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Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

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  • rivera618
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    rocky, im glad i came back to this thread as im experiencing the exact same thing as you did. i currently have the cover off the machine as i suspected the thermostat was to blame. ill have to start the process of finding an adequate setting. perhaps upgrading the thermostat on these machines is a worthwhile modification.

    Leave a comment:


  • Rocky
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Heres an interesting tale for the other Perfetta owners.
    Just before Christmas 09 I fired up the machine one Saturday morning to find that all of a sudden it was running too hot. Splattering the pucks, emitting steam from the Group, and spluttering out of the overflow for about 20 secs after the pour. After discussion with Chris we decided that the first step was to ensure that there was no blockage in the system of valves that sit behind the Group, so I dutifully pulled the valves apart, cleaned them all & reassembled to find not much difference. (you need some big spanners to do this)
    Next step was to try adjusting the rheostat on the thermostat. This is a screw with a 90degree range of travel that adjusts the water temp. I found the screw was fairly loose so can only think that it may have suddenly vibrated out of its setting. After trying a few different adjustments over as many weeks I appear to have found an acceptable one. It is not as fine an adjustment as the machine had before the problem but it is the best I can get given the small range of travel of the screw. I have noticed it now seems to get hotter and hotter the longer the machine runs which it did not do out of the box. Cooling flushes do not make much difference.
    I used a digital laser thermometer to check temp and it certainly heats up from mid 60 degrees at first flush to high nineties at final flush after two pours. It is producing great coffee once again but if I was doing more than a couple of pours I think I would need to try to get a slightly lower adjustment on the rheostat. So...dont panic if your Perfetta loses its control - it will respond to adjustment.

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  • Kessler
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Hi Guys, thanks for your input. I dont think Ill be able to get a machine that can perfectly fit every scenario I need, but one that does the job well most of the time is realistically what I have to aim for. A HX machine is too expensive for me and too big for my kitchen and a bit overdone for one to two coffees a day for most of the time.

    The Perfetta is sounding better and better and most importantly theres nothing negative about it, (within the constraints of a single boiler machine).

    Ill let you know how it goes for those that are interested.

    Leave a comment:


  • makuhc
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Hi Kessler,

    The Perfettas a great machine and I got mine from Chris @ TalkCoffee last October.

    It works well for up to four single shot drinks (basically you get the double basket and fill two cups) but making drinks for 6 to 8 people is definitely pushing what it can do in a short amount of time. The A HX machine would be more suitable for that unless people dont mind waiting. This is because you need to pull 6 shots before heating up the boiler to steam the milk and waiting for the temperature to come back down to pull another shot will take a few minutes at least, else you burn your coffee.

    Ive recently warmed up to the idea of drinking double shot lattes, or if I have to share the shot with my girlfriend, I just pour the shots into smaller 150ml glasses. Im just saying if you want to pour a lot of shots and steam milk at the same time, a HX would be better for you.

    Ive also noted that I wait about a minute for the boiler to heat up to steam milk, and that I have to vent quite a bit of steam to get it to dry out. I dont know if its a single boiler/dual purpose machine quirk but thats how Ive been making my coffees lately.

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  • TC
    replied
    Re: new machine

    Hello Kessler,

    You will be able to buy a Perfetta at a very fair price in Sydney from site sponsor cuppacoffee. Dennis is the Sydney agent for Talk Coffee and will be thrilled to assist you. We also have a demo model of 2 shots (as I recall) for sale at a great price in Melbourne- which we can ship for you if required.

    The Perfetta is a terrific machine and is the best dual purpose single boiler machine I have used.

    Please feel most welcome to contact Den or moi if we can assist.

    regards

    Chris

    Leave a comment:


  • Kessler
    replied
    Re: new machine

    Hi all,  Ive been perusing this site and reading as much as I can.  For myself, I think Ill be getting the Perfetta, however although Ive identified some shops in Melbourne and maybe one in Brisbane, who sells them in Sydney?

    Oh, and coffee history, Ive just bought a Rocky grinder, will be making the infinite adjusment thing to it.

    Im looking at making 1 cappuccino in the morning and 1 in the evening, and about every fortnight maybe 6-8 when friends come over, so need a balance between everyday use and group use.  I was thinking about the Silvia but the Perfetta looks much better and should cope somewhat better with the group.   The coffeeco website has a demo of making six milk based coffees with the lelit so Im thinking I should be able to do better with the Perfetta ??????

    Thoughts and opinions welcome.....

    thanks,

    Kessler

    Leave a comment:


  • sniffta
    replied
    Re: new machine

    Hi Tony,
     I got a Perfetta mid last year and am very happy with its performance.

    Being the only coffee drinker in the house I was not looking to spend a fortune but wanted something reliable and user friendly. I generally pull 2-3 doubles on weekends and 1-2 on weekdays. Mostly milk based drinks.

