Different Question: Andreja Premium or Expobar Brewtus

[brianneary]

I've read the reviews of these two machines and I'm grateful -- and confused. I am selling my Pasquini Liva 90 because of the inconsistency in temp and pressure and resulting taste. The only fault I could find in the Brewtus review concerned the foaming function. Could you weigh in and render some informed opinions?
Thanks
Brian

[HB]

I am selling my Pasquini Liva 90 because of the inconsistency in temp and pressure and resulting taste.

Bob Barraza brought his Livia 90 to our regular Friday rendez-vous at Counter Culture Coffee to do some temperature analysis. He had customized the brass dispersion disk to slow its pressure ramp up with good results and wanted to fine-tune the cooling flush. I used it too briefly to form a strong opinion of it. From what I've read online, most agree Livia is a good machine, but isn't the darling of the Internet it once was. Perhaps Bob will offer his thoughts now that a few more months have gone by.

Back to your original question, Andreja Premium vs. Brewtus came up in May before there was even a Brewtus review:

I briefly test drove the Brewtus at last year's Counter Culture Coffee EspressoFest and have checked out its cousin, the Expobar Lever, owned by a local friend. That doesn't qualify me to make specific judgments, but I will offer some general comments. To begin, I think the (unstated) underlying question of your proposed side-by-side could be restated: "Is a dual boiler espresso machine inherently superior to a similarly priced HX?" Before stepping down that slippery slope, below are the scores I've used in the conclusions of the previous buyer's guides:

1. Exceptional Espresso
2. Morning After
3. Cappuccino Lover
4. Convenience / Features
5. Materials and Workmanship

(Click here for a fuller explanation of these scores).

Unquestionably temperature is an important variable to manage and the design of a dual boiler gives it a natural advantage over HXs in terms of simplicity. So out of the gate, we can presume Brewtus would have the edge on the second score. The battle over the first score is where the serious debate begins. It's easy to understand why commercial cafes prefer dual boilers -- a dedicated steam boiler and presumably an easier time maintaining a stable temperature shot-to-shot. But does this advantage carry over into your home where you're thinking 3-4 drinks versus 30-40?

Possibly. But our Cimbali Junior versus La Marzocco Linea taste test was an eye-opener for me. One of the participant's comments really sticks in my mind: "This test proves you can get 90-95% of the way to god shots with just good solid fundamentals... And obviously it helps to have a great espresso machine."

So what makes a "great" espresso machine? Alas, all the machines I've reviewed on this site are among the best and intentionally so -- frankly I'm not interested in spending my precious "free time" on inferior equipment. The Brewtus has been discussed extensively on CoffeeGeek, but I've not seen an independent report (sorry, but too many consumer reviews are soliloquies of a love-struck new owner). If you would like to see it reviewed on this site, I encourage you to send your own "love note" to Todd at Whole Latte Love.

Now we have Abe's write-up and its conclusion extensively discusses the added advantage of temperature management. The excerpt below stands out in my mind:

The key words in the "Brewtus advantage" are: ease, consistency, and repeatability. In testing the Brewtus temperature control, I tried to answer two questions: Does it deliver the brew temperature that its digital controller displays, and can it do it repeatedly with no fuss? The answer is a confident yes. However, there is room for more refinement in the Brewtus temperature selection, since some demanding home baristas may find the 1°C increments (about 1.8°F) to be too wide for their preferred coffees.

With the Elektra A3 review behind me, I've switched back to the Brewtus this week. I agree with Abe, its temperature management is really a no-brainer and that's its main appeal over HX machines.

The only fault I could find in the Brewtus review concerned the foaming function.

Well, Abe docked it a mere half point over the Giotto Premium. I'm satisfied with Brewtus' optional two-hole tip, though new owners may prefer the slow but easy one-hole tip.

[brianneary]

Dan

Thank you so much for your response and for your attention to detail. I have decided to buy a Brewtus and I'll post my experience for all to share. One more question, Is there a repair facility associated with Wholelattelove - is that who would be standing behind the machine's guarantee? And is it Abe?

Brian

[HB]

Brian,

WholeLatteLove is one of HB's site sponsors and exclusive distributor of the Brewtus in the US. They will handle all your service needs. If you have questions, you're welcome to post them here, or join the owners-only Brewtus Group that Abe moderates.