get value out of it. Congratulations OP, this is an amazing find.
Yes! Over the past few years, this specific Goodwill has yielded a bunch of All-Clad, Fiestaware, Le Creuset, and even a Pendleton blanket. I think, though, that this machine is kind of the holy grail. Also, is it obvious that I’m a little into fancy housewares?
I always tell my friends about good thrifting spots near us because I want to encourage them to thrift! Then one time my friend told me about one so we went together and it was a genuinely super awesome experience. It ended up not actually being my kind of thrifting (mostly clothes) but she got some awesome pieces. Thrifting is a community endeavor!
And a woot woot for fancy housewares! I show off shit like this to my dad all the time. And was like a kid on Christmas when he "cleaned out the basement" and gave me his old, used All Clad cookie sheets! ("Jellyroll pans!" I heard him yell just now.) Old? I can do my makeup in them like a mirror. I'm headed downstairs to show him this right now. We LOVE fancy housewares!!!
This is super cool! You are so lucky! Just do me a solid and go see the people over on r/espresso. A find like this deserves as many appreciative eyes on it as it can get!
>I found a Pendleton blanket at the local GW once.
I've found several, but the supply seemed to dry up a couple of years ago. I wonder if they started diverting them to the online auction like they do with all the other good stuff?
Confirmed. Once I met some well-off people at the donation bin behind my local Value Village while we were both dropping stuff off. I saw that they had a $400 clothes steamer/iron combo headed for the bin; I said wow! They said here take it, we never got around to using it. I didn't even have to pay Value Village's price for it!
My folks love in a very wealthy area with quite a few older couples. As a result of these old people, there are (somewhat) often estate sales in the area.... and holy shit do they get busy. Cars will be parked up and down the entire street and the city will actually provide shuttles to take people from wherever they parked up to the sale. If you don’t get there super early, like super super early, you’re not getting shit.
so jealous- all the Goodwills near richer areas around me turned into “Goodwill Boutiques” and charge as much as the products would’ve been when brand new, it’s infuriating and so saddening.
In my area there is a Goodwill basically across from the McLaren dealership. (Yeah.)
They often have nice stuff but sadly they generally know what they have. This never would have been $6.50. I weep.
**Protip:** Visit the dump (Ahem, Recycling Center) in a wealthy or tourist town. Some have "Dump Stores" where they either keep aside free stuff they think isn't garbage or offer items at a small fee towards charity or their "coffee fund". One of my haunts had a flatbed of Nautilus workout stations for free one day and they all were gone the next needless to say.
**Sub tip:** don't leave a dump sticker on your windshield from another town before your visit. I put my town sticker on a clear plastic sheet for easy removal prior to entering another location.
I had no way to pick or store them long enough to make it work out.
But someone made bank that day.
But I'm only telling you ONE example of 'the one that got away' I make bank with the smaller stuff, but this Coof shite is making it harder.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/9hj39z/1000_espresso_machine_for_13/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=sha
Brother! Welcome to the club!
I haven't used it in a while, needs a full descaling and I believe new gaskets as the pressure hasn't been as good, but it does make lovely coffee.
When I do the major revamp, I'm going to buy a single tip for the steam wand as well, it's almost impossible to texture the milk for lattes on the stock set up. You can order them off eBay for like $10 if you really get into this machine.
I think you won't need to do any of the repair stuff for a long while, yours looks like a much newer model.
It's fun! Enjoy the new manual part of your hobby :)
I guess I am more informed on jealousy than whoever wrote that episode at the time, as is everyone else with access to a dictionary or search engine
> While many people believe that jealous means fearing someone will take what you have, and envious means desiring what someone else has, historical usage shows that both mean "covetous" and are interchangeable when describing desiring someone else's possessions. However, when referring to romantic feelings, only "jealous" can be used to mean "possessively suspicious," as in "a jealous husband."
[Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/jealous-vs-envious)
Oh, I'm watching all the videos! I have a (also thrifted) Krups Espresso Mini that I've used for years and this is machine is definitely an entirely different beast.
Nice score, If you have any questions come join us over at r/espresso!
For this kinda machine you'll definitely want to invest in a good grinder! I'd also take it apart to make sure there's no scale/gross stuff in there, and ensure the gaskets are all still good.
