Espresso Parts designs beautiful machines with a well-rounded portfolio.
BY JOSH TAVES
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Josh Taves
In case you missed the first installment, Barista Magazine Online is taking a look at the new trend in custom espresso machine shops. These companies find their niche not in the manufacturing of espresso machines, but rather in the business of customization and personalization of an existent machine. In part one we covered the beautiful work of Jacob Ellul-Blake and his team at Pantechnicon Design.
Here in part two of our series, we chat with David Ringwood, custom shop manager and lead at Espresso Parts in Lacey, Wash. Espresso Parts is well-known in the customization industry for their cutting-edge work in both aesthetic design and functional modifications. I personally remember sending a Mazzer Super Jolly off to Espresso Parts to get a fancy custom funnel and timed doser installed almost 10 years ago. Since then, the business has come a long way and now offers an array of options for those looking to make a visual centerpiece out of their espresso machine.
David has been working with the Espresso Parts custom shop since 2007 when they were primarily refurbishing vintage machines and doing repair work. Over time, the restoration and customization work they were doing became so popular that they stopped repairing equipment altogether to focus on making their customers’ dreams a reality.
“I had a background in industrial electrical work and automation, sheet metal fabrication, and equipment manufacturing when I moved to Olympia in 2006 and started doing equipment repair work,” says David. This expertise allows David and his team to offer many different services to their customers, including color and finish changes, metal plating, wood accents, glass body panels, interior lighting, punched pattern panels, artwork applications, logos, custom engraving on wood and glass, metal leaf applications … the list goes on and on. One thing that caught my eye was David’s offer to do custom pinstriping on equipment, which is rare these days and a throwback to some of my favorite vintage styling.
Espresso Parts is particularly known for their wide array of … well … espresso parts. This means that should you need repairs, functional modifications, or a tune-up while your machine is getting a facelift, the team at EP is happy to oblige. The list of manufacturers whose machines David and his team have already conquered is extensive. It spans all the major U.S. brands including La Marzocco, Slayer, and Synesso, as well as many European brands ranging from Nuova Simonelli and Rancilio to Faema, La Spaziale, and Fiorenzato. They haven’t forgotten about those looking for custom grinder modifications as well, and have experience with brands like Mazzer, Anfim, Mahlkoenig, and Ditting. After relaying an exhaustive list of manufacturers, David is sure to add, “I’m probably forgetting at least a couple more … [we] are always willing to take on others!”
Another thing David mentioned that caught my attention was their customization of coffee brewers from companies like Bunn, Clover, and Wilbur Curtis. This is much less common in my opinion but a really awesome service that Espresso Parts is offering. Want to have all of your equipment match from brewer to grinders to espresso machine? Espresso Parts is a one-stop shop.
David and his team at Espresso Parts have an extensive list of modifications they offer to their clients and convinced me of their expertise in all things coffee equipment. They are a great choice to trust your next custom project to, which is evident from the pictures above. (How about the glass paneling on that Strada?!). Stay tuned for our next installment of this series, when we talk with Marty Roe at Service Call and About the Coffee about his handmade masterpieces coming out of Kansas City, Mo.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Taves has been working in the coffee industry since 2006 and has worked as a barista, trainer, QC director, profile roaster, and green buyer. You can currently find him (or not find him) roaming the Rocky Mountains wherever the wind takes him. He is also the inventor of the Rattleware Cupping Brewer and a 2017 United States Barista Championship finalist.
