Just thought I would post an update after a couple of months of ownership of the mighty lever, aka the Izzo Pompeii Lever single group, purchased from Chris at Talk Coffee.
This machine has me in awe, and so, so grateful that I was not steered away from the path of a commercial spring lever machine in favour of a more complicated option.
I am really starting to wonder whether we have been mislead by manufacturers creating a market for increasingly complex and more automated machines, when in fact the original design of the spring lever is easier to get god shots from, much more consistent in the shots it does produce and finally so much less mess to deal with!
My old machine, a Bezzera BZ35e was no slouch in the coffee machine world, a commercial HX machine which was certainly capable of making great coffee.
Its the fact that the Izzo just pumps out shot after shot without any flushing, adjusting, noise, mess or any fuss. They are wonderful shots with great, sustaining crema, beautiful mouth feel and lasting flavour that has me licking my lips 20 minutes later!
There is no mess from grounds on the shower screen or round the group, the puck drops out into the knock box with the portafilter only needing a wipe, the WAF is massive, she can churn out great shots, and she definitely appreciates the lack of mess!
No routine of back flushing on a weekly basis either, a task I dont miss!
If I am just making a coffee for myself I use the Pharos manual grinder, and I believe I can taste the difference with the big commercial conical burr - probably should arrange a blind testing to confirm that! My old La San Marco flat burr still seems well and truly up to the task, there is just a bit more separation of flavours with the conical IMO.
While I understand that the Izzo Pompeii is a serious step up in price from most high end consumer or commercial machines, I am constantly amazed at how much better it is, I am sure that some of the lower priced levers like the various Bezzera models, would perform just as well and if any one is considering dabbling with a lever then just do it!
As I say I have a suspicion we have been conned all along and perhaps simpler really is better!
Finally I would just like to restate my thanks to Chris, it was his balanced feedback that helped me narrow the choice down to the point where I was happy to part with rather a large wad of cash for one of these amazing machines, if it had not been for him i may well have missed out on my epiphany!
This machine has me in awe, and so, so grateful that I was not steered away from the path of a commercial spring lever machine in favour of a more complicated option.
I am really starting to wonder whether we have been mislead by manufacturers creating a market for increasingly complex and more automated machines, when in fact the original design of the spring lever is easier to get god shots from, much more consistent in the shots it does produce and finally so much less mess to deal with!
My old machine, a Bezzera BZ35e was no slouch in the coffee machine world, a commercial HX machine which was certainly capable of making great coffee.
Its the fact that the Izzo just pumps out shot after shot without any flushing, adjusting, noise, mess or any fuss. They are wonderful shots with great, sustaining crema, beautiful mouth feel and lasting flavour that has me licking my lips 20 minutes later!
There is no mess from grounds on the shower screen or round the group, the puck drops out into the knock box with the portafilter only needing a wipe, the WAF is massive, she can churn out great shots, and she definitely appreciates the lack of mess!
No routine of back flushing on a weekly basis either, a task I dont miss!
If I am just making a coffee for myself I use the Pharos manual grinder, and I believe I can taste the difference with the big commercial conical burr - probably should arrange a blind testing to confirm that! My old La San Marco flat burr still seems well and truly up to the task, there is just a bit more separation of flavours with the conical IMO.
While I understand that the Izzo Pompeii is a serious step up in price from most high end consumer or commercial machines, I am constantly amazed at how much better it is, I am sure that some of the lower priced levers like the various Bezzera models, would perform just as well and if any one is considering dabbling with a lever then just do it!
As I say I have a suspicion we have been conned all along and perhaps simpler really is better!
Finally I would just like to restate my thanks to Chris, it was his balanced feedback that helped me narrow the choice down to the point where I was happy to part with rather a large wad of cash for one of these amazing machines, if it had not been for him i may well have missed out on my epiphany!

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