I just bought this machine. Looks awesome however I have no idea how to do the basic installation. I also have hard water so would you recommend distilled water? Thanks!
@almostkid911 No on the distilled water; use filtered or softened water (distilled water will damage your machine's internals over time and also doesn't make coffee taste that great). The importer has a user manual on their site, you should have received a link to that; if not, feel free to send me a PM and I can point you to it. - Kat
@EvanOz85 Def! It's a great machine, particularly if you are into single origins or estate beans and want to have really finite control over your brew temp. - Kat
@javaspice We have sold 2, one in Valdez and one in Auke Bay. If either of those areas are close to you, please email me your contact information and I could contact the customers on your behalf to see if they'd be game to give you a tour of their machine. Thanks! - Kat
(sadly) I do not have one (yet), but from what I understand the 20 amp pig tail only on this allows you to froth and brew at the same time. With the 15 amp pig tail you can only do one or the other (froth or brew)......
This is not true -- you can do both simultaneously; at the 15 amp, it takes longer to heat up and to build up pressures/etc. between uses. It's something you'd really notice if you're using it in a small commercial app, but home users probably wouldn't notice much of a difference. - Kat
Hi ladies! Will the tall PF for the Mini Vivaldi II fit under the doser in the Rancilio Rocky? (My tall PPF for my Starbucks Barista does not.) Thanks!
Is there a way around for people who only make a shot or two a day so that the water wont it too long in the head boiler? Maybe don't put too much water in the reservoir? Will that work?
You'd just need to flush out the water through the group head before you pulled a shot. The water in the reservoir won't impact it; the machine is going to pump in water until the boilers are to capacity and won't function if unable to. - Kat
As an espresso enthusiast, I am madly in love with Cath's voice. Can we have a documentary of you done by Gayle? "The Making Of..." or something like that?
And your laugh.... it is like blue to the skies.... I will buy one of these machines soon. Your voice has done the job...
The only functional difference between the two models is tank vs. plumbed and a quieter pump. The temp is changed the same and the manufacturer says that the preinfusion time cannot be adjusted.
Totally! The Mini Vivaldi is an awesome machine -- not trying to dissuade you if you love it :) If you have any other questions about it please don't hesitate to ask.
Honestly, I don't think you should go with a double boiler if you're only making one drink per day. The water in the brew head boiler will sit longer and can get more alkaline over time, which will have an adverse affect on the shot quality. I think a heat exchange machine would be a better option for a one drink per day kind of output. However, if you've got your heart set on the double boiler, I think the Izzo's an awesome choice, esp. with switching the water intake on the fly.
The heat exchange is going to pull in fresh water from the reservoir and heating it through the copper tubing, then deliver it to the brew head; whereas the water in the DB brew head boiler will be pulled in and then be hanging out in there at temperature. If you're not brewing enough to refresh that water often enough, it can get more alkaline by just sitting in the boiler. The brew head water in a heat exchange doesn't hang out in a boiler, therefore it's not going to have the same issue.
Hey!
I just bought this machine. Looks awesome however I have no idea how to do the basic installation. I also have hard water so would you recommend distilled water? Thanks!
almostkid911 3 months ago
@almostkid911 No on the distilled water; use filtered or softened water (distilled water will damage your machine's internals over time and also doesn't make coffee taste that great). The importer has a user manual on their site, you should have received a link to that; if not, feel free to send me a PM and I can point you to it. - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 3 months ago
Do you guys still recommend the Mini Vivaldi II? I'm trying to decide between this machine, and the Rocket Cellini.
EvanOz85 5 months ago
@EvanOz85 Def! It's a great machine, particularly if you are into single origins or estate beans and want to have really finite control over your brew temp. - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 5 months ago
The users forums are available at s1cafe dot com
pawelpocM 1 year ago
@pawelpocM Thanks for the link! - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 1 year ago
Hi!The 53mm pf works very good, I have no wish for 58. Temperature settings: the range is from 88 to 100.
