Buyer's Guide to the Quick Mill Vetrano - Page 7

by **miKe mcKoffee** on Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:08 am

HB wrote:As shipped, the evaluation Vetrano opens the valve slightly past the midpoint and a few millimeters before the pump engages. You could adjust the microswitch such that the cam lobe pushes it later in the arm's arc, if you want to play with it (or just turn off the machine and lift the lever fully to manually preinfuse). Initially I thought the no-pump flow might be an interesting way to hear the "water dance" better. The Vetrano's pump is so quiet though, I haven't bothered investigating that angle.

Interesting idea. Just tried it on my Bric', while I haven't had a problem hearing the dance with the pump engaged it is easier to hear line pressure only. Of course, flush & go timing would likely be different for a given temp target since less flow. Since I still have use of a borrowed Thermofilter & Fluke think I'll play with that a bit.

Sounds like whether partially raising the lever on the Vetrano for pre-infusion works or not varies by machine, same as it seems to on the Bricoletta. I didn't need to adjust the microswitch engage point but skyryders90 did.

by **skyryders90** on Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:09 am

RapidCoffee wrote:You're right - when the machine is off, water flows before the lever is fully up (but well past the midpoint position). I assume the microswitch is adjusted by simply loosening the nut and turning? Thanks to you both for the tip.

Yeah, you adjust it by turning the nuts on both the outside and inside of the case - they hold the switch in place like a sandwich.

RapidCoffee wrote:BTW, has anyone tried manual preinfusion on the Vetrano (or Bric)? Curious that Chris plainly said no dice (and adjusted the microswitch so that no manual preinfusion was possible).

You bet - I use it, and I'm pretty sure Mike uses it too. I run my machine off a FloJet/bottle setup, so my line pressue is a little "pulsed" but it still works fine. Once you get it adjusted, just play with it and see what works. If using a naked, you might start by preinfusing until you just see coffee peeking through the bottom of the basket.

by **skyryders90** on Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:15 am

miKe mcKoffee wrote:Sounds like whether partially raising the lever on the Vetrano for pre-infusion works or not varies by machine, same as it seems to on the Briccoletta. I didn't need to adjust the microswitch engage point but skyryders90 did.

I think it's just a matter of assembly - since it's dependent on the specific placement of the microswitch, if an assembler was only concerned that the switch engage in the lever-up position, it is likely that some would be installed in such a way as to allow preinfusion, and some wouldn't ... just a matter of chance. The hardware certainly allows it, but the manufacturer/retailer mindset is that you don't need to do this for preinfusion, that it's "built in" to the e-61 (see Chris' comment to RapidCoffee) - so they don't worry about that little aspect of assembly.

by **ronpistolero** on Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:09 am

Hi. I stay here in the Philippines and I only have these various forums to learn from. I'm quite new as I got my Anita just last October. Anyway, with regards to pre-infusion, which I understand is the introduction of water on to the espresso grinds in the PF prior to brewing, can it be done by merely lifting up the brewing lever for 2 or 3 seconds and putting it down; and then after about 3 seconds, lifting it up again for actual brewing?

by HB on Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:47 am

ronpistolero wrote:Anyway, with regards to pre-infusion, which I understand is the introduction of water on to the espresso grinds in the PF prior to brewing, can it be done by merely lifting up the brewing lever for 2 or 3 seconds and putting it down; and then after about 3 seconds, lifting it up again for actual brewing?

Your Anita is an E61, which already has built-in preinfusion (see Anita (or any HX with lever) pre-infusion question and its referred links for details). The "mid-position" discussed above is for those wanting to wet the puck manually, which can be done by rotary E61s because they operate under line pressure. Whether there is any benefit to doing so is debatable.

RapidCoffee wrote:You're right - when the machine is off, water flows before the lever is fully up (but well past the midpoint position).

A couple reminders about plumbed-in rotary espresso machines like the Vetrano and Briccoletta...

It is important that you always return the lever to the straight down position! My own plumbed-in machine has a normally-closed solenoid for the water inlet that stops the water flow unless the pump is running. It prevents backflow and reduces the risk of flooding the kitchen if someone inadvertently bumps the lever to the point that water flows but before the pump engages (think "cleaning lady").
Prudent homeowners consult with a plumbing professional or their local building inspector to confirm the installation meets city plumbing codes. Your insurance company may refuse to pay damage claims if your installation doesn't meet code!

by HB on Sun Jan 15, 2006 11:25 am

Between the hustle of the holidays, copyediting Chris' La Marzocco GS3 - A Pro's Perspective, and my "real job" responsibilities, I've decided to put this report on hiatus for a few weeks while I sit back and enjoy some really good coffee without worrying about measuring brew temperatures, stopwatches, shotglasses, pressure profiles, etc. This weekend's feature coffee is Intelligentsia's Yemen Sanani:

This morning's espresso - deeply rich and flavorful

Steve and Chuck's (KarlSchneider) thread on Levers and SO coffee encouraged me to give it a try. Thanks gentlemen, an excellent discussion!

