Lever Espresso Machines Smackdown - Page 14

[caeffe]

Hi Caesar,

There is always water in the grouphead. Even after the machine is off and cold, the water is still in the grouphead, held suspended by vacuum, as no air is allowed in the grouphead. ........., but if you remove the head from the boiler and then the tube from the grouphead, you will find that there is still water left in the head. Upon removing the piston (for cleaning) you will see that there is a nylon sleeve (millenium model) that the piston fits in. ..........The top of the sleeve are 4 slits that allow in the boiler water above the piston. Also, there is space around the outside of the sleeve from which the inlet hole allows in fresh brew water. This space amounts to about 1.5 oz. And as noted, the piston may be pushed up and down and thus moving the water back and forth into the outer chamber of the grouphead and the boiler. The maximal space above the piston is also about 1.5 oz.

Is it the same for a pre-millenium model? I just finished changing the gaskets on mine and it definitely does not have the nylon sleeve - I don't know if this is good or bad. Regardless, if there is water above the piston, it brings up a couple of questions to me - isn't bad to have water up in the grouphead while the machine is off? what are the advantages/pluses? Once the machine is off, does the water go back in the boiler or does it stay in the grouphead?

[cannonfodder]

No, pre millennium sealed against the brass grouphead and used a brass piston, millennium groups use a nylon piston liner (helps keep the group cool by isolating the brew water) and a nylon piston.

[cannonfodder]

Forgot the second part, no, there is not water above the piston when the piston is lowered and at rest. When the piston is raised, it passes past the small fill hole leading from the boiler. The piston fills with water, you pull the lever. As the piston nears the end of the stroke, the piston will block the hole preventing water from escaping. The only thing that should be above the piston is air.

[r-gordon-7]

"Just for the record" (and perhaps I missed it in my reading & rereading of this thread)... did the official smackdown end with Cannonfodder's 1/24/08 review - or do some or all of the machines continue to travel to one or more other reviewers for further reviews, discussions, comparisons, etc...?

Thanks,
r-gordon-7

[HB]

Yes, the tour has ended. All that remains is refining our notes on techniques and giving the Lusso the full brew and temperature profile treatment. I plan a wrapup post to this thread in the next couple weeks and publishing the Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso a few weeks thereafter.

[narc]

Dan, when you post the brew/temperature profile for the Ponte Vecchio would it be possible to also post links for the profiles of the other machines in the "Lever Espresso Machines Smackdown".

[HB]

...would it be possible to also post links for the profiles of the other machines in the "Lever Espresso Machines Smackdown".

Sorry, I don't have a thermofilter that fits the others (1st-line had one custom made for the Lusso). I've posted "over the lip" profiles in the past for lever machines like the Cremina and Microcasa (sorry, not sure where... somewhere on CoffeeGeek a few years ago). Over the lip measurements give you a general idea of the profile's shape, but aren't readily comparable since placement can dramatically alter the measurements.

I plan a wrapup post to this thread in the next couple weeks and publishing the Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso a few weeks thereafter.

UPDATE: I am backlogged at work and home, which will curtail my review efforts for longer than anticipated. Sorry, I dislike missing announced publications, but it happens.