I purchased a Synchronika over a year ago, after a lot of research. I have no regrets. I did recently have a bit of a grinding happening when I pulled shots…..the actual lever was grinding. I viewed one of the EXCELLENT videos put out on TH-cam by Whole Latte Love….and lubricated the valves. I actually changed all mine also, which wasn’t really necessary. You need to purchase a food- safe lube, which is readily available. If I can do this, anyone can! - FYI….one of the bonuses of this machine is it’s ease of maintenance by the owner. ~
I am very happy with it so far. I use it every morning and it hasn't let me down. I did fix the leaking around the top by tightening the top mushroom nut, but that was my only minor problem. Glad to help. The research is the hardest part :)
Thanks for the video! I’ve been researching espresso machines and grinders for a week and your setup is exactly what I was leaning towards! Your video does such a better job explaining things than so many others online, because your not bullshitting or trying to sell anything. I also love that you’re not a super experienced professional barista, neither am I. I just want good espresso from a quality machine that will last many years! Thanks so much! And great idea on the tamper too! Cheers!
Great to hear! I was exactly is your position this Spring, trying to determine what to get. I like the dual boiler setup on the ECM and I love the "shot clock" for timing the pump on time. And with it plumbed I get a good pre-infusion and that helps. The ATOM 75 has been a good grinder and you get a huge size burr (75mm) for a reasonable price. The portafilter hook works hands free, the light is nice, and its fast and quiet. For me the Force Tamper is a game changer, it makes it look easy. And I need all the help I can get :) Good Luck with your decision!
@@postbeam8200 did you get the 58.35mm or 58.5mm force Tamper? I’m away at work and my whole set-up (Synchronika & Atom75) is getting delivered when I get home in 2 days! Can’t wait! Thanks to your video for helping me make the final decision!
@@SteveTownshend That sounds awesome. Sorry for the delay in answering; here is exactly what I bought dFlat is Distribution Flat it is what I am using in the video: - $219: the Force Tamper Flat distribution set with 2 bases; FLAT, (d)FLAT in 58.5mm with Jelly shape handle in Black - $19; The Worm Hole in Black
Good vid- glad to have your thoughts on your equipment. It’s funny how we all have our quirks and preferences. When I went from generic beans (including Lavazza), to fresh beans, I quickly learned that if I kept my coffee in the hopper, it off gassed excessively quickly and I couldn’t keep things dialed in. So I’ve been single dosing for ~4 years and don’t expect nor want to ever go back. About once every other year, I go down an espresso rabbit hole where I question everything I thought I knew about it and end up learning way more than I expected. Thanks for your content!
Yeah as long as you get the Individual dosing tubes that can off gas +1 for single dosing. Everyone has a point in which they decide “hey I want better coffee than Lavazza(which is good but stale/burnt) I should get some” and then boom hoppers are a no go. I just weigh out all my doses at the beginning of the week and boom have the entire week portioned out.
Awesome video dude. So much better getting the common sense review, with all the tips rather than the sales pitch from the shops. Thanks very much for taking the time to put this together.
As always, video about your ownership and personal experience is authentic, informative, honest and very helpful. Look forward to your one year update especially about that "leak" coming from the E61 mushroom. Thanks! BTW, love your finished cabinetry / drawers.
Love this video ! Super informative and very straightforward. This synchronika is at the top of my list for my next machine coming very soon. I am looking to pair it up with a Mahlkonig grinder. Thanks very much
I bought my synchronika about 2 years ago and I make the best shots of espresso , an incredible machine. I also bought mine with flow control that I never use.
I know.... When I bought mine I didn't want to miss out on any features, if I did it again I wound skip the lever but keep the pressure gage in the group head. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Appreciate the very detailed explanation for each equipment - pros & cons. Glad I came across this video. Currently have a SD setup but starting to feel cumbersome esp when I’m making 3-4 coffees a day. looking into the atom 75 and force tamper. Just saving up to be able to purchase them. Thank you!
Beautiful machine and tamper! I'm thinking of getting the ECM, but cant plumb in and think I'll lose out on pre-infusion due to that. Nut maybe having flow control will negate this. Like you have experienced, that grinder is definitely not suitable for single dosing and the reason why you hate the experience with it. Grind retention is too high and the static isnt fantastic. although static is larger during break in period on it. Most grinders will typically need a minimum of 1kg (or up to 3kg) of beans run through to fully season. I think you should give the naked portafilter a bit of a go again. You dont need the holder you bought for it, just place the whole base on the edge of the table (ideally on a tamping rubber mat) and you've got a level surface to tamp on un-obstructed by spouts. Also, you should try some beans that are from a local roaster that have a roast date on them instead of Lavazza store bought. I reckon you'll notice an improvement in flavour. Happy coffee making ☺️
Will be getting my synchronika delivered this week coming! Looking forward to it. Also, I hope you don’t leave your milk jugs on the top of the machine, you want milk to be as cold as possible and that will heat your jug up (If you’re using one from the top). I recommend buying some nicer baskets. I had Pullman, but I have since transitioned to VST baskets and thoroughly impressed. Bottomless is great to see if you have any unnecessary chanelling, good to see if your tamp technique is flat and even. Always when warming the machine up, keep your group handle in the group head, it warms the handle up so when the hot water enters the coffee, it doesn’t lose temperature hitting cold metal. Don’t crank it tight into the group head either as its unessecary. Otherwise enjoyed the vid
hmmm... So first off enjoy your Synchronika when you get it. :) Secondly you really don't know much about what you're talking about, mostly I am guessing you're just repeating what you read on some HB forum. So for others I would like to address your comments below. 1. Milk Jugs: As far as the milk jugs (milk frothing pitcher) warmth is not really an issue as you pour in cold milk from the fridge and then 30 sec later you're introducing 265 degree Fahrenheit steam into it. The milk doesn't warm up due to the pitcher being stored on top of the Synchronika so what you said is not a factor. 2. Nicer Baskets: The basket in the Bottomless portafilter WAS a 58mm 20g VST basket. Honestly the ECM basket works just as well. I made the video to be honest and share what works and what was a waste of time or money, that includes the VST basket and the bottomless portafilter. I have used the bottomless portafilter and VST basket and it made no difference in the quality of the espresso it produced. Did it look cool? Sure. It defiantly showed the quality of the puck preparation as you said. But that is a function of the beans, grinder, distribution, and most importantly the Force Tamper, not the brand of portafilter basket you buy. In the end the bottomless portafilter with fancy VST basket is more effort than it is worth. However, by all means buy a $30 VST basket and try it out, I am sure you'll be able to taste the difference ;) I can't 3. Group Head: The "group handle" aka 58mm portafilter always lives in the machine, cold, warm, always. As far as "cranking it tight" you have never used a Synchronika so how would you know? The amount of turn varies a bit with the temperature of the brass E61 group head, when it's cold its tighter cuz its cold and the group head contracts, when it's up to temp its looser. So no I am no "cranking it tight" into the group head, but thank you for your concern.
@@postbeam8200 I agree precision baskets or shower screen might not be worth it, I think there is a difference for basket size since it affects your grind size needed though. Precision shower screen is probably a waste of money (it does wipe clean easier with a finer mesh screen). Your milk will warm up a tiny bit in a warmer steaming pitcher, some people keep theirs in the fridge or freezer even! Not a bit deal you'll have a little less time to steam the milk maybe. I'd say to keep the portafilter in when warming up and using it of course, but it may be best to take it out when the machine is off and not in use, if you want the gaskets to last longer. I also don't lock it in super tight, some machines don't easily lock in at 90 degrees, some do, I wouldn't force it hard. I had a Quickmill machine that the original gasket lasted over 10 years, and some people claim they have to change their gaskets every year for some reason! Either Quickmill just makes better gaskets or my practices were a factor.
I have an earlier version of the synchronika, without flow control. If you do not use it you can always buy a "blind mushroom nut" and replace the flow control with that. They will have it available online as it is on earlier versions of the synchronika.
@@postbeam8200 Just take it on the chin mate, no need for the passive aggressive response. All of his points were valid, regardless of if he has used that particular machine or not.