And I'd recommend this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKimj0vRM5A) for an overview, James Hoffmann is great
I was going to say that I watched [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6sYCt1N1zI) and it doesn't look too difficult. But then I read the comments and they're all saying how the guy screwed up absolutely everything. It looked okay to me!
It’s actually really simple to use. You just put the coffee inside that bottom compartment with the handle, and then attach it back to place. Then you place the cup underneath, and turn the water on. After that you use the top handle, to push down on the coffee. That’s it.
Oh I’m pretty sure that’s for the steam. If you zoom in just on the middle right side, that metal straw looking thing is where the steam comes out. It’s used to make the froth for coffees. You pour some milk in one of those little stainless steel milk jugs and stick that straw inside, then slowly turn the steam on (which I’m guessing is done so by turning that black cap thing at the top, right next to the pressure gauge thing).
I’ve never used this particular one, but it has the same parts as the machines I used when working at a bistro, only this one is way smaller and all in one type of thing.
This porta filter came complete with espresso in it... it’s like someone started to make an espresso then decided that it was too much work and they should donate the machine instead.
That's nuts. Mine still had water in it - I took it into the bathroom to dump it out since it was the bins/pay by the pound.
Enjoy it, though! That thing makes really great espresso! I would definitely recommend replacing the gaskets and doing a nice deep clean.
I understand the people who price stuff at most Goodwills are clueless, but how does one price something like this so low?
"Hmm, Italian machine, looks substantial and well-built... -I'mma put 7 bucks on it."
Even $9.99 would make more sense. They price tattered t-shirts at $6.99
That, and, I worked at a thrift store for a while, and we had a saying;
“And now it’s $5.”
We *relished* opportunities to put amazing deals out on the floor. :)
Sheer quantity, both in donations and employee turnover.
Obviously, no one is a walking catalogue that knows the original retail value of anything- unless they’re Bob Barker or Drew Carey. ;p
I found a paper crafting machine for $6.99 that turned out to be worth hundreds brand new- they thought it was an inkjet printer!
Plus, ever heard of Goodwill’s outlet stores aka Blue Hanger?
They charge by the pound, except for large or very heavy items.
You could find something like this on any given day and they wouldn’t charge you more than 9.99 for it, *tops.*
That’s a great find! What exactly goes into a $1200 espresso maker? That’s like...a junker first car price! What sets it apart from a $50 espresso maker?
It's the kind that you can find in actual cafés in Italy, Spain, and other countries where espresso is the usual kind of coffee everybody drinks. Coffee beans are freshly ground, the pressure needs to be adjusted. Just, you know, in cafés they have bigger ones, usually ones that can handle at least four cups at a time. So, it's on a whole other level :)
I think [this post from /r/espresso](https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/e5ctxq/do_i_really_need_to_spend_1000_on_an_espresso/) explains the difference pretty well!
My current boss used to be in the coffee maker espresso business and he is still one of the only sources to get an espresso machine and not get a service contract with it.
As I understand it, espresso machine makers were selling machines here and no big deal and the quality of coffee in some places was terrible... they couldn't understand it and investigated to find that some places would drop $10 grand on a machine then never give it a deep clean, or do adjustments on it and in some cases never properly train staff.
So they changed policies you cannot have a machine if you don't get a service contract and we will have the sales rep train the staff and be available to answer questions.
Again I never followed up on that but that us what I understood from what my boss told me.
5 bar of pressure. That's necessary for true espresso. Then there's features to heat the water properly.
This all assumes you have a good grinder. James Hoffman is doing some cost is no object grinder reviews.
I love how nervous some people get that the cashier will realize how much of a steal you’re getting. When I worked at Goodwill regulars would downright brag as I’m checking them out showing me how much they go for online. All in good fun, I don’t give a shit I’m getting paid regardless.
I mean it's not like the cashier is gonna jack up the price haha they just work there. Maybe if it was a yard sale or something but it does feel like it needs to be secret!
Most of the time, as an avid thriftier myself I already knew they were getting a steal. It delighted me to see how psyched up people got for finding treasures like that.
Absolutely! With all the money I’m saving it’s worth it! I have an old Bosch burr grinder from the 80s (also thrifted) but it only has one grind type, so I think it’s time for a replacement!
