javajay wrote:I have found a vast amount of info on 'Alex' on the european site: http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/index.php Just do a search for 'Alex".


Chris, this is a tank! 72lbs! Is this due to the boiler? Frame? Casing? Combo of all these things?
A few comments on the above site about the pressure being set at 1.5 bar from the factory, apparently b/c of better recovery in a small commercial environment and serious steaming power, but with the disadvantage of very large cooling flushes. Are you adjusting this and if so what do you recommend? How accessible is the adjustment? Seems like 1.5 bar in the home environment may be overkill.
Jay

There is a review on the Bella Barista web site (they carry reviews of all the machines they sell, check the downloads area). The review is of the MK1 Alex, but most of the basics are still correct (many of the improvements have addressed the issues raised by that review). I will be reviewing the MKII machine soon.

http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/Ale...encrypted%20v2.pdf

As for Pressure, I have mine set to about 0.8 bar, which is quite sufficient for home use. Steaming is very powerful with the Stock tip and I recommend the fitting of an Expobar single hole steam tip to the machine (which if you DONT have the no burn steam wand, is a direct fit). This works much better to micro foam small quantities of milk. You can just open the steam wand and steam....pretty much for as long as you want (in the European version the element is certainly powerful enough to keep up with demand, presumably the US one will be as well.) Pressure adjustment on my MK1 can be done through a hole in the top, which is directly above the MA-TER XP110 pressure stat adjustment screw. Even if it's not on the MK II, case removal only takes a minute.

Seem to be some worries about the machine not having a different type of pressurestat. I personally have had no problems with the MA_TERS, they have a tight deadband and are very simple and cheap to replace if they go wrong.

The Frame & Case is a hugely heavy thick high quality authentic stainless steel, this does contribute greatly to the machines overall weight.

I also read in the thread some confusion about a Vibe pump in the machine, this could be confusion with it's little sister the Vivi

Oh Alex is not male, the Alex is a she! Vivi and Alex are the daughters names of the founder/owner of Gruppo Izzo.

One important thing with the Alex MK1 and I would guess it's exactly the same on the MKII. case removal is very easy because there are a few very handily placed securing screws and then it simply lifts off some holding tabs. The machine is however, VERY heavy and you should NOT lift it by the outer case when removing from the box or carrying it around. Lift it using the bottom where the legs attach. It's unfortunate that the double skinned outer case seems to provide great handholds at either side of the machine, but with so few screws needed to hold it on and the machines weight....I don't recommend it.

I hope you guys in the US enjoy a machine I have enjoyed for a very long time now.

Does this mean we will see a HB review?

Great!! im sure it will do very well!

Can anyone comment on the possibility of using an external reservoir w/o a flojet. It seems that logically it would work since there is no line pressure from the internal reservoir.
Jay

javajay wrote:Can anyone comment on the possibility of using an external reservoir w/o a flojet. It seems that logically it would work since there is no line pressure from the internal reservoir.
Jay

It may or may not work. I know that some Cimbali machines can do this, up to something like pulling a 10 foot water column. The Alex might rely on the head pressure of the water in the reservoir and gravity, since the water is above the rotary pump.

jesawdy wrote:It may or may not work. I know that some Cimbali machines can do this, up to something like pulling a 10 foot water column. The Alex might rely on the head pressure of the water in the reservoir and gravity, since the water is above the rotary pump.

Hmm... Dan, why was I not able to edit this post?

I wanted to add that my Cimbali M32 bistro relies on mains pressure to fill it's water reservoir (it can be plumbed or used pourover, but doesn't require any switching of valves or anything like the Alex). All subsequent operations, such as brew water, boiler fill, do not require any mains pressure, it all pulls from the reservoir. A level sensor opens a solenoid that fills the water reservoir as needed.... that seems a more elegant solution than switching the plumbing, with the added expense of a level sensor and solenoid, minus a valve. I just realized that my Cimbali also has an added benefit of operating consistently, regardless of mains pressure, unlike other plumbed rotary pumps arrangments that are sensitive to incoming line pressure.

This is a nice looking machine though!

Seems like this is basically a direct-plumb machine with an occasional-use reservoir option. I would not recommend it to someone who planned on refilling the reservoir every day or oftener unless they planned on direct plumbing at some point. Looks like very limited access. Am I missing something? That said, it's a tempting machine for its sheer robustness.

Martin

Yes you are missing the very first sentence of the very first part of this thread.

Since we introduced the Vetrano over a year ago many people have asked for an espresso machine with a nice quite rotary pump that they did not have to plumb in."

There are lot of people out there that want the benefit of a quiet rotary pump but either do not wish to plumb a machine in or cannot for one reason or another.

For example:

They live in an apartment that it would not be allowed but would like the quiet rotary plus the fact they know if they move someday where they can plumb it in they can.

Some have very nice and very expensive granite counter tops they do not want to cut holes in.

Some like the idea that they can direct plumb it at their house but can take it to their church on Sunday or to their mother's house with family on holidays.

Some times where the machine is going to be located there is no way to get a water line to it.

I would not have brought this machine in if it did not fill a niche.