cactus Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Vancouver Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2012, 11:18am Subject: PID on an HX (Alexia)
I've been lurking for a couple of years and only recently decided to join. I need some advice on some machines I am considering and hope you experts can chime in.
I've seen the Alexia PID'd alot and I've been told (on YT by one of the major coffee stores that post on YT) that HX machines shouldn't and can't be PID'd, especially the E61's? Then why is the Alexia invariably PID'd and I never see it on the Anita or the any other e-61's.
My department store machine went kaput a few weeks ago and I have been lurking every night and my budget has increased from the LeLit 41 to the Silvia to the Oscar to the Alexia and then to the Expobar and now I want the Cellini or Giotto.
My grinder is also a department store one and I want to upgrade that too. It went from the Preciso to the Vario and now I have my eyes on the K3. Ugggh... this is killing me and I haven't even bought anything yet.
sn_85 Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2011 Posts: 131 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill Andreja Premium Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2012, 11:29am Subject: Re: PID on an HX (Alexia)
The Alexia is a single boiler unit that uses the E61 group head. It's not a heat exchange unit. There are a HX's that do have a PID like the Bezzera BZ07 or the Alex II.
glcoffee Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 67 Location: Los Angeles, CA & Taiwan Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Izzo Alex II Grinder: Vario Drip: Hario V60
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2012, 12:45pm Subject: Re: PID on an HX (Alexia)
cactus Said:
I've been lurking for a couple of years and only recently decided to join. I need some advice on some machines I am considering and hope you experts can chime in.
I've seen the Alexia PID'd alot and I've been told (on YT by one of the major coffee stores that post on YT) that HX machines shouldn't and can't be PID'd, especially the E61's? Then why is the Alexia invariably PID'd and I never see it on the Anita or the any other e-61's.
My department store machine went kaput a few weeks ago and I have been lurking every night and my budget has increased from the LeLit 41 to the Silvia to the Oscar to the Alexia and then to the Expobar and now I want the Cellini or Giotto.
My grinder is also a department store one and I want to upgrade that too. It went from the Preciso to the Vario and now I have my eyes on the K3. Ugggh... this is killing me and I haven't even bought anything yet.
I was also on the fence between a Alex II and Rocket Cellini Evo, one with PID (Alex) and the other without. My best recommendation is to call a few places like WTL, CCS, SCG, etc. and listen to what they have to say. The decision was easy for me once I was able to udnerstand the benefits of a PID and what it is truly designed to be.
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C.S. Lewis, The World's Last Night ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ I am Taiwanese.
cactus Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Vancouver Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2012, 1:39pm Subject: Re: PID on an HX (Alexia)
hey thanks guys.
Espressotec is close by, but closed on Sundays, so I have to make a special Saturday trip out there. I didn't know the Alexia was not an HX, so a PID does make sense.
I don't mind paying extra for a better machine, but "better" is very subjective as I've been reading. My goal is to get an HX with an E61, but I could "settle" for a non e61 non HX with at least a PID. I know, pyschologically, I won't be happy though. hah hahh.
I'm just concerned that I'm not coffeegeek enough to handle an HX e61 machine. ;() I mean, I was drinking about 2 to 3 lattes a day when my dept store machine was still working. My latte art was passable, but not barrista or yt impressive though.
The grinder is another issue, but less so, cuz the choices are the Precisio on the lower end and the K3 on the upper end. Thats only a couple hundred in price difference. (Plus the K3 is nice and shiny, like the Rockets!!!)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,632 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 Tue Feb 28, 2012, 12:35pm Subject: Re: PID on an HX (Alexia)
Tony, welcome.
Regardless of the brew head design, a PID on a HX machine is as worthless as teats on a boar hog. Sure, it has flashing lights and shows a fancy display but due to the way a HX machine works, there is no practical benefit other than '
a If the click of the Pstat bothers you, a PID and a SSR will be quiet.
b There MAY be longer life component wise as a PID and SSR are not mechanical but I have several HX machines with Pstats and some are quite old, of all of the machines I have had, I have only one that had a Pstat go bad, yes they can but the commercial units are much more robust and live quite long.
c You can adjust the boiler temp for more steam duty or less flush in the cycle but for the most part, once you get the machine set, you very rarely adjust it again.
There are a few HX machines from the factory with PID units but it is more of a bow to less informed consumers who assume that a PID is better in all cases and to sell their machines, the equip their HX machines with PID units to try to tap more sales.
As to the brew head design, there are lots of high quality designs out there. The E61 is a good one but so are the others on the market. I happen to love the way a E61 looks so it was a requirement for my machine but I also have other HX machines without it and they perform just fine too.
As to being "coffee geek enough" with a lower use, my usage is on nearly all days, 4 double shots. One double drunk straight and three doubles into a 20 oz cup for my drive to work Latte.
Wants have very little to do with need. If you really want it, buy it.
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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