What can you say?? This is the best machine on the market… simple as that!! Nothing does it better – a few do it just as good. It all comes down to design and price (as always) if you like the “industrial” look and simplicity then this is a “NO BRAINER” in the H/X class. Living in Italy and having the real thing just around the corner make it very easy to compare this with the Italian Cafe’s and I must say that now I choose only the café’s whom makes the same quality espresso’s as I do – I simply found that I am able to make as good or better espresso’s on this machine than the local Café. Properly because I put more effort into keeping the coffee beans fresh and buying better quality beans.
Negative Product Points
No reason to mention the wand.. but there you go… Note: the wand has been improved on the new model and now comes with a swivel-wand. Only real negative thing is my “shakes” after the 10’Th espresso, and my wife complaining about my insomnia due to caffeine poisoning.
Detailed Commentary
Researched the espresso market and this forum. It took me a year to decide which machine to buy and went for the Butterfly. No fuss machine which is very stable and very well build. Never owned a H/X before really opened my eyes to the real world of coffee. Make as many espressos and warm as much milk as you like it never run out of steam or pressure. The ideal machine for a small office where you really want to impress your costumers with the best.
Starting up the machine for the first time was easy, the instructions was easy, the costumer support is immaculate the options is sufficient. It takes about 10-15 min. to heat up, the noise it makes when the pump runs is laud but acceptable and it only runs for a few seconds anyway. Pressure is rock solid. Must say if you are not investing in a top quality grinder as well AND is not prepared to maintain the machine then forget about it. If however you got a good adjustable grinder and are prepared to flush the Butterfly once a week (with espresso degreaser) and remove residual coffee grounds after every use (one or more shots) then this will be the best money can buy and it will last you a lifetime.
I did have a small problem though, the relief valve on the top of the boiler was leaking with an infuriating hissing noise as a result. Contacted La Scala and they send me a new and improved valve no charge. I have been told that there are quite a few improvements on their newer Butterfly’s. Installing this valve was a breeze the design and build is straight forward and you do not need to be a NASA engineer to figure this out. The hand build quality shines through when you open it up. Having a hand build machine means that if something breaks down it is easily replaced. Everything is build like a big professional machine just scaled down to a “small” 50 pound household item.
I will not go into how to brew and how much crema and so on. It has already been done and there is a great deal of information already on this web to fulfil every need in this matter
Previous complaints should now be solved due to a line of new improvements: • Swivelled wand • Better steam and hot water knobs • New design relief valve • New designed portafiller And new options as well: • Lever, switch or electronic touch pad operation • S/S automatic milk frothier
Buying Experience
Bought my Butterfly directly from the factory. Drove to Venice and had a guided tour on the production line by the Export manager. Every La Scala product is hand build on costumers order. I saw prototypes of future machines and was given a “walk-through” on a Butterfly with all the options. You can if you wish get your Butterfly custom made with whatever pump, switch, handle and finish you like. The care taking into building and testing these machines impressed me enormously. And the after sales support has been outstanding.
