Izzo Alex Leva

[TC]

Could also go a longer lever handle (or piece of iron pipe over the top of the existing lever )

Eat more weeties for breakfast

[simonko]

What if coffee is breakfast? You need to import the Alex Long Lever

[TC]

What if coffee is breakfast? You need to import the Alex Long Lever

Then it must be time to join a gym and toughen the _ up!

[MrJack]

Layer of cement at the bottom of the puck?

[shortblackman]

That's how tatiana gregoriova got started - using one of those.

[RichardC]

Greetings Snobbery

Well I've gone ahead and pulled lever on the Leva!

After an extensive search looking for a machine that was right for me in the end it all boiled down to 2 machines, the Nota and the Leva.

The Note, a HX with 3L boiler and "had the goods" aesthetically was the machine for me as I had eliminated the Leva given we're presently in a rental. But slightly over priced for a HX machine.

The Leva, this has been a machine I had been romanticising for a couple of years but given our rental dilemma I kept it to one side until recently. We run a home office and just renewed the lease (detached office is 120sqm so it suits our purposes) so I thought I'd ask the landlord for permission to bring mains to the kitchen island.

Approval received Sunday, order made with Chris Monday, can't wait to play!

One element of playing I am really looking forward to is experimenting to the point where I can extract a shot smooth and silky enough that will not require milk. I have always been flat white drinker but each time I experimented with an espresso on the 6910 I just couldn't resolve the bitterness issue. Plus after 9 years it's well and truly past its best.

Paired it with a black Fausto I was able to get wholesale up here through a friend of a friend.

[simonko]

Good choice - you would have just upgraded to the Leva next year anyway if you got the Nota.

[Dr_Dave]

Well done Richard
You wont regret it
Look fwd to the pickies
Regards
Dave

[RichardC]

Thanks guys (can we still say guys? - what PC nonsense is society frivolously concerning itself with when there are monster issues to deal with.....sorry, I digress : ))

Appreciate your comments, looking forward to many years of caffeinated experiences!

Coincidentally, 2 weeks ago I start a gym regime on my own and with a PT, body is aching top to bottom, arms in particular are struggling to carry their own weight at the moment but still looking forward to a workout on the Leva! Though I'll do my best to avoid the chin ups!

[TC]

And it's on the road Richard.

Thanks for your support and welcome to the leva club. Hope you love it!

Chris

[RichardC]

Thanks for the professional service and advice!

[GregWormald]

I'm sorry to disappoint you--(quote: One element of playing I am really looking forward to is experimenting to the point where I can extract a shot smooth and silky enough that will not require milk.)--as Izzo levers are so easy to use that the experimenting time will be very short.

Greg

[RichardC]

I'm sorry to disappoint you--(quote: One element of playing I am really looking forward to is experimenting to the point where I can extract a shot smooth and silky enough that will not require milk.)--as Izzo levers are so easy to use that the experimenting time will be very short.

Greg

Experimenting is overrated anyway, so yesterday!

Incidentally, as the Fausto arrived last week I spent a little time (or sacrificing circa 300gms of beans) dialing it in for the 6910. It took me a while to figure it out but took the option to phone a friend who also bought a Fausto at the same time and the "penny" dropped whilst comparing notes.

Anyhow, for the single basket I had to dial up to 20gms (in a very fast 10.7 seconds!) for a 190ml espresso cup. Is is just me or is that an extraordinary amount of gms for a single shot? (didn't bother working the double basket but I suspect it would have needed 35-40gms)

I have always suspected, as an appliance, the 6910 needed more gms, needed to work harder based on it's internal limitations and still produced "just adequate" shots.

In theory (and soon to be in practice) I'm assuming the Leva will require less gms in the basket as the pre infusion and bar pressure will extract all that lovely nectar from every grain of the grind. I'm so looking forward to pumping that piston!

Richard

[nickm]

RE: Fausto
at the risk of derailing the thread. I'm generally putting 20g in a double basket in about 13 seconds for a good 30 second pour. I know there are a lot more variables (machine, beans etc) but this seems to average out for me.

[RichardC]

When the Leva arrives I'm looking / aiming for approx 25-30gms for a very decent double but won't know until it breaks me in