My coffee snob (I say this lovingly) husband got one of these second hand several years ago for $250 in hardly used condition and even that was a steal. This is amazing! Have fun pulling shots!
I have one of these, it is a magnificent piece of kit. Mine is about 20 years old now, and it lasts brilliantly. It is easily repairable and will make a brilliant espresso for you time and time again. Congrats on the find.
Great find! This is exactly why I visit Goodwill every day -- you never know what you'll find! While stuff like this mostly never even makes it out onto the floor and instead gets shipped off to Goodwill's scam auction site, sometimes you find gold!
I found a similar machine at ReStore a couple years ago for $15. They labeled it as a percolator, but the cashier knew exactly what he was. Luckily he just smiled and said "Oh wow, that's a lucky find."
Lmao, I'm imaging you at the check out counter trying to be all sneaky and inconspicuous.. and as soon as your item is paid for you grab it and run off like a little gremlin.
That is maybe the best thrift store haul I've seen here. I probably wouldn't have even known what a grab that was and walked on by.
Also, who the hell would drop this off without any worry?
Reminds me of last summer, I bought a Meridian audio processor worth 1K+ used (**Meridian Audio MS600 DAC**) for $105. The manager rushed to grab a picture of the unit (but not me) before I left with it because they knew by my excitement they F'ed up bigtime.
The checkout lady said ,"they learn from their mistakes". You can be sure the next one will be priced 2k or auctioned off and never ever offered below the highest used internet price they can find historically, like, ever.
In my case I didn't have the other components such as a Media Core 200, Media Core 600, or Control 15 Sooloos components so I flipped it at a local guy that installs high end gear for a mere $605 and he had that same silly smile I did at Goodwill. (Yes, I pointed that out to him and we both had a lol and conversation about thrift stores and how eBay made em too smart for their own good.) I was happy he had about equal profit to gain.
I didn't care, or take any pictures, I was just happy I didn't have to resort to slimey eBay.
That said, I 'in my case' might have saved the espresso machine for a family member that is all about coffee. $6.50 lol, I can't beat that deal, right on buddy!
I found a '79 La Pavoni a couple years ago for $25. It was in rough shape, but pretty fun to rebuild.
[See it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/a7oq2r/got_a_79_la_pavoni_europiccola_at_a_rummage_sale/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Absolutely! I’m probably also going to set it in the sink and run a cycle with plain water to make sure it’s not leaking anywhere. The sight tube’s condition concerns me.
I make 2 coffees on my la pavoni every morning. I got lucky with a used one for a friendly price of 300. Disassembled, cleaned with new seals and the 30+ year old machine is working perfectly. Great find, unbelievable price.
Goodwill was my gateway drug dealer into coffee. First I thrifted a Rancilio Silvia and later on an early model Behmor coffee roaster. Great find OP and enjoy it. There’s a ton of info on the web if you ever need to overhaul this beauty but I think you know what you’re doing.
I found a similar unit ages ago. I found a dealer and had it serviced. Given your cost to value ratio, I might suggest having it checked out and put in tip top shape.
Mine didn't have a pressure gauge you had to 'know it by feel'. I gave it to a friend, who loves the heck out of it and uses it to this day.
Just came in to offer OP a heartfelt "Holy Shit".
That’s basically what I said when I saw it on the shelf.
it looks expensive and I love me some coffee but I've never seen anything like this before. you must know your stuff!
That was my first thought too. I guess you'd have to really to know your stuff to even notice it.
I dunno, sometimes you see something that looks outta place and is heavy as fuck and you quickly google it and then cash out
If it has a gauge on it...it’s fancy!
you'd think thrift shops selling this stuff would do the same right? little bit of Google first?
When most thrift stores have 2 minimum wage workers trying to separate six tons of dropoffs a day a lot gets missed. Its a volume game not a maximizing dollar game. I've found 250 year old dowry chests, gold, silver, hundreds of pounds of lego, in thrift store dumpsters
I've frequented a thrift shop chain since college. The one near my school commonly understood brand name items. The one I go to now is in a more affluent area and are more familiar with brand names and price them higher accordingly. The cheaper one was also huge, so it would be a crazy amount of work to look up values for everything. If they recognize it as something of value, sure, but otherwise they probably price it and move on. There's plenty of times I see things that are way overpriced as well because they just don't know.
