The S1 Cafe - Helping Your Espresso Dreams Become Reality

Links fixed

This will work on any S1 model though it should NOT be used on a VII with programmable preinfusion unless you set programmable preinfusion to 0s (off).

s1v2/images/LaSpazialeProgressionPreinf ... Manual.pdf

s1v2/VII_Expansion.php

Right, I had that problem as well. You couldn't just put the shot glass under the PF and let it go. If you didn't hold onto the shot glass it would "wonder" across the drip tray grill and your espresso would end up in the drip tray.

Endo, I accidentally deleted your message when I meant to delete the ones nagging you for posting in the wrong forum after I moved it to this correct location. When I had an Isomac Tea I plumbed it in with a kit supplied by Chris Coffee. If he still offers that kit you could probably modify it for t...

Help, isn't there anyone out there that owns both a Mini VII and a digital camera that can help me out with this? I need a close up JPEG photo of the Mini VII front panel. My only other request is to try to take it in a well lit location with no flash. Otherwise, the photo will end up with flash ref...

niko, congrats on your recent "promotion". exalted one now you are, mmm?

I use one that has rubber magnets and have not had that problem.

In the interim you could go all Martha Stewart on the Yoplait container - maybe paint it gold and glue on some sequins and a few coffee beans.

Any breakthroughs on this issue?

I fixed the broken links. Thanks for the head's up!

I've posted an update to the installation manual thanks to feedback from Cliff and Mario.

Not sure whether to file this under Astute Observations or Duh Moments. I had my PI set to 6 seconds and the results were good. Ian had dropped his PI time and remarked that the results were much improved. I did the same and thought the results were worse. This was using my triple basket. Then I swi...

I've seen this a few times but not every time. I also noticed that on my VI and VII websites all the black text disappeared in FF3 - not just transparent, invisible! I use FrontPage which has it's own CSS style sheets but FF3 wasn't picking up the fact that the style sheets had the default text set ...

Niko wrote: Actually, I kind of like the stickers - makes the machine look serious and ready for business.

That's just the problem. It's ready for business but we're home users!

Did you get it fixed yet? If so what was the final resolution?

What's the word? Did you get your problems "ironed" out?

A Progressive Preinfusion Installation Manual has been added to the first post in this forum section.

BTW: Cliff's our Beta tester for this solution. It's not actually on sale quite yet.

Here's a manual that's explains how to install the Progressive Preinfusion cylinder. This has been updated with feedback from Cliff and Mario. I've sent this to Chris. Until he replaces the older version on his website, you should use this one. It has more accurate and up-to-date instructions to sav...

Chris indicated that he bugged LaSpaz about the fan noise and they did something 9 or more months back. I haven't heard any newer owners mention it. I hardly ever look at the VII gauges given their current location. When I really want to measure the pressure at the PF, I usually get out my old PF pr...

You know Niko. He's already got 250,000 miles on it!

Check this thread, as you can see this issue has been kicked around since the S1 was first released. BTW: I re-found it by searching on Portafilter Spring:

phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=51&hilit=portafilter+spring

Check this thread, as you can see this issue has been kicked around since the S1 was first released. BTW: I re-found it by searching on Portafilter Spring:

phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=51&hilit=portafilter+spring

How about Caribou or Moose milk?

Oh man, you're killing me with that avatar. I suppose you see that outside your back door every night!

I found the Timer issue I was thinking of. It was the opposite issue. This person did NOT have the Timer but had the Switch set to On!

Timer Issue

(In case I have you wondering, Chas = Admin!)

There's reason the term volumetric dosing is used. When you program the 1 cup and 2 cups buttons, you are programming for a specific volume. You are not programming for time. If you let it go until the machine cuts off, it will dispense the same amount of water each time. Then the shot to shot diffe...

A couple of comments on backflushing: 1) I fixed the link in the earlier post. Now you can click on it and directly download the VII User's Manual. 2) For the rest of the backflush story, go to this link and check out the Backflush FAQ. http://www.rimpo.org/s1v2/faqs.htm The first half jives with th...

It's a variable transformer so you can go above and below line voltage. However, it's not a voltage regulator. If the load gives you a 10V drop over the no load condition, you will also get the same drop with the Variac. However, if you get a 10V drop but you want 120V with the load, you can set the...

The most you can say about this design is that the group temp and the LED indicators match only when the LEDs are on solid and not blinking.

No change other than no more scraping.

We can always add an equipment list in our signature, I used to have mine but the area isn't large enough :lol: I know what you mean though, an equipment list kind of like H-B and some others. ...what? You haven't connected your machine yet? :? Cause I don't want you call me MR. GOD SHOT :oops: I'm...

