Preview: New Bezzera Lever espresso machine

by **1st-line** on Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:11 pm

Ever want a truly commercial, affordable lever espresso machine that connects directly to your water line. Much less expensive and much more horsepower than a Olympia Cremina at 2/3rd the price.

More info to be posted here first in the next few days!

I sure want one in my house!

by **peacecup** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:40 pm

I've been waiting for a retailer to start distributing such a machine. But now I'd need to have it drop-shipped to Sweden!

PC

by **Chert** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:44 pm

Mmmm!

by **michaelbenis** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:59 pm

It looks a lot bigger than a Cremina and a spring piston. Is that right, Jim?

While I'm in question mode: is it a thermosyphon or HX design?

And how does the build quality compare?

One way or another, having got the questions out of my system :oops:

I'm certainly looking forward to reading a review here on HB

It's certainly great to see that lever machines are continuing to come out.

Cheers

Mike

by **Junior** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:28 pm

It looks like the b2000(6) AL shown on Bezzera's website: http://www.bezzera.it/prodotti_ing/b2000.html

I can't completely figure out the diagrams, but it looks like a thermosyphon rather than HX. Spring is clearly shown as well. The site shows an optional gas rig even for the single group.

Not as pretty as their Ellisse, but the price is getting closer to the stratosphere. Love to see a review up against the known performers in this category. For those of us considering a lever but aren't willing to give up the direct connect, this might really fill a niche.

by **Bushrod** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:07 pm

I definitely would have bought this when I was redoing my kitchen a couple years ago. The Rancilio and Astoria levers were just too expensive.

1st-line has them on their site for $1999 plus shipping. Anyone know the going rate for a two-year old LS Vivaldi II?

by **zix** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:52 pm

If it is the same design as the B3000AL I have at home, it should be a H/X machine. It looks like it, as far as I can see from the diagrams.
... but also thermosiphon? The group is not bolted to the boiler.
I like mine a lot. It needs a cooling flush just as a HX pump machine (or to throw a hot shot away, but I never do that). Easy to do once you learn NOT to let go of the lever on the way up when flushing :shock:

I wouldn't worry about the Ellise being a better machine, it probably just looks nicer. Same group. It is a very good group (kees van der Westen uses one very much like it). 58 mm portafilter.

peacecup, sorry to say it seems that the 1st-line Bez runs on 110V only...

by **KnowGood** on Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:13 pm

Did you see my thread:

Bezzera ELLISSE 1 group lever

I still want the Ellisse, but if this new guy is priced right and I can pull shot after shot without over heating the grouphead, count me in!

by **zix** on Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:00 pm

Yep, I saw your thread

Well, of course it would be very good if we could get word from 1st line if the B2006AL does work the same way as the previous B2000AL. which has been around for several years. (Mine is one or two versions earlier than the B2000AL. The group is visible on mine, due to no extra build-out for the steam + water knobs on it. Just a flat front plate with the group bolted to it).
I can pull as many shots in succession as I like on mine, the time it takes to grind and fill up the portafilter + tamp the coffee is just about enough for the new water in the HX tubing to heat up again (around 30 secs or so). But it needs a flush before pulling the first shot.

by **KnowGood** on Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:07 pm

zix wrote:I can pull as many shots in succession as I like on mine, the time it takes to grind and fill up the portafilter + tamp the coffee is just about enough for the new water in the HX tubing to heat up again (around 30 secs or so). But it needs a flush before pulling the first shot.

I'm sold then. The B2006AL is half the price of the Ellisse.

by **zix** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:33 pm

Good luck with it!

by **aindfan** on Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:58 pm

Has anyone picked up one of these? I'd love to hear your experience.

I think they call this living vicariously, but I don't know, I'm not an English major.

by **Bob_McBob** on Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:32 am

Could we get some more info on this machine? I know it's direct connect and runs off North American 120V, but is it an HX or thermosyphon, how many watts is the heating element, etc.?

by **1st-line** on Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:25 pm

Confirmed:

It is an open thermosyphon. This means it takes water from the boiler and the cooler water comes back. The hot water tap comes off this thermosyphon as well.

1400 watts 110 volts. also, there is an autofill for the boiler on top of the manual refill.

by **Bob_McBob** on Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:44 pm

Sounds like a pretty neat unit that's quite affordable for the home user. The boiler size is 5L according to the specs, and it will obviously run off regular 15A service. Is the autofill included, or optional?

by **1st-line** on Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:47 pm

surprisingly, the autofill is included.

ooops! forgot to mention, there is no vacuum bleeder valve. so, unit must have steam wand valve open while heating.

by **aindfan** on Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:40 pm

1st-line wrote:surprisingly, the autofill is included.

ooops! forgot to mention, there is no vacuum bleeder valve. so, unit must have steam wand valve open while heating.

Autofill + thermosyphon + no vacuum valve + commercial lever group = eligible for 24/7 operation?

Thanks for the updates, Jim!

by **1st-line** on Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:43 pm

24/7 operation indeed.

Photos of the internals of the machine have been added to the website.
You can view them here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1...135&ref=mf
or here: http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_m...commercial

by **Bob_McBob** on Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:29 pm

I'm surprised the frame has to be so huge for that size boiler, but I think the extension that covers the group head makes it look a lot bulkier than it actually is.

Very tempting...

by **zix** on Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:13 pm

there is no vacuum bleeder valve. so, unit must have steam wand valve open while heating

The one on my older B3000AL is an on/off so-so affair. Maybe the vac bleeders in the B2000AL:s didn't work well either?
I usually have to release some steam, once or twice, during warm-up nowadays. Occasionally the bleeder does its job, though. Perhaps a clean-out would do it good, but from what I hear, trying to clean vac bleeders to make them work better is not a good idea, with the risks involved. So I haven't touched it, so far.

I'm thinking maybe it is a good thing that they left it out on the 2006AL.


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