So my company (a software company) was just gifted with one of these beasts and it looks like the plumber (who plumbed it in) accidentally walked off with the manual it came with. I cannot find the manual on-line either.

At any rate, I've never used a commercial machine and am not exactly sure how this one operates. Can anyone here help me figure out how to use this thing?



The numbered dial on the bottom left - what does it do? It looks like setting 2 turns the light on which I assume means that this fully turns on the device... The right hand toggle seems to allow water in the boiler, but i'm not sure of the order in which to do things.



Thanks in advance!
Frank

They installed this in a company breakroom

The machine is the espresso equivalent of a musical instrument. Unless you have someone there with a few years of experience using commercial espresso machines, Ebay it and save yourself some suffering.

Very nice! I can't answer any of your questions but ... are you guys hiring?

Well, good luck, I guess. Putting a commercial spring lever in a company break room seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Bezzera includes those drawings of people getting smacked in the face by the lever in the manuals for a reason.

The two-position switch is to separate the boiler auto-fill and heating element power. Turn it to 1 and wait for the boiler to fill (check the sight glass at the right) before turning on the machine, then turn it to 2 to actually use the machine. You can also manually fill the boiler with the knob at the bottom right.

Based on your posting history, I assume you have some experience with espresso machines and grinders. Using a spring lever is much the same. Adjust your grind and dose as appropriate. Lock in the portafilter, pull the lever down all the way (it will lock at the bottom) to pre-infuse for as long as you want, then raise it to actually pull the shot. There is no three-way valve or way to end the shot without moving the cup. This also means you have to wait for the portafilter to depressurize before unlocking it, unless you want to be sprayed with hot grounds.

The spring is very powerful. If you are not pulling a shot you must hold the lever firmly whenever it's raised from the lower position, or it will shoot up and could possibly injure you or damage the machine.

I don't see this ending well. My guess is it will just never be used. Do you actually have a grinder? I can't understand why anyone would gift this type of machine instead of something more suitable and easier to operate.

It's no good.Send it to me!

Yeah unfortunately, for the setting it is in, I have to agree with everyone and suggest selling off the machine and purchasing a decent grinder (perhaps timed doserless) along side an auto or semi-auto machine so that anyone could just walk up, press the grinder button, tamp, lock in the pf, and press the brew button with moderate success. It is a cool machine though!

What a fantastic machine!! And talk bout new, drip tray and edges haven't had the protective film removed. I'd be happy to have that baby at work!! All to myself (preciousssssssss)

Bob_McBob wrote:Well, good luck, I guess. Putting a commercial spring lever in a company break room seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Bezzera includes those drawings of people getting smacked in the face by the lever in the manuals for a reason.

Keep in mind that sitting right next to this machine is a super automatic espresso / crema machine that everyone is currently using. Its also in the Engineering area which means that it will mostly be used by tech geeks with a high degree of nerd-competence.

Anyhow, You are almost certainly correct in that very few people in the office will use it. I will, and perhaps 2 or 3 others at most (if I show them how to use it) will have the patience to learn how to use the thing and/or the preference for espresso.

Bob_McBob wrote: The two-position switch is to separate the boiler auto-fill and heating element power. Turn it to 1 and wait for the boiler to fill (check the sight glass at the right) before turning on the machine, then turn it to 2 to actually use the machine. You can also manually fill the boiler with the knob at the bottom right.

Based on your posting history, I assume you have some experience with espresso machines and grinders. Using a spring lever is much the same. Adjust your grind and dose as appropriate. Lock in the portafilter, pull the lever down all the way (it will lock at the bottom) to pre-infuse for as long as you want, then raise it to actually pull the shot. There is no three-way valve or way to end the shot without moving the cup. This also means you have to wait for the portafilter to depressurize before unlocking it, unless you want to be sprayed with hot grounds.

The spring is very powerful. If you are not pulling a shot you must hold the lever firmly whenever it's raised from the lower position, or it will shoot up and could possibly injure you or damage the machine.

Awesome, thanks! This is just the kind of info I needed. Yes, I have had an HX espresso machine (with a pump - not a lever) for years now. I know the *basic* theory behind a lever machine but am not experienced with them. The machine is not getting sent back (politics are involved) so it would be a shame to let it go to waste.

Bob_McBob wrote: I don't see this ending well. My guess is it will just never be used. Do you actually have a grinder? I can't understand why anyone would gift this type of machine instead of something more suitable and easier to operate.

Yes, we have a grinder. Its actually a very nice Bezzera commercial grinder as well!
(I think I prefer my mazzer to it, but it seems like a very serviceable unit) It has a doser.

You may be right about this not ending well, but so far no one has touched the machine and its been set up for a week so I think the real-world worst case is that it will get rarely used (a shame). If I can master it however, I'm sure I will enjoy having a commercial espresso machine all to myself! I've heard a rumor that we are going to have someone in to train us (!!!!) but I'm not sure about that yet.

Frank

Frank,

First, congrats!

Second, I disagree with the tone of several of my fellow posters. I started with a Pulser and have had a commercial spring lever for over a year. I can count on one hand the number of "sink shots" I've had and in general, I reject the claim that a commercial spring lever is difficult.

Third, Chris has given you the instructions on the switch and boiler fill. Get the boiler filled, or nearly filled, before you switch on the heating element.

I have found the grind for a spring lever to be fairly close to that of a pump machine. It's a good place to start. So, what works well with your Pulser should be in the ballpark for the B2006AL. I've found the commercial spring lever to be more forgiving of grind than the pump machines.

I suspect that you'll need about an hour of warm up time to get the B2006AL up to temp. I doubt that you'll need to do much, if any, flushing to get an acceptable shot. The advise about controlling the lever when pulling a "blank" shot (no coffee in the portafilter) is spot on.

I would recommend you preinfuse by pulling the lever down and holding it for 4 - 8 seconds before release. Your extraction should take about 20 - 30 seconds after the lever is released. Adjust the grind to where the extraction is about 25 seconds and the preinfusion of 5 or 6 seconds does not result in more than a few small dribbles of coffee to appear.

Now, if you're to where the coffee tastes acceptable, you're ready to "tweek". Come back for more help.

Don't fear the lever, it's your friend,

joat

Hang a warning sign that the lever can be dangerous and not to pull it without coffee loaded. They are only really dangerous to people who don't know they are dangerous, therefore, everyone needs to know. The pictographs Bezzera puts on their warning sheets are pretty funny!

Enjoy the machine. Lever machines are actually pretty tolerant as long as people have the general idea of what to do. You will be nailing shots in no time. (I predict a home lever in your future )