I have purchased this machine and would not go with anything other than a ECM/Profitec machine. I had them add flow control but make mostly milk drinks. I had the Profitec Pro 300 before. Great machine as well. I always use a large dosing funnel, distributer and pressure tamper. I disagree about the use of a bottomless filter. I never use the portafilters that came with machine. I weigh out my dose at 18 grams and do not bother with a scale. I have the Eureka Mignon Specialita and always single dose. Here in the desert dryness, I add two drops of water to each 18 dose. There is many benefits to single dosing! I have had prosumer machines since 1970's starting out with a Pasquini Livietta.
I do like the setup, thanks for sharing. Funny thing, there is a video by XICups comparing the Niche Zero to the Eureka 75 in the side bar associated videos.
Thanks for the update! Thinking of getting the same machine and plumbing in in the same way. Do you turn water off to the machine after every use? Seeing a few comments that note ECM advise doing this in the manual but seems like a bit of a pain! If not have you had any issues with it being left ‘pressurised’? I can’t see why it should leak, it’s a closed valve when the lever is down. I guess the main risk is that some one pushes the lever and starts the water running…
I'm sold. Will save up so that I can purchase your identical rig. I had done tons of prior research but will now gladly disregard all that. 🙂 Thank you.
Thank you for the review, exactly what I wanted to see. What grind setting do you use to grind your lavazza espresso shots with this grinder ? My Eureka specialita is choking and clogging with lavazza super crema . Did you have any clogging with Eureka Atom 75? Thanks.
Thank you for your review. I appreciate not being sold to. I believe the technique of spraying water onto your beans, the one you were searching for the name or acronym for is "RDT."
Thanks a lot for your great review! I am considering to buy it, but have one consern about the height with opened tank lift. I am planning to set it up under the cabinet, so have limited space, what is the heght of Synchronika with opened tank lift?
Really like your video very honest review of your setup. I was wondering can you provide a link to the worm hole ring I try everywhere and can't find it.
Really nice walk through👍 I must say though that no matter how fine your equipment are - the coffee won’t taste better than the coffee beans you are using. I would never go with Lavazza. To do your fine equipment justice, you should never by coffee beans that are more than two weeks from roasting time. Usually I will get coffee beans that are only 5-7 days from roasting time at our local coffee roastery. It makes all the difference in taste - I guarantee 😁👍☕️
I think your setup sounds awesome! That is exactly what I was looking at originally. I do like the speed of the Eureka and ECM, I have it down to about 3.5 min to make a cappuccino in the morning. I have added a couple Hue smart plugs to automate the machines turning on. I wish I had a Niche to try single dosing with but I am cool with the hopper. Best of luck!
Terrific video. Really liked your candor. Thanks for the honest discussion about your mistakes and your victories. I wrote down a couple of the items that you’ve had good experiences with although the force tamper for $219 gave me pause. I’ve got a Rancillio Silvia and the matching grinder. I’ve got one of those thick heavy levelers and a dosing ring that falls off every time I use it. I’m thinking of upgrading to your machine. I was also interested in your opinion about the flow control not really being a value. I was wondering if that was a feature for people to want then end up not using. I also need a grinder for caffeinated beans and a separate grinder for decaffeinated beans. So I will probably buy a second grinder. Wouldn’t mind having a grinder with two bins on top. I’m not fond of the dosing every morning. I have to dose separately because I make decaffeinated for myself and then I make caffeinated for the wife. I must admit I do like the naked Porter filter because it seems so much easier to clean. But you’re right it’s not easy to fill and tamp.
I love how particular you are with it all, totally ocd and thank you for the super informative videos. But dude, after all that effort and expense you end up with Lavazza beans? Seriously? :D You have like a 200 dollar tamper and 250 dolar scales, but Lavazza beans?!
What's wrong with single dosing? The naked portafilter isn't just for looks, it's a great diagnostic tool watch how your shot starts flowing (does it start from the edges? does it flow from everywhere and pour from the center relatively quickly? Are you getting spurting or naked spots indicating channeling etc?). Also less extra drips come out after rinsing the portafilter out. But I think you get better temperature stability with a heavier spouted portafilter. Send me your naked one if you don't like it? :) Oh also if your rinsing the portafilter with water from the tap, the spouted one is going to get cooler and make more of an impact vs a naked one which barely comes in contact with the coffee. RDT Ross Droplet Technique, I think the guy from Friends invented it :D jk I think what you may have experienced is the burrs being seasoned. Sometimes people do say they get a lot of static at first and it goes away after some use. Blowing retention out might not be necessary if the retention (actual swapped amount) is low enough, I found with my specialita it would retain a total of about 2g but only about 0.8 was being exchanged, the rest sits there minding its own business. I'm hoping I can use the Atom 75 for single dosing! I always single dose with every grinder I've had. Just makes the most sense for me with espresso. Kinda weird that tamper leaves a line in the middle of the coffee grounds. Normcore tamper is a good cheaper alternative for anyone looking for a self leveling tamper. Decent brand is also cheaper (not as tight 58.5mm fit though). Aliexpress and Amazon have a black plastic cheap knockbox, which has a ledge to knock on instead of the bar most of them have (i prefer the ledge design). I don't like the idea of knocking it onto the garbage ledge. Before having a knock box I'd knock on the ledge of my sink letting the coffee puck fall into a plate or plastic lid or something from the recycle bin, then I knock the puck into the green bin / compost and rinse off whatever it was on.
Hi Ben... Well I pulled the bottomless portafilter out of the storage box and I'll give it another go for a few weeks and see if maybe I wrote it off too soon. I had been using it with the 20g VST basket but I put in my 18g tapered basket that came with my ECM and it worked much better. Honestly, 18g is about the right amount of coffee for me the larger VST basket is just silly. I will do a follow up video if I stick with the bottomless. I totally agree that with a bottomless portafilter you can clearly see any weak points or channels forming and that would defiantly hav an impact on brewing and taste, so thank you encouraging me to give it another go. As far as single dosing.... not so much. You can defiantly single dose the Atom 75 and I linked the parts on your other post. But personally I just like having the same coffee so changing beans is not as important. Switching back an forth between beans was a pain because you had to dial in every time in my experience. Then there is the static. I may make a video showing the static insanity, but it was so annoying I dread reintroducing the problem. I did season the burs by running 8.8 (4 bags of Lavazza super crema) before I bought the stuff to build my little single dose rig. And I still got a ton of static. But I may try it again. For now I'll just stick with trying out the bottomless portafilter again. Honestly, if I was going to switch coffee a lot like decaf when asked for, I would just buy another Atom 75 and put it on the other side holding the second coffee offering, dialed in and ready to go. Finally the knock box, I guess I just don't find the idea of used coffee pucks sitting on the counter that appealing. The trash can is not really that much better but only the handle hits the side of the trash. I then rinse out everything before putting it back in the machine. The portafilter and basket never make contact with any trash. But I guess it may seem not appealing to others. As far as cooling the portaflter by rinsing it with tap water I only make one cup so after the rinse its not making more coffee so the cold water has no impact. I guess if I was makeing more cups I would use a brush or hot water. Thanks for the helpful ideas!
I need to do a follow up, but the LEAK IS FIXED :) I had to remove the mushroom cap on top of the E61 group head and then clean it, lube it (food safe) and reinstall it. Honestly, the company Whole Latte Love (WLL) was helpful but on a new machine there should not be a leak. Since Whole Latte Love installed the flow control valve and that is part on the mushroom cap that leaked I feel that they did not properly test it before shipping it out and that was kinda disappointing. There was some residual hard water stains where the leak was but I used some fresh lime juice and that removed the stains completely. If I was to do it again I would defiantly buy the ECM Syncronika but not add the Flow Control Valve which is what was installed "aftermarket" by WLL and not tightened sufficiently. It is possible to remove the mushroom cap but you need a relatively big adjustable wrench and I used masking tape (frog tape) to protect the chrome finish from damage by the wrench. But it is working perfectly now! Good luck!
Very helpfule vid! I bought a Specialita grinder (the smaller version of yours) and it clogs all the time. I hate it. Fortunately I kept my Mazzer grinder and it's old school but never clogs or gets staticky. Force Tamper sounds good but $200!
