JDHarding Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 1,099 Location: WA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Steel Pro PID Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MDX,... Vac Pot: None Drip: Hario v60 Roaster: Behmor, Fresh Roast
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2012, 5:37pm Subject: Heavy duty single boiler machine?
I'm looking for a heavy duty single boiler machine. My current machine, an Ascaso Steel Uno Pro, seems a bit flimsy and is already leaking a year later. I'm looking for a tough machine that will not leak a year later. A machine made with all commercial grade quality parts to be used in a commercial type setting. I know there's not a lot of single boiler machines that will work in a commercial setting, but hopefully there's at least 1 I can try.
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2012, 6:10pm Subject: Re: Heavy duty single boiler machine?
There's the Isomac Zaffiro and the Bezzera BZ09, though I don't know where you'd find a BZ09 in the states (it's also not much cheaper than the BZ07 which is a hx).
Do you mean single boiler machine as in "single boiler double use" or as in "single boiler heat exchanger" in contrast to dual boiler? Tell us what you want, please, and how many cups a day we are talking about and what kind of drinks.
A very sturdy commercial single group HX machine, and therefore perfect for heavy duty, would be the Elektra Sixties Deliziosa T1, for example, or the Faema E61 Legend S1. Especially for a commercial setting, as you say, such a HX machine with its capability to brew and steam simultaneously would be much more useful than any SBDU.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
MARIOBARBA Senior Member Joined: 26 Sep 2011 Posts: 126 Location: MONTREAL CANADA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso DUO Prof TRONIC Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Fri Mar 30, 2012, 4:11am Subject: Re: Heavy duty single boiler machine?
Your Ascsaso should be pretty heavy duty as is. The leak, if it is the leak that most Steel's indeed suffer from is an easy fix. It is simply a matter of changing a hose coming off the top of the boiler, or changing that hose's angle. The new Steel's have been given the "up" treatment by Ascaso and now feature brass piping, braided steel tubing, an adjustable OPV and multidirectional steam wand on some DUO models. These machines should last for years in a home environment. IMO very few "heavy duty" SBDUs are worth their price. You'd be better off moving up in class to a semi-commercial HX, DB or something like a Silvano.
JDHarding Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 1,099 Location: WA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Steel Pro PID Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MDX,... Vac Pot: None Drip: Hario v60 Roaster: Behmor, Fresh Roast
Posted Fri Mar 30, 2012, 12:51pm Subject: Re: Heavy duty single boiler machine?
I meant a single boiler double use, not a heat exchanger.
Yeah, I was looking at the Alexia too. Seems like a pretty sturdy machine, and I do like the e-61 group. Also it can be purchased with a PID pre-installed, which is important to me. However, it has a pretty loud pump, and I'm used to my current machine's quieter vibe pump.
I can't decide if I should keep what I got, or go with something that has a bit more oomf. I deffinately want an e-61 group and a PID. Other people would go with an HX, but I don't even use the steam part of the machine, so it's not really needed. I never make milk drinks, and if I do make a milk drink, it's usually an iced latte, which doesn't need steam.
I also like seeing how much water is left in the reservoir without having to bend over the machine and look down inside the top. I also like my current machine's large drip tray. If I could install an e-61 group into my current machine, I'd be all set.
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