Adam_Sickles wrote:Questions:
1. From those who have ordered from http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com, does my estimate for the price seem about right (especially the import duty)?
2. Are you happy with their customer service, has anyone had to send their grinder back to Italy and pay a lot (? 184 bucks) for shipping costs?

Along with the import duty you will have to pay a Customs fee that is around $45 if I recall correctly & there will be foreign transaction/currency fees that show up on your CC.

I purchased a Microcasa from them last year & I was very happy with their service. Since I needed a 120v version they ordered it directly from Elektra & received it the next day.

Tom, welcome! I really liked your solution to the height issue.

shadowfax wrote:Version 0.12 is indeed an old firmware, as per my post from last year. I believe the main difference is that the firmware 0.12 software is missing the feature that allows you to activate dosing from the top buttons rather than the microswitch under the portafilter holder. I guess the newer ones with the slide-out chute don't have any firmware difference, but version 0.12 is not one you want to get (or rather, not what I would want, as I removed my microswitch entirely and use the top buttons exclusively).

Thanks for clarifying that Nicholas. My understanding was that anything with the stepless adjustment also had the latest firmware. Does 0.12 display as that on the machine?

Hi.
It would be better,if it was possible to have a third buton so as to top up if we need it.
I put 1sec to the double dose button,so as to use it for this purpose,but 1 sec for the Nino is a very long time,as you know,as it can send 5g of coffee.

Adam_Sickles wrote:Anyone know of a North American vendor other than 1st-line who sells the Nino?

shadowfax wrote:I am 99% certain Jim/1st-Line is the only importer.

Nicholas is putting a doubt in my mind. But unless these guys lied to me, I have identified at least two in Canada that will import it; cappuccino King, in Calgary, and Cafe Creme, in Montreal. Cafe Creme does not stock it, they will order from Italy when you pay a deposit, so it will be a late model. Cappuccino King does stock the grinder (some time) and carries the latest version (0.1A).

But the aforementioned Canadian sources will cost more than the $2648 figure calculated by Adams. Unless the Canadian reduce their price or if you bargain better than I did.

There may be back door deals going on but I was looking for the latest firmware version so I confirmed. 1st line seems to have ordered many of the 0.12 version. And it explains the good price.

I have not ordered the Nino yet. I thought that $2650 was still too much for me. If someone can come up with a good "Group Price", I am certainly interested.

Whale wrote:Nicholas is putting a doubt in my mind.

Sorry, I had meant the US. I haven't explored Canada, and I am sure you're right.

michaelbenis wrote:Thanks for clarifying that Nicholas. My understanding was that anything with the stepless adjustment also had the latest firmware. Does 0.12 display as that on the machine?

I think Theodore has/had v.0.12 on his stepless Nino. Also, it seems Jim's stock of v.0.12 Ninos are also stepless.

Yes, 0.12.And it is stepless.

Confirmed current is firmware 0.A. All versions now are stepless.

Our web site apparently was not updated. Sorry, difficult to keep track of 6,500+ items at all times.

Also, just to make everyone aware as I just learned from our last customer,

a) the chromed wheel gear on the upper burr assembly that is adjusted with the worm gear will wear - meaning the chrome will disappear where the worm gear touches the chromed teeth, and
b) at initial use, it is extremely difficult to turn the worm gear knob during the initial 'break in' as the chrome has to wear off.

The reason for this is that these grinders are built to order at Elektra, and due to this, this chromed gear is manually chromed (or in other words, hand made).

I just wanted say how impressed I am with Jim's attention and response time. I emailed him this afternoon and immediately received a reply and confirmation that 1st-line carries the v0.A firmware Nino. I'm looking forward to buying the Nino from www.1st-line.com.

For those running their Nino off a 110v line using a step-up transformer, what wattage transformer should I get? Is 1500W rating sufficient?

Someone mentioned that despite the grinder being labeled 400W, Eric has measured it using a Kill-a-watt and got a peak reading between 1100 and 1200W. Which is why I was thinking 1500W.

Also, if anyone can suggest a specific transformer brand/model, that would be great. All my google searches have resulted in a bunch of chinese-built transformers that don't look very reliable (no offense to anyone ; I'm chinese myself).