For anyone considering a Fiorenzato Volante espresso machine I wanted to offer some additional info and photos to augment the already phenomenal contributions by Chris Tacy and Steve (solock - Expected Temperatures and other questions from a new Bric owner) and mike mcKoffee.

I just upgraded from a stock Silvia to a new Bric (Volante model). I had purchased it from 1st-line, who four years earlier had sold me the Silvia. Prior to that I milked almost 15 years out of a Coffee Gaggia. As you will readily see I am not an engineer. I admire their methods of analysis and their unwavering superhuman focus on details. Unfortunately for me in this scenario, I am not wired that way.

It was a clear sunny Southern California day when the UPS truck pulled up for a delivery of my new Fiorenzato Volante espresso machine. I was headfirst in a kitchen cabinet routing some 1/4" copper pipe that would carry water from my Everpure filter to the highly anticipated new machine, when I heard the truck's arrival. I dried my hands and walked to the front of the house. As I approached the front door I could see through the living room window the driver lumbering up the driveway with a heavy box. Then, time shifted and slowed as I watched him lose control of his cargo and saw the box rapidly descend to the ground. Fortunately, it wasn't a free fall from chest height, it looked liked he tried to fight gravity and hold on ... all the way to the ground. Still, it felt like I'd been gut punched. Recovering, I raced out the door to give him a hand and just as I closed in he and the box went down again. My best French poured out ... "Why in the "Frack" aren't you using a dolly!"

"I don't have one today," came the reply.

"Well my friend, have a seat because you're not going anywhere until I inspect for damage."

So began my introduction to Volante.

As I peeled off the outer layer of carton I had to be impressed with 1st-line's packaging. The outer box contained an untouched inner box that was floating in a cushion of Styrofoam peanuts. After opening the inner box I found the Volante securely cocooned in a bubble wrap coat and mummified with clear packing tape. It took awhile to cut through it all. There wasn't a scratch or dent, or separated weld on the outside of the Volante. I was worried about what could have happened to the inner components as I know the box did an endo, so I gave Jim a call. After describing the situation he was confident everything was going to be intact. Still, I opened up the top and made sure nothing was loose or disconnected.

I was pleased to see how compact the machine was as its footprint was the final factor in my decision making process. You never know if things are going to really look as they are pictured.


I know, it's a chrome box. I favored the looks of the classic Bric, but this fits the space better. You deal with it and then move on.

Now, this is not a criticism so much as an observation of the manufacturing on the unit. The PF finishes look rough as if they were chromed straight out of casting. Compare the Volante finish to the smoother Naked PF that I bought from 1st-line (origin unknown to me).



In addition there are a few minute spots on the body of the machine that didn't get any chrome, like here on the upper left corner.



The Volante is no light weight as you will see when you lift it onto the counter. The Volante provides you with a good long length of stainless steel braided water line and a thick gauge power cord.



Once I got the house plumbing completed using a pressure regulator, gauge, and backflow preventer I was able to hook up the Volante. The regulator reduces my house pressure from 80 to around 43+ psi. The first day it groaned everytime I flipped the lever to end a shot or during a severe ristretto. Today I've mostly surfed for water temps so I haven't heard it.



Following Chris's lead I cleaned and flushed and flushed and flushed. Then I used easily 3/4 of a pound of coffee to season without tasting. I'm not sure if that did anything other than waste beans as I am continuing to use the Naked PF I had on Silvia. By the way, Silvia's PF makes a nice light weight holder for the blind filter to do the cleaning wiggle.

"May the Schwartz be with you!" I started pulling a couple of shots just by sight and sound and counting in my head - going with the flow. Result: Okay, but it tasted slightly burnt to me. My wife said it was fine but in her head she probably added, "Ya nut job."

I find it frustrating that I have no idea or reference of what temperature I'm really pulling. If I could nail that then I can go back to the more casual approach. Unfortunately, I only have the low end multi meter with a Type K thermocouple that was suggested on one of the other threads. It only reads Celsius. I had bought it to get some idea of what temps Silvia was pulling. I had stuck the lead into boiling water and got a reading of 99C and figured I was close enough here at sea level. Can you tell I'm not an engineer? I then threaded the lead thru an old basket from the Gaggia.



