Izzo Alex Leva

[Dr_Dave]

Hi Tom,
I agree with 338 - it can get confusing listening to lots of opinions. Personally Chris (Caffeinator) has always been super helpful to me and has many years of experience.
It sounds as though you have changed many variables - baskets, screens etc
I doubt it is the Izzo as they are generally bullerproof
Id be thinking beans/grinder or tamping
If you cant get it sorted I would give Chris a call
Cheers
Dave

[FNQ]

Tompoland Hi

Dr Dave offers Sage advice about an Alex Izzo ( pun intended). Methodical is good, one change at a time is good. Feel free to ignore my jabberings.

My observations ( just confirming the state of play really)

two things going on

1. tampered basket fouling on grouphead on installation when using custom tamp but not the izzy tamp now. dose seems okay.

2. still getting channeling spurting

On the first problem ,, some questions for you to muse- some of which have been posed by others in slightly different manner

Do you create a Vacuum with the tight fitting tamper..... The decent v3 vs v4 tamp changed to a non stick type surface as the type three ( i think) would sometimes unsettle the tamped load on the way out...... what if it is popping the basket slightly out of the portafilter on the way out..... this may explain why the custom tamp is present when this tight/clanking occurs?? (ie are you checking the basket/portafilter after tamping)

Another question .... based on my experience in cars, most circlips when HOME are able to not exactly spin in their groove but be slightly moveable ( it is actually the way i check some sneaky circlips are indeed correctly positioned,,,,, on your photo the circlip tangs are partially under a lug opening and partly under the locking shroud ( my naming sorry dont know the thingy's proper name) It shouldn't make a difference but have you tried a few different positions of the circlip ends ( i would see if they both fit under a lug opening- so they are not under the lug when locked in)

If your 18 gm dose and Izzy tamp doesn't clank I would lock these in for use to further refine what is happening with spurting ( at least until you have a clearner picture of what is going on )

Good hunting

[tompoland]

Thanks for that and agreed that changing multiple variables simultaneously is an invitation for trouble.

In regard to being unable to fit the portafilter/basket into the group head, I'm now 95% certain that the issue was I was using tampers that were too wide. The Izzo tamper has a 53mm diameter. I had a custom tamper made which is 54.4mm but my technique was not great after using a PugPress for six months so I bought a self-levelling EasyTamper which was 55mm. When I used either of the last two tampers I could not get the portafilter into the group head. I had the EasyTamper reduced to 54mm and I now have zero problem and of course, I get a nice even and consistent tamp due to the self levelling collar on the EasyTamper. (Anyone want to buy a 54.4mm tamper?)

I'm confident there was no displacement of the basket when removing any of the tampers and ditto in regard to unsettling the puck; I have a habit of visually inspecting the puck after each tamp to confirm that it's even and because of the challenges I was having in fitting the portafilter into the group head I was also carefully checking that the basket was bedded into the portafilter.

The circlip shifted position a bit during my early attempts to dislodge it so yes it has been in different positions during my various pours.

Thanks for your input, it's greatly appreciated.

I'm taking it slowly with the new shower screen but have reverted to the Izzo basket.

The last two pours have been better for sure, to the point of making a good espress but not yet back to the great espresso that I had earlier with the Izzo and that I know it's capable of producing 9 out of 10 times. So I'll keep moving forward with the same basket, same tamper and see if I can improve on the last two pours.

Still loving the Izzo and I know that it's the tool holding the portafilter that is the problem.

[Dr_Dave]

Hi Tom
i meant to add that I have both IMS basket and screen on mine
Cheers
Dave

[>Casa Espresso]

Evening all,

We have just had come into stock the first all black , factory "Nero" edition Alex Leva.

With all black body panels, Italian walnut trim, IMS baskets and screens, this one is available ex our showroom in Melbourne .

Pair it with a black Mahlkonig X54 or Hey cafe H1

Its certainly a head turner

Cheers

Antony
www.casaespresso.com.au

[trentski]

That's a stunner Antony, The colour scheme and the toggles are a huge improvement over the plain plastic taps.