The Eureka actually never clogs, there is defiantly residual coffee in there but clogs are never an issue. It takes 3.55 sec to produce 18g so the rate is kinda quick and that helps. The force tamper is totally an extravagant add-on but wow does it make it easy to be consistent. It is like a hand held poor mans puck press. I get crazy consistency day after day. Pre warm the Hydro-Flask 12oz mug with 265f water, then 18g out of the grinder, in 3.55 sec, whisk, Force Tamp, then pre-infuse (3-5 sec) at first drip turn up the ECM to 9bar, then 36 g of espresso out in 27 to 28 sec, froth the milk to 65c (150f) in 20 sec and out the door in 4 min total including cleanup. And I am half asleep the whole time (cuz no coffee.... yet :)
Good Point :) Well the Pitchers don't fit it the drawer and the cups do. Honestly the pitchers don't really maintain almost any heat so when you put in some cold milk the pitcher cools off almost instantly and the milk might warm up 1 degree fahrenheit which make no difference in reality for steaming milk. As far as the cups, I always put in some hot (256 F) water from the Hot Water Wand and let that warm the cup while I get everything ready. I do keep a couple of Latte cups on top pre warmed which I use for at home but most of the time I make coffee to go so I use the hydroflask with a lid. Hope that helps.
Did you at all consider the Technika Profi V PID? I am wavering between that and the Synchronika. Great Video. Thanks! Just wondering if the $500 is worth the upgrade.
I actually didn't look at the Technika. I was between the Lelit bianca, la marzocco gs3, and the Synchronika. It was more of a beauty contest cuz I was a naive yuppie. Based on use the Technika Profi V PID looks great. I like the automatic Shot Clock on the display, I like the PID controller, and the ability to plumb it in for ease of use and pre-infusion. I think the heat exchange boiler vs the dual boiler in mine is the big difference. Personally I like the larger capacity of a dual boiler setup, especially when you need to make 4 latte for a group of friends after dinner. Nothing sucks more than coming up one short as you wait for the more water to heat up. But they both will make a wonderful addition. Good luck!
Good Question! It is Polycarbonate Tubing, 1 7/8" ID x 2" OD x 1/16" Wall, Clear Color 36" L I bought it on Amazon. You could use regular 2" PVC pipe but I had this stuff already. Good Luck!
Nice vid. I feel like the portafilter is all style and preference. I get into a flow where I never set it down, I prefer tamp mats. Will see if I end up using the bottomless. I agree I probably won’t notice the shower screen and basket upgrade but they sure do look nice lol. And I do like the idea of a wipe down clean. Did you ever use it on the reservoir? I think I’m going to use it while I solidify plumbed in plans.
I haven't used the reservoir. It is easy to switch using a valve and a switch to tell the ECM to monitor water levels in the reservoir. I did end up buying a barista basics tamping & packing mat large 5"x12" which fits nicely infant of the ECM. Good luck with your pluming plans!
Thanks for this. I’m in the process of doing the research on a new machine. I’m 90% sure I’m going with the Synchronika, but I see a lot of people like the Decent. The Decent is ugly as hell though (which should not sway your decision) but if I’m paying that much I want it to look good also. The Question I have is would you do it again, and what don’t you like about it? I just ordered a Niche Zero grinder to start my set up. Thanks again loved your honest review.
Hi! So I use my Synchronika and Atom75 grinder almost every day. I love those two as a pair. I have changed coffee beans (as my taste has evolved). I changed my sugar bowl for a nicer one and changed sugar brands. I have simplified my puck prep to just the Force Tamper and a black Barista Basics tamping mat. I added some smart plugs to allow me to automatically start my machine 30 before I wake up. But really the core elements from this video have not changed. I would by the ECM Synchronika, Eureka Atom 75 and Force Tamper again without hesitation. I'm not a single dose kinda person (too much effort at 7am on my way to the door) so this works for me. But the Niche Zero looks cool. I also like the Kafatek grinders, but again that's more work and I am kinda chill, I just want a nice cup in 3 min for the drive in to work. I need to make a 1 year follow up. :) Good luck!
Quick question: prior to your plumbing.. was there enough pressure to pre-infuse when you use the tank.. I'm looking at this exact setup but the water in my home is so bad I would rather use the distilled+TWW
I don’t think you can pre-infuse with the Tank because there is no line pressure in the tank. When I use the plumbed water feed there is about 1.7 bar (24psi) coming into the machine to provide enough pressure to pre-infuse. I do run it through a filter to take the minerals down to about 50ppm from 130ppm for city water. You want some minerals for taste and to keep from corroding the machine plumbing with distilled water. Some minerals are a good thing, too much and it will scale up the machine, none and it will corrode the machine.
Really appreciate the honest review. Loved your plumbing and drain videos. Pretty slick way of skipping the inferior drain compartment that ECM supplies. Just became a new sub. Did you ever replace the shower screen or the group gasket? The forums/Reddit make it seem it’s a must but wondering if it’s another waste.
Hi! Thanks for your kind words! Quick answer is no I have not replaced the shower screen nor do I think that would add anything to the coffee. I have never had any leak issues at the connection of the portafilter and group head shower screen gasket even at 8 Bar of pressure. The only leak I have had is at the group head mushroom on top of the group head where I had some scale baked onto the chrome. Whole Latte Love replaced this part and my guess is it was not sealed properly and leaked for the first few heat cycles hence the water stains. So yeah I think a new shower screen is a waste. However that Espazzola grouphead cleaning tool is worth every penny! A clean shower head is a happy shower head as the saying goes :) Honestly, I think some of the 'advice' on the "forums" /Reddit can be kinda silly. Which is hard to tell when you're trying hard to figure out what you "need" to buy to make a nice Latte or Espresso and what is just some so-called "expert" pontificating about minute details that are irrelevant. Good luck!
I do have another question about the Atom. When you were dialing it in do you need to run the grinder with beans every time you make adjustments? If so that seems like a tremendous amount of beans to use up before you are dialed in.
@@greghaynes1645 Yeah initially I did run though some coffee (half a bag/ 1lb) to get the grind dialed in, but now I just make minute tweeks to adjust the time it takes to pull a shot. That's a big reason I don't want to single dose, it would mess up my settings.
The gasket is a consumable, but most E61 shower screens also have a limited (but reasonable) lifespan due to the design. Depending on how you pry it out, the seam you are levering against will eventually fail. In home use this can be a long time, but most owners will eventually have a chance to upgrade. I don't think anybody on the planet has their process so dialed that improving the screen is going to be a consistent benefit.
I went with the eureka atom 75 because of how quiet it is and the 75mm burr but I almost went with the ECM V-Titan which I think is gorgeous. But after owning the Atom 75 for 7 months I am planning on buying a second one for Decaf coffee, so that's what I am spending my money on. Good luck!
I have the Ecm synchronika as well. Is there a noticeable difference between 58, 58.35, and 58.5mm? Would the 58.5 work on stock portafilter on synchronika?
I think because of the play in the spring clip that secures them in the portafliter any of those would fit, but I wanted to make sure my ForceTamper would not get stuck so I use the included ECM double basket. Does that answer your question?
I'm a big proponent of Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune...You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause you own a fancy espresso machine!! Oh, and I bought the Ancap cups online at Prima coffee.
I love ancap! It and the little motta cafe spoons make the coffee feel like a tiny cafe in Italia. It's the little things that make all the difference.
If you started using the force tamper and the needle thing at the same time I'll bet that it is the needle that has improved your espressos the most and not the tamper as you say :)
It kinda depends on how busy you are. I have made Cappuccino for 5-6 people at a time, but you start to run out of hot water by the last cup or two. If you had time for the boiler to recover (5 min or so) then you would be in good shape. The issue is lots of orders all at once are going to deplete the tank, that is where larger commercial machines start to show their advantage. I have never been a real barista but that is my take on it, I Hope that helps.
this was a very helpful video! Thanks for that! May I ask for your experience with the heat up time for you ECM? I'd expect that with the cassical brew group it should be good to go after 20 to 25 minutes? Thanks again for all these very beneficial infos :)
Thanks! I use an app on my phone to turn on a smart outlet when I wake up to warm up the machine. Heat up time is exactly 1 morning shower :) or about 20 minutes. Then when I get down stairs I use the hot water wand to fill my hydro flask mug with hot water and start warming it up. I can usually finish grinding, pulling a shot, adding a cube of sugar, steaming the milk and adjusting the grind for next time... all in about 5 min. And then out the door. So the short answer is 20 min to warm up and 5 min to make a latte. Thanks again!
I don't honestly know. I would imagine years, maybe a decade or more. The good news it is very easy to fix, and was specifically designed to be repaired so with a good water filtration system, regular cleaning and back flushing, and some basic maintenance I plan on keeping it for a long time (20+years). It's very well built and more than capable of lasting that long.
