Rob55 Senior Member Joined: 6 Oct 2010 Posts: 100 Location: Canton, Ohio Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: Cuisinart
Posted Tue Dec 13, 2011, 5:47pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
I got shipping notification this evening and a tracking number...
How did you know which bottomless to order? It looked to me like a lot of them are machine specific and nothing listed for that machine. I was on a site that had bottomless with handle and a triple basket, but I was going to wait to find out which model to order.
(------Are they running any specials if you buy Cuadra and Vario together.----)
I didn't see any specials for ordering the pair. When I got my Lelit and Vario I got a package deal with the Lelit... bottomless, blind, tamper, handle, tamping stand and knock box... I called in the order and asked for a discount on the Vario. They gave me $30 off the grinder.
Posted Tue Dec 13, 2011, 6:28pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
Rob55 Said:
I got shipping notification this evening and a tracking number...
How did you know which bottomless to order? It looked to me like a lot of them are machine specific and nothing listed for that machine. I was on a site that had bottomless with handle and a triple basket, but I was going to wait to find out which model to order.
shmulibaby Senior Member Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 44 Location: NYC Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra Grinder: Rossi RR45, Krups Conical Drip: Melitta single cup Roaster: Popcorn Popper
Posted Tue Dec 13, 2011, 8:57pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
I actually asked them which naked portafilter would be compatible with the cuadra when I ordered mine and they said their standard one that I believe is seen here would fit Click Here (www.1st-line.net)
It sounded like this would fit all E-61 groupheads based on the Faema design. I'm not sure if I understood that properly.
ErnestoValente Senior Member Joined: 13 Dec 2011 Posts: 2 Location: Hilton Head Island Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era E61 Cuadra,... Grinder: Rancillio Rocky, Zassenhaus... Vac Pot: Cona Glass-Filtered Yama Drip: Technivorm Moccamaster,... Roaster: Behmor 1600, West Bend Hot...
Posted Tue Dec 13, 2011, 10:14pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
My Cuadra arrived this morning. After letting it warm to room temperature I started it up and after about 30 minutes had some difficulty with an air pocket in the lines. I called 1st-Line and Moses spent about 20 minutes on phone-support walking me through the initial process of getting everything flowing well. I then spent another 10 minutes or so flushing water through the hot water wand and group head to clear up the effect of the water softener. The first pull was, as expected, awful. The second pull was better, but about on par with Charbucks.
The third pull was unbelievable. The Cuadra had produced more crema than I have ever been given anywhere by a barista. The coffee I used was Sweet Maria's Espresso Monkey blend that I slightly over-roasted (FC+) three days earlier, and ground at a 7 setting on my doserless Rancillio Rocky. I have about five years experience with home-roasting and futzing around with all the different methods of coffee infusion, with the only espresso coming from a standard Bialetti Moka Pot. Those three pulls were my first ever and I used the cheap plastic tamper that came with the unit.
It is my humble opinion that 1st-Line has hit this one out of the park! Thank you Jim! Thank you Moses!
ErnestoValente Senior Member Joined: 13 Dec 2011 Posts: 2 Location: Hilton Head Island Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era E61 Cuadra,... Grinder: Rancillio Rocky, Zassenhaus... Vac Pot: Cona Glass-Filtered Yama Drip: Technivorm Moccamaster,... Roaster: Behmor 1600, West Bend Hot...
Posted Tue Dec 13, 2011, 10:57pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
Pretty much, Epson. I honestly felt a little overwhelmed by the difference between my ignorance and Moses' directions. As I recall, he had me leave the Cuadra on while I ran water through the hot water wand and group head while waiting patiently for the temperature of the water out of the group head to rise.
Before I called 1st-Line, the pump very quickly rose to 2 bar, but then when I released the pressure from the steam wand it seemed to go dead. Nothing but the dim green light showed life. Pulling the lever and opening the hot water wand got things flowing again, but by then I had Moses walking me through the process. I don't think I can offer enough advice here to responsibly guide someone through a similar issue without potentially damaging their machine.
If I had to guess, I'd say I didn't let it warm up enough from being shipped on cold trucks. The Cuadra is a hefty, solid machine. The english translation for "Cuadra" is "stable" or "block!" The only advice I feel comfortable giving the folks in this forum is to be patient and let their unit warm up for at least four hours or more before turning it on, especially if it was delivered to colder climbs.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,098 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Wed Dec 14, 2011, 7:32am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
Ernesto, welcome to CG! How are things on "the Plantation"?
As with all machines of this type, it needs to be thermally stable in order to yield its best. One way to get around the long warm-up time (I'm guessing, based upon other HX machines, you're looking at a good 45-75 minutes) is to use an appliance timer -- something like this for instance. Just set it to turn the machine on approx. an hour or so before you get up in the morning, and you can walk right into your kitchen, and start pulling shots!
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,634 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Dec 14, 2011, 7:33am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra E61 HX - $995!
As to the PFs, For the most part, they are interchangeable, one of the biggest differences is the location of the "ears" some are "rotated" more than others so the handle stops in the "wrong" place when locked. I pretty much can interchange the PFs of all 3 of my commercial machines though they are all different makers and GH designs. Like I said, the biggest thing I see is where the handle is when locked.
Some of the ears can be a different thickness too, I did want to say that because I know someone will!
Congrats on getting your machine up and running! I love me E61 and it sounds like you do too! Enjoy!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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