User:LukeSeubert/Caravel (espresso machine)

''This article is about the Caravel espresso machine. For the Caravel ship, see Caravel.''

The Caravel espresso machine is a highly regarded vintage manual lever home espresso machine with an unpressurized open boiler, featuring a distinctive Art Deco Streamline Moderne industrial design, which is elegant, efficient, and durable. The compact and well balanced Caravel has an ergonomic horizontal lever handle which controls the piston used to "pull a shot" of espresso. Dissasembly and reassembly of the Caravel for cleaning and maintenance is a simple and quick procedure. Manual lever espresso machine afficionados praise the Caravel for its ability to consistently produce excellent shots of espresso.

The Caravel was designed and patented in the 1950's by Doctor Emidido Salati, in cooperation with Atos Beltrami. It was manufactured in Milan, Italy during the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's by Arrarex and VAM, two companies founded by Atos Beltrami. It was sold throughout Europe, with some models also produced for the North American market. The Caravel was succeeded by the Arrarex Little in the 1970's. With the advent of home espresso machines featuring pressurized boilers with steam wands to froth milk for lattes and cappuchinos, the "espresso only" Caravel fell out of favor and production ceased.

In 2006, lever espresso machine users began a series of posts to the Home-Barista.com webforums about the Caravel. Over time, interest in the machine grew, as did the number of postings and active Caravel owners. Today there is a small but keen group of Caravel owners dedicated to the restoration and continued use of this vintage machine.

Paragraph about making espresso with the Caravel, including alternative techniques, tips, and troubleshooting

Paragraph about cleaning, maintaining, restoring, and refurbishing the Caravel

Design
- Aesthetics - Art Deco Streamline Moderne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_deco http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamline_Moderne - Manual lever - Open boiler, which means no steaming, size of boiler - cups and ml	- compact - ergonomic - horizontal lever handle, well balanced - heating element outside the stainless steel kettle - Removable piston, easy to clean and maintain

Production history
- Designed and manufactured in Milan, Italy - Arrarex with Caravel logo on the side and "Caravel" script on the front - VAM with Sphinx?/Lady? logo on the side and NO "Caravel" script on the front http://www.home-barista.com/lever-espresso-machines/arrarex-caravel-t5752.html#p70835 - three different designs over time - detail various piston rings, etc.	- American patents: http://www.google.com/patents?id=kXVzAAAAEBAJ&dq=coffee+maker+salati http://www.google.com/patents?id=0dZnAAAAEBAJ&dq=salati - began production in 1955 and ran through the 1960's and into the 1970's?	- Succeeded by the Arrarex Little and designs with pressurized boilers and steam wands

Making espresso
- http://www.orphanespresso.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=36&chapter=40

Alternative techniques
- double pulls - lungo - single basket versus double basket - ristretto - Fellini pre-infusion - slow pull, little pressure - produces smoother cup? 1. Full basket, light tamp, pre-infusion, single pull 2. Full basket, no tamp, no pre-infusion, single pull 3. Moderately full basket, firm tamp, double pull

Cleaning and regular maintenance
- material from cleaning instructions - sources for parts - orphanespresso, macmaster's, etc.		http://www.home-barista.com/lever-espresso-machines/arrarex-caravel-t5752-20.html#p74965 - Dow 111 food safe grease (alternate names in overseas countries?) Believe it is called Molykote 111 in the UK. - olive oil on portafilter gasket will keep it supple and functioning well http://www.home-barista.com/lever-espresso-machines/pve-sama-questions-and-issues-t8210-20.html#p95865

Restoration and refurbishment
- used machines should be thoroughly cleaned by boiling - Urnex or citric acid - http://www.home-barista.com/lever-espresso-machines/arrarex-caravel-t5752-100.html - Replacement of piston seals and portafiler gasket