pdx wrote:On any Synesso you can pull shots simultaneously on multiple groups at once.

If there is only one pump on the Cyncra, would not the overall brew pressure drop a bit if more than one group is engaged at once? Not familiar with Synesso machines.

I have experienced approximately 1 bar of pressure drop when engaging both groups at once on a Faema, and often wonder what would be the best way to eradicate that problem. Perhaps it is just not enough line pressure or flow rate?

On Synesso's website it says:

It features individual pumps and motors for each brew group, enabling baristas to preinfuse on one group while brewing on the other, set different pump pressures for different coffees, and allows for pressure profiling.

Does not make any reference about brewing simultaneously being an advantage. Which started me wondering about it all and why, if it has a pump and motor for each group, that would not be an advantage.

So, a friend of mine has a two group Synesso, and I'd like him (well, his baristi) to be able to use each independently. Could you simply add another pump and motor to separate the two? What else might be involved? Would this be feasible or just clumsy?

What do you mean? You can use each group independently.

If you're pulling a shot (on the reg'lar ole two group, *not* the Hydra) on one group, you can't pre-infuse on the other group till the pull is done on the first one, or you'll pre-infuse at nine bar. Which is somewhat defeating the purpose. It is the reason (unless I'm very much mistaken, which is perfectly possible) that they put two motors and pumps in the Hydra in the first place, yeah?

Yeah, that's the logic behind the Hydra. I know of several Synessos in service & I don't know of anyone who uses the preinfusion very much. If you're building a good puck it doesn't make any perceivable difference. Keep in mind they have a stock .6mm gliceur.

As far as I know Synesso developed a 3 group that was basically a Hydra years ago for Cirqua to use in-house. They used it to demonstrate different water chemistries from the different groups for research & demonstration.

The change would involve at least some plumbing fittings, another pump & motor, and wiring changes so each group switch actuates the specific motor involved.

If your friend sees it as an issue he should just call Synesso. They're really helpful supporting their machines & sell reasonably-priced kits to retrofit most of the improvements they develop. The kits I've seen have great instructions & their phone support is stellar if you run into installation problems.

Thanks Ben! I'm toying with the difficulty cost issue to get him to consider it. I might be able to get some folk to make the cost issue a minor one, but the difficulty issue might be a deal killer. I'll ring 'em up on a work day, and get some ammo to chuck at him! ; >

Personally I wouldn't mess with it. Most coffee shop staff have much more fundamental problems than preinfusion could solve. There's nothing wrong with the Cyncra as-is.

Except that this was the only complaint that the baristi working there had about their new machine. Happy baristi make better coffee, all visual evidence in coffee shops across the planet to the contrary notwithstanding...

Split follow-on discussion to New Slayer espresso machine.