As I noted in my previous post, I haven't decided how much difference the screen orientation makes or how much difference there is between various orientations. As Wolfgang noted it seems reasonable that there would be differences in the water flow. Given that and given that I would like to eliminat...

If for some reason the operation of your VII doesn't seem to be correct and the temperatures appears to be way off from what you have set, you may have inadvertently gotten your VII set to S1 mode. Verify your machine is in the correct mode with the test below. If you unplug your VII, when you first...

Voting is pretty light so far. Don't forget to weigh in with your vote if you are a recent purchaser.

Niko, you want to be the first to try backflushing your S1 with KY?

Eric:

Niko's chomping at the bit for one of these. What are the odds he'll make it through 2008 without one?

He's obviously working on a future home espresso museum so he has to have one eventually!

That was pretty rash of the LaSpaz website to call that the heart of every LaSpaz machine. However, if you take that basic diagram, remove the HX part of the picture, and mentally replace it with a direct electric heating element, the rest looks pretty accurate.

Here's two he made for me - same style, different woods. I also have an outstanding order with him to make me a couple more that duplicate the Bubinga handle shown on the Espresso Parts home page. I really like the way that style feels in the hand.

I'm not a fan of the style with the bulbous ends.

The Mini-V2 has been shipping since 11/9/07. If you purchased a Mini-V2 or a regular V2 since that date, let us know which one

I'm moving this thread to the MIni-VII In-warranty issue section. I think it warrants being in that location,

Yes, I think it was related to the adhesive. BTW: I noticed that the ones that EP sells just have the bolt threaded into the handle, not glued. I guess I'll find out if this is also Les' solution.

If you look at the two Thor PF handles above in my Admin avatar, I am replacing the darker handle due to cracking where the PF handle attaches. I mentioned this to Les. Apparently, this was a common problem he was having. However, he says he figured out why and has corrected his processes to prevent...

After waiting two months for one from Espresso Parts and then finding that they left LaSpaz off the list of the ones it doesn't fit, I broke down and contacted Les at Thor Tampers. It will probably be a few weeks before I get it but the cost is actually going to be less than at EP.

I gave it a 2nd dry humping to see if I could get all the remaining smells to outgas and then got involved in a different project and never got around to roasting today. I'll be interested to see what impact the in-place cooling has on the flavor of the beans compared to the cooling tray on the HT. ...

The photo of this unit shows a slide in drawer for water which inserts right where the bottom half of the steam boiler is in the S1 and VII. So how did they redesign the boiler to fit into this design?

Anyone that finds out report back here, please. Inquiring minds need to know!

I bought my Variac from Coffee Bean Corral but they didn't seem to carry them anymore.

I keep mine cranked to 130V no load. It drops to 120V when the heater element is running. YMMV. I have the Hottop plugged into the outlet farthest from the breaker box and this is a big house.

<b>Shipping Changes</b> The LaSpaziale Vivaldi II is now shipped in two separate boxes. The plastic cup holder is shipped in a different box with the accessories. This change was made approximately 4 months ago and has drastically reduced shipping damage. <b>Loose Boiler Terminal Issue Fixed</b> The...

I must have lucked out that my dual manometer wasn't rattled out of place when it arrived. The manometer on my S1 was definitely knocked out of place, but I thought between having two copper tubes attached to it on the VII AND a bolt connecting it rigidly to the frame, that wouldn't happen on the VII.

My wife was never a coffee drinker either but I now have her hooked on a morning Latte. If I sleep too late she'll even make her own now. My next step is to wean her off the Monin sugar-free syrup.

I occasionally will not hit the button square and it will do something like that but I can't remember the last time it happened. It seems like it was something that mostly happened on the S1, not sure it's ever happened on the VII.

Hmmm. Something didn't work right. The Forum SW is supposed to scale down any pics that go over 640x480. Obviously time to look at the settings for that feature!

Oh duh, I see, the pics weren't uploaded an external link was used.

Niko, congrats on your new exalted rating for hitting 1,000 posts. You have obviously created a new avatar in celebration. What do you call it - milk frothing explosion?

I had a bit of a puzzlement when I got back from vacation but my theory turned out to be correct. I only had a few days after receiving the new tip before I was out of town for a couple of weeks. I stopped by the local mini-mart on the way back to grab a gallon of milk. Previously, I had found that ...

Find any problems?

That's it! THey don't call you the Coffee Zen Master for nothing!

Here's a photo someone posted on the forum of a red one: http://s1cafe.com/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=134http://s1cafe.com/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=134 ...and another... http://s1cafe.com/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=464 There was a guy on the forum a long time ago that wanted a red one but the red shade of the...

