I've had a Brewtus II for just over 5 years, and it's behaving like an old car that is costing more in time and money on repairs than a new one. After about 3.5 years, I started having to do work (beyond regular maintenance) - a new brain box, new teflon tube and fitting, new opv, new vibe pump, and a couple of other things I can't remember.

Now my Brewtus has another issue that I am having trouble resolving. I have really enjoyed the machine despite the issues over the past year and a bit, and I have learned enough using it that I feel that I could find my way through to making great espresso on just about any decent HX or DB out there.

My requirements for my next machine are a bit confused. I don't really care about the boiler size, number of boilers, temperature increments of the PID, etc., so here are my preferences:

Stainless steel boiler(s)
Boiler drain(s) or some other way to easily drain the boiler(s) after descaling.
Minimal use of teflon tubing around boilers.
Easy to keep brew path clean (e61 is great for this, but my PV Export is a pain)
Can be left on during the day so it is ready to brew

I figure I could go a couple of ways with my next machine:

1) all out - get a Speedster and hope to keep it running effortlessly for 10-25 years; or

2) the modest route - get a @ $1500 machine and sell it every 2 years


I need some help. I need a good machine that is easy to keep clean and that will have minimal downtime. My dream machine is a 1-group Idro, but since that does not exist yet (except as a few photos on Flickr), a Speedster takes its place at the top of the list. I don't enjoy selling stuff, which is why if I'm going to spend $2k or more on a machine, I would like it to last a really long time. Is it realistic to keep a machine running reasonably for 10 years or more without regular and significant downtime?

Any suggestions?

Mark

You wouldn't go wrong with the Speedster. It is the most satisfying machine I have ever owned. I alternate between it and a 30 year old commercial lever, which is particularly effective with coffees like Red Bird that like slightly lower (about 198) brew temperatures. Some commercial levers easily will brew nearer contemporary coffee brew temps (201-203) so something like one of the 2 Contis that Orphan Espresso currently has would also be a possibility I would think.

Speedster.

What's the issue you had with the teflon tubing? I have two machines full of teflon tubing, one 8 years old and the other 20 years old, and I've never had to replace a tube (though I have had to trim off the flared part of a couple before reattaching them to their fitments).

My Brewtus has a teflon heat exchange tube that runs between the steam boiler and brew boiler. This tube flopped against the steam boiler, developed a brittle section, and cracked. The only place I could find near me in Canada that had the right size teflon tubing for sale was willing to sell me a 20 foot section. I finally just got WLL to send me the right section.

Two weeks of downtime due to that tube. That's not what I'm looking for in my next machine.


Mark

Don't the higher end machine like Speedster/GS3 also have things that can break before their 10 yr anniversary? ...and are their parts more expensive usually?
That might be something to consider.

I guess i'm asking the question along with you... not really answering it

I'm curious too, did you use good water? Perhaps hardness played a role in some early failure of your Brewtus parts...

The thing I admire about the Speedster in addition to its exterior aesthetics is its interior. I suppose it is inevitable that an espresso machine owner will have to do a bit of work inside the machine over its lifetime. The Speedster has room to get around inside, and is really nicely laid out. I really admire the parsimomy in the design decisions that went into that machine. I'm not considering the GS/3.

I used tap water that I mixed with RO for the Brewtus; I also periodically drained the steam boiler and refilled it with straight RO to keep the tds levels in the steam boiler down. I doubt it is a water issue, and if it is, there was not much more I could have done about it within reason for a pour-over.

Mark

I have both a Speedster and a Salvatore E61 espresso machine. If you like the build quality of the speedster but don't want to spend that much money, then I would recommend the salvartore. Its built like a tank and makes great espresso. Good luck...... P.S Don't get me wrong, I love the speedster. It amazes me every time i use it. I'm just saying the salvatore makes dam good shots. Its hand made by one man, one at a time and cost less money.

Speedster. I have a friend with a Salvatore, and it is indeed a nice, well-built machine. I would call it a work of art built like a tank. I prefer my Speedster and so does my friend.

Mark, thanks for the explanation. I'd seen schematics for the Brewtus, and interior photos, but I'd never looked at the latter closely enough to see this design feature. Teflon is not intrinsically bad in espresso machines, but usually it occurs between the pump and the boiler, and for backflow from the 3-way etc, not in this kind of static high-temp role.