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Astra Gourmet Semi-automatic

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In the most general terms, the Astra Gourmet semi-automatic espresso machine features a rotary pump, is available as a pour-over or plumbed-in model and comes with your choice of colored side panels.

More specifically, the Astra Gourmet is an American-made, commercial duty, one group HX machine that has "workhorse" written all over it. It has a production capacity of 180 cups of espresso per hour and has an incredible steaming capacity that allows you to easily brew and steam at the same time, and many back-to-back times.

What’s behind this much muscle? The Astra Gourmet weighs in at 80 lbs., houses a huge 4.2 liter nickel plated copper boiler, a 2,000 watt heating element and a Procon rotary vane pump driven by an Ulka motor. These are the same components found in the larger Astra machines. It has an E61 type brew group, a commercial grade Sirai pressurestat, nickel-plated copper steam and hot water wands, a stainless steel frame and nickel-plated brass flare fittings inside. The Astra Gourmet does well in light commercial settings and is one very serious home machine. At 17" tall, the Astra Gourmet is an "in your face" kind of machine. It demands a space with plenty of head room.

Steaming and Brewing:

With Astra Gourmet’s 4.2 liter boiler and 2,000 watt heating element, you may never max out the steaming capacity. You’ll have no problems creating gorgeous microfoam either. The steam knob operates smoothly, simply turn the knob. It’s made from nickel-plated copper and sports a 6-hole tip. Like all semi-automatics, brewing starts with a flip of a switch and stops when you turn the switch off. The Astra brewing system features thermocirculation and infusion. It maintains good temperature stability and produces unbelievably good espresso with amazing consistency.

Tamping:

All Astra espresso machines feature a self-tamping group head. This means, it is not necessary for you to tamp. The machine will tamp for you. (This part caught my attention more than any other feature. I was concerned for the mental health of all those who spent years meticulously perfecting their tamping techniques.)

Pods:

All Astra machines operate with ground coffee and/or pods interchangeably. The Astra comes equipped to use ground coffee, however, no additional accessories are needed to use pods.

Pour Over/ Plumbed In:

The Astra Gourmet semi-automatic is available as either a pour over machine or a plumbed in machine. Simply select the model you prefer at no additional cost. The pour over model is equipped with a self-contained tank. It's is a snap to setup and is ideal for use in catering because it remains portable. Just plug it in and add water. The plumbed in models are designed for connection to a pressurized water supply. Plumbing instructions arrive with the machine and the modular construction makes Astra easy to install. If you aren’t the handy type or don’t have the time, a plumber can easily install the machine. The benefit of the plumbed in model is that you never have to refill the tank.

The featured photo here is of the pour over model (with stainless steel side panels). The thumbnail photo is of the plumbed in model (with black side panels). Notice the differences between the tops of the machines.

Side Panels
The Astra Gourmet semi-automatic comes standard with stainless steel side panels. However, the designer in you can opt for different colored side panels. Select from: stainless steel, silvertone, coppertone, black, red or blue.

Astra Gourmet Safety Features:

ETL Listed to NSF-4, UL 197 and CSA C22.2 No. 109.
Astra places no electrical components beneath the drip tray. This helps avoid electrical hazard and costly future repairs.
All models house an internal oversized power breaker for added safety.
All models also feature an automatic shut off if water does not reach the machine.
The Astra Gourmet models house a microprocessor-controlled diagnostic system for quick troubleshooting.
When the Astra is turned “ON”, the heating element will not engage unless there is enough water in the boiler.

Warranty/ Maintenance:

The American manufacturer, Astra, provides a 2 year limited warranty on all major components if defective from the factory. The warranty excludes wear and tear items like gaskets, valves, etc.. For items found defective, they provide a 1 year warranty on labor. Like most manufacturers, Astra will not cover costs associated with damage caused by water, neglect in cleaning or faulty electrical connections. In fact, this type of damage voids the warranty. Knowing that hard water causes a lot of maintenance and repair problems, we strongly recommend using a water softener. In addition, we can not emphasis enough the importance of reading the instruction manual and adhering to the recommended cleaning schedule.

The Astra Gourmet semi-automatic espresso machine ships with a single and double filter basket, a group brush, Puly Caff (backflushing detergent), instruction manual and a warranty card. When purchased at Better Espresso, the Astra Gourmet semi-automatic also comes with free shipping. If you have any questions about the Astra Gourmet Semi-automatic, please don't hesitate to contact us.