Post a pic of your home espresso setup... - Page 15

[networkcrasher]

Yeah, at 50 cm the Super Mini is definitely the tallest machine I've owned, but it fits that narrow section of bench perfectly.
I'ts only 40 cm deep.

How have you liked your K30? I love how fast and quiet mine is.. It's a long ways better than my Rocky, but just a little faster than my Jr.

[networkcrasher]

The Dalla Corte Mini is much shorter at less than 14 inches tall, the Super Mini is almost 20 inches tall. The DC Super Mini has the HW tap, the DC Mini does not, which is the giveaway when you see a picture of one.

Ahh, didn't realize it was the super. had a brain fart! Sure do like that cup shelf though!

[soundie]

How have you liked your K30? I love how fast and quiet mine is.. It's a long ways better than my Rocky, but just a little faster than my Jr.

The K30 is great. Fast, quiet and little mess. The only negative is that it grinds a little clumpy at times.
Build quality is fantastic and it's very easy to pull apart to clean.

[Youjest]

Thought I would share my recent Salvatore purchase. She has nestled her way into my heart leaving distant memories of Silvia. So far, I am very impressed with the quality of 'spro I am getting from this machine.

[Youjest]

One more picture!

[Dink0617]

My humble setup.

[hbuchtel]

Nice! I'd love to know how the shots are that you get out of the Gaggia... I have a machine with a similar design (Zerowatt 310) that I have yet to get a good shot from... dunno what to do!

Just curious.. what are those milk jugs hanging up there for?

Henry

[cinergi]

My Synesso 220v and Versalab M3 setup:

[CafSuperCharged]

My Synesso 220v and Versalab M3 setup

The Versalab grinder in your picture has a few differences from the photos in the Versalab website.
The hopper seems to be smaller than advertised - did you change it?
The tube feeding the grinder is different (actually nicer), and the red slider handle is different.
Or did you build the hopper/doser yourself?

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe

[cinergi]

Versalab offers 2 different styled hoppers - the big one you see on their website and a regular sized Mazzer hopper. I purchased the Mazzer short hopper from Chris Coffee and use it instead. However, the Mazzer hoppers have a larger throat ID and fit too loosely requiring modification. Even though Versalab offers the regular sized Mazzer hopper they decided not to offer a hopper throat holder that would allow it to fit without modification. Based on the company's inability to go above and beyond for their customers and poor record of customer service (IMHO), I'm not at all surprised by their decision. Their best solution is the use of a broccoli rubber band stretched around the outside of the plastic hopper throat holder thereby making it just thick enough for the hopper to fit. It's not elegant but it is functional. Regarding the coffee chute, Versalab changed the design to what you see in the above picture. They no longer use the PVC pipe (a welcomed decision IMO). The red slider handle is the same but the rubber covering the slider is not as bright a red as in the picture on the Versalab website.

The doser works as advertised but only if your M3 does not choke on the beans if you pour them in too swiftly. With the doser hopper there is no way to control the flow of beans into the top funnel. If your M3 struggles or chokes, do not buy the doser hopper! Mine did, but I had the sense to ask John if this would be a problem as my M3 chokes very easily (Laura did not ask if I had the choking issue before taking my money). I ended up sending the grinder back to them to have the problem fixed and the doser installed (requires 2 holes to be drilled and tapped). A promised 7-10 day turnaround turned into 6 weeks.

I would also recommend getting extra bushings which control the size of the dose which will vary from coffee to coffee. In my experience, I am able to dose within .75 grams dose to dose which I assume is fairly good for volumetric dosing.

[zin1953]

Beautiful setup, Doug.

[EricC]

As of two weeks ago this is my home setup.

[tcampbells]

after looking at what everyone else has, I realize I have a long and expensive way to go!! how do you all afford these machines and grinders. I thought the Silvia (second hand) and Rocky were expensive!

[EspressoObsessed]

after looking at what everyone else has, I realize I have a long and expensive way to go!! how do you all afford these machines and grinders. I thought the Silvia (second hand) and Rocky were expensive!

I'd wager that some of us are a little or a lot older and have already gone a long and expensive way before you!

[CafSuperCharged]

My Synesso 220v and Versalab M3 setup:

It also seems you polished the brass grinder bell in the M3 as it really shines - or is this a new standard? The finish in Versalab photos seems less smoothly polished. Also, it seems like there is some metal under the portafilter clamp.
Could you do some close-ups to give a better view of these details?

As to the Synesso, what is your experience with stability? It looks new out of the box. The steam wand completely clean (as it should, but rarely seen like this). Do you do milk drinks or espresso? First shot after having been idle for some time? Back to back shots?

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe

[cinergi]

I polish the brass with a product called Nevr-Dull. You can get it at any local hardware store.
Notice how the front plate that the PF holder attaches to does not match the color and texture of the rest of the grinder. This is because Versalab changed machine shops and didn't care to make sure all their grinders they have sold match. For a $2k grinder (with optional equipment) I think everything should match but they refused to make it right. It would cost me about $45 to have the front plate re-powder coated to make it match everything else but that's not the point. Their customer no service is. (Sorry for the rant).

I've had the M3 and the Synesso going on 3 years now. Stability is great. My last 3 WBC runs (3 runs of 14 shots using WBC testing procedures) averaged .37F for reproducibility and .35F for stability. Note that my machine has the latest electronics and probes. I almost exclusively drink cappuccino's and work hard to make sure everything stays in new condition.

[CafSuperCharged]

I polish the brass with a product called Nevr-Dull. You can get it at any local hardware store.

In the USA ... Not to worry. Similar products should be for sale in the Old World.

Notice how the front plate that the PF holder attaches to does not match the color and texture of the rest of the grinder.

I presume you retrofitted the PF holder as an upgrade? Do you still have the original front plate - and would it be possible to drill/tap and move the PF holder to the original plate?

Stability is great. My last 3 WBC runs (3 runs of 14 shots using WBC testing procedures) averaged .37F for reproducibility and .35F for stability. Note that my machine has the latest electronics and probes. I almost exclusively drink cappuccino's and work hard to make sure everything stays in new condition.

And you did steam the milk for the cappa's during the runs you mention?

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe

[pdx]

I presume you retrofitted the PF holder as an upgrade? Do you still have the original front plate - and would it be possible to drill/tap and move the PF holder to the original plate?

The pointy end of a painful saga...

[cinergi]

I presume you retrofitted the PF holder as an upgrade? Do you still have the original front plate - and would it be possible to drill/tap and move the PF holder to the original plate?

The pointy end of a painful saga...

What Ben is referring to is when we both sent our original front plates back to be drilled and tapped but only after receiving PF holder front plates that would only fit the newest grinders (the latest version is slightly taller putting more space between the bottom funnel and the base plate). Versalab never asked us which version we had. What made matters worse is Versalab drilled the holes unevenly and installed the clinch nuts backwards on Ben's front plate then did the exact same thing to mine a couple of months later even though they were made aware of the mistakes made on Ben's.

[CafSuperCharged]

Ouch!

<censored bashing>

Regards
Peter
Netherlands
Europe