I just saw this listing for the Strega. Sent an email to see if they have been able to try one.
Bezzera Strega listing
**note** I just had a reply. He doesn't have a machine yet but did get some details from the Bezzera engineers. He is going to review this thread tonight and post any additional info he has.

Hello folks,

while I haven't had time to fully read through this thread I do have some information that may be useful.

The direct connect model of the Strega will also have a vibration pump and not Rotary. It is not completed yet but it is projected this way.

This is a c/p from Luca Bezzera who is an engineer at Bezzera:

Luca Bezzera wrote:In our Strega model the preinfusion is done by the pump: when you pull the lever a microswitch is activated and start the pump untill you see the first drop of water coming from the filter holder, after that you release the lever, the pump microswitch is released and the pump switch off, and the brewing is done with the springs power.
The water for the coffee is take from an heathing exchager and the pump has a big chamber to fill, we will use the vibration pump in any case.

Our first shipment is leaving Italy at the beginning of April and should arrive late April or early May.

Slawek Janicki
iDrinkCoffee.com

orphanespresso wrote: So, what happens if you do not release the lever? By the sound of it you would end up with a pump driven espresso.

Seems everyone missed this post from Doug.

iDrinkCoffeeCanada wrote:The direct connect model of the Strega will also have a vibration pump and not Rotary.

That makes my decision to purchase an Izzo Pompeii a little easier!

It seems like you could bypass the pump for the direct connect version. But I'm not sure how that would affect the operation of the machine if it's designed with the use of a pump in mind.

The concept of a stable heater assisted group for intermittent home use is great. But not having to listen to a vibe pump is a better bonus along with the adequate group control and great shots with a traditional lever. If only I could connect the new group to my Bezzera Famiglia boiler lines.

What's with the pump psychodrama?

3 bar is 3 bar is 3 bar, whether it's from a municipal water pump a mile away from the direct connect machine, a flo-jet system under the espresso cart, or an Ulka aquarium pump in the case.

But maybe all the people objecting are off the grid, and use wells with hand pumps for their espresso water supply. I just wonder how they manage the hand pump at the well and the lever at the machine when making their shots? I guess you need a real long reach

another_jim wrote:What's with the pump psychodrama?

For me, the appeal of lever machines are

1-simplicity - No pumps, microswitches, solenoids, extra wiring etc to go wrong

2-Noise - Vibe pumps are noisy, not sure what type is used in this machine, if its only putting out 3 bar it may be quieter than your average 15 bar pump.

I guess for a tanked HX lever a pump is a necessity, but the plumb in machine would ideally have a pump by-pass to use line pressure pre-infusion.I guess they couldn't use a dipper tube lever on this model because a 2 litre boiler may be too small

another_jim wrote:What's with the pump psychodrama?

3 bar is 3 bar is 3 bar, whether it's from a municipal water pump a mile away from the direct connect machine, a flo-jet system under the espresso cart, or an Ulka aquarium pump in the case.

Exactly.

My sole objection to a pump is the noise it makes. This is a big deal for me with a lever machine.

another_jim wrote:What's with the pump psychodrama?

But maybe all the people objecting are off the grid, and use wells with hand pumps for their espresso water supply. I just wonder how they manage the hand pump at the well and the lever at the machine when making their shots? I guess you need a real long reach

My best water comes from my spring box. The hand pump water is shallow well and rarely very good. Thats used for the livestock, chickens, garden and thirsty city slickers. So now prefer the ease and quality of the artesian well. I can hardly hear the pump run and it's fortunately rotary.