    The general advice seems to be that if your doing a few milk based drinks at a time that a HX would be the best bet. However, I have found that the small wait between pulling the shot and waiting for the (Abundant) steam gives me the chance to clean out the group handle and grab the milk etc.

    The fact that the Perfetta is also very temp stable once Chris had calibrated it was also appealing, my research suggested that some of the lower end HX machines may not be as temp stable thus the use of a PID. I may be wrong, however that was what my limited research suggested at the time. The more enlightened members may be able to advise?

    Price is always a factor otherwise we would have nothing to talk about other than GS3s.

    Good luck with your purchase, Im sure you will enjoy many good coffees whichever you choose.

    Leave a comment:


  • adjiland
    replied
    Re: new machine


    I should finish my post for single boiler the Diadema Perfetta looks good and for the HX machines the Nuova Silminelli Oscar or the Expobar Semi Auto look good
    Tony

    Leave a comment:


  • adjiland
    replied
    Re: new machine

    hi everyone

    thanks for the replies so far i think i have narrowed things down a little single boiler the Diadema Perfetta or for the HX machines the Nouva

    Leave a comment:


  • oz_soarer
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    I got my 90ml and 200ml Duralex glasses from Di Bella in Brisbane. Not quite down the road from Rockhampton but you can order from them online at www.coffeecentral.com.au.

    Leave a comment:


  • jerome
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    you can get piccolo glasses from Jetblack.. they have a range of duralex glasses.. the 90ml one will be perfect!

    Leave a comment:


  • Rocky
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Macaroos - congratulations on joining the Perfetta club with Pearl, Rivera, Sniffta & myself. (others?) I concur with everything you mentioned. They steam like crazy, dont they?
    Had my machine for 12 mths this month and have no complaints whatsoever. No-one here who drinks flat whites so will never get any experience in latte art, but every other type of coffee gets a run.
    I am also looking for some small latte glasses so I can do piccolo lattes for post-breakky. I f you ID some good ones I would be interested to hear. It is difficult up here in the sticks as there is nowhere locally that stocks a range of glasses/cups. I am gradually checking-out all the suppliers on the net. Best Wishes for your Perfetta experience.

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Originally posted by 676B617F62690A0 link=1230793442/38#38 date=1258348118
    Just got my Perfetta from Chris at Talk Coffee at the beginning of October.

    Coffee. Chris has calibrated the machine, and my shots come out at 10 bar. Putting on the blind basket for backflush also gets the pressure up to 10 bar. <snip>
    Thanks for the review macaroos. I think the Perfetta is the best single boiler machine on the market and I am glad that youre happy.

    FYI, although you may see 10 bar on the gauge, your machine is running 9 bar at the group- verified by our trusty p/f pressure gauge..

    Enjoy!

    Chris

    Leave a comment:


  • makuhc
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Just got my Perfetta from Chris at Talk Coffee at the beginning of October. Great service from Chris, definitely recommended to those who live in Melbourne looking to get a new machine.

    Had it for a month and the half now and it took me a while but Im getting more comfortable with it. Its a big step up from my previous machine, a Nemox Napoletana. That and the adjustments you can make from the Macap M4, I was initially overwhelmed with the number of variables you could tweak just to get a cup of coffee out.

    Coffee. Chris has calibrated the machine, and my shots come out at 10 bar. Putting on the blind basket for backflush also gets the pressure up to 10 bar. Espresso is a great improvement over my Nemox but Im still learning everyday on how to get a better shot. Going through the Coffeesnobs forum makes for good bed time reading. :P

    Steam. Turned the knob a few rounds and theres a giant jet of steam from the two hole steam tip. You have to release a fair bit of steam before it comes out dry. Also took me a while to realise that you dont have to open the valve a lot to steam milk. Was frothing milk for 2 lattes in under 8 seconds prior to this. Getting the consistency to make latte art now. Just need more practise to get a nicer rosetta.



    Overall I love the Perfetta a lot. Build is solid, switches are at the right places so you dont burn yourself too often.

    Good for 4 cups of milk based drinks. Managed to make 6 in one sitting before, but youd be waiting a considerable amount of time for the group head to cool down after frothing milk for the first 4 drinks. Am wanting to get smaller piccolo latte glasses now so that I can have less milk and more coffee flavour.

    So what else can I say? I was attracted to the Vibiemme Piccolo at first but after going through the details with Chris, decided on the Perfetta instead. That plus how could I resist the stainless steel sides vs the black ones of the Piccolo?

    Its an excellent machine and would recommend it to anyone wanting a good single boiler dual purpose machine.

    Leave a comment:


  • rivera618
    replied
    Re: Diadema Perfetta - The assessment

    Rocky, im on the same boat as you regarding consistency of results. i try to be as consistent as possible with the dose/tamp but ive only been working with the machine a couple of months, so i have ways to go. ive also been using different beans which also adds a variable in there. my exposure to "authentic" espresso is also limited, so im just going with what i think tastes good.
    let me know what WOW is and ill be glad to check it out

    Leave a comment:

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