969.Coffee Elba Gentile

Elba Gentile is a heat-exchanger machine: a single 1.5-litre stainless steel boiler feeds both the brew group and the steam wand at once, so you can froth milk while the coffee is pouring. The front panel carries two gauges, one for pump pressure and one for boiler pressure, plus a PID control with a brew timer. It is configured at order time by choosing between lever or wheel taps and between a rotary or vibration pump, with knobs in three wood finishes (black, walnut or olive) and a wide choice of colours.

The 2-litre tank lifts out for refilling, with a sensor that flags when it runs dry; on request, and only paired with the rotary pump, you can add a mains water hookup and, as a separate option, a drain kit for waste water. An ECO mode drops the water temperature to 30°C after half an hour of inactivity, so it isn't kept hot when nobody's using it. The front drip tray detaches completely for emptying and washing; every evening the portafilters and filters need soaking in hot water to dissolve coffee oils, and the steam wand should be cleaned after each use so it doesn't build up scale. In the box are a single-dose portafilter (about 7 g of coffee) and a double (about 14 g), a blind filter for backflushing the group, and a cleaning brush.

Warming up takes about 12-15 minutes. This heat exchanger suits buyers who want to configure the pump, the controls and the colour, while keeping the option of a fixed water connection open.