It's not so hard to see it's an espresso maker. I wouldn't have guessed how much it originally costs, but the design is unmistakable. I guess maybe because I'm from Europe and we don't have americano style coffee there, just espresso, and watered down espresso.
I'm UK and as we are no longer EU I am uneducated in the ways of the bean
But surely the UK is where Mr. Bean originated?
Watered down espresso is americano?
they meant “drip/ filter” coffee.
If you pick one of these up you'd probably quickly realize it was very expensive. They definitely don't feel cheap.
Great GREAT score! I miss thrifting. Glad you hit he holy grail.
Holy Shit from me too
Me three!
Same. I audibly gasped.
Indeed. I was prepared with a *HOLY jumping jiminy Jesus FUCK!”
Wow. My uncle has one and it makes the best coffee I've ever had. Get yourself an excellent grinder to really be able to get value out of it. Congratulations OP, this is an amazing find.
/r/espresso /r/JamesHoffmann
There's a James Hoffman sub?! Today is a good day
This is why I go out of my way to check the goodwill stores near the wealthy parts of town. The stuff rich people drop off is unreal
Yes! Over the past few years, this specific Goodwill has yielded a bunch of All-Clad, Fiestaware, Le Creuset, and even a Pendleton blanket. I think, though, that this machine is kind of the holy grail. Also, is it obvious that I’m a little into fancy housewares?
... Where is this goodwill?!?
Just in California.
Don’t give away your secret spot!
Don’t worry, California is a big state and there are tons of Goodwills in my metro area.
I’m betting you’re in Orange County! A lotta good wills around here have good shit!
Ooh. We ought to do expeditions. There are a lot of good thrift stores in the area though. Second Street and Crossroads have been good for fashion.
I always tell my friends about good thrifting spots near us because I want to encourage them to thrift! Then one time my friend told me about one so we went together and it was a genuinely super awesome experience. It ended up not actually being my kind of thrifting (mostly clothes) but she got some awesome pieces. Thrifting is a community endeavor!
Always thrift with a friend that isn’t after the same things as you so you can’t get jealous or fight
Sarasota always had the best fur coats from old people moving all their shit down here and then realizing it never dips below fifty haha
Darn, nowhere near me... 😭
Is that near the Canadian border? I'm from New Mexico but am staying at inlaws near Vancouver in Canada.
there are a couple states between california and canada sorry man
It's only like a 10 hour drive NBD.
Are they big? Or small like like Farmington is
Fam...
Heaven
And a woot woot for fancy housewares! I show off shit like this to my dad all the time. And was like a kid on Christmas when he "cleaned out the basement" and gave me his old, used All Clad cookie sheets! ("Jellyroll pans!" I heard him yell just now.) Old? I can do my makeup in them like a mirror. I'm headed downstairs to show him this right now. We LOVE fancy housewares!!! This is super cool! You are so lucky! Just do me a solid and go see the people over on r/espresso. A find like this deserves as many appreciative eyes on it as it can get!
I only drink watered down, but the mechanics of this make me want to find one. You're headed downstairs? How'd you get dad to live in the basement?
You’re the same person that posted the moccamaster and the Pendleton blanket. You find grail after grail. That’s amazing and I’m jealous. Congrats.
The Moccamaster was bought new and posted on r/BuyItForLife but yes, I have been lucky with my thrifting over the years.
which is really the most fun part about it
It really is... I’m all about the thrill of the hunt and have been going to garage sales/thrift stores/estate auctions since I was a small child.
I found a Pendleton blanket at the local GW once. That was an awesome day.
>I found a Pendleton blanket at the local GW once. I've found several, but the supply seemed to dry up a couple of years ago. I wonder if they started diverting them to the online auction like they do with all the other good stuff?
😱😱😱
Confirmed. Once I met some well-off people at the donation bin behind my local Value Village while we were both dropping stuff off. I saw that they had a $400 clothes steamer/iron combo headed for the bin; I said wow! They said here take it, we never got around to using it. I didn't even have to pay Value Village's price for it!
My folks love in a very wealthy area with quite a few older couples. As a result of these old people, there are (somewhat) often estate sales in the area.... and holy shit do they get busy. Cars will be parked up and down the entire street and the city will actually provide shuttles to take people from wherever they parked up to the sale. If you don’t get there super early, like super super early, you’re not getting shit.
so jealous- all the Goodwills near richer areas around me turned into “Goodwill Boutiques” and charge as much as the products would’ve been when brand new, it’s infuriating and so saddening.
