FredtheWhale Senior Member Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 9 Location: New Jersey Expertise: I like coffee
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Drip: Percolator, French Press,... Roaster: HG/DB, Poppery II
Posted Thu Mar 15, 2007, 5:22pm Subject: Alex by Izzo
Hey,
What do you know about the Alex by Izzo? Any maintenance or performance issues? How does it compare to the Andreja Premium or Vetrano? The Alex seems to have a good middle ground between the Andreja and Vetrano because it can be plumed or pour over, and has a rotary pump.
Everyone seems hot on the Quick Mill machines, so I'm a bit leery about venturing out.
JV Senior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 171 Location: Maryland - Baltimore City Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco 2EE, Brasilia... Grinder: Mazzer Major, Mahlkoenig... Drip: French Press
Posted Thu Mar 15, 2007, 7:37pm Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
I have never used the other machines but i own the Alex and it is an awesome and amazing machine. I was going to get the vetrano but the Alex just won me over. i guess the big feet and its 70pounds caught my eye. the alex is rotary, you can use it as a pourover or plumb in with the flip of a switch...i have mine hooked up with a flojet and it works awesome. if you get the alex you will be very happy :)
Posted Thu Mar 15, 2007, 9:01pm Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
I looked at all those and ended up with the Alex. Superb machine. I used it pourover for a day and then finished the plumb in.
There have been no reported maintenance issues other than some that needed something when delivered. Some were from mishandling by the shipping company, but were easily fixed with Chris Coffee's fine help.
Mine was flawless on delivery and has performed for about 4 months with nary a burp. Strong steam, easy flushing and very forgiveable.
I wrote a review here, and there is another one also. Check Home-barista.com forums as there has been some discussion over there also.
To put a cap on it. If I had it all to do over again, I would buy the Alex.
FredtheWhale Senior Member Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 9 Location: New Jersey Expertise: I like coffee
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Drip: Percolator, French Press,... Roaster: HG/DB, Poppery II
Posted Fri Mar 16, 2007, 4:33am Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
thank you all very much for the feedback. i really like the plumb / pour over switch. i'm not planning to plumb directly because we have pretty hard water and i really should wait to plumb until we soften or i add something to the espresso line. it looks like the alex is essentially the same price as the andreja plus the plumb accessory.
how much noisier is a vibrating pump than a rotary? i keep reading about the "super quiet" rotary pump but don't have any perspective.
Posted Fri Mar 16, 2007, 8:45am Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
I can't speak for other machines, but while the rotary pump in my Alex is much quieter than was the vibe pump in my Sylvia, you won't have any problem hearing it!
Posted Fri Mar 16, 2007, 8:49am Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
FredtheWhale Said:
thank you all very much for the feedback. i really like the plumb / pour over switch. i'm not planning to plumb directly because we have pretty hard water and i really should wait to plumb until we soften or i add something to the espresso line. it looks like the alex is essentially the same price as the andreja plus the plumb accessory.
When I bought my Alex, I had every intention of plumbing it in, so I bought the softener/filter kit that Chris Coffee sells. I think it is around $100US and well worth it. Frankly after you use it as a pourover for awhile, you will really start chomping at the bit to get it plumbed in. HX/E61 machines just use a lot of water with the cooling flush and the cleanup after the pull.
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2007, 6:01pm Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
Hi,
Like so many others before me, I have lately been engulfed in the maelstrom of researching a first time machine purchase. Weeks of feverish reading on both CG and Home-Barista. Hours perusing the ChrisCoffee and 1st-Line sites. Moments of supposed "revelation" followed by protracted periods of confusion and mental paralysis. You know the drill.
Well, cutting to the chase, I seem finally to have reached a point where the Alex has become the top contender (others considered have been pretty much the full range of "usual suspects" in the $1K - $1.5K price range: La Valentina, Anita, Andreja, Vetrano, Domobar, etc.).
Attractions of the Alex include the easy switching between pour-over and plumbed-in, the rotary pump, the large-ish boiler and reservoir.
Concerns are primarily around build and long-term durability, given its relative newness and smaller user base.
It is reassuring to read the (mostly) positive appraisals of early adopters.
I wonder:
-- Are there any hot-off-the-presses niggles or complaints that have emerged recently among owners that I may have missed?
-- Are there reasons to recommend against the Alex as a machine for a first time learner?
-- Is it a machine that does well with a 5-gallon water bottle (and pump) for a "plumbed-in" source?
Any comments on these or other issues would be much appreciated.
JV Senior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 171 Location: Maryland - Baltimore City Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco 2EE, Brasilia... Grinder: Mazzer Major, Mahlkoenig... Drip: French Press
Posted Thu Mar 29, 2007, 7:10pm Subject: Re: Alex by Izzo
hi david, i have the alex and so far all i have to say is awesome. because i live in a small apartment i have my alex hooked up to a flojet on demand pump and a 5gallon water tank and it works perfect. probably the other alex users have adjusted the pressure to around 1.1 or .9 but i left mine as it came from chris factory its about 1.4. maybe ill change it but for now it works great. also steaming milk is great...lots of steam action. i recommend getting the one whole Expobar steam tip http://www.wholelattelove.com/Expobar/expobar_steam_tip.cfm it works perfect.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 