Londinium I Lever Espresso Machine

Lwowiak · April 2013

The thread on HB you refer to is very confusing. It confirms my observation that a number of coffee enthusiasts suffer from OCD. Many owners of the L1 are happy to follow instructions and concentrate on producing a good cup of coffee from a very capable machine. Others are hell bent on pulling it apart and analyzing it. All this testing is about brew temp. Once it is stable (or whatever nirvana they are seeking) will they concede the espresso is good? Or will they search for further issues? Everything in the thread is about temperature, as if that is the ultimate variable that leads to the god shot. Very few discussions about how the espresso tasted as a result of their findings. Personally, I would have returned the machine, got a replacement and moved on with my life.

Kelsey · April 2013

But then what would they have to test? :rofl:

Lwowiak · April 2013

Their instruments

;D

conikal · April 2013

on 1366770555:

The guys doing the most measuring are also the ones prone to disassembling the group. They've let air into the group and haven't purged it.

I agree up to a point. But i dont understand what set of circumstances can make the thermosyphon flow reverse? and i am not convinced any one has the full solution yet, since for a while they also previously thought they had solved the issue by using more lube in the group.

Brett H · April 2013

on 1366772315:

The thread on HB you refer to is very confusing. It confirms my observation that a number of coffee enthusiasts suffer from OCD. Many owners of the L1 are happy to follow instructions and concentrate on producing a good cup of coffee from a very capable machine. Others are hell bent on pulling it apart and analyzing it. All this testing is about brew temp. Once it is stable (or whatever nirvana they are seeking) will they concede the espresso is good? Or will they search for further issues? Everything in the thread is about temperature, as if that is the ultimate variable that leads to the god shot. Very few discussions about how the espresso tasted as a result of their findings. Personally, I would have returned the machine, got a replacement and moved on with my life.

I read them. I too would have accepted the offer to return the machine and moved on! Although to be fair I judge a machine by the quality of the juice I can extract from it! I wondered what prompted these guys to go to the did to test and collect data.

conikal · April 2013

on 1366785387:

I wondered what prompted these guys to go to the did to test and collect data.

The link in the very first post on the HB thread leads to that explanation. Basically, the OP was trying to find cause of ( taste ?) variability in some of the shots compared to his Speedster shots. Also, both these owners are committed m/c enthusiasts who buy and asses many new m/c's, so were never going to be "typical" buyers.

admin · June 2013

this one's gone a little quiet recently - thought I'd resurrect for comment/updates.... cheers A

Koffee_Kosmo · June 2013

on 1371164904:

this one's gone a little quiet recently - thought I'd resurrect for comment/updates.... cheers A

And I want some photos :thumb: KK

Lacehim · June 2013

I think it's like the Breville DB threads myself. Big splurge of posts and everyone has an opinion and a slanging match before the machines even been made, a few issues, things settle down and everyone realises it's a coffee machine and normality resumes! lol. I would think the owners are all enjoying fantastic coffee and have moved on to posting about accessories, roasting coffee and trying to figure out how to tamp a 58mm basket again! :rofl:

Lacehim · June 2013

on 1371165171:

And I want some photos :thumb: KK

They have been lacking haven't they KK. I would like to see some nakid shot videos not done by Reiss himself. I know I've had some stunners from my Achilles, so the L1 should perform just as well.

conikal · June 2013

on 1371164904:

this one's gone a little quiet recently - thought I'd resurrect for comment/updates.... cheers A

Well, for those that have not followed all the thread.... ... bleeding the TS loop was not a permanent solution so the current "Fix" is to install a non return valve in the HX feed from the boiler ( remember the L1 brew water is fed through the HX/TS loop but fed from the boiler water, not from the tank/pump feed)). This is a "factory " upgrade now fitted as standard and offered as a retrofit to existing owners. Presumably this prevents the group spring pressure from forcing air back into the TS loop at the start of the stroke. ? HOWEVER !... it is still not clear if the TS loop is stable or still experiences flow reversal occasionally for some odd reason.

Brett H · June 2013

on 1371190995:

Well, for those that have not followed all the thread.... ... bleeding the TS loop was not a permanent solution so the current "Fix" is to install a non return valve in the HX feed from the boiler ( remember the L1 brew water is fed through the HX/TS loop but fed from the boiler water, not from the tank/pump feed)). This is a "factory " upgrade now fitted as standard and offered as a retrofit to existing owners. Presumably this prevents the group spring pressure from forcing air back into the TS loop at the start of the stroke. ? HOWEVER !... it is still not clear if the TS loop is stable or still experiences flow reversal occasionally for some odd reason.