Apart from scale etc, what kills machines is internal corrosion from steam leaks. It is probably a good idea to get a high quality home machine looked at every few years, 5 years at the latest. Seals fail and pipe connections loosen from heating cycles. Steam corrodes electronics and connectors. The Synchronika is well designed and has tubing to route steam released from the vacuum breaker and OPV into the drip tray, and the electronics are well shielded to stop water falling on them. This is the difference between the mid range and true high end home machines. Manufacturers go the extra length to prevent corrosion and condensation being where it shouldn't be. This machine is built under contract by Bezzera, and there is almost nothing in it that is proprietary, apart from the particular design layout and sheet metal.
I need to do a follow up, but the LEAK IS FIXED :) I had to remove the mushroom cap on top of the E61 group head and then clean it, lube it (food safe) and reinstall it. Honestly, the company Whole Latte Love (WLL) was helpful but on a new machine there should not be a leak. Since Whole Latte Love installed the flow control valve and that is part on the mushroom cap that leaked I feel that they did not properly test it before shipping it out and that was kinda disappointing. There was some residual hard water stains where the leak was but I used some fresh lime juice and that removed the stains completely. If I was to do it again I would defiantly buy the ECM Syncronika but not add the Flow Control Valve which is what was installed "aftermarket" by WLL and not tightened sufficiently. It is possible to remove the mushroom cap but you need a relatively big adjustable wrench and I used masking tape (frog tape) to protect the chrome finish from damage by the wrench. But it is working perfectly now! Good luck!
It's a Motta Stainless Steel Tamper Holder. Diameter outside: 74mm , inside: 72mm - Height: 2cm - Material: stainless steel - Made in Italy Love it so much I bought 2 :)
@@danielbriglia4612 Oh, That is the rubber pad that came with my Force tamper for free, I cut it down so it would fit into the Motta Stainless Steel tamper holder.
I am sure you could pre-infuse with the flow controller. The major issue with the ECM flow controller is the fact that you have to spin it multiple times to get the full adjustment range. I found that repeatability was very difficult. I think that the lelit bianca is a better design, but for just pre-infusion you could crank it closed, open it up to 1.5 bar until the coffee starts to drip then crank it full open. That would get the job done :)
@@postbeam8200 I see! There are no full revolutions on the LB, and that makes it easier to use, right? Really good point. I have the ECM, and I agree. The flow control full span is 2+ turns, but stock flow is @ ~1.25 turns. This is counterintuitive. I think that half of the full span is usable. They could chop off the excess and provide the same usable range in a single full turn with similar precision.
@@enyceofnyc I agree! I think the "flow controller" was a total afterthought to compete with the Lelit Bianca which was designed for flow control. But honestly flow profiling has not been that important for my use. You can get an amazing cup without fidgeting with the flow, honestly all you need is basic pre-infusion. If I wanted that level of flow precision I would have bought a Decent Espresso machine. But I like the feel of the ECM much more. It's a "real" espresso machine :)
the 22 g was the tiping point for me in making really good coffee and watchig the exstracting is every thing.....clive told me that and it works great it took a long time to get real good at it REX here@@postbeam8200
Definitely try some better fresh roasted coffee from a speciality roaster, maybe find something local. You got the gear, experiment with some better coffee!
@@postbeam8200 try a little spoonful straight before you add milk. I found with that machine now I'm able to get very nice drinkable straight shots even though I usually like cappuccinos ( I add a little coconut sugar to my coffee too) but even if you try a latte with another similar different chocolatey medium roasted type coffees I think you'd be able to tell the difference. Especially if it's fresh roasted. Lighter fruitier coffees are maybe a bit weak in milk it might turn out more like a milkshake than what you'd think a coffee is supposed to taste like but it's still interesting. I found some fruity coffees work well with a little milk but if you get it right they're really nice straight too.
Put that sugar in the bin, just get it away from the Synchronika. Great machine, had mine almost two years, with a Compak F10 grinder. I feel really spoiled.
But I need the sugar :) its my precious... The Compak F10 looks like an awesome grinder! The grinder is defiantly critical to making consistent espresso.
This is the Polycarbonate Tubing I used cut way down to size. I did have to enlarge the opening of the bellows a little to get it to fit perfectly: smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OMHIHM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Bellows: smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D0I21CI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
so you basically appreciate that you have a bunch of retention in your grinder which stops the mess when grinding... why did you buy a grinder like this anyway? do you grind for 10 espressos in a row? doesnt make sense to me. this is a COMMERCIAL grinder with high retention. a specialita would have done the job aswell. furthermore you use lavazza coffee. did you check when those beans have been roasted? also that scale... for what? could have just bought cheaper. you dont use pressure profiling either on the machine. you just bought the most expensive things of everything basically without needing it... congrats for that.
You know I have thought about your point a great deal. I drink mostly cappuccino so the Lavazza super crema has been a nice blend. I have experimented with a dozen other coffee beans and I liked the Verve Blend I got from Clive Coffee when I bought my Eureka, but I really like the amount of crema I get from Lavazza which works well with my morning work commute Cappuccinos. But I am out of coffee again (funny how that happens) so i am going to go check out a local roaster in town and try something new. And as far as the cost of the equipment dictating which coffee brand I should buy, I think that taste is subjective. If I had a $60 Mr. Coffee machine then would it be OK with you to drink Lavazza super crema? That is silly or just plain old Snobbery. This equipment is just a tool, that's all. Precise tools make it easier to achieve good repeatable results. But the journey is the part that matters, learning, experimenting, and exploring coffee, even Lavazza super crema.
@@postbeam8200 That high end equipment was intended to extract the absolute best taste out of a good, fresh roasted coffee. At least where I live Lavazza tastes like burnt coal. This is like you would hire a chef with three Michelin stars, you bring him to your home, and then you say: ok, now make me a tea. And he says but I can cook some amazing dishes that you have never experienced before. I don't care just give me that tea. The part with journey and learning part it is true up to a point. We should all learn every day. Is just that you don't buy a Ferrari to learn how to drive a car. You buy a cheap one so that when you scratch it you don't cry. Buying your coffee from a local roaster, as you said, is a far better option.
@@florinchis4051 You know the best part about buying a $5,000 setup? You can buy whatever beans you like! Are you the type of guy to walk up to the Ferrari owners and lecture them because they are driving to the grocery store instead of the racetrack?
I don’t normally comment but felt the need to here. I immediately discredited this individual as anyone with more knowledge than money since he doesn’t seem to know the difference between the RDT and WDT as he clearly spewed in his video. Study up on these two DIFFERENT theories. He also stores the milk pitcher on top of the machine which is not beneficial when frothing milk, but passive aggressively let’s another commenter know it doesn’t matter. Once he discounted the bottomless portafilter as a waste of time LOL, I knew bro was trippin. Fact: the fewer surfaces that your espresso touches before you drink it, the better it will taste. A shame that your pallet is not refined enough to discern this. About 19 years ago when baristas started modifying their PF to become bottomless, it was NOT so that social media whores could make cool videos of dripping espresso and post on YT. It was for improvement of taste as well as analysis of the extraction. I took one of my Cimbali PF to a machine shop and had the bottom cut out; they weren’t available for purchase at the time. Unless you are in a shop, I see know reason to split a double, so no need to let the espresso touch the PF underneath the basket - just pull it into your cup. Oh, and those things hanging down under a portafilter are called spouts! Not armatures. Like the cool paper towel holder from Costco. I use one too.
once you add some milk... wow why they hell did you get a setup like that when you dont even care about stale coffee in the grinder? could have gotten a specialita and an entry level machine. total overkill septup there
I don’t get it. Is this what we’re up to now. We buy expensive toys, do a video, then post it on youtube to show off what others can’t afford. Well, that’s really stupid!
I got my lovely ECM synchronika today, I watched your video several times! Thank you for the demo! Very very helpful. Thanks.
I purchased a Synchronika over a year ago, after a lot of research. I have no regrets. I did recently have a bit of a grinding happening when I pulled shots…..the actual lever was grinding. I viewed one of the EXCELLENT videos put out on TH-cam by Whole Latte Love….and lubricated the valves. I actually changed all mine also, which wasn’t really necessary. You need to purchase a food- safe lube, which is readily available. If I can do this, anyone can! - FYI….one of the bonuses of this machine is it’s ease of maintenance by the owner. ~
Love the extremely unpretentious but yet genuinely helpful review and tips !
