Does anyone have a formula or Marketing speak secret decoder ring that can translate Dalla Corte specs
into some type of known SI units? Specifically Thermal output to watts consumed?

While the definition of Thermal Output refers to "providing useful heat" and Thermal Watts refers to
"Thermal Power Produced", neither refer to electrical watts consumed. The best I can guess from
various pieces of information is Dalla Corte group heads have 850 watt heaters, but I've not found
anything on the steam boiler heater.

And the numbers don't really add up - Thermal Ouput is stated to be 1.9KW, whatever that is. Even
if one assumes that Thermal Output is that same as watts consumed, that would place the Mini at
20A and the Supermini at 30A circuit requirements for 110VAC.

Given that Dalla Corte state their machines consume 30% less energy than other espresso machines, it
would be useful to know, in well known units what the power consumption is.

Rant/ Why marketing people think that using bogus names for specifications or even omitting useful
specifications does anything other than massively irritate potential customers baffles me. Can I
plug the machine in or not? What is the size of the portafilter? Can I get spare parts - baskets
and portafilters? What about dispersion blocks? Why is it necessary to badger dealers to get
basic information on a machine that should be put in the spec sheet? /EndRant

Bob

While that is all true, the question is, can you take them at their word? ; \
The real issue is that you want a spec that your electrician can read and work with so that he can decide if you can put that thing on the same circuit as your lil microwave, not a spec that your thermodynamicist uses to argue with your physicist.
Standard specs are something that a buyer uses to make the purchase decision. If the cat don't understand what it is he's buying, he'll move on. Oh, and the PF is 53mm if memory serves. Another negative at the checkout counter, in my book.

Psyd wrote:Oh, and the PF is 53mm if memory serves. Another negative at the checkout counter, in my book.

Well, it could be 53mm or it could be 54mm. I've seen both referenced, along with that LaSpaz filter
baskets can be used, but Dalla Corte filter baskets can't be used in the LaSpaz. So the portafilter could
could be 53mm, 53.xmm, or perhaps 54mm. Kind of hard to tell what it is without the spec's saying
what's it's supposed to be.

If it weren't for the potential energy savings, I would move on. But, to date, I've not seen any group
head that comes close to minimizing waste heat like the potential the Dalla Corte has. The only other
one is in the Silvia by because the boiler is integrated into the grouphead assembly.

The rest start falling out - Saturated groups and other double boilers being next, along with levers,
and HX machines at the tail end because of picking up waste heat from the steam boiler.

Bob

BobS wrote:If it weren't for the potential energy savings, I would move on. But, to date, I've not seen any group head that comes close to minimizing waste heat like the potential the Dalla Corte has. The only other
one is in the Silvia by because the boiler is integrated into the grouphead assembly.

I've not measured its energy consumption, but the La Spaziale Vivaldi II's grouphead is bolted to the boiler and without Silvia's large grouphead offset. The steam boiler is insulated and can be independently controlled (I would keep it off 80% of the time). However, the boiler is not directly above the grouphead, so it may waste more energy than the Dalla Corte.