Very disturbing coffee related event...

I have (now it's, had) one of the original Europiccola espresso machines by
LP. It's been relegated to my collection of coffee memorabilia (vac pots,
moka, pots, steam pots, pump machines, cups, etc) for years, ever since I
bought my first Pro.

Last week the Pro had a parts failure, so while it was at the repair shop I
took the old machine off the shelf & put it in the Pro's spot on the
counter. It was there more or less to just fill the empty spot until the Pro
was returned. I had no intentions of using it so I didn't put water in it.

And that was the problem. Our housekeeper has been told over & over that if
she unplugs anything to clean around it to make sure it's plugged back in. I
mean who wants to put water & coffee into the drip pot only to return after
showering to no coffee? Diligent person that she is she has been very good
at making sure everything is plugged in. Can you see where this is going?

The machine was plugged in with no water in it, but no problem if it's not
switched on, right. You Pea*** owner's will know what happens next; the
power switch sticks out from the bottom of the base & if the machine is
turned a bit to that side you cannot see the switch or the power on light.
In my cleaning up after myself I must have pushed the machine into an airpot
I keep next to it. The power was on for who knows how long, but I can tell
you this - the friggin thermal fuse didn't blow, but the heating element
sure did.

I am lucky enough to have very sensitive smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
because I was in my workshop when all Hell broke loose. I'm lucky that the
machine doesn't fit well under overhead cupboards or the whole kitchen might
have gone up before I got to the scene. Fortunately, I have cut-off switches
located at strategic junctions in the house so I was able to power
everything down in that corner of the kitchen quickly. Out comes the fire
extinguisher & poof, the immediate problem's solved. The brass boiler is
warped in several places & the steel base has no finish left, so I'm
supposing at this point that the machine is worthless as a collectable. (I'd
fantasized about taking it to an Antiques Roadshow someday.)

I can see where La Pavoni screwed up twice here:
1) The switch & light is not 100% visible from the working angle,
2) the fuses they use were substandard.

LP's not the only ones with potentially dangerous designs. I have a Melitta
Clarity that makes great coffee, but it can get the user in deep doda.

Problems with the Clarity:
1) The on/off switch is on the left & easily bumped,
2) the power on light is very small & easily missed,
3) the warming tray has no thermostat, so it's possible to boil the pot dry
& beyond - to who knows where?

I don't know if these things have to obtain Underwriter's Laboratories seal
of approval before they can be sold but if they do or don't is immaterial -
the things have dangerous flaws. I'm sure there are many other devices out
there with similar or worse problems. I guess these are sold in such low
numbers there's no money in it for liability lawyers to get that hungry
gleam in their eyes. Can you say "Class Action"?
--
Robert (Scared, pissed, very disappointed, & more than a 'little' sick to my
stomach!) Harmon
www.tinyurl.com/mb4uj - My coffee pages
www.tinyurl.com/2tnv87 - Guidelines for newbies.
www.tinyurl.com/37gwfr - I may have stuff available for sale here.


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