About a month ago I decided to "rotate my tampers' and try one of my others. I selected my Reg Barber std Bubinga and decided to try it with the 54mm base. I walked with it in a straight line no more than 30ft to the S1 in my kitchen. There were a bunch of dirty dishes all over the place so I d...

Niko wrote:Mine are usually 10-20 lb lots just because of that reason. I hate dialing in a roast only to run out green when I finally like it.
Chas, what other greens suppliers do you use besides Sweet Maria's?

In addition to SM, I like Coffee Bean Corral and I buy 5lb bags of Kona from Smith Farms.

Are you the infamous Niko of 9600+ postings on the Weather Display forum? I will definitely need to add more Ranks for you if so!

Maybe Rosewood contact paper!

I tried Weska's technique soon after I got my S1 and still wasn't happy with the result. I finally replaced all my PF springs with this one: http://www.espressoparts.com/product/F_353 Find other things you need and order them at the same time. Otherwise, you'll spend more for shipping that for the p...

Since you program the Mini-E for time there is no real correlation to weight or volume. Those are too variable from bean to bean and roast to roast. I just spent the first few weeks with the screwdriver right there next to it and constantly twittled until I got a result I liked. My algorithm was to ...

I asked Chris about this today. He said that he had LaSpaz make this change with the 2nd batch of VIIs. Originally you had to not only plug the timer directly into the control board but there was also a jumper on the board that had to be removed. So in addition to adding the extension cord that plac...

Check out this thread:

http://www.s1cafe.com/viewtopic.php?t=2 ... t=recharge

They don't have Big Orange back here. Home Depot or an Ace Hardware store would have it. Unfortunately, you may have to buy at least a 25lb bag. On the plus side it's cheap.

That's the correct address. I just tested it and it worked.

Some beans are just harder to deal with. However, what I would try is grinding coarser and tamping harder. If you grind too fine the tamp difference between choking and channeling is extremely slight.

Is this tilt and depression (dent?) normal? THANKS! No that's not normal. The boiler is only securely fastened by a single bolt which goes through the chassis and in near the top of the boiler. The only thing that keeps the boiler from pivoting around this single bolt is the fact that there is a br...

I got all my baskets back in the early days before there was such a widely reporting basket to basket variation. The Coffeelabs tamper seems to be the best fit of all three of my 53mm tampers. I got the ole calipers out and measured all three. This is what I found: Thor - 52.7mm Espresso Parts SS - ...

Niko wrote:Just wait till I get my Scace and Fluke...
there's going to be temperature war.

Don't delay, order today.

I'll send you the Excel template I filled out and posted on the S2 Web Site so we can compare notes!

That's definitely normal for these machines. I recommend getting a Pallo brush. When done doing a batch of shots, remove the PF and press the dual cup button. After a few seconds when the water runs clear, use that Pallo brush vigorously on the gasket area and the shower screens.

Hmm. I'll have to run and check mine later, but I'm pretty sure my tray just says Vivaldi. I suspect they must have had some left over trays that just said Vivaldi they were trying to use up.

Ever wonder what Chris and some of the key folks we deal with at Chris Coffee look like or how Chris Coffee came to be? Wonder no more:
http://www.rimpo.org/s1v2/chriscoffee.html

My last front panel upgrade was $125. I suspect this one will be pricier. Actually, I've already upgraded the unit twice. The first time was a free firmware upgrade to fix an issue. The second was going from the original panel to the current one that has the temperature display. However, this new up...

I'd never heard of the Gene Cafe before so I checked out the review on Sweet Marias. Sounds like a nice machine. I have the Hottop. I was an early adopter of that as I was with the S1. I even upgraded the original version with the new digital front panel. I must say that the cooling tray on the HT i...

The ideal spot for the pressure gauges is to the right of the control panel where that large S1 decal is. Trying to bend down and read the current gauge through a coffee-steam-haze around a cup or shot glass is far from ideal. Unfortunately, there is not enough room behind the panel in that area to ...

I think the part below from Espresso Parts might be just the ticket for a retrofit without having to modify the hole in the front panel. It should connect right up to the current boiler connection, then you'd just need to figure out the optimum place to tap into the group boiler lines. I plan to tak...

Actually the wire brush is for the group head and the diffuser NOT for the shower screens. See FAQ on S1 Web Site. (But it still seems ridiculous!)

woodchuck wrote:I have been angling with my dear wife for several months now for an upgrade from our gaggia to an S1. In my stocking this morning - an "OK go get it" note. Thankyou Santa!

Cheers
Ian

Congrats. BTW: Was the gift the S1 or the permission?