The most important espresso shot is the first of the morning when I'm still trying to evolve from primate to human and stand upright. With that in mind I have tried various timings of flush and rebound from a 30 minute, or more, idle. I still haven't hit my target of 93-94 C. I'm either in the 80's or 96-99C. I only tried one or two "flush and go's" but I wanted to stick with one methodology for a while before moving on. Here's a video with me counting the end of the flash. Please feel free to correct my assumption of where the flash ends.


Wouldn't you know as soon as I finished writing that I went to the kitchen to tape the flush and hit a 94C. , That is, if my metering system is worth a damn. Oh, and from where I stood it looked like 8 oz instead of the 7 it really was.

I have read postings that say the E61's become more temperature stable after repeated shots. Perhaps, I will need to change my routine and make my wife and I Americano's or Capps first. Still, it's going to be close to 20 minutes before we're ready for the next round. Any suggestions of flush routines by Bric owners would be greatly appreciated. I had asked Jim to set-up the machine at 9.25 and 1.0 bar, though that is not exactly what the gauges are showing.

Keep in mind I'm new at Hx flushing. I have faith I'll get there BUT am I cutting my own throat by attempting to use this meter and thermocouple?

Lastly, I want to "mention" a concern I'm having with the drip tray. I'm still trying to find a solution with Jim's help. Other's have commented that the tray doesn't extend out far enough to catch all the water and I agree, especially when you're doing the "wiggle". I, however, had requested the drip tray from the model with a water reservoir/vibe pump as its deeper and I have no opportunity to take advantage of a plumbed drip tray. This has caused 2 problems. One is the routing of a drain tube which is really no big deal, AND two is how the bigger tray sits or doesn't sit in the chassis. I will detail more of this once I've heard back from Jim.


Ed

I agree with Dan your end of flash seemed spot on. Also agree flush-n-go works most accurately with the Bric'. From idle pull your 7-8oz cooling flush, the exact amount needed depends on boiler setting. Higher boiler pressure needs longer cooling flush. With boiler at 1.0bar heater on toggle I use just shy of 8oz cooling flush. Build PF. Now your Bric' should have rebounded beyond shot temp giving you a flash. End of flash will be ~206f shot. Each one-one thousand count reduces temp ~1f. FWIW I've found the count to be slightly faster than 1sec, slightly faster than you were counting. Say you're going for a ~200f shot. End of flash count one one-thousand to six one-thousand then immediately lock and pull, within 5sec.

With the flush-no-go and a standard pull with the Bric' you'll have a very defined HX hump temp lowering about ~2f lower end of shot than start of shot. The start of shot hump will be the targeted flush-n-go count temp.

OTH using flush and rebound there is almost zero hump intra-shot, less than ~0.5f intra-shot temp variation. Weird. But I find it harder to consistently hit desired shot temp using flush and rebound, especially hammering out a series of shots, so use the flush-n-go. Since shots seem to be excellent with flush-n-go that's what I use. That and don't like to have to up count 20 to 30 seconds for each and every shot, too much like surfing Silvia!

After each shot I use a healthy group flush including wiggle with blank, about 4oz worth total. Need ~35sec after post shot flush for next shot flash for flush-n-go. (Again, with boiler down at 1.0bar, when higher boiler pressure HX recovers faster to flash.)

Short idle cooling I pull just a couple seconds flush beyond flash, usually about the same amount as post shot 4oz flush. The whole idea of course is to the get the Bric' in shot stabilized state simulating near constant use.

For a cap' I purge the steam wand just before the flash flush-n-go sequence, start the shot, then retrieve the previously prepped 12oz pitcher with ~3.5oz milk from the fridge, very brief re-purge of steam wand and start steaming. Few seconds later stop the shot (still steaming) and finish steaming. Usually right after shot stopped is about same time to sink the steam tip deeper. This is using a 2 hold restricted tip. FWIW it takes about 35sec to steam 3.5oz milk with this tip and boiler down at 1.0bar. A bit slow steaming yes but using the 4 hole tip, low boiler pressure and small volumes of milk don't get good steam velocity. And steaming finished about 15sec after shot finished so about the same time as using larger 4-hole tip and starting steaming just after shot finish. Also, with restricted 2-hole tip steaming while pulling shot the shot temp is virtually unaffected per Thermofilter testing.