[338]

Update for those wondering about the power consumption of the Alex Izzo Lever. A month ago my smartplug died so purchased one with a power meter included. Over the last month on the days when it has been on for 4 hours (1 hour warmup, 3 hours use) it has averaged 1.08kw a day. Where I live that is about $90 per year which seemed reasonable for something with a 9kg brass radiator hanging off the front. Also means the maximum I could save by moving to a more instant on machine like a Breville Bambino Plus (or maybe cold brew) is $90. I am guessing this is due to the efficient insulation and reasonable sized heater.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

if you wait til the sun's been up for an hour before turning on the machine

[338]

That used to be the case Barry, just yesterday it was announced Aussies had worked out how to make solar power at night - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-...nigh/101070388 Innovative bunch the Australians

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

We could probably launch a giant mirror into space as well, or cover the moon in reflective tin foil Actually, how do we know that Bill Gates isn't already doing that secretly........

[EspressoAdventurer]

Update for those wondering about the Alex Izzo Lever. A month ago my smartplug died so means ...... moving to a more instant on machine like a Breville Bambino Plus (or maybe cold brew) !

Ooohhh my...you wouldn't ...would you 338? Shiirely not.
About as drastic as moving on the AMG 63 coupe from the driveway and bringing in a well looked after '89 Hyundai Excel.......ohhhh dear.
Just guarantees us all here 338 you won't do anything for the moment.
We're arranging for some help.
Its on its way....

[338]

EA, paraphrasing Charlton Heston, my Valexia will have to be pried out of my cold dead hands ...

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

In an earlier film, Charlton also said 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's Alex'

[>Casa Espresso]

Hello all,

Have just put this combo together for the leva enthusiast.

Our Izzo Valexia leva "Bianco" with Italian walnut trim paired up with white Niche Zero.

Both new, unpacked for display purposes only.

Info available on our specials page here:
https://www.casaespresso.com.au/izzo...iche-zero.html

Cheers

Antony
www.casaespresso.com.au

[YouSnooze]

^^ My goodness I would love that Bianco edition 🤤.

Big thanks to Antony at Casa Espresso for assisting me to modify my Alex Leva steam and hot water taps to toggles. I've been wanting to do this ever since owning the machine.
I'm so so happy with it 😍.

[Magic_Matt]

Looks great! Are the wooden toggles original Izzo pieces or custom work?

[>Casa Espresso]

Magic_Matt original Izzo.

Italian walnut trim

Antony
www.casaespresso.com.au

[Sink_cut]

Hello Alex Izzo owners. I am a happy Izzo owner for nearly 7 years now - and it is still running perfectly. Over the years i have only replaced the group seal and the shower screen circlip. I have it plumbed in via a filter which i have replaced yearly. I empty the boiler most days so it fills up at the start of the next day when it turns on.

Given its been 7 years I am wondering if anything else needs to be done. If i had a local place to get it Serviced by a pro I would, however I don’t. PAcking up a 50kg machine and spending the day driving to drop it offf and then again to pick it up would be a pITA and somthing i would only do if i really had to.

The machine is functioning well, no sign of any problems - what are other’s experience? Is there somthng i need to watch out for? Do the piston seals need changing - even if they seem to work?

thanks

DAvid

[Dr_Dave]

Hi David,
I have had my machine for about the same time. As to servicing it - interesting question. Im in the regular servicing before it goes wrong camp. I have a friend who never services any of his equipment until it doesn't work! He laughs at me spending money on preventative maintenance. Didn't work out for him last time he bought his chainsaw round to cut some trees and spent half the day trying to find filters/plugs etc when it wouldn't run
I service my machine every two years. I undo the 4 bolts and remove the handle/springs/piston complex from the top and change the teflon ring and 2 rubber gaskets
Mine still runs as well as the day I bought it
Cheers
Dave

[Sink_cut]

Thanks Dr DAVe - that does sound better than packing up and driving the machine around…. Im happy to get my hands dirty too… i just thought changing the piston seals were a bit tricky - but maybe not.

I imagined lying the machine on its back and trying to undo the piston…. Good to know that you just pull it out from the top. Do you then need a special tool to undo the piston? And is it hard to get it back in to do up the bolts when you are finished?

[338]

Sink Cut, I have only had mine two years so can't offer longevity advice but what may be helpful is there is a video somewhere in this thread possibly, or maybe HB, which was uploaded by previous sponsor Talk Coffee showing how to service. it is quite long but very good.

There is also a guy on HB with a well used Pompei (one where the loctite like material on the piston has already been broken) and he posts videos of changing a piston seal in two minutes! I kid you not.

[338]

From a post by Talk Coffee and with thanks to him

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v1xwm0wi5j...rvice.avi?dl=0