DOLCE VITA ESPRESSO

We are located near the city of BURBANK.  

Please call or email
818 745-6700
dvespresso@gmail.com

FAQ BELOW!

Leave a message if nobody is available you can text us at 818 452-8058 or send an EMAIL.    PLEASE describe what your machine is doing or is NOT doing!  Give full details on how it is acting up and the best number to reach you at.  We will service you the SAME DAY OR NEXT DAY, guaranteed!

**USED MACHINES?   YES!  We've got some JURAS and others!  CALL US!

*****WE WANT YOUR USED / BROKEN ESPRESSO MACHINE!

GFCI TRIPPING PROBLEM: Is your GFCI circuit breaker tripping when you turn on your espresso machine, or at some time later?  Read further.  Hi we get emails and calls on this exact issue constantly.  There is nothing wrong with your espresso machine.  Replace the GFCI outlet, best done by an electrician.  They can and DO wear out in this manner, because they were NEVER designed to work with high-current heating element espresso machines that pulse on and off constantly.  You can confirm this is the issue by plugging yours into a NON GFCI outlet and you will see there's no problem -  unless you immediately trip an actual circuit breaker in your panel box.  If THIS happens, bring your coffee machine in for service

ROCKET, BEZZERA, ECM, PROFITEC, QUICKMILL and similar - ADVISORY:    Congratulations, you bought a spanking new beautiful chrome espresso machine and it works great!   Dual boiler, electronic / PID with ability to do profiling, etc. so be it, Enjoy!  HOWEVER BE ADVISED that we get a LOT of these HEAVY home E61 grouphead machines in for service, and repairs on these can be prolonged due to their complex electronics, many components and parts that may need to be ordered.     Please use bottle or reverse osmosis water ONLY with these!    

EXPOBAR HOME MACHINES:    We service a LOT of Expobars.  These home machines have fittings, connectors and hoses which need to be periodically replaced.    MAJOR NOTE: A lot of older dual boiler Expobar machines (and many others) have a dated temperature management scheme; the single band PID controls ONLY the brew boiler.  The steam boiler is controlled by a conventional pressure switch.  Another annoying design flaw in Expobar machines (and many others) is the overpressure water coming off the pump, which empties through a nozzle into the front tray requiring it to be emptied frequently.   We have a mod for this in which the OPV water is sent back into the tank through a second flexible hose eliminating the tray nozzle.   

SAECO / GAGGIA AUTOMATICS:    These machines when working properly do the job intended however like JURA they require periodic maintenance and repair due to leaks and deterioration of fittings, hoses and valves.  (For local service on your Gaggia and Saeco automatics : Try L.A. Electric in Tarzana @818-774-9503 )

GAGGIA CLASSIC:  The Classic/ Coffee with its aluminum boiler is subject to corrosion and blockages from hard mineral-rich L.A. water which requires disassembly and cleaning.   This is a common repair that we do.    Another sad problem we see with the Classic is its use of an flimsy steam needle valve which fails frequently and is unable to be removed from the boiler, requiring replacement of the entire machine.   Use ONLY RO water with all Gaggia/Saeco machines.   

PAVONI LEVER MACHINES:  The Pavoni Europiccola, Elektra microcasa, Gaggia Factory and similar are ALL mostly inefficient, dated, unstable, difficult to work on vertical machines with midget portafilters that are conversation pieces at best with a great tendency to leak and corrode into rusted out junk after a short period of use.   Stefano Espresso Care in Oregon has parts for LaPavoni and Elektra home lever machines.  Try L.A. electric in Tarzana for service.

PASQUINI LIVIA:  The Pasquini Livia is a very popular quality home machine made by BEZZERA (in several versions) and is distributed exclusively by PASQUINI here in Los Angeles.  The Livia is either manual, automatic and some are even electronic.  Most require total rehabbing to get them back into shape and WE DO THIS!   We are authorized by Pasquini to service their Livias and they will refer you to us for service.

