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I will bring a 240 v 30 A circuit to the location where the machine is.

The 240 v requirement is one reason why the machine sat derelict in my garage so long. But I recently installed a dishwasher that required a 240 v circuit, which necessitated adding a subpanel, which now makes running another circuit easy.

https://concordsheetmetal.com/store/perforated-copper/

Looks like perforated copper sheet is readily available. Support will be needed, as stiffness is questionable.

Exactly.

The subpanel is in the unfinished basement and dedicated to all the 240v household appliances. Right now it powers the clothes dryer (until we get a gas dryer, which is my preferred type) and the dishwasher, both via dedicated circuits of 30A and 50A respectively. I would install another breaker (a GFCI one, given the application) and run a dedicated 30A circuit in conduit to wherever the espresso machine will live. As long as it lives on the ground floor, access to run the circuit is pretty easy.

There is another subpanel in the garage that powers all the garage outlets, which include a 240v 30A outlet for the table saw and a 240v 50A outlet for the kiln.

The multiple subpanels are necessary because my main panel is full, but I also like being able to cut off those groups of circuits and also shorten the runs of expensive and bulky 6 ga copper wire.

Tom, you are an adventurous soul!

For those that want to experiment coffee roasting I would suggest getting something like the hot air corn popper. They can only do a couple of pots worth but they are very simple to use and the force air clears the chaffe from the roasting bean. Even with the small batch cooking I would still do outside.

This is from Costco.

The thing with the spring is a mechanical pressure switch that handles 30 A of 240 v. Old school.


8 bar of brew pressure (left). 1.3 bar of boiler pressure (right). Both pressures adjustable with the turn of a screw. I accidentally cranked brew pressure to 16 bar!
It lives!

I took a break from the Elektra during the holidays but got back to it this week. I pulled my garden hose into the garage and connected it to the machine's supply house, then spent an hour chasing down leaks. One group valve had to be replaced, so I ordered a valve and solenoid, that slowed things down.

Now for electrical. The cord won't reach from the machine to the 240v receptacle in the garage, and I can't move it closer because my wife's pottery kiln is in the way. I wasted an hour driving around in search of a 240v extension cord. Two stores told me there was no such thing because they are illegal and unsafe. I went on Amazon and bought a 15 foot welder's cord for $15. Apparently welders use 240v cords all the time without bursting into flames.

Plugged the machine in, turned on the breaker, turned the machine on, got out the VOM and measured voltage. Yes, there is voltage where there is supposed to be, and none where there is not supposed to be. Hmm, what's that smell. Oh, the heating elements are cooking in a dry boiler. Switched machine off, removed the vacuum valve, poured water through that opening until the boiler was about half full, turned the machine back on.

I inserted a probe thermometer where the vacuum valve goes, and watched the boiler temperature rise to 190F. Removed the thermometer, re-installed the vacuum valve, and nervously waited for the pstat to click or the pressure release valve to open or for the boiler to explode. In the meantime I tightened some more fittings that were leaking.

Click! The pstat works. Boiler pressure, according to the gauge, was 1.2 bar. My son came into the garage. I explained how full of electricity and pressurized water the machine was and how dad was risking life and limb to bring espresso to the family. Dear son was unimpressed, until we steamed some milk. "Wow dad we can make good hot chocolate with this!". And off he went, promising to check back later to see if I had died. As he closed the door I screamed the cry of a dying man, and he told me "stop it, dad".

I adjusted the pstat to get the boiler to 1.5 bar. Now, do the groups and electronic keypads work? I installed the backsplash and drip tray, locked a portafilter in the right group, and pushed a button. Holy moly, the pump started and some water came out of the portafilter. At, um, 3 bar on the gauge. Adjust the pump pressure screw. Oooo, 16 bar. Fiddle some more. 8 bar!

So, here's where we are.
1. Both electronic keypads seem to work, on a gross level. Push botton, water comes out under pressure, water stops. Big relief. These keypad controller thingys cost $700 (!!!) to replace. I've found someone who repairs them, but best for them to simply work. Dodged a bullet!
2. The amount of water delivered by each button seems odd, the "big single shot" button delivers less water than the "little single shot" button, so I'll have to investigate further. Maybe they were programmed weird by the last owner. This machine has a special programming lock, which is literally a keyed lock that you turn to put the controllers in a programming mode. I don't have the key but turns out that all the lock does is close a circuit. So I will simply insert a toggle switch where the lock is and label the positions "program" and "brew". Then I will have to figure out how to program the controller. It is '80s technology that works by Morse code or something. For the time being, the "manual brew" button works.
3. Both groups deliver water at the desired 8 bar, with no dripping other than the expected drops from the valve drain at the end of the shot. Either my portafilter lugs are worn or my group bell flanges are worn, because the portafilter doesn't lock in tightly. There are thicker o-rings meant for this.
4. The water as it exits the portafilter seems not quite hot enough - a thermometer in the stream reads only about 175F. Maybe the group needs to heat up longer.
5. The steam wands work, though one drips just a little so I'll rebuild the valves. Nice four hole tips. Steams 1 cup of cold milk in less than 10 seconds.
6. There is a little leak at the pump, haven't tracked that down yet. And one other very small leak from a fitting that is on the underside of the boiler and hard to get to. I'll get that one when the power isn't on.
7. I cannot tell if the boiler autofill works. There is no voltage at the lead that clips to the water level sensor, I'm not sure if there is supposed to be? But the boiler water level is probably up to the water level probe tip. I think I'm going to figure out how to install a boiler drain valve, by the way. This is a heat exchanger machine and it will be hard to maintain the boiler without an easy way to drain it.
8. The stainless steel exterior panels still need to be mirror polished. I am afraid the "Elektra" logo on the upper faceplate is going to be polished off, as I can't get that part of the panel shiny otherwise. My daughter has access to a laser engraver at school so if I can make a file with that logo in the right font, she can engrave it for me right into the steel.
9. The exterior end panels need to be re-painted. Or wrapped with thin copper sheet.
10. The machine is "on" in my garage. I left it running all evening to see if anything bad happens. I even pulled an experimental shot, that was very drinkable.

Now I'm going to 'fess up about something. I actually have two of these machines sitting in my garage. You see, I was cruising Craigslist and saw a second Elektra commercial machine in Seattle. Advertised as not working but complete for $200. Similar model to mine, minus the electronic keypads. So I bought it as a "parts machine". Turns out it is in nice condition, should only take a couple days and not too much money to get working. And the seller also had an Elektra grinder for $50. This works fine, could use a $40 burr replacement but I'm using it now.

Tom, the Specialissima frameset is being displayed in the living room until the garage is cleared of the espresso project. The idea is that I'll tell my wife that the bike frame will leave the living room if the espresso machine can go in the dining room. Marital jujitsu!

Thank you. I will see if my lock can be reassembled. It came apart and I am not sure I can re-crimp it.