Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

[TC]

Hello GMG,

I have had a pretty good play with it and seen inside the machine as well.

Our intention is to range the R58 once it's ready for the Australian market- but it's not ready yet.

There are some issues which need to be resolved before the performance will be suitable for the way we do coffee.

I am confident that the importers will present us with a great product, but we all need to wait until the machine is ready. This is just one more example of a machine which while on the market elsewhere is just not up to standard.

Once the teething problems have been resolved, I am confident it will be an excellent machine- though more expensive than the Duetto.

At this end of the market, all the competitors offer terrific performance and if the design of the R58 has caught your eye, my advice is to be patient

regards

Chris

[thundering_gerkins]

Thanks for the info pete.

I'm just curious Chris, is the PID/SSR capable of running the 1000w brew and 1400w steam simultaneously if you have a dedicated 15 amp supply?

[TC]

Yes tg- no problem. You would need 15A as the machine and a grinder will push you over 10A on the "accepted" 230V- not to mention that many have a toaster/kettle and who knows what else on the same circuit as their machine.

We have stock of 1400W elements which can be fitted by any competent technician- who would need to fit a 15A plug to the power cord at the same time. A variation sticker should be added to the machine compliance sticker as well.

Chris

[thundering_gerkins]

Thanks Chris, all sound advice.
Should this be done outside the warranty period?

[CoffeeBloke]

Another question for Chris. Have seen the mark IV on Bella Barista's uk site. Are they on their way to you for the Aussie market? Looks like mostly aesthetic updates but the cup tray handles do look good and very useful for tank run machine!!

[specialpants]

Hi Specialpants,

Funny, was going to mention that clip but had to shorten my post to get the kids from school!!! Nice work - have you turned your steamer temp down a bit? Quite impressed with your final milk temp. Nice setup too.

Yeah, if you're happy to do a couple of FWs out of a 400 ml jug (or the 600 - whatever) that'd be great, but I've watched your other clip a few times as encouragement that it can be done, so thanks. Interesting to hear about the 4 hole tip. Had noticed an OS seller flogs a four hole with smaller holes and have been thinking about trying to get hold of one or making one. Did you get your's from CoffeeParts?

Thanks again,

Pete

Hi Pete,

I know you mentioned something clicked last weekend, and you were doing a better job with texturing milk on your duetto.

But here's that video of the coffee I just did. Approx 100ml of milk in 400ml jug, with an attempt at latte art into a 160cc tulip ACF cup. I ran a teaspoon across the top layer (not too sure if this achieved much), and you'll just have to take my word that the microfoam turned out well; the top layer's pretty creamy, no bubbles and is probably 1cm deep.

Youtube clip should be finished uploading in another hour or so. If the link isn't working, i'll fix it up later.

[CAELBLUE1]

Specialpants at 1.08 in the video it looks like you get a squirt of coffee on the far side of the cup. I was wondering if that was coming from out of the top and far side of the portafilter, like the group head seal is starting to wear a bit. Maybe I am seeing something that isnt there, but I had mine start doing a similar thing and it was time to change the seal in the group head.

[specialpants]

You would be correct about the squirt. I get that every now and then when i use a naked handle, where a jet of water comes out of just one hole in the basket and sprays either the cup, drip tray or the coffee machine itself.

[TC]

You would be correct about the squirt. I get that every now and then when i use a naked handle, where a jet of water comes out of just one hole in the basket and sprays either the cup, drip tray or the coffee machine itself.

Yes- that's called edge channelling. It's a dose/distribution issue, not the machinery. I feel that the holes right to the edge of these baskets makes them more prone to is if your distribution is not perfect and without a very well fitted tamper.

[Pete39]

Hi Pete,

I know you mentioned something clicked last weekend, and you were doing a better job with texturing milk on your duetto.

But here's that video of the coffee I just did. Approx 100ml of milk in 400ml jug, with an attempt at latte art into a 160cc tulip ACF cup. I ran a teaspoon across the top layer (not too sure if this achieved much), and you'll just have to take my word that the microfoam turned out well; the top layer's pretty creamy, no bubbles and is probably 1cm deep.

Sorry about the late reply - been pretty busy.

Thanks for the clip. I did make some progress but never did manage to make really good foam with the two hole tip. Kept finding it was really fast at the start (but quite manageable after a bit of practice) and then slowed down to a point where keeping the milk rolling was difficult (this was with 600 mL jug just under half filled). Ended up plugging up one nostril and increasing the steam boiler pressure. Although it does take a little longer, it produces very consistent, high quality results very easily. The pressure drop is less (ie it settles out to a higher pressure after the initial drop) and I think this gives a better rolling action in the second phase. Jug position is much less critical. Pulling a shot, steaming and keeping the kids in order all at the same time is not an issue!!

I'm hoping to get 'round to experimenting further to look for an ideal speed/result point for this configuration. . Searches on the net show I'm certainly not the first to have trouble steaming with the duetto, and that includes several who have significant experience on machines at this level. Seems there are some machines that are fast and easy and some are not. The journey continues.

Pete

[TC]

Hi Pete,

I still feel it's an easy wand. Just goes to show we're all different!

One thing for all users to check is that there is a little viton o-ring at the end of the teflon tube which seals everything off and is designed to eliminate/reduce the likelihood of steam tracking between the teflon insert and the body of the wand. For mine, it achieves little and can be ditched.

Often if the wand tip has been removed, this o-ring lodges in the tip and can cause milk texture issues.

If it's damaged, my advice is to bin it.

Chris

[BLrdFX]

I'm curious about anyone who has considered the Duetto II vs. Rocket Giotto R58 and what factors made them choose one over the other. Anyone?

I owned an R-58, briefly, and returned it because it made strange noises that the dealer/seller could not identify so I returned it. The Duetto II was going to be where I was going to head but got derailed by a good deal on a La Marzocco GS/3 MP.

Now there is talk about the Duetto III so there is another thing to consider!

[Dr_Dave]

Hi All,
Recently I had a lot of water coming out the steam arm and couldn't see why.
A quick call to Chris Natoli @ Talk Coffee sorted the problem so I thought I would share it in case you encounter the same
I had inadvertently over filled the water reservoir and submerged the return pipe from the steam boiler and it was siphoning back into the boiler. Duh... But I'm very happy that it wasn't anything more serious
A very sincere thanks to Chris who is always so helpful!
It makes me very happy that I purchased from someone like Chris and also what a fantastic resource Snobs is
Cheers
Dr Dave

[Bames]

Hey all,

Got my Alex on Christmas so glad to be joining the owners club! It's a very nice, big and impressive machine - got lots of work to do getting to know it, but am definitely on the way.

Couple of questions...
1) Is there a way to change the display of the PID so that it only displays the brew boiler temperature? At the moment it swaps between the two - and I'd rather just see the brew boiler cause if I want to know what's going on in the steam boiler I just look at the pressure gauge.

2) The brew boiler seems to overshoot by about 2 degrees on average post shot. So after pulling the first shot, by the time I've knocked, ground and tamped for number 2 (about 2 mins), the brew boiler will be displaying usually at least 1 if not 2 degrees above the set point. Is this normal? Does that mean I'm brewing at a higher temperature? Should I be flushing or waiting another minute for the temp to naturally come down to the set point?

[Jonty]

Bames, See your pm. I have no answer to your 1st question but for Q2) http://tinyurl.com/cw27nnx

Good look with the experimentation, it is a wonderful unit that I am glad Chris ever so slightly twisted my arm (although deep down I knew!!) to go with.

Jonty