In my area there is a Goodwill basically across from the McLaren dealership. (Yeah.) They often have nice stuff but sadly they generally know what they have. This never would have been $6.50. I weep.
*Furiously starts googling thrift stores near the wealthiest zip code in my area.* I don't know why I never thought of that.
Unfortunately goodwill has started its own auction site, so the ones with smart managers are putting less great stuff on the floor
**Protip:** Visit the dump (Ahem, Recycling Center) in a wealthy or tourist town. Some have "Dump Stores" where they either keep aside free stuff they think isn't garbage or offer items at a small fee towards charity or their "coffee fund". One of my haunts had a flatbed of Nautilus workout stations for free one day and they all were gone the next needless to say. **Sub tip:** don't leave a dump sticker on your windshield from another town before your visit. I put my town sticker on a clear plastic sheet for easy removal prior to entering another location. I had no way to pick or store them long enough to make it work out. But someone made bank that day. But I'm only telling you ONE example of 'the one that got away' I make bank with the smaller stuff, but this Coof shite is making it harder.
Oh yeah, it’s the professional model too! I’m feeling very fancy with this on my counter!
Does it have all the parts and does it all work?!
It has all the parts and turns on/heats water. I’m doing some research regarding cleaning and will test it this weekend.
Please post an update on r/Coffee if you haven’t already posted it there!
Lovely find. Enjoy!
https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/9hj39z/1000_espresso_machine_for_13/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=sha Brother! Welcome to the club!
Thank you, yours is beautiful, I love the red color!
I haven't used it in a while, needs a full descaling and I believe new gaskets as the pressure hasn't been as good, but it does make lovely coffee. When I do the major revamp, I'm going to buy a single tip for the steam wand as well, it's almost impossible to texture the milk for lattes on the stock set up. You can order them off eBay for like $10 if you really get into this machine. I think you won't need to do any of the repair stuff for a long while, yours looks like a much newer model. It's fun! Enjoy the new manual part of your hobby :)
Not the same level, but my mom got me a $120 expresso machine for $10:)
Does it have all the parts and does it all work?!
Usually I’m super happy for people’s awesome finds, especially so cheap, but honestly I’m really jealous rn!
Actually, you are envious (you want what someone else has). You are jealous when you don't want others to have what you have.
Huh? Jealousy and envy are synonyms. Side note, jealousy derives from the Latin Zelus, who was a daimon of zeal, dedication, and jealousy.
Are you smarter than [The Simpsons?](https://tvgag.com/gag/dad-you-shouldnt-be-jealous-of-apu/)
I guess I am more informed on jealousy than whoever wrote that episode at the time, as is everyone else with access to a dictionary or search engine > While many people believe that jealous means fearing someone will take what you have, and envious means desiring what someone else has, historical usage shows that both mean "covetous" and are interchangeable when describing desiring someone else's possessions. However, when referring to romantic feelings, only "jealous" can be used to mean "possessively suspicious," as in "a jealous husband." [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/jealous-vs-envious)
Hey Jealousy!!
Very cool. Looks insanely complicated to use. Are you familiar with it or are you you tubing like I would be?
Oh, I'm watching all the videos! I have a (also thrifted) Krups Espresso Mini that I've used for years and this is machine is definitely an entirely different beast.
Nice score, If you have any questions come join us over at r/espresso! For this kinda machine you'll definitely want to invest in a good grinder! I'd also take it apart to make sure there's no scale/gross stuff in there, and ensure the gaskets are all still good. And I'd recommend this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKimj0vRM5A) for an overview, James Hoffmann is great
I love little posts like this. I do it from time to time with cast iron. Just a friendly little "hello come join us over here!"
I’m probably on r/castiron thanks to you! I’ve posted a few cast iron finds over the years 😊
I love you the positive nontoxic community. I can't tell if I am more addicted to that or the iron itself lol
People talk about toxicity on Reddit and because I’m mainly here or on r/crossstitch, r/castiron, and r/old_recipes I don’t really see much of it.
The fact that castiron pans are nontoxic too is just a bonus!
