I'm looking for a new machine that doesn't require plumbing, and the Vivaldi II Mini and Alex Duetto have captured my attention.

I noticed that the rotary pump in the Alex is located directly above the pump motor.

My only rotary pump machine developed a leaky seal after ~ 4 years of home use. I suspect it would have made a mess of the pump motor if it had been in the Alex. I've read posts by others saying rotary pumps are ultra reliable, don't worry about leaks, etc., but a quick search of HB brings up a few posts about leaking rotary pumps. So it does happen. Seems worrisome to me.

Anyone have a perspective on this? How rare are leaking seals in rotary pumps, and how likely is a leak to fry, er saute, the motor in an Alex?

Thanks,

Rick

Java Man wrote:Anyone have a perspective on this? How rare are leaking seals in rotary pumps, and how likely is a leak to fry, er saute, the motor in an Alex?

Cooking in a little water? I think it would be more of a braise.

As for your question, you are asking people to either engage in flights of speculation or survey the actual damage complaints (if any) online, which you can do just as easily yourself.

I tend to over analyze things, but that's what steered me away from the Duetto. A bearing failure will take out the electrical motor. But that is a fairly rare event. Asked Chris @ ChrisCoffee, and he agreed, but said basically if you're going to squeeze that much into that small a space, then your mounting choices are limited.

Regardless of Marshall's flippant response, I've wondered the same thing myself. I had seriously considered a GS/3, but lack of QC and numerous problems that seem to crop up has killed that for me. Looking at other 2xboilers brought me to your position.

Given that the Duetto is likely a wonderful machine, for me the location of the pump/motor killed that one for me and now I'm leaning quite heavily towards the VMB DD due to the relative "build safety".

Now, I need to justify the VBM DD over the Elektra A3 (the other woman, so to speak).

I doubt this sheds any light on your question, except to relate that you are not the only one uncomfortable with that build.

Cheers and good luck in your final choice.

Dave

Cramming everything you need for a double boiler into a kitchen-friendly size is a daunting task that is only accomplished by using every bit of available space. There is no way to avoid putting parts in close proximity to each other. This makes these machines more difficult to design, to assemble and to repair.

I have been told that the Dalla Corte Mini takes more time to assemble than its big commercial brothers, which is one of the reasons for its relatively high price.

That being said, there is a lot of owner experience with these machines, which I would put more stock in than speculation about what could or might happen because of a particular configuration.

Marshall wrote:I have been told that the Dalla Corte Mini takes more time to assemble than its big commercial brothers, which is one of the reasons for its relatively high price.

What does this have to do with the DC?

Marshall wrote:I wish people would stop comparing the output of machines with which they have zero experience.

hmmm

What does this have to do with the DC?

It's a double boiler. It's an example of the difficulty of configuring two boilers for home kitchen use and explains why critical parts in home machines tend to be in closer proximity than might be ideal.

As far as comparing the output of machines with which I have no experience, I'm fairly certain I did not do that. I did not even describe the output of a single machine.

Thanks for all your comments, including the flights of speculation that rotary pumps leak and water runs downhill.

Rick

And of course the BIIIR has the luxury of not needing space for a reservoir like the Duetto. Don't know if it would have been possible to mount the motor and pump horizontally and used a wider shallower reservoir with enough practical capacity. Regardless the vertical mounting would not be enough to deter me from Duetto. I mean, there are all kinds of ways a leak could happen and possibly fry the motor or other even more expensive electronics for that matter in most all espresso machines. Yet agree absolutely design layouts to minimize risk of potential expensive repairs is a good thing. Yet again the Alex Duetto is quite unique at its price point having internal rotary pump and reservoir or direct plumb option at the flip of a switch.