Quick run down of my incomplete modified Saeco Via Venezia Espresso Machine

So I got a bit bored with university studies slowing down, and decided to give myself a bit of a project.

I dusted off my old Saeco Via Venezia, and wanted to try and get it to pull shots in a similar manner to traditional a lever piston espresso machine. That is, preinfuse very gently at boiler/line pressure, quickly ramp up to 9+ bar (some reach 12+ bar!) and slowly ramp back down throughout the shot. Lever machines also ramp down temperature, from a start temperature of ~95deg C (obviously depends on boiler water temperature etc.) to low 90s or high 80s. This means that towards the end of the shot as bitter notes begin to extract, pressure and temperature reduce to what would normally produce sour notes, and therefore seem to round out most bitterness from the shot. This is what gives levers such an amazing unique flavour profile.

Anyway, the video explains what I've done to try and achieve this. I was hoping to have the machine completed tonight and started pulling shots tomorrow, but the machinist couldn't get the T-Piece machined up in time, and I'm going on holidays until January, so it won't be finished 'til I get back.

Enjoy :)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Custom
• espresso
• machine
• saeco
• via
• venezia
• synesso
• pressure
• temperature
• ramping
• profile
• lever
• piston
• spring

[TheSTiGUi]

So I only just got back from my holiday today, and the parts I was waiting for have arrived. Hopefully in the next week or two I will finish the machine and make another summary/test shot video :)

[MrTroyboy1980]

wow man this looks insane! well done; wonder what it cost in the end

[gabeslover]

I actually purchased this machine, except it is the starbucks barista model which is are exactly like the Via, inside. I would love to learn how to pull it apart and modify it though.