Yep! Interesting!! Who knew that these things weren't as simple as a group on a boiler!?!? This one is different to the Breville thread L because of the price difference and the marketing differences. The consumerist disposition of this demographic will go silent more often when stuff ISN'T right! Negativity affects resale!!

ash · June 2013

Well I don't know about TS stall issues, maybe my palette isn't sophisticated enough to discern the difference in flavour if the TS does stall, but I've been enjoying my machine

The only mod that has been done to my machine was the installation of a restrictor in the TS loop. The resrictor has a hole in it that is 3mm in diameter. The theory behind it, is to slow the movement of water through the TS, giving the group a better chance to dissipate heat up here in the tropics. Seems to be doing the trick. My biggest challenge has been getting a handle on VST baskets. My Synesso (18g) basket produces nice looking pours with good flavour, but I'm having trouble getting a nice consistent pour with the VST (20g) basket

I've settled on 18g as my preferred dose with the current coffee ( a Yirg :coffee2:), with which I'm getting nice flavour from, but the pour from the VST can be anything from lopsided (my dosing at fault ) to very patchy ( I'm guessing dosing again, not sure how to fix this one though!). I've resorted to using an unfolded paperclip to try and break up any clumps and to try and even the distribution with some success, but still chasing something that would be video worthy from the VST basket :o I've also found that my Pharos grinder has really come into it's own with this machine, so much so that the Macap hasn't been used for two months now!

on 1371196887:

The consumerist disposition of this demographic will go silent more often when stuff ISN'T right! Negativity affects resale!!

Or it could be that the people who have the machine are enjoying it? If there's nothing wrong with, what's to discuss in a thread where people are discussing a problem that one does not have? As I said, my machine doesn't appear to have this TS stall issue that's been discussed on HB, and from what I've read on that thread, it seems to be affecting a quite low percentage of owners. Generating quite a lot of noise, but a small number of instances. With my excess heat issue, I went straight back to Reiss with a question, and got that question sorted rather quickly, so I have no complaints in that regard (the restrictor).

Brett H · June 2013

on 1371273464:

Or it could be that the people who have the machine are enjoying it? If there's nothing wrong with, what's to discuss in a thread where people are discussing a problem that one does not have? As I said, my machine doesn't appear to have this TS stall issue that's been discussed on HB, and from what I've read on that thread, it seems to be affecting a quite low percentage of owners. Generating quite a lot of noise, but a small number of instances. With my excess heat issue, I went straight back to Reiss with a question, and got that question sorted rather quickly, so I have no complaints in that regard (the restrictor).

Great news mate! Keep posting! There's plenty of negativity out there so to hear from happy users is really great! The problem with Internet forums is that rarely do people go on them to post good news! Pictures Pictures more more!!! :thumb:

Kelsey · June 2013

on 1371335110:

Great news mate! Keep posting! There's plenty of negativity out there so to hear from happy users is really great! The problem with Internet forums is that rarely do people go on them to post good news! Pictures Pictures more more!!! :thumb:

Exactly! "Everything operating as per normal" doesn't make for riveting reading - I suspect the lack of discussion on any popular machine is a testament to its reliability.

ash · June 2013

on 1371335110:

The problem with Internet forums is that rarely do people go on them to post good news! Pictures Pictures more more!!! :thumb:

Hit the hammer on the head there mate!

I'll work on getting some photos up of my pours as I go along this afternoon. :coffee2:

ash · June 2013

Okay, time for some photos! This first set is using a 20g VST basket with some locally roasted Yirgacheffe beans, ground with my Pharos (Voodoodaddy modded) grinder.

ash · June 2013

This second set is using a Synesso 18g basket, same amount of beans and same grind setting as before. To my not so knowledgable pallete, the Synesso gives a slightly sweeter taste, but a slightly less defined flavour. A couple of days ago I was using 20g in the VST which had that beautiful berrylicious flavour of a Yirg. It faded due to changing climate conditions, so I dropped the dose down a bit and managed to get it back. Not quite there with either of these shots today, so I'll have to play some more, as the temps here have cooled off considerably. It's only 22C at the moment (almost time to consider putting on a jumper by Townsville standards!). I'll get around to taking a video sometime, and then I'll try posting it somewhere...

Brett H · June 2013

That looks awesome!! :thumb:

Lacehim · June 2013

Wow! Nice Ash. You must be a very happy man! Out of interest can you post up a photo of your shower screen? Just wondering if it's the same as the Achilles.

ash · June 2013

Here you go Lacehim. Just taken after the first shot this morning.

sctsprin · June 2013

Brett H · June 2013

on 1371607984:

Interesting first post mate.. I might have to report this one to....ME!!

Koffee_Kosmo · June 2013

on 1371622924:

Interesting first post mate.. I might have to report this one to....ME!!

They are photo links to Crema magazine that are not working KK

sctsprin · June 2013

sorry all, there was something wrong with my login before that was preventing me posting the pictures of my L1 screen here ya go :doh: thanks james

Lacehim · June 2013

Cheers James, Looks just like mine so they could be just stock bosco shower screens/gaskets.

sctsprin · June 2013

on 1371691591:

Cheers James, Looks just like mine so they could be just stock bosco shower screens/gaskets.

yeah, no problem one thing i find is that the screen leaves an imprint in the puck if i use the correct amount of coffee for a basket, such as 18g in an 18g VST, or 15g in the stock basket, i wonder if a slightly shorter screen wouldnt be a bad idea?

Brett H · June 2013

Welcome James! Thanks for your great pictures!

sctsprin · June 2013

on 1371707972:

Welcome James! Thanks for your great pictures!

Thanks Brett, Heres a picture of my babies:

Brett H · June 2013

Resplendent with Merlo magic!!! Awesome!!

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