Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Best home spring lever

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Best home spring lever

    Hi all... I’m new to the forums but I know that this is a hotbed of experience on large spring levers. I’m comparing the Profitec Pro 800 and the Izzo Leva. Plumbing or power won’t be an issue. Mostly I want the best results in the cup and best consistency.
    I was concerned about the challenges of getting the piston off of the Leva (if it’s sealed with loctite), but otherwise the maintenance seems reasonable.

    does anyone here have experience with both? Any red flags to avoid one or the other?

  • #2
    No experience with the Izzo (I hear it is a brilliant machine).
    I do own a Profitec Pro 800 for the last 4 ish years and cannot speak highly enough of it. I absolutely love it!

    Probably be hard pressed to find many that have owned or even used both. Both have pretty similar specs in terms of a lever & PID. While I think the profitec pro 800 has a slightly larger footprint but only marginally.

    As you pointed out the refitting of the spring is slightly harder on the Izzo - but other than that the maintenance is pretty much the same from what I have heard. I personally have never taken off the spring and only had it done once by a pro as part of a service. What tipped me to the Pro 800 was the ability to plumb and tank, but that isn't an issue for you.

    Keep in mind both require some patience and a bit of a 'dance' to get the flow and feel of the machine.

    I'd go get my hands on both if you can and have a play. JetBlack (site sponsor have both) and might be able to chime in or if you can get into the shop they might be able to demo both.

    Comment


    • Caffeinator
      Caffeinator commented
      Editing a comment
      I have repaired (and pulled shots on) a Profi and used and own Izzo as well as some other levas- old and new, spring and not.

      Head and shoulders (for me), the LSM group over all others. Clever profiling machines can emulate a leva but nothing beats the the beauty, simplicity and silence of a great leva.

      FWIW, if I had a Profi, the first thing I'd ditch would the vibe pump and plumb it for silence. That's what true levas are about- for me anyway. Shots and romance.

  • #3
    I've only got experience with a Cremina and Pro800 and have observed that those that go the lever route tend to become staunch lever advocates.

    It also been interesting to watch the obsession that the Descent Espresso machine seems to have with replicating a spring lever profile.

    I think either of your short list would be fantastic in the cup and on the bench.

    Cheers

    Comment


    • Caffeinator
      Caffeinator commented
      Editing a comment
      Originally posted by SanderP View Post
      It also been interesting to watch the obsession that the Descent Espresso machine seems to have with replicating a spring lever profile...
      Perhaps it wants to be a Cremina one day when it grows up!

  • #4
    https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...izzo-alex-leva

    This thread might be useful

    Comment


    • #5
      Do you have the opportunity to visit a place that sells either or both, and taste some coffee? One thing to consider is that the Leva has a 55mm (?) group rather than the 58mm of the Profitec. This sort of gives you a taller puck. Some state that they prefer the taste from this set up to other levers, but I'm sure that others might have different preferences. I've only used a Cremina (no spring, 49mm group) and Achille (which uses basically the same lever group as the Profitec), and while I prefer the Cremina for a lot of reasons, both can make outstanding espresso. I have no intention of switching to a pump machine. I reckon you'll be happy which ever way you go. Try to buy local if you can (or check out whether there's a difference in availablity of service locally).

      Comment


      • #6
        Originally posted by SanderP View Post
        I've only got experience with a Cremina and Pro800 and have observed that those that go the lever route tend to become staunch lever advocates.

        It also been interesting to watch the obsession that the Descent Espresso machine seems to have with replicating a spring lever profile.

        I think either of your short list would be fantastic in the cup and on the bench.

        Cheers

        I agree. I have a Cremina and I’m thinking about moving to a bigger machine that can plumb in and stay on all day. I’m tempted by something like the Linea Mini but the romance of the lever is just too much.

        Comment


        • #7
          Best home spring lever machine is a Londinium R24 in my opinion. I tossed up between the Profitec 800 and izzo leva as well, but what won me was the amazing customer service and availability from Reiss. The R24 has been great with me so far and its really really quiet.

          Comment


          • #8
            We have a Cremina proper lever and an Electra Micro Casa Leva Spring Lever.
            The Cremina extractions are in another class.
            You loose 50% of your ability to control the extraction when you leave it to a spring, (might as well push a button).

            Comment


            • #9
              Originally posted by DrH View Post


              I agree. I have a Cremina and I’m thinking about moving to a bigger machine that can plumb in and stay on all day. I’m tempted by something like the Linea Mini but the romance of the lever is just too much.
              Sponsor Antony at Casa Espresso in Moorabbin has a couple of big levers on the go in his showroom. Be worth a visit.

              Comment


              • #10
                still love my Strega.
                buy what you like, cost will soon be forgotten but every time you walk past your beautiful lever machine you will get a pavlovian rush ... let alone the joy when you actually use it

                Comment


                • SanderP
                  SanderP commented
                  Editing a comment
                  Do you still get the decreasing pressure profile on the Strega?

