On the top of the description page for the Bezzera BZ02, I read:

"...make the Bezzera one of the few home machines that can brew espresso and steam milk at the same time!"

I just clicked on an ad for the Bezzera and was taken to a different page for the Bezzera machine (still on the 1st line site) and read it, it stated:

"...automatic water refill of the boiler, and ability to steam milk right after making espresso or vice versa (as we do not recommend steaming milk or extracting espresso on any semi-commercial espresso machine with a boiler size less than 5 liters)"

Are they say that there is a problem with being able to steam and brew at the same time on less than 5 liter machines?

Will it actually have a problem with steaming and brewing at the same time?

Thanks
Jamie

jamiedolan wrote:Will it actually have a problem with steaming and brewing at the same time?

Within reason, prosumer HX espresso machines can steam and brew at the same time for a drink. If the barista is fast, they can outrun the boiler/group's capacity, leading to a drop in boiler pressure and lower brew temperature. So what's "within reason" you ask? In my testing, I consider one drink every 90 seconds as reasonable, assuming we're talking about straight espresso or standard cappuccinos (approximately six ounces). If you include "big gulp" lattes, the boiler will need more time to recover.

In short, for home use, models like the Bezzera BZ02 are more than fast enough. However, they're not fast enough for catering.

HB wrote:Within reason, prosumer HX espresso machines can steam and brew at the same time for a drink. ... In my testing, I consider one drink every 90 seconds as reasonable, assuming we're talking about straight espresso or standard cappuccinos (approximately six ounces). If you include "big gulp" lattes, the boiler will need more time to recover.

3 minutes to make 2 drinks would be pretty a pretty steady pace, so I doubt I would move much faster than that.

I normally use cups that are small, about 6 ounces. I steam about 5-6 ounces of milk and always have some left after pouring. It's hard to get the milk rolling with much less in the pitcher.

I was reading a conversation about using the different steaming tips, the Bezzera was not discussed in the conversation. I'm wondering if I should get a 2 hole tip for this machine to make it easier to steam small amounts of milk?

Thank you for your help;
Jamie

jamiedolan wrote:I'm wondering if I should get a 2 hole tip for this machine to make it easier to steam small amounts of milk?

You're asking the wrong guy. I use a 12 ounce pitcher and steam around 5-6 ounces. Apparently some home baristas agonize over "wasting" two ounces of milk, but I cannot relate because we have kids who drink milk like it's water.

As Dan noted, pretty much any prosumer HX CAN steam and brew at the same time for your normal day to day use. However, I think you will find that, like most HX owners, that you'll do one, then the other. When I had an HX, I found it much easier to do it that way, so I didn't have to juggle two things at once. For me, the nice thing about the HX wasn't that I could steam and brew together, but that I didn't have to wait in-between.

I do it a little different now with my Vivaldi, and it could be either that the Vivaldi is a very quick steaming machine, or that Im more comfortable with my equipment/skills that I feel I can do both at pretty much the same time. Likely its a combo of both. I start the milk, and then start the shot just as the milk is finishing. This allows both the milk and the espresso to get the attention they deserve, AND, it allows my milk drinks to be as perfect as Im capable of making, as the milk and espresso get added together only seconds after they're done, instead of one sitting waiting for other.

I found that I had no problem at all with brewing and steaming at the same time. Though most of the time, I brewed, then steamed. The espresso was much hotter than I am used to from my old machine, and allowing it to sit for 1 minute while I poured the milk and steamed it wasn't a big deal at all.

I pre-warm the cups with a few ounces of hot water from the machine, then grind and tamp, then pull. It has easily recovered from the hot water draw by the time I am ready to pull the shot.

The only time it was a issue was before the machine really had a chance to fully warm up. Once it is warm, I found it kept up with just about everything. Only time it didn't keep up was when I drew off a pot of hot water for tea.