Exactly the setup I'm looking to replicate at home...I can stop researching, great video!
I am very happy with it so far. I use it every morning and it hasn't let me down. I did fix the leaking around the top by tightening the top mushroom nut, but that was my only minor problem. Glad to help. The research is the hardest part :)
Thanks for the video! I’ve been researching espresso machines and grinders for a week and your setup is exactly what I was leaning towards! Your video does such a better job explaining things than so many others online, because your not bullshitting or trying to sell anything. I also love that you’re not a super experienced professional barista, neither am I. I just want good espresso from a quality machine that will last many years!
Thanks so much! And great idea on the tamper too! Cheers!
Great to hear! I was exactly is your position this Spring, trying to determine what to get. I like the dual boiler setup on the ECM and I love the "shot clock" for timing the pump on time. And with it plumbed I get a good pre-infusion and that helps. The ATOM 75 has been a good grinder and you get a huge size burr (75mm) for a reasonable price. The portafilter hook works hands free, the light is nice, and its fast and quiet. For me the Force Tamper is a game changer, it makes it look easy. And I need all the help I can get :)
Good Luck with your decision!
@@postbeam8200 did you get the 58.35mm or 58.5mm force Tamper?
I’m away at work and my whole set-up (Synchronika & Atom75) is getting delivered when I get home in 2 days! Can’t wait! Thanks to your video for helping me make the final decision!
@@SteveTownshend That sounds awesome. Sorry for the delay in answering; here is exactly what I bought dFlat is Distribution Flat it is what I am using in the video:
- $219: the Force Tamper Flat distribution set with 2 bases; FLAT, (d)FLAT in 58.5mm with Jelly shape handle in Black
- $19; The Worm Hole in Black
I can’t find the worm hole anywhere can you provide a link please 🙏
Good vid- glad to have your thoughts on your equipment.
It’s funny how we all have our quirks and preferences.
When I went from generic beans (including Lavazza), to fresh beans, I quickly learned that if I kept my coffee in the hopper, it off gassed excessively quickly and I couldn’t keep things dialed in. So I’ve been single dosing for ~4 years and don’t expect nor want to ever go back.
About once every other year, I go down an espresso rabbit hole where I question everything I thought I knew about it and end up learning way more than I expected.
Thanks for your content!
Yeah as long as you get the Individual dosing tubes that can off gas +1 for single dosing. Everyone has a point in which they decide “hey I want better coffee than Lavazza(which is good but stale/burnt) I should get some” and then boom hoppers are a no go. I just weigh out all my doses at the beginning of the week and boom have the entire week portioned out.
Awesome video dude. So much better getting the common sense review, with all the tips rather than the sales pitch from the shops. Thanks very much for taking the time to put this together.
Thank you! Glad to share my espresso journey
As always, video about your ownership and personal experience is authentic, informative, honest and very helpful. Look forward to your one year update especially about that "leak" coming from the E61 mushroom. Thanks!
BTW, love your finished cabinetry / drawers.
Thanks! I will do a 1 year review.
@@postbeam8200 Could you please tell us about descaling this machine and how often this should be done. Thanks.
Great demo. Lots of info. Nice pace. Excellent English.
Fantastic video, love the honest thoughts on all the gear!
Love this video ! Super informative and very straightforward. This synchronika is at the top of my list for my next machine coming very soon. I am looking to pair it up with a Mahlkonig grinder. Thanks very much
Really clear and straightforward video!! Helpful! Keep them coming.
Watching this now, just started. I literally just ordered this same setup from Clive! Both the machine and grinder.
I bought my synchronika about 2 years ago and I make the best shots of espresso , an incredible machine. I also bought mine with flow control that I never use.
I know.... When I bought mine I didn't want to miss out on any features, if I did it again I wound skip the lever but keep the pressure gage in the group head. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Wow, what a set up. Definately something i aspie to have in the future. Great review, looks like a great machine.
Appreciate the very detailed explanation for each equipment - pros & cons. Glad I came across this video. Currently have a SD setup but starting to feel cumbersome esp when I’m making 3-4 coffees a day. looking into the atom 75 and force tamper. Just saving up to be able to purchase them. Thank you!
Beautiful machine and tamper! I'm thinking of getting the ECM, but cant plumb in and think I'll lose out on pre-infusion due to that. Nut maybe having flow control will negate this. Like you have experienced, that grinder is definitely not suitable for single dosing and the reason why you hate the experience with it. Grind retention is too high and the static isnt fantastic. although static is larger during break in period on it. Most grinders will typically need a minimum of 1kg (or up to 3kg) of beans run through to fully season. I think you should give the naked portafilter a bit of a go again. You dont need the holder you bought for it, just place the whole base on the edge of the table (ideally on a tamping rubber mat) and you've got a level surface to tamp on un-obstructed by spouts. Also, you should try some beans that are from a local roaster that have a roast date on them instead of Lavazza store bought. I reckon you'll notice an improvement in flavour. Happy coffee making ☺️
Will be getting my synchronika delivered this week coming! Looking forward to it. Also, I hope you don’t leave your milk jugs on the top of the machine, you want milk to be as cold as possible and that will heat your jug up (If you’re using one from the top). I recommend buying some nicer baskets. I had Pullman, but I have since transitioned to VST baskets and thoroughly impressed. Bottomless is great to see if you have any unnecessary chanelling, good to see if your tamp technique is flat and even. Always when warming the machine up, keep your group handle in the group head, it warms the handle up so when the hot water enters the coffee, it doesn’t lose temperature hitting cold metal. Don’t crank it tight into the group head either as its unessecary. Otherwise enjoyed the vid
hmmm... So first off enjoy your Synchronika when you get it. :)
Secondly you really don't know much about what you're talking about, mostly I am guessing you're just repeating what you read on some HB forum. So for others I would like to address your comments below.
1. Milk Jugs: As far as the milk jugs (milk frothing pitcher) warmth is not really an issue as you pour in cold milk from the fridge and then 30 sec later you're introducing 265 degree Fahrenheit steam into it. The milk doesn't warm up due to the pitcher being stored on top of the Synchronika so what you said is not a factor.
2. Nicer Baskets: The basket in the Bottomless portafilter WAS a 58mm 20g VST basket. Honestly the ECM basket works just as well. I made the video to be honest and share what works and what was a waste of time or money, that includes the VST basket and the bottomless portafilter. I have used the bottomless portafilter and VST basket and it made no difference in the quality of the espresso it produced. Did it look cool? Sure. It defiantly showed the quality of the puck preparation as you said. But that is a function of the beans, grinder, distribution, and most importantly the Force Tamper, not the brand of portafilter basket you buy. In the end the bottomless portafilter with fancy VST basket is more effort than it is worth. However, by all means buy a $30 VST basket and try it out, I am sure you'll be able to taste the difference ;) I can't
3. Group Head: The "group handle" aka 58mm portafilter always lives in the machine, cold, warm, always. As far as "cranking it tight" you have never used a Synchronika so how would you know? The amount of turn varies a bit with the temperature of the brass E61 group head, when it's cold its tighter cuz its cold and the group head contracts, when it's up to temp its looser. So no I am no "cranking it tight" into the group head, but thank you for your concern.
@@postbeam8200 I agree precision baskets or shower screen might not be worth it, I think there is a difference for basket size since it affects your grind size needed though. Precision shower screen is probably a waste of money (it does wipe clean easier with a finer mesh screen).
Your milk will warm up a tiny bit in a warmer steaming pitcher, some people keep theirs in the fridge or freezer even!
Not a bit deal you'll have a little less time to steam the milk maybe.
I'd say to keep the portafilter in when warming up and using it of course, but it may be best to take it out when the machine is off and not in use, if you want the gaskets to last longer. I also don't lock it in super tight, some machines don't easily lock in at 90 degrees, some do, I wouldn't force it hard. I had a Quickmill machine that the original gasket lasted over 10 years, and some people claim they have to change their gaskets every year for some reason! Either Quickmill just makes better gaskets or my practices were a factor.
I have an earlier version of the synchronika, without flow control. If you do not use it you can always buy a "blind mushroom nut" and replace the flow control with that. They will have it available online as it is on earlier versions of the synchronika.
@@postbeam8200 Just take it on the chin mate, no need for the passive aggressive response. All of his points were valid, regardless of if he has used that particular machine or not.
