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La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

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slybarman
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Nov 2011
Posts: 333
Location: usa
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra
Grinder: Baratza Vario

Posted Sun Mar 25, 2012, 1:48pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

1st line recommended descaling something like monthly, IIRC, which seemed excessive to me. I figured maybe quarterly or 2x a year. My machine does not get heavy use, and the process is tedious, so believe me, if I can do it even less often, I am all for it.

tigermilk
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Dec 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Houston, TX
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Thu Apr 5, 2012, 6:45pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

I was thinking of descaling this weekend (3 month mark), but given a few of the accounts, not sure I want to! FYI, I use Crystal Geyser water in the thing except when I backflush (use tap). Who knows how many gallons of bottled water I've used, but all told probably only 1-2 gallons of tap over the last 3 months. Need a little reassurance that I don't actually need to tackle a descale given the water source. Opinions?

slybarman
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Nov 2011
Posts: 333
Location: usa
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra
Grinder: Baratza Vario

Posted Mon Apr 9, 2012, 7:16am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

Sorry Tiger, wish I knew an answer but I don't. I can tell you that after 4 months of fairly light use with tap water run through a carbon filter, mine was not showing any signs of scale build-up. I use mine 3-4 days a week on average. When Eric S. was at my house a week or two ago, he took a look inside the E61 group and all was nice and clean. BTW - he also verified using his SCACE device that the difference in temp between his thermometer unit and temp at the puck was in-fact 5 degrees. Eric mentioned that maybe I should turn the Pstat a bit lower still, but I told him that for the number of drinks I typically make, I would rather do the longer longer flush than give up any of the great steaming power. FWIW - I continue to appreciate the Cuadra more each week. I think we all got a fine deal on a very capable little machine and should give ourselves an atta boy for seizing the opportunity.

slybarman
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Nov 2011
Posts: 333
Location: usa
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra
Grinder: Baratza Vario

Posted Thu Apr 12, 2012, 12:39pm Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

Has anyone used a gauge to measure what the brew pressure was set to at the factory?

mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Sun Apr 22, 2012, 9:01am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

Hello, all. I was reading this thread and saw many users having trouble making microfoam with this espresso machine. Although I do not have one, I have a Quick Mill Vetrano, upgraded from a Gaggia Classic. I had the Vetrano for a month so far and the only way I can get half way decent results is to clog one of the 2 holes with a toothpick. The steam power is just too stupidly powerful. Making microfoam is like trying to fill an 8 oz glass of water with a firehose. Much more difficult than producing microfoam with my Gaggia. Anyway, it seems as though my problem with the Vetrano is similar to yours. How have you gotten around this? Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you.

Mr_Faineant
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Jan 2012
Posts: 31
Location: Tampa, FL
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra
Grinder: Vario

Posted Tue Apr 24, 2012, 10:20am
Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

mariog7 Said:

Hello, all. I was reading this thread and saw many users having trouble making microfoam with this espresso machine. Although I do not have one, I have a Quick Mill Vetrano, upgraded from a Gaggia Classic. I had the Vetrano for a month so far and the only way I can get half way decent results is to clog one of the 2 holes with a toothpick. The steam power is just too stupidly powerful. Making microfoam is like trying to fill an 8 oz glass of water with a firehose. Much more difficult than producing microfoam with my Gaggia.

Anyway, it seems as though my problem with the Vetrano is similar to yours. How have you gotten around this? Any tips would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Posted April 22, 2012 link

Hi. For what it's worth, I now get consistently good micro foam with no holes filled. This machine has a 4 hole tip. I used to block two of the holes, but with much tweaking and practice, I don't need to do that.

Here is what I do.

I use the Motta pitcher.
I keep the pitcher in the freezer until I am ready to steam
I angle the stem want as high as possible, and tuck it just under the surface, right at the edge of the pitcher. This creates a massive swirl, and begins sucking air in. I lower it gently as the mil expands. I do this until 100 degrees, at which point the milk has about 75% more volume.
i then drop the tip, slightly in from the edge, about an inch down, and keep it there until the milk reaches 135 degrees. The milk is swirling like a tornado the whole time.
I then tap and swirl by hand, for around 20 seconds, and pour.

Works like a champ!!

