It's alive....

[HughF]

After a real coffee machine installer rather than a plumber visited, all is well and the La Spaziale S1 double-boiler espresso machine is alive and doing it's stuff with considerable competence.

I've only pulled 7 or so double shots so it's VERY early days but :

1. It's exceptionally quiet - water flow noises plus a faint low hum from the pump are all you hear

2. The shots are already better than I ever made with the Carezza in 18 months of obsessive effort, when using straight HB Brazil F. Cachoeira (as I'm used to it) in both machines.
In a while, I'll try some pre-blends in the HotTop and see if I can better the 100% Cachoeira results, I probably can.

3. My tamping consistency needs improving as shot times can still differ by a few seconds for the same automatically-dispensed volume of pour (2 fl. oz). I'm using 16 grams of coffee for doubles now but I might change that dosing later.

4. The steaming is ridiculously easy compared to the Carezza (with the Gaggia TurboFrother removed); the first try gave results as good as I have managed with the Carezza in several months - the first bit of turn on the steam knob gives no steam then it starts fairly quickly; but if you submerge the tip well below the surface at first then bring it up once you have the right amount of steam being produced, all is well. My second try (starting with the tip thoroughly submerged) gave silky milk and I suspect even I could have had a bash at pouring latte art with it if I had realised it was going to be that good.

I can't compare the S1 to any HX machines as I haven't used any except to say that it's definitely quieter than the one HX I have heard and seen working recently.

That's all I feel confident in saying for now. I'll probably post more in a few weeks time (i.e. once I know a lot more), possibly a photo or two in a few days time....

I'm really pleased with the machine already; being sure that I'm getting the best out of the S1 will take a good bit longer but I've had very good results SO quickly and it's so flipping easy to use.

Cheers,

Hugh

[pault]

Congrats!!!

would be interested if from your experience if you'd recommend people who get plumbed-in machines to try and use a specialist machine-installer rather than a generic plumber - I would.

I'm sure you'll find the new machine a joy to use. The Spaziale baskets are great and with your temp control etc. you'll be knocking out gourmet shots like there's no tomorrow. Am with you on the microfoam you can do with a more powerful steamer - I was getting some good stuff from the Giotto but it took me a while - once I quickly learnt how to compensate for the extra power of the Spazio the microfoam you can get is amazing - I'm also with you on the need to dip the frother into the milk to stretch it first - now when I do it you can see it suddenly expand which tells you it's time just to finish the milk off by swirling the surface for a bit.

anyway, should stop wittering - congrats again - especially since you've had a frustrating wait!!

all the best,

Paul.

[Steve]

Welcome to the house of La Spaz, theres room for more (wink wink phil)

[HughF]

would be interested if from your experience if you'd recommend people who get plumbed-in machines to try and use a specialist machine-installer rather than a generic plumber - I would.

I would definitely recommend a specialist installer not a plumber, that was one reason for the bit at the beginning of my post. The guy who did the work is based in Hampshire and I'd **definitely** recommend him (no fuss, no mess, really helpful), anyone can send me a PM if they want his contact details. Steve kindly put me onto him after a standard plumber messed me about.

Thanks for your other suggestions,

Hugh

[pault]

yep, it's what I thought,

the guy who sold me my Spazio recommended an installer from near Doncaster - I paid him a bit extra for the travel but it was well worth it and I think I mentioned in a previous post - there are lots of little machine specific things that a normal plumber just wouldn't know about and that can go slightly wrong ...

so to anyone else thinking of jumping on to the Spaziale wagon - get an installer!

all the best,

Paul.

[phil]

The guy who did the work is based in Hampshire

Ringwood by any chance?

[HughF]

The guy who did the work is based in Hampshire

Ringwood by any chance?

Yes.

Cheers,

Hugh

[HughF]

Photo as requested. The yellow stripe on the left is just the reflection of the fluorescent light in our kitchen.

Cheers,

Hugh

[simonp]

Looks nice, lots of LEDs too, why so many?

[HughF]

Apart from one or two at the extreme left and right, they are for temperature during normal use (the LED for your chosen temperature flashes if too cool briefly). There is also the Econ LED (steam/hot water boiler off).
The gauge underneath, between hot water point and brewhead, is for steam boiler pressure only. Brewing pressure is pre-set to 9 Bar; as the ideal brewing pressure is supposed to be 8.5 to 9 Bar I'm not looking to change this.

Cheers,

Hugh

[simonp]

Sounds good, maybe when I win some money

[Raf]

From the sound of it: great, but I'm not entirely in love with the looks of that Spaz. Jealousy, no doubt!

[HughF]

From the sound of it: great, but I'm not entirely in love with the looks of that Spaz. Jealousy, no doubt!

Fair point - if you're comparing it to the appearance of the all-stainless E61s then yes, they look very nice. But with 12 cats, 2 dogs and two absent-minded humans in the house, I foresaw too many visits to the Burns department of the nearest hospital or the Vets! (It's on the cats route up to the kitchen food dish.)

The S1 looks plenty good enough for me. It might have convinced you more if I'd taken a better photo!

Cheers,

Hugh

[Ian]

I think I prefer the look of the black one to the red, but that's just a personal opinion. That's a bit of tight space you've got it in Hugh, I can see why you mentioned the width now.

[HughF]

I think I prefer the look of the black one to the red, but that's just a personal opinion. That's a bit of tight space you've got it in Hugh, I can see why you mentioned the width now.

I really didn't like the red version either.

I could have freed up 9" or more in extra width but I really didn't need it. You don't work at the far edges of the machine, the pf is nearly central and the steam wand is in a bit from the left. Because of that positioning you do need to be slightly careful not to touch the steam wand when removing the pf but that's nothing compared to an exposed E61.

Cheers,

Hugh