JackJ wrote:Am I missing something?

No, you're missing nothing. Single boiler espresso machines fill the boiler to the tippy-top for brewing and purge some water from the boiler to create headspace for steaming. This is covered in engrossing detail in Jeff's Buyer's Guide to the Quickmill Alexia.

The 6 page instructions I received from Chris coffee do not cover the filling of the boiler in any detail describing the difference between steaming vs. pulling a shot.

It does however warn in big red letters, "Caution: The Alexia does not have an automatic fill feature, therefore it is important that you follow these set up instructions to fill your boiler before using or you will risk damage to the machine thereby voiding the warranty."

This certainly convinced this new owner to always manually refill the boiler.

If I remember correctly the HB review also points out the need to refill the boiler without explaining that the boiler refills upon pulling a shot but may need to be refilled after steaming.

Jeff

kemperj wrote:If I remember correctly the HB review also points out the need to refill the boiler without explaining that the boiler refills upon pulling a shot but may need to be refilled after steaming.

OK, I hope my previous post clarifies this point. As for steaming, I have excerpted from the review for easy reference:

jesawdy wrote:After steaming, Alexia's boiler should be refilled. Place the steam wand in a tall pitcher or mug (a rinsed 20 ounce steaming pitcher works well), open the steam valve, and then engage the pump switch to fill the boiler. Alternatively, you can use the brew lever to refill the boiler, but I prefer to use the steam wand as it ensures the boiler is full to the top. Directly after steaming, it takes about 4-6 ounces of water to refill the boiler.

The reviews of various espresso machinery on HB are really top-notch and are well worth reading several times over - especially if you happen to be fortunate enough to own something similar. I read them over from time to time just to pick up "tips and tricks." Maybe this hydraulic schematic of Alexia will help.

Eric,

Like they say--A picture is worth a thousand words. It answers my most basic questions about my Alexia.

Thanks,

Jeff K