Here are some pics of the "R" version of a friend's Bezzera Strega. Operational tidbits will come in a week or so.

The Bezzera Strega is currently available in three versions: One incorporates a vibration pump and reservoir as the only source of pressured water, another includes the necessary parts such that the end user can decide whether to operate in a direct connect mode (via the vibration pump), and this version pictured below can only operate in a direct connect mode.

My friend's machine shows the installation of an improved vacuum breaker valve whose brief output is joined with the OPV's discharge to the drip tray.

edit - changed subject line from "TOP" to "R"

What are the black cylinders? Are they an electrical component?

pizzaman383 wrote:What are the black cylinders? Are they an electrical component?

Those are flux capacitors

Joking, those are just counter weights.

Wow, with that much counterweighting and lever arm I would have thought they would provide some kind of bracing between the base and front panels.

How hard would it be to retrofit one of these with a rotary pump? I only ask, because Im spoiled by my Duetto's whisper quiet action. But the Strega will most certainly be my next big espresso brewing purchase.

Anyone know if the company is willing to install one from the factory? I vaguely recall Jim mentioning that it wasn't horribly loud to begin with, so maybe I'm chasing my tail anyway.

TomC wrote:How hard would it be to retrofit one of these with a rotary pump? ... I vaguely recall Jim mentioning that it wasn't horribly loud to begin with, so maybe I'm chasing my tail anyway.

It's quiet by vibe pump standards; loud by rotary standards. The simplest solution would be to go outboard. Otherwise, you'd need one of the new small form factor rotaries