Have fun and just play with your new Volante! Let your taste buds be your ultimate guide.

HB wrote:Nice writeup!

Thank you Dan! The post was a real eye opener to the amount of time and energy it takes to put together any of these reviews and articles that you guys and gals do on a regular basis. My hat's off. I had made this effort as a thanks to folks like mike mcKoffee, luca, randomperson, Teemu, and you - for all the help and patience that was so graciously offered along my way.

mike mcKoffee wrote:I agree with Dan your end of flash seemed spot on. Also agree flush-n-go works most accurately with the Bric'

"Flush and go" it is, thanks guys. I will also try to create some resistance in the PF with the thermocouple and try for some new readings. Yesterday I bought a small amount of beans from a local, "Caffe Luxxe" to tide me over until the Ambrosia blend I ordered arrives. Caffe Luxxe in Santa Monica, Ca. has 2 beautiful 3 group Synessco machines and offers a tasty blend called "A Cappella". Today after a couple of tries the Volante impressed me with how close it came to the ristretto I order at the Cafe. This evening the Ambrosia blend has arrived so I'll start on it tomorrow.

I've since received a reply from Jim on the drip tray. He said that he's seen once before where the deeper non-plumbed tray was a little too large. He's sending me a new one so I'll wait and see. Another component of the problem is how the tray is supposed to fit in the chassis. There is a lip at the bottom of the front face of Volante which, logically, would be useful for diverting stray water into the tray. Jim has verified that the tray is supposed to fit under the lip.

In my case if the tray goes under the lip the front of the tray needs to be forced down into position and then takes Herculean strength to remove and the velocity at which it comes free causes the tray to smash into the bottom of the valve under the group.

For now I've left the tray sitting on top of the lip but the front of the tray angles down and a shot glass can be move forward from vibration.



I can still remember my initial shock the first time I opened the steam valve on Silvia. I had logged close to 15 years on a Coffee Gaggia (I think its now called the Classic. It was all metal and then I had added a brass pump from a "Baby"). The blast of steam from Silvia literally made me jump! Long story short, you adapt. Gaggia wand on the left, slow steam / Silvia wand on the right / blast-o-steam. Volante wand on the left / gentler steam. I will make another post with a visual of Silvia's steam and Volante's steam. You'll see I took the advice and got the Gold 2 hole tip.

I can't really add anything to what Chris has already written about the steaming capabilities. I will say however, as a long time user of single boiler machines, that I had pretty much stopped making Lattes and Capps. To wait for the temperature to adjust was just too time consuming, and I was just as happy drinking espressos and Americanos. In the couple of days that I've had the Volante I'm surprised how many 6-7 oz Capps I've been making. It's so much easier and enjoyable! I can't speak on froth quality or dryness of microfoam as I don't yet possess those chops, BUT, I'm amazed at how sweet 1% milk becomes.

Lastly, an example of giving a little to get a little. My wife had been very anxious as to what impact a new bigger machine was going to do to the spatial and aesthetic qualities of the newly remodeled kitchen. The Mini Mazzer took a little getting use to. At one point I was looking to set-up in the laundry room and had asked the question of using an espresso machine in a sinkless room at the espressogeek.com forum. So, to help myself in getting back into the kitchen I built her a Styrofoam mock-up. I offer this photo for your amusement.

Although the timer and surge protector are kind of clunky the plumbing is neatly hidden.



Thank you everybody - I'm off to play!

Ed

Yes, that was the tube with the routing problem that I mentioned before. Jim is going to have a hole or slot cut so that the tube doesn't get pinched. BUT, the same problem exists if the tube is pushed out of the way underneath the tray. I could post the clip on the tray removal but I feel like I've already chewed up a lot of server space with all these photos and videos.

Here are the steaming clips I mentioned.

Silvia


Volante