Lever Espresso Machines Smackdown - Page 14

by **caeffe** on Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:41 am

Jarno wrote:Hi Caesar,

There is always water in the grouphead. Even after the machine is off and cold, the water is still in the grouphead, held suspended by vacuum, as no air is allowed in the grouphead. ........., but if you remove the head from the boiler and then the tube from the grouphead, you will find that there is still water left in the head. Upon removing the piston (for cleaning) you will see that there is a nylon sleeve (millenium model) that the piston fits in. ..........The top of the sleeve are 4 slits that allow in the boiler water above the piston. Also, there is space around the outside of the sleeve from which the inlet hole allows in fresh brew water. This space amounts to about 1.5 oz. And as noted, the piston may be pushed up and down and thus moving the water back and forth into the outer chamber of the grouphead and the boiler. The maximal space above the piston is also about 1.5 oz.

Is it the same for a pre-millenium model? I just finished changing the gaskets on mine and it definitely does not have the nylon sleeve - I don't know if this is good or bad. Regardless, if there is water above the piston, it brings up a couple of questions to me - isn't bad to have water up in the grouphead while the machine is off? what are the advantages/pluses? Once the machine is off, does the water go back in the boiler or does it stay in the grouphead?

by **cannonfodder** on Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:21 am

No, pre millennium sealed against the brass grouphead and used a brass piston, millennium groups use a nylon piston liner (helps keep the group cool by isolating the brew water) and a nylon piston.

by **cannonfodder** on Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:24 am

Forgot the second part, no, there is not water above the piston when the piston is lowered and at rest. When the piston is raised, it passes past the small fill hole leading from the boiler. The piston fills with water, you pull the lever. As the piston nears the end of the stroke, the piston will block the hole preventing water from escaping. The only thing that should be above the piston is air.

by **r-gordon-7** on Thu May 15, 2008 7:22 pm

"Just for the record" (and perhaps I missed it in my reading & rereading of this thread)... did the official smackdown end with Cannonfodder's 1/24/08 review - or do some or all of the machines continue to travel to one or more other reviewers for further reviews, discussions, comparisons, etc...?

Thanks,
r-gordon-7

by HB on Thu May 15, 2008 8:33 pm

Yes, the tour has ended. All that remains is refining our notes on techniques and giving the Lusso the full brew and temperature profile treatment. I plan a wrapup post to this thread in the next couple weeks and publishing the Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso a few weeks thereafter.

by **narc** on Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:58 pm

Dan, when you post the brew/temperature profile for the Ponte Vecchio would it be possible to also post links for the profiles of the other machines in the "Lever Espresso Machines Smackdown".

by HB on Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:04 pm

narc wrote:...would it be possible to also post links for the profiles of the other machines in the "Lever Espresso Machines Smackdown".

Sorry, I don't have a thermofilter that fits the others (1st-line had one custom made for the Lusso). I've posted "over the lip" profiles in the past for lever machines like the Cremina and Microcasa (sorry, not sure where... somewhere on CoffeeGeek a few years ago). Over the lip measurements give you a general idea of the profile's shape, but aren't readily comparable since placement can dramatically alter the measurements.

HB wrote:I plan a wrapup post to this thread in the next couple weeks and publishing the Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso a few weeks thereafter.

UPDATE: I am backlogged at work and home, which will curtail my review efforts for longer than anticipated. Sorry, I dislike missing announced publications, but it happens.

by **zin1953** on Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:49 pm

HB wrote:UPDATE: I am backlogged at work and home, which will curtail my review efforts for longer than anticipated. Sorry, I dislike missing announced publications, but it happens.

No pressure, but it's now September; any idea of timing??? (We promise we won't hold you to it!)

by HB on Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:57 pm

Sorry, I regret that the status has not changed since my last post. This thread has the bulk of what will ultimately end up in the review. Do you have a specific question?

by **zin1953** on Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:08 pm

No, Dan, just looking forward to reading it . . . .

by **noizy** on Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:31 am

This is a year after the fact, but didn't you burn your fingers seeing how you make contact with the grouphead? Having burned myself two or three times since I bought my machine a few months ago, I wonder

by **RapidCoffee** on Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:08 am

Hah! I think that was a picture of my first-ever lever pull. I did burn my fingers, more than once. :oops:

But there had to be a small gap between my hand and the grouphead in that particular pic, otherwise it would never have been taken.

by **TimEggers** on Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:59 am

Like a few others I'd like to offer my appreciation to "the lever panel" on the valuable insights. I've been leaning on the idea of getting a modern lever machine to compliment my Cappuccino Amore vintage lever. The Lusso has features that I find appealing at an attractive price point.

It's the work you guys put in plus the lively discussion that has served me well in narrowing down the field, thanks for taking the time and Dan I look forward to the Lusso Buyer's Guide, any updates on when it may be available (no rush)?

by HB on Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:24 am

Tim and others, sorry about the delays. It's been that kind of year. For reasons I'm sure everyone can appreciate, it's only gotten more hectic as the year ground on. That said, I hope to complete the Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso during the holiday break. The thread Ponte Vecchio Lusso brew temperature tests is the beginning of my wrapup.

by HB on Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:29 am

My time with the Ponte Vecchio Lusso is winding down and the Buyer's Guide is on track for publication in January. I've been using it full time for the last month and have enjoyed learning the Lusso's strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Knowing that some potential buyers might be put off by its small-volume espressos, I've documented my routine for building a large(r) cappuccino booming with chocolaty coffee flavor in Cappuccinos with punch from the Ponte Vecchio Lusso.

by HB on Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:28 pm

Whew, the final chapter of the Smackdown, the Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso! It's been a fun ride, many thanks to the contributions of Smackdown reviewers Greg Scace, Dave Stephens, and John Weiss, as well as the numerous comments, corrections, and thought-provoking discussion from the forums' participants. The article feedback thread is here.

Dan Kehn wrote:Lever espresso machines as a class are frequently labeled as finicky beasts that demand months of focused attention to master. The Ponte Vecchio Lusso, in sharp contrast, is exceptionally forgiving, making it an ideal candidate for an "espresso newbie" shortlist. Ponte Vecchio Lusso has remarkable temperature predictability and represents an espresso machine that grows with the skills of the barista.


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