Looks like it hasn’t been maintained since the 90s.
OmegaDriver
Beware. It comes with the trapped soul of a Neapolitan nonna. If you try to make a cappuccino after lunch time, she will spray you with hot steam!
Rushthejob
Are you able to bargain? Maybe offer 100$
mistermalc
I didn’t know goodwill charged $400 for anything. And to think someone just gave it to them
rightsaidphred
Quality machine but that seems like a premium unless it’s all in good working order. I’s be happier buying it from somebody who would be able to turn it on and pull a shot than from Goodwill
dadydaycare
Expo bars are T-A-N-K’s. $400 is pretty steep though specially since I guarantee it has more scale in it than the Goby dessert has sand unless your in a low mineral water area.
Just be prepared to tear it down and descale everything “no not run descale through it, your gonna have to take the whole thing down to the frame and soak it all in a bucket of descale otherwise you’ll run it and blow out the heating element in a few months, then you’ll have to do it anyways but your gonna be hunting down a heating element they stopped making 5 years ago.”
These bad boys come in the shop all the time and typically your spooning calcium sludge out of the boiler… but! They still work!! Just need a hardcore cleaning. Also throw that stupid magnet thing away around the inlet pipe… it’s a long story but it dosent do anything and just makes the machine sound noisy.
Edit: 400 at a goodwill is steep with no history on the machine. If it was $250 I’d grab it no question. The e61 head alone is worth it.
SillyStreet2724
Looks like an office lever or a Brewtus. The parts are still available and Whole Latte Love has a lot of support videos, so you can make it run. That said, these were like $13-1500 brand new. You’d really need to open it up to know any more about it. But assuming it works, $400 is a decent price.
coffeejn
It’s missing the portafilter. No know age or if descale / rebuild is needed.
I personally would pass, but if you have time and want to tinker, it’s ok. I’d assume it needs or will need a new pump and add +$100 for a portafilter and basket.
Assume you will need to throw in another $200 to get it up and running IF you are lucky.
Edit: From memory, I believe these require cooling flush before you pull the shot, otherwise the water will be too hot. Hence why PID models were a huge improvement.
808TV
Solid machines, still have one at my cabin. But as everyone else said $400 at goodwill is pretty high…$200 would be a no brainer
mikekarr
It’s an Expobar Office Leva. Good value if it works. My Office Control has been going strong for over 20 years.
pewpewpikey
Anything for $400 at Goodwill should be a hard pass.
ca-birdman
Just slip on the white shoes below it, take the machine and walk out the door. No one in their right mind will mess with you.
Can this be the sidebar image of this sub its amazing. This is the nonna that comes out to tell you to grind finer you strunz
buenchingon
Nothing at Goodwill should cost $400! It might be worth more BUT you run the risk of it not working or breaking shortly after. I would offer $100 or walk away, not worth the possible stress. You can get a decent new espresso for $400 (might not have all the bells and whistles but it will work)
PointlessMiracle
Missing a PID meaning it’s an office leva (so HX, not DB).
400 is too high.
300 would be a fair price
Source; I’ve owned about 5 expobars to fix up
furiousmittens
I bought this exact machine off of craigslist about 8 years ago. I use it every day and it’s still going strong. It does require some maintenance though. the switch on mine has blown out about three times. You should be able to buy a new switch from a hardware store or online for $15-ish. Also, these were popular so it’s easy to find replacement parts online. I do have to open it up occasionally and tinker (replacing a gasket, occasionally pressing this little boiler pressure release valve which gets stuck, etc.). I had it professionally serviced once during COVID for about $300. Oddly, the service guy told me I should probably have put the money toward a new machine (after having taken my money for the servicing!). One big consideration: The guy I bought mine from had clearly taken care of it and walked me through the functionality and even cleaning procedures. For $400, you might want to try to get the Good Will to let you turn it on, let it heat up, and run some water through it just to see if it actually works (steamer not clogged, etc.).
On the $400, this machine is a huge leap up from the $350 kinds of things you’re going to find at a Walmart. But without a portafilter, and with the assumption you may need to do some initial maintenance, you’re probably looking at closer to $550 before you’re fully up and running. That’s still not a terrible price, assuming you’re comfortable with occasional DIY repair.
KurkaSiwka
Get it before she does.
prezdizzle
Too steep IMO. I had an Expobar Brewtus II with PID and it had an electrical issue. I couldn’t get more than $200 on OfferUp for it here in Portland OR.
I bought it five years prior in great working condition for $700.
$400 for one that is going to likely need serious maintenance feels like an overspend. You could get a working Bambino for that price and not have to fix anything.
Kichigax
I see a lot of replies about an old lady. The first thing that popped into my mind was David Hasselhoff
Kep0a
Yes if you want a project
no if you want an espresso machine
Blackthumbb
I saw the lady in the reflection and immediately needed to see the comment section
InflationPrudent4823
I saw it last Saturday and passed it up. Here’s some more info if you didn’t check behind the drip tray. I asked and they said they didn’t have a portafilter and knew nothing about it except that it “retails for over $2,700” and would not negotiate. Also hello from the Islands 🙋
28 Comments
The reflected old lady is my favorite part
Good machine
Looks haunted to me
Better get it before granny scoops it up
IDK
if the boots fit you, go for it
Looks like it hasn’t been maintained since the 90s.
