I've been discussing the purchase of my first espresso machine on a couple of different newsgroups/lists (alt.coffee, Sweetmaria's Homeroasters list). After mentioning that the S1 was my current leading contender and listing some reasons why, I received some comments that I was hoping that current S1 owners might address. Please feel free to include any other comments/discussion that I might use to factor into my decision.
Here's one comment:
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Far be it from me to say anything bad about dual boiler vs. HX machines, but it should be pointed out that even dual boiler machines benefit from
flushing, so as to get the grouphead *up* to temperature. Ultimately,
quality of machine construction is the most important thing, and the better
HX machines are probably better overall than the cheapest dual-boilers.
S1 owners seem pretty happy so far, though it would be interesting to have one of the group's metricians test whether the dinky brew boiler and
relatively small portafilters are a cause for concern under suboptimal
conditions.
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Here's another exchange (my comments first followed by a response):
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> Oh, I forgot to mention the apparently superior temperature control of the
> LaSpaziale S1 and no need for the cool down flush required for HX machines
> after inactivity. Another plus seems to be the rotary pump which
> apparently, when combined with the better temp control, produces more
> consistent quality in the cup.
>
The reputed advantage of rotary pumps is open to question, although I
like having one in my machine. And I'm not aware of any dual boiler
machine for home use that doesn't require a small seasoning flush to get
the grouphead at the proper brew temperature after it has been idling.
If they are fed by brew boiler water, they'll idle cool; and if by steam
boiler water, they'll idle to hot. But personally, I wouldn't worry in
the least about a small flush after idling. It's no big deal, and it
helps to warm the cup prior to pulling the shot.
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Thanks,
Gary
pre-purchase questions
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Barry
I currently own an Isomac Tea and an S1 so I can speak from the experience of owning both types of machines. Both will produce outstanding results although tweaking the S1 is significantly easier. While the Tea definetely requires flushing of the group head, I have yet to notice a difference in shot quality on the S1 so long as it is warmed up for about 30 minutes whether I flush the group head or not. The difference in steaming capability is obviously not comprable. The Tea is quite capable of producing excellent microfoam, however, it requires significantly more practice. On the other hand, it is much better at handling small amounts of milk where the S1 is so powerfull, less than 6 ounces of milk is a real challenge. I do believe a rotary pump is more forgiving than a vibrating pump. In other words, the S1 will produce better shots with less practice. It seems to deal with a fine or coarse grind more effectively than the vibrating pump. I would purchase an S1 again in a heart beat. I would not buy another Tea prefering the new features of the Andreja that Chris sells.