Teme wrote:I've tried the "new" 2-hole from Chris as well as the EPNW 2-hole tip (and a GoldPro is on its way). The biggest downside these have compared to the stock tip is that the alternative tips run much hotter and milk really does burn onto them much more so than with the stock tip - i.e. you lose one of the key benefits of the no-burn wand. This is especially inconvenient with the "new" 2-hole since the ridges on the sides make it more difficult to keep clean. As for results, I can manage microfoam with all of them and found the EPNW noticeably slower than the stock tip - good if you only want to steam a very small amount of milk.

Agreed. After trying several low-volume tips these last few weeks, I prefer the stock one for all but the smallest amounts of milk (i.e., four ounces).

by **RapidCoffee** on Thu Feb 02, 2006 12:51 am

HB wrote:... I would like to offer a few "getting started" suggestions to those getting Vetranos this week, beginning with the drain hookup. My hope is to save a few scraped knuckles and cussing caused by the tight interior quarters.

I finally got around to plumbing the drip tray on my Vetrano this afternoon. Not nearly as difficult as I'd expected, perhaps due to your helpful hints - only one scraped knuckle, so thanks! Getting the !@#$% black plastic hole covers to pop out was one of the hardest parts. The tubing slid on relatively easily. It helps to have another set of hands to hold the hose clamp in place while you tighten it (my wife insists I give her credit). Hose currently drains into the sink, with a short level run along the counter. The drip tray drains quite well once it starts flowing, but unfortunately it doesn't always like to get started. Hopefully that will change after I drill another hole in the countertop for the drain line...

Did you receive a replacement drain tray? Chris sent me a new redesigned one a couple of weeks ago. Slightly shallower cutout in the rear, but otherwise looks identical. Placing the drain hole on the bottom of the drip tray (rather than routing the tubing through the machine) might be a more valuable redesign.

While I had the case open, I played around with the brew microswitch to see if I could adjust it for manual preinfusion. Not much luck.

skyryders90 wrote:Yeah, you adjust it by turning the nuts on both the outside and inside of the case - they hold the switch in place like a sandwich.

No nut on the inside, only the outside. It looks like you need to add a spacer on the inside to delay engagement of the pump. Oh well.

Minor rant: the Vetrano case isn't designed for tinkerers! It's a PITA to line up the screw holes to reattach the case. And slotted screws instead of Phillips head? I'm developing a lovely set of fine scratches on the SS... I dunno, maybe my Rancilio L7 (with removable side and back panels) has me spoiled.

Having said that, let me add: on the whole, I'm very pleased with this machine.

Looking forward to the rest of your review - John

by HB on Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:33 am

RapidCoffee wrote:Did you receive a replacement drain tray?

Yes. I assume there will be other changes in the next shipment based on customer feedback; once the second batch arrives, I'll continue the report. By the way, nice looking pour from your Vetrano:

Excerpted from RapidCoffee's post to Home barista techniques that the pros shun (and vice versa)

by **jackbang** on Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:42 pm

I just got my Vetrano yesterday from Chris's second batch - unfortunately I have some plumbing to do before I can use it, so it's just sitting there looking pretty at the moment.

Dan Kehn - you've said on this thread that you had been planning a "long overdue" update to "How I Stopped Worrying...". As this is my first HX machine, I'm on the edge of my seat here. Is there any chance I can convince you to outline the main points that you plan to make or revise?

by HB on Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:19 pm

jackbang wrote:Is there any chance I can convince you to outline the main points that you plan to make or revise?

The revision I mentioned really boils down to documenting the additional accepted wisdom that has been extensively discussed in the forum (e.g., 'Flush and go' technique suitable for smaller HX machines? and Water flushing and "knowing" your HX machine), so there's no need to wait for a formal writeup. The second batch evaluation Vetrano should arrive next week; I'll begin the final wrapup then, including suggestions on a machine-specific flush regime, if warranted.

To be honest, the writeup will be largely an update of the prior Buyer's Guide to the Andreja Premium. Afterall, they share the same group and boiler, so the bulk of my comments are unchanged. I would be especially interested in your impressions the first week or two. I've worked on-and-off this machine for months and your fresh outlook may help revive details that I've forgotten.


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