                  Cheers

                • Caffeinator
                  Caffeinator commented
                  Editing a comment
                  A little testing with a Scace device proves that the decreasing pressure profile doesn't really exist. What you get is 12Bar (LSM) or 9Bar (CMA etc) until the last few ml of the shot- assuming you're letting the entire shot go to the cup.

              • #11
                Londinium R24 is absolutely the best lever machines you can find in the market.

                24v Rotary pump filling
                Water tank or plumbable
                Double boiler with adjustable temperature
                Pre infusion pressure and lenght adjustable from your smartphone
                I've played with an older version and the shots were superb
                Typical CMA/Bosco 58mm grouphead ,you can use any VST or 58mm baskets

                I don't think there's anything else in the market better

                Comment


                • Barry O'Speedwagon
                  Barry O'Speedwagon commented
                  Editing a comment
                  What is your experience with other lever machines?

                • Caffeinator
                  Caffeinator commented
                  Editing a comment
                  What I personally don't want in any leva machine is a pump.

                  Yeah/nar on Londinium. If lists of specifications do it for you, the Vostok which does all of that and then adds cartridge heaters to the modified LSM group as well.

                  A one group Vostok was on the drawing board. Importer Jetblack would be able to advise as to whether it ever came to fruition.

                  Bottom line is that few have experience of more than perhaps one or two. I call it honeymoon period. Best bet, visit someone who has experience.

              • #12
                Originally posted by Vittorio View Post
                Londinium R24 is absolutely the best lever machines you can find in the market.

                24v Rotary pump filling
                Water tank or plumbable
                Double boiler with adjustable temperature
                Pre infusion pressure and lenght adjustable from your smartphone
                I've played with an older version and the shots were superb
                Typical CMA/Bosco 58mm grouphead ,you can use any VST or 58mm baskets

                I don't think there's anything else in the market better
                I know I've said it before, but I just wanted to second this again. I've had my R24 for about a month now, and it's been absolutely sensational. The consistent and smooth shots that come out of it were are just so difficult to replicate compared to e61 machines, including the Lelit Bianca which I have had before.

                I had a chat with Reiss a few weeks back, to go through the thermodynamics and physics of the thermosiphon, pstat and preinfusion of the Londinium machine on a video call, and I've never been more involved myself with a machine compared to previous machines I've owned. Due to this, I am becoming a bigger advocate for doing self-maintenance of machines, so that would detract me from the Izzo Leva. I know that in about a years time, I will definitely be ordering a service kit from Londinium (along with other goods and accessories) and having a chat with Reiss again and going through what to do, but also what to expect when things do wear out.

                It's just a bit hard to swallow sometimes when parts for coffee machines aren't too hard to come by (at least with the big player brands), but their yearly servicing and repair costs are quite steep due to labour.

                Comment


                • Dr_Dave
                  Dr_Dave commented
                  Editing a comment
                  I have had my Izzo Leva for 6 years and service it myself. The first time I had an engineer friend do it and show me. Since then its easy.

              • #13
                Hi Vittoria and lecn, you both mention the R24 is dual boiler. Has that always been the case, I thought they weren't originally. If that is the case would be interesting to compare to the new ACS Vostok which is definitely dual boiler and has the LSM group.

                Lecn there is a video on HB of a Dutch gentleman changing his Leva piston in about two minutes. Seems it is quite quick the second time after breaking the seal of the initial loctite. Out of genuine interest what are the other things which make the Alex Leva hard to service?

                Comment


                • Caffeinator
                  Caffeinator commented
                  Editing a comment
                  Originally posted by 338 View Post
                  Out of genuine interest what are the other things which make the Alex Leva hard to service?
                  I'm yet to find any. If it's "hard" for any owner, you send the piston or group away and have it done for you. The only "hard" part is cracking loktite and compressing springs. It's all about having the right tools to do it.

              • #14
                I'll put in a vote for the Strega. One of the big pluses for the Strega is the heated group, which in addition to fast warm up, gives you flexibility to adjust the group temperature if you PID the group, which is very easy.

                My Strega is dual PID - one on group, and one on boiler. The boiler one has less influence over the final shot temperature, but I have done some testing which shows some influence, and it makes it really easy to try different group and boiler temperatures.

                There are a couple of negatives to the Strega - the chromed plastic cap on the group irritates me, and there is a bit of chassis flex when you pull the lever down, which offends my engineering senses.

                The othe rpoint is that the height is a little lower than most of the others - I have a custom made wooden lever handle that is a little shorter than stock, and it enables me to position the Strega on the benchtop in the kitchen without the lever obstructing the upper cupboards.

                But whichever lever you get, you'll love it......

                Comment

                Working...
                X