Bezzera Duo DE Dual Boiler

[mikef]

I love my Bezzera Duo DE however I've always been enamored by the Slayer with its ability to provide a very long slow pre-infusion. So I have modified my Duo and installed an adjustable needle valve and a push-button switchable valve. It works brilliantly. Setting the needle valve to deliver 50ml in 30 seconds with no portafilter in the group translates to a pre-infusion time/flow control with coffee (before drips emerge from the basket (naked portafilter)) of 20 seconds for a 20gm dose and 10 seconds for a 10gm dose. IE pre-infusion at a flow rate of about 1ml per 1 gm of coffee per second.

Once pre-infusion is finished I just switch it off and the extraction rises to 9 bars (as set by my rotary pump). It's absolutely repeatable and allows for finer grind and greater extraction. I measure about 22% extraction efficiency with my refractometer. I can adjust the needle valve to be faster or slower at will. I can also press the pre-infusion button during the extraction to provide a 'ramp-down' at the end of the extraction. My internal implementation of the needle valve and control valve is quite original. The use of the pre-infusion function works perfectly with the volumetric dosing IE the volumetric measurement also measures and includes the pre-infusion water and therefore the delivered doses don't change whether using pre-infusion or not. Needless to say, I'm very happy with my espresso particularly with lighter roasts.

[datahunt]

I've been searching the net looking at all the information that I can find on the Bezzera Duo and Martix DE machines before I commit to a purchase, I'm coming form a Breville Dual Boiler so the DE is similar in features, I've been talking to a few of the NZ coffee machine retailers and most say to stick with ECM that carry ECM and Bezzera, giving the edge to ECM. I just like the look of the Matrix DE but I've read the first lot of Martix DE had issues with the screen, though they remedied this on future machines post 2019, additionally a couple of other smaller issues. I saw you were in Tauranga and thought I'd make an account and send you a message as not many people in Tauranga seem to own a Bezzera Duo or Matrix from what I can see online.


Wlwith owing the machine for awhile now, would you recommend me away from the Matrix DE and towards another machine from ECM, Profitec, etc. I've even thought of importing a Decent machine.


Regards,
Will

[datahunt]

quester I couldn't PM you so I've posted above

[quester]

Meant to PM, sorry folks

[man2112]

I love my Bezzera Duo DE however I've always been enamored by the Slayer with its ability to provide a very long slow pre-infusion. So I have modified my Duo and installed an adjustable needle valve and a push-button switchable valve. It works brilliantly. Setting the needle valve to deliver 50ml in 30 seconds with no portafilter in the group translates to a pre-infusion time/flow control with coffee (before drips emerge from the basket (naked portafilter)) of 20 seconds for a 20gm dose and 10 seconds for a 10gm dose. IE pre-infusion at a flow rate of about 1ml per 1 gm of coffee per second.

Once pre-infusion is finished I just switch it off and the extraction rises to 9 bars (as set by my rotary pump). It's absolutely repeatable and allows for finer grind and greater extraction. I measure about 22% extraction efficiency with my refractometer. I can adjust the needle valve to be faster or slower at will. I can also press the pre-infusion button during the extraction to provide a 'ramp-down' at the end of the extraction. My internal implementation of the needle valve and control valve is quite original. The use of the pre-infusion function works perfectly with the volumetric dosing IE the volumetric measurement also measures and includes the pre-infusion water and therefore the delivered doses don't change whether using pre-infusion or not. Needless to say, I'm very happy with my espresso particularly with lighter roasts.

Any chance you have a link to instructions on how to modify the Duo DE in that fashion? I'm on the fence of buying the Bezzera, but doing such a mod would make it the perfect machine for me.

[yamdaddy]

I love my Bezzera Duo DE however I've always been enamored by the Slayer with its ability to provide a very long slow pre-infusion. So I have modified my Duo and installed an adjustable needle valve and a push-button switchable valve. It works brilliantly. Setting the needle valve to deliver 50ml in 30 seconds with no portafilter in the group translates to a pre-infusion time/flow control with coffee (before drips emerge from the basket (naked portafilter)) of 20 seconds for a 20gm dose and 10 seconds for a 10gm dose. IE pre-infusion at a flow rate of about 1ml per 1 gm of coffee per second.

mikef hey I have a bezzera duo and I'd love to have it modified for pre infusion like you did with yours, did you have someone do it for you or did you do it yourself?

Sorry I can't PM due to just signing up!

[mikef]

I did the modification myself. It's a big job but was well worth it. I've since sold the machine and moved on to a Rocket R9 One.