@@BensCoffeeRants Good to know about the portafilter best off gasket when not warming up.
Really great use cases. Love this guy!
I have purchased this machine and would not go with anything other than a ECM/Profitec machine.
I had them add flow control but make mostly milk drinks. I had the Profitec Pro 300 before. Great machine as well. I always use a large dosing funnel, distributer and pressure tamper. I disagree about the use of a bottomless filter. I never use the portafilters that came with machine. I weigh out my dose at 18 grams and do not bother with a scale. I have the Eureka Mignon Specialita
and always single dose. Here in the desert dryness, I add two drops of water to each 18 dose. There is many benefits to single dosing! I have had prosumer machines since 1970's starting out with a Pasquini Livietta.
Thanks for the excellent video. You're amazing. I bought the machine. Still thinking on the grinder, but I may get yours.
I do like the setup, thanks for sharing. Funny thing, there is a video by XICups comparing the Niche Zero to the Eureka 75 in the side bar associated videos.
Thanks for the update! Thinking of getting the same machine and plumbing in in the same way. Do you turn water off to the machine after every use? Seeing a few comments that note ECM advise doing this in the manual but seems like a bit of a pain! If not have you had any issues with it being left ‘pressurised’? I can’t see why it should leak, it’s a closed valve when the lever is down. I guess the main risk is that some one pushes the lever and starts the water running…
Very good video. Thanks for taking the time to put this out to us, for us.
Glad to share my experience, I am only a coffee rookie but I am learning more everyday :)
Thanks for the sharing of what did not work, so much marketing all over internet.
I'm sold. Will save up so that I can purchase your identical rig. I had done tons of prior research but will now gladly disregard all that. 🙂 Thank you.
Amazing beautiful set-up!
Thank you for the honest information
Thank you for the review, exactly what I wanted to see. What grind setting do you use to grind your lavazza espresso shots with this grinder ? My Eureka specialita is choking and clogging with lavazza super crema . Did you have any clogging with Eureka Atom 75? Thanks.
Thank you for your review. I appreciate not being sold to.
I believe the technique of spraying water onto your beans, the one you were searching for the name or acronym for is "RDT."
that's it! RDT... Thanks!
Hello, the force tamper comes in 2 sizes. May I ask which one is best for ECM? Thanks!
What is the name of the base you use for storing the wormhole ring and the Ultra WDT
Thanks a lot for your great review! I am considering to buy it, but have one consern about the height with opened tank lift.
I am planning to set it up under the cabinet, so have limited space, what is the heght of Synchronika with opened tank lift?
Really like your video very honest review of your setup. I was wondering can you provide a link to the worm hole ring I try everywhere and can't find it.
What is your thoughts on Lelit victoria? It has all features as profetic go plus preinfusion
Where did you purchase the group head cleaner at? Also what is it called? I cant seem to find it.
I'd like the answer too !
Very helpful thank you for posting this video
In your opinion and experience how important is the line pressure pre infusion? I ask because I’m running from a tank.
Really nice walk through👍 I must say though that no matter how fine your equipment are - the coffee won’t taste better than the coffee beans you are using. I would never go with Lavazza. To do your fine equipment justice, you should never by coffee beans that are more than two weeks from roasting time. Usually I will get coffee beans that are only 5-7 days from roasting time at our local coffee roastery. It makes all the difference in taste - I guarantee 😁👍☕️
I only use bottles because I can always see how the shot is extracting, at least I'd do it to dial in my beans..
You do realize the manometer atop the brew group is simply a repeater of the machine’s manometer when you aren’t flow controlling the shot?
Where did you order the tamper from? I cannot find one that has a black handle. Thanks.
Nice ikea cabinets, Saved $$$ to buy ECM Synchronica ☕️
You know it! 😆👍
Superb review. Cafelot Robot, Niche Zero and looking to upgrade to a more automatic process.
I think your setup sounds awesome! That is exactly what I was looking at originally. I do like the speed of the Eureka and ECM, I have it down to about 3.5 min to make a cappuccino in the morning. I have added a couple Hue smart plugs to automate the machines turning on. I wish I had a Niche to try single dosing with but I am cool with the hopper. Best of luck!
What is the heat up time on this ???
Terrific video. Really liked your candor. Thanks for the honest discussion about your mistakes and your victories. I wrote down a couple of the items that you’ve had good experiences with although the force tamper for $219 gave me pause. I’ve got a Rancillio Silvia and the matching grinder. I’ve got one of those thick heavy levelers and a dosing ring that falls off every time I use it. I’m thinking of upgrading to your machine. I was also interested in your opinion about the flow control not really being a value. I was wondering if that was a feature for people to want then end up not using. I also need a grinder for caffeinated beans and a separate grinder for decaffeinated beans. So I will probably buy a second grinder. Wouldn’t mind having a grinder with two bins on top. I’m not fond of the dosing every morning. I have to dose separately because I make decaffeinated for myself and then I make caffeinated for the wife. I must admit I do like the naked Porter filter because it seems so much easier to clean. But you’re right it’s not easy to fill and tamp.
Hi, Can I know what is the force tamper setting used ?
i tried to post a video and i dont see it on youtube, i see it on my channel, why is that?
Did you ever compare this to the Lelit bianca? If so, what are your thoughts?
How many bars of pressure is your pump set at?
I love how particular you are with it all, totally ocd and thank you for the super informative videos. But dude, after all that effort and expense you end up with Lavazza beans? Seriously? :D You have like a 200 dollar tamper and 250 dolar scales, but Lavazza beans?!
What's wrong with single dosing?
The naked portafilter isn't just for looks, it's a great diagnostic tool watch how your shot starts flowing (does it start from the edges? does it flow from everywhere and pour from the center relatively quickly? Are you getting spurting or naked spots indicating channeling etc?).
Also less extra drips come out after rinsing the portafilter out.
But I think you get better temperature stability with a heavier spouted portafilter. Send me your naked one if you don't like it? :)
Oh also if your rinsing the portafilter with water from the tap, the spouted one is going to get cooler and make more of an impact vs a naked one which barely comes in contact with the coffee.
RDT Ross Droplet Technique, I think the guy from Friends invented it :D jk
I think what you may have experienced is the burrs being seasoned. Sometimes people do say they get a lot of static at first and it goes away after some use.
Blowing retention out might not be necessary if the retention (actual swapped amount) is low enough, I found with my specialita it would retain a total of about 2g but only about 0.8 was being exchanged, the rest sits there minding its own business.
I'm hoping I can use the Atom 75 for single dosing! I always single dose with every grinder I've had. Just makes the most sense for me with espresso.
Kinda weird that tamper leaves a line in the middle of the coffee grounds. Normcore tamper is a good cheaper alternative for anyone looking for a self leveling tamper. Decent brand is also cheaper (not as tight 58.5mm fit though).
Aliexpress and Amazon have a black plastic cheap knockbox, which has a ledge to knock on instead of the bar most of them have (i prefer the ledge design).
I don't like the idea of knocking it onto the garbage ledge. Before having a knock box I'd knock on the ledge of my sink letting the coffee puck fall into a plate or plastic lid or something from the recycle bin, then I knock the puck into the green bin / compost and rinse off whatever it was on.
Hi Ben...
Well I pulled the bottomless portafilter out of the storage box and I'll give it another go for a few weeks and see if maybe I wrote it off too soon. I had been using it with the 20g VST basket but I put in my 18g tapered basket that came with my ECM and it worked much better. Honestly, 18g is about the right amount of coffee for me the larger VST basket is just silly. I will do a follow up video if I stick with the bottomless. I totally agree that with a bottomless portafilter you can clearly see any weak points or channels forming and that would defiantly hav an impact on brewing and taste, so thank you encouraging me to give it another go.
As far as single dosing.... not so much. You can defiantly single dose the Atom 75 and I linked the parts on your other post. But personally I just like having the same coffee so changing beans is not as important. Switching back an forth between beans was a pain because you had to dial in every time in my experience. Then there is the static. I may make a video showing the static insanity, but it was so annoying I dread reintroducing the problem. I did season the burs by running 8.8 (4 bags of Lavazza super crema) before I bought the stuff to build my little single dose rig. And I still got a ton of static. But I may try it again. For now I'll just stick with trying out the bottomless portafilter again. Honestly, if I was going to switch coffee a lot like decaf when asked for, I would just buy another Atom 75 and put it on the other side holding the second coffee offering, dialed in and ready to go.
