First impressions:
At the 2 bar pre-infusion that the machine arrived with, the behaviour and taste were like the very best shots I recall from my time with the 'old' L1 Luxe and at 3 bar pre-infusion it was just as full bodied as the shots I am used to getting from my L1-P (which is named the L1 nowadays).
Also, the pump works fast indeed and it's more quiet in sound than I expected. It moves a lot of water in a short time so I expected a sharp but brief whine and in real life it's much less intrusive and over before you know it.
Tips:
If you get the machine, reserve at least 2-3 hours to get everything neatly unpacked and sorted without interruptions by others.
Warm up the panels that you want to peel the white protective plastic off. Observe that to get the side panels off, you first need to get the top panel off.
When putting the top panel back on, first keep the water tank out and before applying force, make sure you understand where every part of the top panel goes (over the front of the machine, the little 'hands' over the rim of the black tank holder, nicely balanced in the middle of it).
If you plan on changing the pre-infusion pressure using the Ceme pressostat, carefully take off the little center cap (see pictures way below). It is sealed so you take care to break that seal with delicate force, do not use heavy tools.
Changing the pre-infusion pressure, you can responsibly use a portafilter-gauge if you have one, but you do not need one. Keep in mind that counter clockwise turning you raise the pressure, clockwise you lower it. One full 360º turn is a little more than 1 bar difference. Try a half turn, see how the extraction goes, understand what you have done and take it from there.
I pulled some first shots and Jan van der Weel who came by to see the newcomer also pulled some espressos.
Videos will be in the next blog but below are some of the very first pictures
At the 2 bar pre-infusion that the machine arrived with, the behaviour and taste were like the very best shots I recall from my time with the 'old' L1 Luxe and at 3 bar pre-infusion it was just as full bodied as the shots I am used to getting from my L1-P (which is named the L1 nowadays).
Also, the pump works fast indeed and it's more quiet in sound than I expected. It moves a lot of water in a short time so I expected a sharp but brief whine and in real life it's much less intrusive and over before you know it.
Tips:
If you get the machine, reserve at least 2-3 hours to get everything neatly unpacked and sorted without interruptions by others.
Warm up the panels that you want to peel the white protective plastic off. Observe that to get the side panels off, you first need to get the top panel off.
When putting the top panel back on, first keep the water tank out and before applying force, make sure you understand where every part of the top panel goes (over the front of the machine, the little 'hands' over the rim of the black tank holder, nicely balanced in the middle of it).
If you plan on changing the pre-infusion pressure using the Ceme pressostat, carefully take off the little center cap (see pictures way below). It is sealed so you take care to break that seal with delicate force, do not use heavy tools.
Changing the pre-infusion pressure, you can responsibly use a portafilter-gauge if you have one, but you do not need one. Keep in mind that counter clockwise turning you raise the pressure, clockwise you lower it. One full 360º turn is a little more than 1 bar difference. Try a half turn, see how the extraction goes, understand what you have done and take it from there.
I pulled some first shots and Jan van der Weel who came by to see the newcomer also pulled some espressos.
Videos will be in the next blog but below are some of the very first pictures
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| One of the smaller parcels, with top of the group head |
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| Top peeking out |
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| Grouphead top unboxed |
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| Second small box with portafilter, lever. water filter, allen key |
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| The main body snug and safe |
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| Plastic protective sheets, group head well wrapped |
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| Looking in on the right side |
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| Top view. DO NOT FORGET to take off that RED TAB, and SAVE it. |
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| Other side look |
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| Glimpse of the rotary pump |
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| Rotary pump in (lower) and out (top, braided hose) |
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| Ceme pre-infusion p-stat capped |
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| Cap taken off, little adjustment screw visible |