At the user's forum you can donwload manuals and learn a lot about al the Vivaldi series machines.
pawelpocM 1 year ago
53 mm basket is the draw back, it could be at least 58 mm they need to change that.
bigbooktim1 1 year ago
@bigbooktim1 I agree somewhat, I do wish it had the commercial sized portafilter, but the results really are excellent regardless. - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 1 year ago
@SeattleCoffeeGear
53mm is a commercial sized portafilter. All Spaziale uses it, including the last La Spaz model > S40.
oton 1 year ago
@oton cool :) - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 1 year ago
@javaspice We have sold 2, one in Valdez and one in Auke Bay. If either of those areas are close to you, please email me your contact information and I could contact the customers on your behalf to see if they'd be game to give you a tour of their machine. Thanks! - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 1 year ago
(sadly) I do not have one (yet), but from what I understand the 20 amp pig tail only on this allows you to froth and brew at the same time. With the 15 amp pig tail you can only do one or the other (froth or brew)......
paulfl 2 years ago
This is not true -- you can do both simultaneously; at the 15 amp, it takes longer to heat up and to build up pressures/etc. between uses. It's something you'd really notice if you're using it in a small commercial app, but home users probably wouldn't notice much of a difference. - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hi ladies! Will the tall PF for the Mini Vivaldi II fit under the doser in the Rancilio Rocky? (My tall PPF for my Starbucks Barista does not.) Thanks!
bobcecusn 2 years ago
Is there a way around for people who only make a shot or two a day so that the water wont it too long in the head boiler? Maybe don't put too much water in the reservoir? Will that work?
AWAKENING009 2 years ago
You'd just need to flush out the water through the group head before you pulled a shot. The water in the reservoir won't impact it; the machine is going to pump in water until the boilers are to capacity and won't function if unable to. - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
As an espresso enthusiast, I am madly in love with Cath's voice. Can we have a documentary of you done by Gayle? "The Making Of..." or something like that?
And your laugh.... it is like blue to the skies.... I will buy one of these machines soon. Your voice has done the job...
acsupo 2 years ago
Wow! Thanks for the compliment! :)
If you have any questions on the La Spaziale, please don't hesitate to give us a call -- we're happy to discuss. - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
@acsupo , I agree, the camera lady's voice is uber-sexy ! I'm sold already ....
jackal2513 2 years ago
Ha :) Thanks - Kat
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
Small correction. Steam boiler is a 1.2L sealed stainless model. Also, stock steam wand is not "anti-burn".
Endo789 2 years ago
Hi, what about a Vivaldi S1 review with silent rota-pump and programmable preinfusion?
How can the preinfusion time and temperature be changed?
PAPPL1978 2 years ago
The only functional difference between the two models is tank vs. plumbed and a quieter pump. The temp is changed the same and the manufacturer says that the preinfusion time cannot be adjusted.
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
Well in the end I guess the most important thing is that I like my machine and the looks of it etc. My mind is still set on the Mini Vivaldi :)
Agathorn 2 years ago
Totally! The Mini Vivaldi is an awesome machine -- not trying to dissuade you if you love it :) If you have any other questions about it please don't hesitate to ask.
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
What do you recommend I get: The Mini Vivaldi II or the Izzo Alex Duetto? I make 1 cappuccino a day. Put the aesthetic/size/price aside!
Agathorn 2 years ago
Honestly, I don't think you should go with a double boiler if you're only making one drink per day. The water in the brew head boiler will sit longer and can get more alkaline over time, which will have an adverse affect on the shot quality. I think a heat exchange machine would be a better option for a one drink per day kind of output. However, if you've got your heart set on the double boiler, I think the Izzo's an awesome choice, esp. with switching the water intake on the fly.
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago
Thanks for the input. However since the brew head boiler in DB often are smaller then the ones in heat exchangers I dont really understand.
Agathorn 2 years ago
The heat exchange is going to pull in fresh water from the reservoir and heating it through the copper tubing, then deliver it to the brew head; whereas the water in the DB brew head boiler will be pulled in and then be hanging out in there at temperature. If you're not brewing enough to refresh that water often enough, it can get more alkaline by just sitting in the boiler. The brew head water in a heat exchange doesn't hang out in a boiler, therefore it's not going to have the same issue.
SeattleCoffeeGear 2 years ago