Finally the knock box, I guess I just don't find the idea of used coffee pucks sitting on the counter that appealing. The trash can is not really that much better but only the handle hits the side of the trash. I then rinse out everything before putting it back in the machine. The portafilter and basket never make contact with any trash. But I guess it may seem not appealing to others. As far as cooling the portaflter by rinsing it with tap water I only make one cup so after the rinse its not making more coffee so the cold water has no impact. I guess if I was makeing more cups I would use a brush or hot water.
Thanks for the helpful ideas!
Simply beautiful 🤩
Attend to the 'leak' giving attention to connection fittings.
I need to do a follow up, but the LEAK IS FIXED :) I had to remove the mushroom cap on top of the E61 group head and then clean it, lube it (food safe) and reinstall it. Honestly, the company Whole Latte Love (WLL) was helpful but on a new machine there should not be a leak. Since Whole Latte Love installed the flow control valve and that is part on the mushroom cap that leaked I feel that they did not properly test it before shipping it out and that was kinda disappointing. There was some residual hard water stains where the leak was but I used some fresh lime juice and that removed the stains completely. If I was to do it again I would defiantly buy the ECM Syncronika but not add the Flow Control Valve which is what was installed "aftermarket" by WLL and not tightened sufficiently. It is possible to remove the mushroom cap but you need a relatively big adjustable wrench and I used masking tape (frog tape) to protect the chrome finish from damage by the wrench. But it is working perfectly now! Good luck!
Very helpfule vid! I bought a Specialita grinder (the smaller version of yours) and it clogs all the time. I hate it. Fortunately I kept my Mazzer grinder and it's old school but never clogs or gets staticky. Force Tamper sounds good but $200!
The Eureka actually never clogs, there is defiantly residual coffee in there but clogs are never an issue. It takes 3.55 sec to produce 18g so the rate is kinda quick and that helps. The force tamper is totally an extravagant add-on but wow does it make it easy to be consistent. It is like a hand held poor mans puck press. I get crazy consistency day after day. Pre warm the Hydro-Flask 12oz mug with 265f water, then 18g out of the grinder, in 3.55 sec, whisk, Force Tamp, then pre-infuse (3-5 sec) at first drip turn up the ECM to 9bar, then 36 g of espresso out in 27 to 28 sec, froth the milk to 65c (150f) in 20 sec and out the door in 4 min total including cleanup. And I am half asleep the whole time (cuz no coffee.... yet :)
I love your Ikea cabinets also it's cute that you didn't know that they are called portafilter "spouts". Pouring channels was funny!
Why do you have your steam pitchers on the cup warmer, when they should be cool, and your cups in the drawer, when they should be warmed?
Good Point :) Well the Pitchers don't fit it the drawer and the cups do. Honestly the pitchers don't really maintain almost any heat so when you put in some cold milk the pitcher cools off almost instantly and the milk might warm up 1 degree fahrenheit which make no difference in reality for steaming milk. As far as the cups, I always put in some hot (256 F) water from the Hot Water Wand and let that warm the cup while I get everything ready. I do keep a couple of Latte cups on top pre warmed which I use for at home but most of the time I make coffee to go so I use the hydroflask with a lid. Hope that helps.
Did you at all consider the Technika Profi V PID? I am wavering between that and the Synchronika. Great Video. Thanks! Just wondering if the $500 is worth the upgrade.
I actually didn't look at the Technika. I was between the Lelit bianca, la marzocco gs3, and the Synchronika. It was more of a beauty contest cuz I was a naive yuppie. Based on use the Technika Profi V PID looks great. I like the automatic Shot Clock on the display, I like the PID controller, and the ability to plumb it in for ease of use and pre-infusion. I think the heat exchange boiler vs the dual boiler in mine is the big difference. Personally I like the larger capacity of a dual boiler setup, especially when you need to make 4 latte for a group of friends after dinner. Nothing sucks more than coming up one short as you wait for the more water to heat up. But they both will make a wonderful addition. Good luck!
Can you tell us what the ‘plastic ring’ is/was for the bellows? Where did you get it? Thanks!
Good Question! It is Polycarbonate Tubing, 1 7/8" ID x 2" OD x 1/16" Wall, Clear Color 36" L I bought it on Amazon. You could use regular 2" PVC pipe but I had this stuff already. Good Luck!
Nice vid. I feel like the portafilter is all style and preference. I get into a flow where I never set it down, I prefer tamp mats. Will see if I end up using the bottomless. I agree I probably won’t notice the shower screen and basket upgrade but they sure do look nice lol. And I do like the idea of a wipe down clean.
Did you ever use it on the reservoir? I think I’m going to use it while I solidify plumbed in plans.
I haven't used the reservoir. It is easy to switch using a valve and a switch to tell the ECM to monitor water levels in the reservoir. I did end up buying a barista basics tamping & packing mat large 5"x12" which fits nicely infant of the ECM. Good luck with your pluming plans!
Thanks for this. I’m in the process of doing the research on a new machine. I’m 90% sure I’m going with the Synchronika, but I see a lot of people like the Decent. The Decent is ugly as hell though (which should not sway your decision) but if I’m paying that much I want it to look good also. The Question I have is would you do it again, and what don’t you like about it? I just ordered a Niche Zero grinder to start my set up. Thanks again loved your honest review.
Hi! So I use my Synchronika and Atom75 grinder almost every day. I love those two as a pair. I have changed coffee beans (as my taste has evolved). I changed my sugar bowl for a nicer one and changed sugar brands. I have simplified my puck prep to just the Force Tamper and a black Barista Basics tamping mat. I added some smart plugs to allow me to automatically start my machine 30 before I wake up. But really the core elements from this video have not changed. I would by the ECM Synchronika, Eureka Atom 75 and Force Tamper again without hesitation. I'm not a single dose kinda person (too much effort at 7am on my way to the door) so this works for me. But the Niche Zero looks cool. I also like the Kafatek grinders, but again that's more work and I am kinda chill, I just want a nice cup in 3 min for the drive in to work. I need to make a 1 year follow up. :) Good luck!
Quick question: prior to your plumbing.. was there enough pressure to pre-infuse when you use the tank.. I'm looking at this exact setup but the water in my home is so bad I would rather use the distilled+TWW
I don’t think you can pre-infuse with the Tank because there is no line pressure in the tank. When I use the plumbed water feed there is about 1.7 bar (24psi) coming into the machine to provide enough pressure to pre-infuse. I do run it through a filter to take the minerals down to about 50ppm from 130ppm for city water. You want some minerals for taste and to keep from corroding the machine plumbing with distilled water. Some minerals are a good thing, too much and it will scale up the machine, none and it will corrode the machine.
Distilled or reverse osmosis is corrosive and damaging according to the experts.
what kind of cars are you driving.
Really appreciate the honest review. Loved your plumbing and drain videos. Pretty slick way of skipping the inferior drain compartment that ECM supplies. Just became a new sub.
Did you ever replace the shower screen or the group gasket? The forums/Reddit make it seem it’s a must but wondering if it’s another waste.
Hi! Thanks for your kind words!
Quick answer is no I have not replaced the shower screen nor do I think that would add anything to the coffee. I have never had any leak issues at the connection of the portafilter and group head shower screen gasket even at 8 Bar of pressure. The only leak I have had is at the group head mushroom on top of the group head where I had some scale baked onto the chrome. Whole Latte Love replaced this part and my guess is it was not sealed properly and leaked for the first few heat cycles hence the water stains. So yeah I think a new shower screen is a waste. However that Espazzola grouphead cleaning tool is worth every penny! A clean shower head is a happy shower head as the saying goes :)
Honestly, I think some of the 'advice' on the "forums" /Reddit can be kinda silly. Which is hard to tell when you're trying hard to figure out what you "need" to buy to make a nice Latte or Espresso and what is just some so-called "expert" pontificating about minute details that are irrelevant.
Good luck!
I do have another question about the Atom. When you were dialing it in do you need to run the grinder with beans every time you make adjustments? If so that seems like a tremendous amount of beans to use up before you are dialed in.
@@greghaynes1645 Yeah initially I did run though some coffee (half a bag/ 1lb) to get the grind dialed in, but now I just make minute tweeks to adjust the time it takes to pull a shot. That's a big reason I don't want to single dose, it would mess up my settings.