Good luck, it can be very frustrating.

shmulibaby
Senior Member

Joined: 14 Nov 2011
Posts: 44
Location: NYC
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra
Grinder: Rossi RR45, Krups Conical
Drip: Melitta single cup
Roaster: Popcorn Popper

Posted Tue May 1, 2012, 10:41am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

Hey fellow Cuadrites, just wanted to let everyone know that 1st line got the second batch of cuadras in. They now come with a no-burn steam wand. ALso, they are now selling the no burn steam wand for owners of the V1 for $25. Click Here (www.1st-line.net) ALso, I asked them on Facebook about the steam tip on the no-burn wand and they said it's a two hole tip. So I know some people were looking to get that as well. Might be worth the upgrade then. Separately, has anybody had issues with the lever needing to be lubricated? My lever needs a lot of force to move it and squeeks. GOing to need to lube it.

slybarman
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Nov 2011
Posts: 333
Location: usa
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra
Grinder: Baratza Vario

Posted Tue May 1, 2012, 10:53am
Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

shmulibaby Said:

Hey fellow Cuadrites, just wanted to let everyone know that 1st line got the second batch of cuadras in. They now come with a no-burn steam wand. ALso, they are now selling the no burn steam wand for owners of the V1 for $25. Click Here (www.1st-line.net)

ALso, I asked them on Facebook about the steam tip on the no-burn wand and they said it's a two hole tip. So I know some people were looking to get that as well. Might be worth the upgrade then.

Separately, has anybody had issues with the lever needing to be lubricated? My lever needs a lot of force to move it and squeeks. GOing to need to lube it.

Posted May 1, 2012 link

Shmuli:

Good info - thank you for sharing. That seems like a reasonable price for the steam arm and tip. From what I have read, most no-burn steam arms seem to have less steaming power due (I think) to a smaller inner diameter. I wonder if that will be the case with this one and if so, to what extent.

With regard to the lever, I assume you are talking about the brew lever. If so, I have had no trouble with mine. FCRN posted a good tutorial on HB of how to lubricate the cam. If you have not seen it before, I can probably dig the link up.

1stline
Senior Member

Joined: 24 Jan 2002
Posts: 392
Location: Freehold, NJ USA
Expertise: Professional

Espresso: Undisclosed
Grinder: Indisclosed
Vac Pot: Bodum Electric
Drip: None
Roaster: None

Posted Tue May 1, 2012, 11:05am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

shmulibaby Said: Hey fellow Cuadrites, just wanted to let everyone know that 1st line got the second batch of cuadras in. They now come with a no-burn steam wand. ALso, they are now selling the no burn steam wand for owners of the V1 for $25. Click Here (www.1st-line.net) ALso, I asked them on Facebook about the steam tip on the no-burn wand and they said it's a two hole tip. So I know some people were looking to get that as well. Might be worth the upgrade then. Posted May 1, 2012 link This is confirmed. Just so there are no surprises, shipping is additional.

Sincerely, Jim Piccinich Business Partner 1st-line Equipment, LLC www.1st-line.com Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1stline Twitter: http://twitter.com/1stline Blog: http://1st-line.blogspot.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/1stlineespresso

1stline
Senior Member

Posted Tue May 1, 2012, 11:09am Subject: Re: La Nuova Era Cuadra Owners Thread

slybarman Said: Shmuli: Good info - thank you for sharing. That seems like a reasonable price for the steam arm and tip. From what I have read, most no-burn steam arms seem to have less steaming power due (I think) to a smaller inner diameter. I wonder if that will be the case with this one and if so, to what extent. With regard to the level, I assume you are talking about the brew lever. If so, I have had no trouble with mine. FCRN posted a good tutorial on HB of how to lubricate the cam. If you have not seen it before, I can probably dig the link up. Posted May 1, 2012 link In this case, the steaming is slower due to the 2 holes and the smaller diameter for the throughput, but this design will work better for those who are having difficulty with the current wand and steam tip on the Cuadra 1.

Sincerely, Jim Piccinich Business Partner 1st-line Equipment, LLC www.1st-line.com Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1stline Twitter: http://twitter.com/1stline Blog: http://1st-line.blogspot.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/1stlineespresso

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