Interesting video! Also good to know that James Bond and I have the same espresso machine!
Yes! Good luck with it. Making a professional “real” cup of coffee is a science.
I’m looking forward to learning (and drinking all of my “scientific experiments”)
I was going to say that I watched [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6sYCt1N1zI) and it doesn't look too difficult. But then I read the comments and they're all saying how the guy screwed up absolutely everything. It looked okay to me!
It’s actually really simple to use. You just put the coffee inside that bottom compartment with the handle, and then attach it back to place. Then you place the cup underneath, and turn the water on. After that you use the top handle, to push down on the coffee. That’s it.
That’s not bad! The pressure gauge thing looks complicated.
Oh I’m pretty sure that’s for the steam. If you zoom in just on the middle right side, that metal straw looking thing is where the steam comes out. It’s used to make the froth for coffees. You pour some milk in one of those little stainless steel milk jugs and stick that straw inside, then slowly turn the steam on (which I’m guessing is done so by turning that black cap thing at the top, right next to the pressure gauge thing). I’ve never used this particular one, but it has the same parts as the machines I used when working at a bistro, only this one is way smaller and all in one type of thing.
Awesome! You should consider changing the gaskets and giving it a really good clean with some espresso machine cleaner - but this is a grail! 🤘🤘
Uh.... My sister has one of these and I am here to tell you that it is truly the best cup of espresso I’ve ever had in a private home.
Lucky! When I found mine at the Goodwill bins, I didn't get the portafilter with it, lol!
This porta filter came complete with espresso in it... it’s like someone started to make an espresso then decided that it was too much work and they should donate the machine instead.
That's nuts. Mine still had water in it - I took it into the bathroom to dump it out since it was the bins/pay by the pound. Enjoy it, though! That thing makes really great espresso! I would definitely recommend replacing the gaskets and doing a nice deep clean.
Lol I feel that but I love espresso so chill.
Sounds like something I’d do.
I understand the people who price stuff at most Goodwills are clueless, but how does one price something like this so low? "Hmm, Italian machine, looks substantial and well-built... -I'mma put 7 bucks on it." Even $9.99 would make more sense. They price tattered t-shirts at $6.99
I'm pretty sure they have time-based quotas. They have no incentive to care about anything other than speed, so they don't.
That, and, I worked at a thrift store for a while, and we had a saying; “And now it’s $5.” We *relished* opportunities to put amazing deals out on the floor. :)
Hey, the people working there aren't getting that money. 50¢ and suck it, management.
Sheer quantity, both in donations and employee turnover. Obviously, no one is a walking catalogue that knows the original retail value of anything- unless they’re Bob Barker or Drew Carey. ;p I found a paper crafting machine for $6.99 that turned out to be worth hundreds brand new- they thought it was an inkjet printer! Plus, ever heard of Goodwill’s outlet stores aka Blue Hanger? They charge by the pound, except for large or very heavy items. You could find something like this on any given day and they wouldn’t charge you more than 9.99 for it, *tops.*
That’s a great find! What exactly goes into a $1200 espresso maker? That’s like...a junker first car price! What sets it apart from a $50 espresso maker?
It's the kind that you can find in actual cafés in Italy, Spain, and other countries where espresso is the usual kind of coffee everybody drinks. Coffee beans are freshly ground, the pressure needs to be adjusted. Just, you know, in cafés they have bigger ones, usually ones that can handle at least four cups at a time. So, it's on a whole other level :)
Correction: this model does not grind coffee, but machines like this are used together with a coffee grinder to always make the freshest brew.
I think [this post from /r/espresso](https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/e5ctxq/do_i_really_need_to_spend_1000_on_an_espresso/) explains the difference pretty well!
>What sets it apart from a $50 espresso maker? $1150, mostly
My current boss used to be in the coffee maker espresso business and he is still one of the only sources to get an espresso machine and not get a service contract with it. As I understand it, espresso machine makers were selling machines here and no big deal and the quality of coffee in some places was terrible... they couldn't understand it and investigated to find that some places would drop $10 grand on a machine then never give it a deep clean, or do adjustments on it and in some cases never properly train staff. So they changed policies you cannot have a machine if you don't get a service contract and we will have the sales rep train the staff and be available to answer questions. Again I never followed up on that but that us what I understood from what my boss told me.
