I make a practice of removing the gasket and shower screen when I clean the machine. Run cleaner originally in the blind basket, then use a tablespoon (yes, really) on the ridge of the shower screen, lever it against the brewhead and it will come out -- IF you don't wait six months! Then separate th...

Nope. A 100V element will burn out. A 230V one will not heat (barely at all.) You need one rated for 120V. The other problem is that the amps are DOUBLE on 120V over 230. This means you need to understand what's carrying voltage where and at what current to judge whether the wiring and

I suspect if I regularly made steamed milk drinks (or drew hot water from the tap) that it either wouldn't have happened at all or I would have detected something before it did. As it sits 99% of my drinks are straight shots; the only time I use either of the other options is when I have guests over

So here's a fix I've had to do twice -- maybe it'll help someone else. I have a Vetrano HX hard-plumbed and love it generally. It has been quite trouble-free EXCEPT for this one pesky issue. I've had the usual seals in the brewhead, etc -- but mechanically, there is one fairly significant flaw. The ...

Yeah, I'd say get the Macap M4 or Mazzer, and then buy your machine. The key question is whether or not you do milk drinks. If yes, then a HX is the machine of choice IF you can fit it in the budget, and I think you can. If not, then you have a couple of single-boiler

When I got my Vetrano I turned down the pressurestat to give me more "leeway" between the flush and pull. Just recently, I got a thermoprobe from Chris' for my unit, and installed it. I made an interesting discovery - you shouldn't do that (turn down the pressurestat) Doing that has a severe impact ...

Well, as I said before, as a potential buyer of this beast, my reaction to their "price change" is simple: "Bite me"

Well one thing I will give them - stainless is very difficult (read: expensive) to machine, mostly because it chews tooling like nobody's business. Having done some machine work on stainless for small parts, I can attest to this. But still

I like a LITTLE sugar (although I usually use Equal - caloric avoidance, not a dietary restriction) - but just a touch. If it needs a significant amount of it, the sink's the spot for the shot

One quick comment: $8,000? They can bite me. In the $4500 range I was actually a potential buyer, simply to have "the best." At $8k they can blow my barnacles; I'll install a true commercial machine (which can be had for that sort of money) along with all the counter work to make it practical first