I bet the Brewtus' is heavier . I think with the extended parts warranty to 2 years as part of the deal isn't bad and I'm getting a great deal. Also I lost my Silvia box so Todd agreed to let me ship her back in Brewtus' box. I really don't have too much experience (im 16) but after my dad laughed at me when I said espresso isn't supposed to be bitter but chocolaty (the roast im using now anyway) and I proved him wrong with Silvia I think I can pull a decent shot. My friend said I should work at *$ and I replied I wouldn't last a week because I'd tell the manager the coffee is c**p. Anyway I'll be sure to share my experiences, make a video, and probably a website for Brewtus owners/ prospective buyers.

HB wrote:Yes, an update of the current review is in the queue, probably the Expobar Brewtus III-R.

I am getting the III-R. I can't wait to read it, hopefully than I won't regret the purchase .

sweaner wrote:$1800.02!

Not far off. I didn't really need another machine so I only placed one bid. I did note that the machine id plate listed it as over 10years old. Not a problem if it hasn't been sitting in a cold garage.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....&item=250353939487

Twenty-five hundred bucks isn't bad for a working LM 2gr. Didn't see the pump/motor listed.

Bernie

Here is what I ended up buying today:

Expobar Brewtus III-R
Mazzer Kony
Presso Tamper
Monin Organic Syrup
Bottomless Portafilter
Knockbox
Tamping Mat
Bodum Pavina glasses 2 oz and 9 oz
CCC Toscano 1.5lbs.

Don't kill me . Guests like frappas and mochas. I got the best I could find (reasonably)

For those living in the Triangle area, we meet in the espresso lab at the Counter Culture Coffee Roastery and Headquarters every Friday, 7:30am to 9am. Tomorrow is Tim's Finca Mauritania Triple Process Espresso experiment.

This isn't my first machine. I started out with La Pavoni Lusso for four years (one of which I actually used it) than downgraded to a Saeco Incanto Sirius for a year than Silvia and Rocky for a month. I can pull pretty decent shots from silvia but when making 3 cappas every morning in under 15 minutes it gets annoying. Brew steam brew steam. I will post a video of a shot. Is there anything next Friday? No school next Friday . I am thinking about talking to Kevin from Crema to see if he would like some free help over the summer in exchange for some tips/help. I read that Tuscano (the new blend) should be brewed around 200 degrees?

Michal wrote:Is there anything next Friday?

As I wrote before:

HB wrote:...we meet in the espresso lab... every Friday. [emphasis added]

I read that Tuscano (the new blend) should be brewed around 200 degrees?

That sounds like a good starting point for Toscano.

Okay thank you very much Dan. I was reading in other threads that there were breaks during the holidays and just wanted to make sure. Do I need to sign up anywhere?

No, just show up.

I tested the Brewtus-III with the SCACE thermofilter and it seems very stable and posted the results on HB. The Dual-boiler Vibiemme was also tested and very stable with better quality parts and better insulation than the Brewtus III as well as the Giotto Premium (with not so good results on temperature stability).

Overall the Brewtus-III or Vibiemme 2-boiler PID machines with both perform very well.
See: http://www.home-barista.com/espre...ofilter-t9296.html

I just posted some pictures on HB as I am looking for the way to adjust the OPV on the Brewtus-III. Maybe some of you can see if the parts used are the same as for the Brewtus-III. Scroll down to see some pictures of the Brewtus-III: http://www.home-barista.com/espre...afilter-t9530.html

Sjoerd Jan

Is the preset offset correct on the Brewt? Which parts in particular are better on VBM? One thing I noticed on 1st Line's website was the description told you insulating boiler = bad, insulating walls= good and on the image of the machine the boiler was insulated .

About the CCC meetings, What exactly are they? Do I just walk into the building and say hi? Should I bring anything (coffee, tamper, etc.)?

Just show up. Trust me, you'll figure it out.

Okay . Is the whole building the lab or is it obvious once I just show up?

I have been pulling the WORST shots ever today. Bought a new batch of beans and no matter what I do I literally almost puke when I drink it. Could it be that the beans were roasted today and they aren't ready? One click on Rocky chokes silvia and another click is too coarse. On the upside my Latte art is improving and I can kinda make a rosetta and a cappuccino isn't a white blob anymore .

Michal wrote:Is the preset offset correct on the Brewt? Which parts in particular are better on VBM? One thing I noticed on 1st Line's website was the description told you insulating boiler = bad, insulating walls= good and on the image of the machine the boiler was insulated .

Good catch, I noticed this too. One school of thought is to not insulate the brew boiler on a dual boiler machine. However, as someone else pointed out on this board, if your machine isn't on all day and just short iterations, the insulation might not be applicable anyhow. The good news is, you can easily modify to your desire I would think. It'd be an interesting test (temp stability) so we can finally put this one to rest.

p.s. You got the Brewt correct? Just curious to your question on the VBM.

Yes, Just bought the brewt. Coming in on Wednesday and depending on the driver i'll get it wends or Friday. One driver won't give me the machine because I have to sign and although the shipping address has MY name on it I can't sign because im not 18. The other driver doesn't want to deal with it and just hands it over.

I was just curious, I keep hearing people say X machine has better parts than Y machine and wanted to know what parts are considered most important.

Michal wrote:Is the preset offset correct on the Brewt?

Congrats on getting a 3R, you will be very pleased...I have had mine since the first ones were shipped out from WLL and I have lowered the offset to 14 from 18. I did more temp testing today and ended up back at 14 again with my ambient temp around 68, and it happens to be really dry here at the moment.

I really don't understand the constant repetition of the "fact" that the vibiemmes have "high quality" components and the expobars do not ... particularly in the case of the dual-boiler versions, which now both seem to use temperature controllers from the same manufacturer.

Frankly, I suspect that it's as simple as people perceiving the VBM as a luxury good because of its higher price and the Expobar as shoddier because it is cheaper.

Cheers,

Luca