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Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Are thermoblocks...

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fredk01
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 5:03pm
Subject: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

From this thread.

JasonBrandtLewis Said:

thermoblock machines generally haven't been very good, nor have they held up over time. That said, the CC1 seemed to be a real "game changer," as they say, but then hit some bumps in the road. Several vendors here in the States stopped selling it due to problems they were reporting, and Crossland is (apparently) making some changes to the machine. In theory, a thermoblock should work fine -- I'm just not sure it has . . . yet.

Posted February 21, 2013 link

The Quickmill Silvano has been out since 2010? It has been upgraded once to put more power into steaming. There don't seem to be any issues with the thermoblock other than the initial weak steaming.

The Crossland CC1 has been out since early 2011 and has gone through .5 of an upgrade to resolve issues with the diffuser block to retain more heat and has seen the addition of electronic filters to block electromagnetic interference. There is not an avalanche of complaints about failing thermoblocks.

I have seen a number of positive posts from users after 1 year. So, how long do they have to "hold up" before these machines are considered main stream?

EDIT: To be clear, I am thinking of machines that use a thermoblock only for steam.

cuznvin
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Joined: 6 Oct 2011
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 5:06pm Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

Acaso just designed a new thermoblock. 1st line should have the new machines in a month http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyY5-rtuUsg

fredk01
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 5:39pm Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

Interesting. Breville is introducing (or has introduced??) a similar style thermocoil this year as well.

calblacksmith
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 7:15pm Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

I think that for a noncritical app like steam, if properly designed a thermo block will be fine but even the linked "coil" woont work well for brewing. I have two brand new Expobart thermo block machines. One I I took all he good parts out of to rebuild a Sylvia with. The other is sitting, waiting, to be offloaded to someone I am not very fond of. YMMV!

In real life, my name is Wayne P. Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!

cuznvin
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 7:18pm
Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

calblacksmith Said:

The other is sitting, waiting, to be offloaded to someone I am not very fond of. YMMV!

Posted February 21, 2013 link

LMAO

AlexKilpatrick
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Joined: 30 Jan 2013
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 7:23pm
Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

cuznvin Said:

Acaso just designed a new thermoblock. 1st line should have the new machines in a month

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyY5-rtuUsg

Posted February 21, 2013 link

Really neat video. Thanks for posting it.

What is the reason to do a thermoblock over a boiler? Simplicity? Space?

cuznvin
Senior Member

Joined: 6 Oct 2011
Posts: 457
Location: NY
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 7:51pm
Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

AlexKilpatrick Said:

Really neat video. Thanks for posting it.

What is the reason to do a thermoblock over a boiler? Simplicity? Space?

Posted February 21, 2013 link

I think the thermoblock is just for steaming.. but I'm not sure really

fredk01
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Feb 2012
Posts: 121
Location: Canada
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Saeco Aroma
Grinder: OE Pharos

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 8:09pm
Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

cuznvin Said:

I think the thermoblock is just for steaming.. but I'm not sure really

Posted February 21, 2013 link

It looks like the Arc, which uses this thermoblock, is a thermoblock only machine.

AlexKilpatrick
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Jan 2013
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Location: Austin

Espresso: Breville Dual Boiler
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Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 8:21pm Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

It seems like you could use a thermoblock for both. Kind of like the difference between a hot water heater and a tankless water heater in your house. Brewing and steaming are just a matter of temperature. Some of the advantages I could see for a thermoblock: - More energy efficient (don't have to keep a big tank of water warm) - Can't run out of heated water (assuming you have enough water supply) - Smaller size Seems like precise temp control might be harder, as well as scaling issues.

cuznvin
Senior Member

Joined: 6 Oct 2011
Posts: 457
Location: NY
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2013, 8:24pm
Subject: Re: Are thermoblocks ready for prime time?

AlexKilpatrick Said:

It seems like you could use a thermoblock for both. Kind of like the difference between a hot water heater and a tankless water heater in your house. Brewing and steaming are just a matter of temperature.

Some of the advantages I could see for a thermoblock:

- More energy efficient (don't have to keep a big tank of water warm)
- Can't run out of heated water (assuming you have enough water supply)
- Smaller size

Seems like precise temp control might be harder, as well as scaling issues.

Posted February 21, 2013 link

I think that Acaso is using some special metal to avoid scaling..

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