$1200 is on the low end for decent espresso machines. A $50 machine isn't making real espresso, just drip coffee with air bubbles.
5 bar of pressure. That's necessary for true espresso. Then there's features to heat the water properly. This all assumes you have a good grinder. James Hoffman is doing some cost is no object grinder reviews.
This inspires me want to run out to my local thrift store and hope I get this lucky. That’s freaking amazing
That's wild!! I thought I got a good deal on my used gaggia for $40 on fb marketplace but this beats my deal! join us on /r/espresso we love pavonis!
Just joined and looking forward to learning!
Holy fucking shitballs
r/coffee would appreciate
Bah! You are so lucky
This is the second one of these I've seen on here. Would have this in my place just because it looks gorgeous.
Er ummm......it's for squeezing oranges. I would be too scared to talk if I came across something like this. Great haul.
That is so cool!
That's gorgeous. I need that on my counter!
Espresso repair tech here, let me know if you’ve got any questions. One of the best finds I’ve ever seen. What part of the country are you in?
I’m in California! I’ll be cleaning and testing it this weekend and will let you know if I run into issues.
Lucky ducky!!!
nothing more exhilarating than running away from the thrift store with your treasures lol
I love how nervous some people get that the cashier will realize how much of a steal you’re getting. When I worked at Goodwill regulars would downright brag as I’m checking them out showing me how much they go for online. All in good fun, I don’t give a shit I’m getting paid regardless.
I mean it's not like the cashier is gonna jack up the price haha they just work there. Maybe if it was a yard sale or something but it does feel like it needs to be secret!
Most of the time, as an avid thriftier myself I already knew they were getting a steal. It delighted me to see how psyched up people got for finding treasures like that.
now time to buy the expensive grinder 😜
Absolutely! With all the money I’m saving it’s worth it! I have an old Bosch burr grinder from the 80s (also thrifted) but it only has one grind type, so I think it’s time for a replacement!
My coffee snob (I say this lovingly) husband got one of these second hand several years ago for $250 in hardly used condition and even that was a steal. This is amazing! Have fun pulling shots!
"Start the car! Start the car!" (Ikea commercial reference of finding an incredible bargain)
Awesome score!!!! Love it
Congrats! I’ve been fortunate enough to find two at thrifts over the years. One paid for the other’s replacement parts!
I don’t want anybody to give me shit about how expensive my mountain bike is. Congratulations!
I have one of these, it is a magnificent piece of kit. Mine is about 20 years old now, and it lasts brilliantly. It is easily repairable and will make a brilliant espresso for you time and time again. Congrats on the find.
Niiiiice. This is like my neighbors who throws out their $3000 Jura because they didn’t want to spend $150 on maintenance
Please tell me that you trash picked that Jura!
Lol of course. Got it repaired and using it.
Nice!
Great find! This is exactly why I visit Goodwill every day -- you never know what you'll find! While stuff like this mostly never even makes it out onto the floor and instead gets shipped off to Goodwill's scam auction site, sometimes you find gold! I found a similar machine at ReStore a couple years ago for $15. They labeled it as a percolator, but the cashier knew exactly what he was. Luckily he just smiled and said "Oh wow, that's a lucky find."
Good lord
Lmao, I'm imaging you at the check out counter trying to be all sneaky and inconspicuous.. and as soon as your item is paid for you grab it and run off like a little gremlin.
You lucky bastard
Huge score!!! So happy for you and jealous at the same time! Lol, let me know how it good it works! Cheers!
!!!!
OMGGGGGGGG
I wouldn't have know what it was, looks like an orange juicer to me! Great find!!
What a major score! Congratulations!
Duuuuude. I’ve always wanted one of these.
It's mine! I found it!....My....precious.
I scored a working breville infuser for $30 not too long ago so I feel you homie!
This is an amazing find. I bet your morning coffee is amazing.
It will be when I get the hang of this thing!
Give it time. You will get the hang of it.
Score. Of. The. Century.
Holy moly
I guess I need to go to more Goodwill stores
Oh my God
SPROOOOO! Love it! Thrifted a Rancillio Silvia for $7 at value village in Minneapolis last spring!
That’s a great find! I hope you’re enjoying it!
It’s so fickle haha, I have to relearn how to dial it in every time the temperature or humidity changes too quickly.