Beware. It comes with the trapped soul of a Neapolitan nonna. If you try to make a cappuccino after lunch time, she will spray you with hot steam!
Are you able to bargain? Maybe offer 100$
I didn’t know goodwill charged $400 for anything. And to think someone just gave it to them
Quality machine but that seems like a premium unless it’s all in good working order. I’s be happier buying it from somebody who would be able to turn it on and pull a shot than from Goodwill
Expo bars are T-A-N-K’s. $400 is pretty steep though specially since I guarantee it has more scale in it than the Goby dessert has sand unless your in a low mineral water area.
Just be prepared to tear it down and descale everything “no not run descale through it, your gonna have to take the whole thing down to the frame and soak it all in a bucket of descale otherwise you’ll run it and blow out the heating element in a few months, then you’ll have to do it anyways but your gonna be hunting down a heating element they stopped making 5 years ago.”
These bad boys come in the shop all the time and typically your spooning calcium sludge out of the boiler… but! They still work!! Just need a hardcore cleaning. Also throw that stupid magnet thing away around the inlet pipe… it’s a long story but it dosent do anything and just makes the machine sound noisy.
Edit: 400 at a goodwill is steep with no history on the machine. If it was $250 I’d grab it no question. The e61 head alone is worth it.
Looks like an office lever or a Brewtus. The parts are still available and Whole Latte Love has a lot of support videos, so you can make it run. That said, these were like $13-1500 brand new. You’d really need to open it up to know any more about it. But assuming it works, $400 is a decent price.
It’s missing the portafilter. No know age or if descale / rebuild is needed.
I personally would pass, but if you have time and want to tinker, it’s ok. I’d assume it needs or will need a new pump and add +$100 for a portafilter and basket.
Assume you will need to throw in another $200 to get it up and running IF you are lucky.
Edit: From memory, I believe these require cooling flush before you pull the shot, otherwise the water will be too hot. Hence why PID models were a huge improvement.
Solid machines, still have one at my cabin. But as everyone else said $400 at goodwill is pretty high…$200 would be a no brainer
It’s an Expobar Office Leva. Good value if it works. My Office Control has been going strong for over 20 years.
Anything for $400 at Goodwill should be a hard pass.
Just slip on the white shoes below it, take the machine and walk out the door. No one in their right mind will mess with you.
https://preview.redd.it/no15k63101md1.png?width=173&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b3a7fd9167cf805ec29b3856129f80cdf80882e
Can this be the sidebar image of this sub its amazing. This is the nonna that comes out to tell you to grind finer you strunz
Nothing at Goodwill should cost $400! It might be worth more BUT you run the risk of it not working or breaking shortly after. I would offer $100 or walk away, not worth the possible stress. You can get a decent new espresso for $400 (might not have all the bells and whistles but it will work)
Missing a PID meaning it’s an office leva (so HX, not DB).
400 is too high.
300 would be a fair price
Source; I’ve owned about 5 expobars to fix up
I bought this exact machine off of craigslist about 8 years ago. I use it every day and it’s still going strong. It does require some maintenance though. the switch on mine has blown out about three times. You should be able to buy a new switch from a hardware store or online for $15-ish. Also, these were popular so it’s easy to find replacement parts online. I do have to open it up occasionally and tinker (replacing a gasket, occasionally pressing this little boiler pressure release valve which gets stuck, etc.). I had it professionally serviced once during COVID for about $300. Oddly, the service guy told me I should probably have put the money toward a new machine (after having taken my money for the servicing!). One big consideration: The guy I bought mine from had clearly taken care of it and walked me through the functionality and even cleaning procedures. For $400, you might want to try to get the Good Will to let you turn it on, let it heat up, and run some water through it just to see if it actually works (steamer not clogged, etc.).
On the $400, this machine is a huge leap up from the $350 kinds of things you’re going to find at a Walmart. But without a portafilter, and with the assumption you may need to do some initial maintenance, you’re probably looking at closer to $550 before you’re fully up and running. That’s still not a terrible price, assuming you’re comfortable with occasional DIY repair.
Get it before she does.
Too steep IMO. I had an Expobar Brewtus II with PID and it had an electrical issue. I couldn’t get more than $200 on OfferUp for it here in Portland OR.
I bought it five years prior in great working condition for $700.
$400 for one that is going to likely need serious maintenance feels like an overspend. You could get a working Bambino for that price and not have to fix anything.
I see a lot of replies about an old lady. The first thing that popped into my mind was David Hasselhoff
Yes if you want a project
no if you want an espresso machine
I saw the lady in the reflection and immediately needed to see the comment section
I saw it last Saturday and passed it up. Here’s some more info if you didn’t check behind the drip tray. I asked and they said they didn’t have a portafilter and knew nothing about it except that it “retails for over $2,700” and would not negotiate. Also hello from the Islands 🙋
https://preview.redd.it/s00zekpkr1md1.png?width=968&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91ad4d7c51dffc3e5f6422b8348d326f97b8da6e