Did anyone get any new coffee toys for Christmas they'd care to brag about or recommend?

Don't you love those easy fixes?

The sole difference in the original noisy version of the S1 and the new quiet version is different motor mounts. I could never figure out in looking at the subtle difference in the redesigned mounts how that could possibly make such a huge difference in the noise level, but it sure does. I think it ...

I was under the impression that when Chris visited LaSpaziale a couple of years ago, they told him they didn't recommend backflushing. Their recommended cleaning is documented on the S1 Website FAQ page. After that he stopped shipping the S1 with the BF disk. BTW: the one he shipped is made to fit i...

I got it fixed. It took me much longer than it should have because I wasn't sure what I was looking for. However, now that I know, if it happens again it was a simple fix that I could have accomplished in 15 minutes. It turns out that the water outlet from the solenoid valve that controls water flow...

Ron of RK Roasting Drums is a member of this forum. Perhaps he'll chime in with some ideas.

Are you using the stock rotisserie motor with your setup? I know that Ron sells a heavy duty replacement that turns quite a bit faster. Sounds like that makes a big difference in evenness of the roast.

I've had an issue with my steam boiler almost since I bought it that wasn't too bothersome, but lately it's worsened. Used to be if I pulled 2-3 mugs of hot water in a row, the pump would run and run and run, then the S1 would shut down with just a blinking boiler LED. Seems like this happens if the...

A while back someone actually posted a hidden link on the Chris Coffee site that had recharge instructions and this is exactly how they recommended doing it. I just rechecked and, unfortunately, this FAQ on the Chris Coffee site is not longer there.

Thanks. I had to take shortcuts to get all that info into the space. The write-up in my S1 manual is much clearer. The intent was to use the mag sheet as a reminder but it's not really a replacement for the detail in the manual. For example, I think the manual is pretty clear about using a momentary...

Based on when you joined the forum it looks like your S1 was out of warranty. Just curious what Chris charged for that new fan and also, how easy/difficult the R&R was. It would be interesting to know if you have the specs on that fan. Perhaps we can search the Internet for other sources unless ...

I'm not sure if you've found the info on the flatter bolts yet or not. It's here on the forum somewhere. Whoever it was that posted the info first noted the size of the bolt and the manufacturer. I tried my local hardware stores without luck, then went to the manufacturer's web site. From there is a...

I concur with Mr. Monkey. I no longer use the alternate screen configuration since I use a triple basket. The main reason to use the alt config is to squeeze in more coffee. I had actually tried using only one screen plus a couple of alt two screen configurations. A single screen definitely results ...

I guess I should check in for historical perspective. My S1 and all those purchased in the first 6-9 months came standard with the 4 hole tip. However, many complained about the tip claiming they were getting macro-foam rather than micro-foam. So Chris offered the 3 hole tip free to anyone that want...

Chas: Someone's got to break up the clumps....why not do it with the doser mechanism? Speaking of clumps, this reminds me of a discovery I make after replacing my Mazzer Mini w/ Doser with the Mini-E version. I noticed a grid taped over the exit chute in the E that was not part of the original. I t...

I'm tired of comparing lights on to the cheat chart. Kay, when you were having troubles with this before posting here, were you using either the magnetic cheat sheet or the S1 Manual I have posted on the main S1 site: http://www.rimpo.org/s1/ If so and if you can recommend any wording changes that ...

I had the same problem after I had my S1 for about 6 months. I spent some time agonizing over it but mostly I tried to ignore it. Then one day I had the covers off for some other reason. When I put everything back together, I noticed the fan was working again. So I obviously bumped or jiggled the ri...

Is it just me or would others expect a new machine to be a bit cleaner when coming right out of the box? (see attached pic). This thing looks like it had a steam bath and wasn't wiped down afterwards. The top was obviously cleaned, but not under the front panel. Anyone else have theirs arrive looki...

I'm not aware of anything you could have done to cause this. Had it been caused by failure of any of the steam boiler sensors, I think that would have been obvious via other symptoms prior to failure. I assume you are aware of the documentation on replacement of the heater element located here: http...

Yes I had the same problem but remembered reading about on this forum. I took mine apart and found a sliver of brass from the machining process. Not hard to do and it did fix the problem. RK I haven't heard new reports of this for a while. Perhaps LaSpaziale fixed it. BTW: Did anyone that performed...

I heard back from Chris yesterday on this issue. He says a few steam boiler heat sensors have failed but he thinks most of the issues are that the sensors weren't properly bottomed out in the tube during assembly. He recommended reseating the sensors down into the tube plus some heat sink compound. ...

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