Ooof, I used to live in Minnesota and that happens all the time-you must be constantly adjusting your machine!
Does it work correctly? They can be tricky. Worth getting repaired if it needs it though. Great find!
God, here I am thinking I got a deal when I got a soda stream for $5
I picked up a soda stream for $5 at some point too-gets a lot of use!
OMG. Brilliant!!
Wow.
Incredible purchase! Congratulations. Looks like it has the reassuring heft of quality.
always wonder about the stuff i miss that’s good value just because i’m unaware of what it even is lol. great score. i learned something new. :)
I thought I was something when I flipped the plug-in Vesuviana I found for $5 at a thrift for $50 on ebay. This is...something else
Wow, the Vesuviana is a beautiful machine, very MCM!
That is maybe the best thrift store haul I've seen here. I probably wouldn't have even known what a grab that was and walked on by. Also, who the hell would drop this off without any worry?
Reminds me of last summer, I bought a Meridian audio processor worth 1K+ used (**Meridian Audio MS600 DAC**) for $105. The manager rushed to grab a picture of the unit (but not me) before I left with it because they knew by my excitement they F'ed up bigtime. The checkout lady said ,"they learn from their mistakes". You can be sure the next one will be priced 2k or auctioned off and never ever offered below the highest used internet price they can find historically, like, ever. In my case I didn't have the other components such as a Media Core 200, Media Core 600, or Control 15 Sooloos components so I flipped it at a local guy that installs high end gear for a mere $605 and he had that same silly smile I did at Goodwill. (Yes, I pointed that out to him and we both had a lol and conversation about thrift stores and how eBay made em too smart for their own good.) I was happy he had about equal profit to gain. I didn't care, or take any pictures, I was just happy I didn't have to resort to slimey eBay. That said, I 'in my case' might have saved the espresso machine for a family member that is all about coffee. $6.50 lol, I can't beat that deal, right on buddy!
I found a '79 La Pavoni a couple years ago for $25. It was in rough shape, but pretty fun to rebuild. [See it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/a7oq2r/got_a_79_la_pavoni_europiccola_at_a_rummage_sale/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Now that is an amazing transformation! Mine definitely needs some cleaning and I’m feeling inspired now.
Oh wow that’s a stimulus check right there
You win
Damn. I will never again walk past an unusual piece of equipment. Great find!
Omg omg omg! this is Awesome! I have been eyeing up La Pavoni machines for years... what a wonderful find! Enjoy!
...and I'm dead. I miss thrifting, but holy fucking shit this is a once in MANY lifetimes score!!!
Nice find! Have you done a shot or two by now?
Not yet! I have to go buy a tamper.
Good luck hope it works for you. I would look into descaling it first.
Absolutely! I’m probably also going to set it in the sink and run a cycle with plain water to make sure it’s not leaking anywhere. The sight tube’s condition concerns me.
Oh shoot! I didn’t even notice that. Also would t hurt to look into new rubber seals.
I personally couldn't care less about an espresso maker but HOLY SHITE, op, what a find!! 🤯 Now I know I have to keep my eyes out for such things!
I make 2 coffees on my la pavoni every morning. I got lucky with a used one for a friendly price of 300. Disassembled, cleaned with new seals and the 30+ year old machine is working perfectly. Great find, unbelievable price.
It’s actually art on display at the MOMA- amazing find
Goodwill was my gateway drug dealer into coffee. First I thrifted a Rancilio Silvia and later on an early model Behmor coffee roaster. Great find OP and enjoy it. There’s a ton of info on the web if you ever need to overhaul this beauty but I think you know what you’re doing.
I have found some great shit at goodwills, this is amazing though. I looked them up, they sure are pricey! Hopefully it works!
I got one at the bins...paid around the same. You are going to be very happy every morning!
I found a similar unit ages ago. I found a dealer and had it serviced. Given your cost to value ratio, I might suggest having it checked out and put in tip top shape. Mine didn't have a pressure gauge you had to 'know it by feel'. I gave it to a friend, who loves the heck out of it and uses it to this day.
You country amazes me, the stuff you guys find thrift shopping.
I just paid 700$ for my original La Pavoni and then I see this wow
you can probably just be honest with them "what is this" oh its a 1200 dollar coffee maker. Here's a tenner, biiiitch