RANCILIO SILVIA:  The 2013 upgrade of the Silvia boiler introduced an expensive boiler /element replacement kit which is $250, however the good news is that if the element fails all you need to replace is THAT separately.  All prior boilers with integrated elements are no longer available.   Use ONLY RO water for the Silvia.  

****RANCILIO SILVIA ADVISORY: Folks, it seems there’s a LOT of older Silvias out there IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.  It’s amazing what we’re seeing lately with many SILVIAS which have issues not worth fixing.  Some problems we are seeing: severe frame corrosion, boilers that cannot be removed for service due to corroded bolts, burned out wires, connectors and switches,  - and often ALL of these at the same time!   We have used Silvias available with warranty, the BEST option here.

NEW SILVIAS IN TOWN!  The Silvia Pro and Pro X models (with steam gauge) are dual boiler PID machines.   Check them out. 

YOUR SILVIA POPPING THE GFCI?   We get calls on this constantly!   95% of the time this problem is caused by your GFCI.  ***This can be confirmed by plugging it into a non-GFCI outlet.   SOLUTION: Replace with a higher rated 20A new GFCI.

LAVAZZA ESPRESSO POINT:   Please do not be hypnotized by this pretty chrome bistro cabinet machine with the little swing out door!  Plus it's even got a key on top, so Beyoncé can't sneak in to use it when you're not home.   In reality, this is an ancient OBSOLETE Coffee Machine of orphan design which is largely unrepairable.   It takes un-recyclable OEM plastic pods only available from Illy by mail!   We consider it scrap metal / dumpster bait. 

ESE POD MACHINES:   Another weird-assed coffee machine.  Mostly made by SPINEL / LA PICCOLA.   With their condom-like packets that quickly go stale, this is another forgotten evolutionary branch of the coffee machine that well...deserves to be forgotten.  ESE PODS are only available online through ILLY and a few others. We DO service the Spinel commercial models.

SPAZIALE VIVALDI ET AL:   The Vivaldi, Mini , Dream and LUCCA machines are high-quality, unique difficult to service machines with a tendency to leak, and are sold mostly by Chris Coffee out of NY/ Clive Coffee.  We service these machines on occasion.  Call us and describe the problem you're having, we'll try to fix it.    

ZACCONI RIVIERA/ BABY BIG:   ORPHAN.  No parts are available.

OLYMPIA CREMINA / Pasquini Livietta : Cerini Coffee, in NYC  718-584-3449 and other vintage.  The Cremina is a midget portafilter lever machine for the ken and barbie set - we consider it long gone obso.

COMMERCIAL LEVER MACHINES:    NOBODY uses commercial lever machines anymore!   These machines with their powerful lever springs can be quite hazardous if improperly used as well.  We can rebuild your lever groups if need be with the many gaskets needed, at only $400 per side plus parts.  Still want to go there?  Hah! 

FRANCIS FRANCIS:   We once serviced these, but no longer.   You will need to contact Illy for any issue with your FF.

BREVILLE and its clones:  Chinese-made private label espresso machine mucho flimsy plastic inside not made to be serviced & parts generally N/A - lucky if yours last a year or two.  Read the horror stories on Amazon.  Plus there's multiple Breville CLONES out there, even worse -  get thee behind me!

ASCASO DREAM:   We once serviced these, but no longer.    

VINTAGE /ANTIQUATED COMMERCIAL MACHINES:  Most of these prehistoric Gaggia dome with eagle machines look like they went down with the Titanic or SHOULD have!  Try Dome & Hammered machines.  Deluxe Copper/Brass @818-768-6300

FRANKE / SCHAERER / WMF / EGRO / EVERSYS  AUTOMATIC:  These high volume automatic machines are usually installed in cafeterias, schools, hotels and similar i.e. PORTO'S and are $$$$ to service.   For ALL of these call the mfg.  

*****WE DON'T WORK ON THIS  EITHER