Ben_C Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Vancouver Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2012, 3:14pm Subject: To plumb or not to plumb
Hi all,
I am heading towards the purchase of a machine here. Before I moved here I had a basic machine (Isomac Venus). Now I am fairly focussed on a La Spaziale Vivaldi in some form. A big decision for me is whether to go tank or plumb.
I am currently renting. I think I could manage to plumb water supply to an available location for the machine but not the drain. Otherwise I could set up a water bottle and pump. If I move house I may end up wioth the bottle and pump anyway.
Is it worth the hassle of a separate water bottle? It sort of defeats the purpose in a lot of ways. Is the rotary pump that much better than a vibe pump? And finally is electronic pre-infusion practically superior to mechanical pre-infusion?
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2012, 6:57pm Subject: Re: To plumb or not to plumb
It may be worth considering a machine that's switchable between external/internal tank and that has a drainable drip tray. Those are the main reasons I bought my Rocket Evoluzione. After using the machine for awhile, I've discovered that having a drainable drip tray is much more valuable than the plumb-in option. Setting up the drip tray is something you should be able to do in your apartment.
To answer your other questions, a rotary pump is not necessarily better than a vibe. It's just quieter. My previous machine used a vibe pump and I got tired of the noise in the morning. I'm glad to have a rotary pump.
I don't think the pre-infusion mechanism makes much difference. Pre-infusion helps no matter how it's delivered.
zedex Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 126 Location: B.C Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Spaz v2 Grinder: vario
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2012, 8:02pm Subject: Re: To plumb or not to plumb
If i were renting i would not plumb in. Moving would be a PITA. A tank machine is so much more portable.Just unplug it and your gone. Rotary is nice because its quiet.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,632 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2012, 8:10pm Subject: Re: To plumb or not to plumb
Two water bottles and a hose and you are done. Yes, plumb in is VERY nice even when you collect your drain water in a bottle like I do. I have a 4 gal bottle and I get 3 to 4 weeks between draining the bottle and not a thought about the whole drip tray thing between then.
The pump, well it depends on how the machine is made as to how much quieter it is or isn't. They do last longer though in the over all picture. I have an E61 GH so pre infusion is a given. The Sylvia I have for a travel machine does not and it does make a difference in the shots.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2012, 10:57pm Subject: Re: To plumb or not to plumb
Hit Ikea for a cheap cart so your not poking holes in someone else's stuff, get a bottle setup like Wayne suggests and keep moving.
I highly recommend going to the farm store for that heavy rubber matt like you put in the bottom of a horse trailer. Most of them sell it by the foot or yard. Cut a small piece between the pump and what ever you mount it to. Do the same thing for the expansion tank if you go that route. Keep the supply line short enough it does not hit anything and buzz while the pump is running. It will be nice and quite more so then your machine pump.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
Posted Tue Dec 18, 2012, 6:31pm Subject: Re: To plumb or not to plumb
Definitely, plumb if you can do for both the supply and the waste. It's a no-brainer.
If you can only do the supply, I wouldn't bother. Pumping in from a bigger tank hardly seems worth it, and if you can't engineer the waste, then draining residues into a tank you empty only every few days is not something I would ever want sitting in my kitchen.
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