The gasket is a consumable, but most E61 shower screens also have a limited (but reasonable) lifespan due to the design. Depending on how you pry it out, the seam you are levering against will eventually fail. In home use this can be a long time, but most owners will eventually have a chance to upgrade. I don't think anybody on the planet has their process so dialed that improving the screen is going to be a consistent benefit.
Great vid. My Synchronika comes tomorrow! I need a grinder to replace my Breville Smart Grinder. Any recommendations?
I went with the eureka atom 75 because of how quiet it is and the 75mm burr but I almost went with the ECM V-Titan which I think is gorgeous. But after owning the Atom 75 for 7 months I am planning on buying a second one for Decaf coffee, so that's what I am spending my money on. Good luck!
Thanks! I went for the Titan. I couldn’t resist the looks! I hope it works out! The short burst of the Atom looks sweet.
I have the Ecm synchronika as well. Is there a noticeable difference between 58, 58.35, and 58.5mm? Would the 58.5 work on stock portafilter on synchronika?
I think because of the play in the spring clip that secures them in the portafliter any of those would fit, but I wanted to make sure my ForceTamper would not get stuck so I use the included ECM double basket. Does that answer your question?
@@postbeam8200 yes it does thank you!
I have synchronika too and I'm anarcho-capitalist... where did you get those AnCap cups?
I'm a big proponent of Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune...You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause you own a fancy espresso machine!! Oh, and I bought the Ancap cups online at Prima coffee.
I had to get those ancap cups but the tulip style. And have motta tamper with bubinga handle I love. Your machine is much better imo though haha
I love ancap! It and the little motta cafe spoons make the coffee feel like a tiny cafe in Italia. It's the little things that make all the difference.
If you started using the force tamper and the needle thing at the same time I'll bet that it is the needle that has improved your espressos the most and not the tamper as you say :)
Do you think this could be used for a small scale coffee shop?
It kinda depends on how busy you are. I have made Cappuccino for 5-6 people at a time, but you start to run out of hot water by the last cup or two. If you had time for the boiler to recover (5 min or so) then you would be in good shape. The issue is lots of orders all at once are going to deplete the tank, that is where larger commercial machines start to show their advantage. I have never been a real barista but that is my take on it, I Hope that helps.
this was a very helpful video! Thanks for that!
May I ask for your experience with the heat up time for you ECM? I'd expect that with the cassical brew group it should be good to go after 20 to 25 minutes? Thanks again for all these very beneficial infos :)
Thanks! I use an app on my phone to turn on a smart outlet when I wake up to warm up the machine. Heat up time is exactly 1 morning shower :) or about 20 minutes. Then when I get down stairs I use the hot water wand to fill my hydro flask mug with hot water and start warming it up. I can usually finish grinding, pulling a shot, adding a cube of sugar, steaming the milk and adjusting the grind for next time... all in about 5 min. And then out the door. So the short answer is 20 min to warm up and 5 min to make a latte.
Thanks again!
@@postbeam8200 thanks my friend! great setup and perfect start into the day!
Send me that naked Portafilter if you don't use it :) I have a Rocket one but was tempted to buy the ECM one.
Great video! Where did you buy your EDO Wormhole? I can't seem to find a seller in the US
Thanks! I bought it from Sun Zubing at TheRisingForce.cn when I bought the Force Tamper. It was $19.
Site not working
@@pilosopo25 Sorry :( try a search I can't imagine they stopped making it.
@@postbeam8200 - Not an active link.
How long would one be able to use a machine like this for normal home use? Without major repairs i mean
I don't honestly know. I would imagine years, maybe a decade or more. The good news it is very easy to fix, and was specifically designed to be repaired so with a good water filtration system, regular cleaning and back flushing, and some basic maintenance I plan on keeping it for a long time (20+years). It's very well built and more than capable of lasting that long.
Apart from scale etc, what kills machines is internal corrosion from steam leaks. It is probably a good idea to get a high quality home machine looked at every few years, 5 years at the latest. Seals fail and pipe connections loosen from heating cycles. Steam corrodes electronics and connectors. The Synchronika is well designed and has tubing to route steam released from the vacuum breaker and OPV into the drip tray, and the electronics are well shielded to stop water falling on them. This is the difference between the mid range and true high end home machines. Manufacturers go the extra length to prevent corrosion and condensation being where it shouldn't be. This machine is built under contract by Bezzera, and there is almost nothing in it that is proprietary, apart from the particular design layout and sheet metal.
You scared me with that potential leak, YIKES!
I need to do a follow up, but the LEAK IS FIXED :) I had to remove the mushroom cap on top of the E61 group head and then clean it, lube it (food safe) and reinstall it. Honestly, the company Whole Latte Love (WLL) was helpful but on a new machine there should not be a leak. Since Whole Latte Love installed the flow control valve and that is part on the mushroom cap that leaked I feel that they did not properly test it before shipping it out and that was kinda disappointing. There was some residual hard water stains where the leak was but I used some fresh lime juice and that removed the stains completely. If I was to do it again I would defiantly buy the ECM Syncronika but not add the Flow Control Valve which is what was installed "aftermarket" by WLL and not tightened sufficiently. It is possible to remove the mushroom cap but you need a relatively big adjustable wrench and I used masking tape (frog tape) to protect the chrome finish from damage by the wrench. But it is working perfectly now! Good luck!
Forgive if I missed it, but what are the bases your WDT tool and Force Tamper are sitting in, the brushed alloy bases?
Cheers
It's a Motta Stainless Steel Tamper Holder.
Diameter outside: 74mm , inside: 72mm
- Height: 2cm
- Material: stainless steel
- Made in Italy
Love it so much I bought 2 :)
@@postbeam8200 love it. It looks like it houses the force base as well or is that just a rubber interior part of the holder?
@@danielbriglia4612 Oh, That is the rubber pad that came with my Force tamper for free, I cut it down so it would fit into the Motta Stainless Steel tamper holder.
I saw how you preinfused. Is it possible to do the same thing with the flow controller? Any pros/cons for each?
I am sure you could pre-infuse with the flow controller. The major issue with the ECM flow controller is the fact that you have to spin it multiple times to get the full adjustment range. I found that repeatability was very difficult. I think that the lelit bianca is a better design, but for just pre-infusion you could crank it closed, open it up to 1.5 bar until the coffee starts to drip then crank it full open. That would get the job done :)
@@postbeam8200 I see! There are no full revolutions on the LB, and that makes it easier to use, right? Really good point.
I have the ECM, and I agree. The flow control full span is 2+ turns, but stock flow is @ ~1.25 turns. This is counterintuitive. I think that half of the full span is usable. They could chop off the excess and provide the same usable range in a single full turn with similar precision.
@@enyceofnyc I agree! I think the "flow controller" was a total afterthought to compete with the Lelit Bianca which was designed for flow control. But honestly flow profiling has not been that important for my use. You can get an amazing cup without fidgeting with the flow, honestly all you need is basic pre-infusion. If I wanted that level of flow precision I would have bought a Decent Espresso machine. But I like the feel of the ECM much more. It's a "real" espresso machine :)
Dang. U gotta be rich af to own that machine!
The bottom less portafilter lets you use a 22 g basket, that's the best thing coming out of it 😜.
So true! I leave the 22g bottomless portafilter to the professionals. 18g is all I can handle... I'm a rookie.
the 22 g was the tiping point for me in making really good coffee
and watchig the exstracting is every thing.....clive told me that and it works great it took a long time to get real good at it REX here@@postbeam8200
Have you removed the writing on the front saying "Specialty" and how?
It's just a sticker, I just pulled it off and used a little Goo Gone to get rid of any remaining adhesive. :)
@@postbeam8200 If the writing was permanent, i would have found another grinder. looks is key, beside it's functionality
@@the_mighty_shrimp1157 Defiantly removable. I agree all the stickers are kinda unnecessary
Definitely try some better fresh roasted coffee from a speciality roaster, maybe find something local. You got the gear, experiment with some better coffee!
You're right I should try some other coffee. Honestly I make mostly Latte so I think better coffee might get lost in all the milk :)
@@postbeam8200 try a little spoonful straight before you add milk. I found with that machine now I'm able to get very nice drinkable straight shots even though I usually like cappuccinos ( I add a little coconut sugar to my coffee too) but even if you try a latte with another similar different chocolatey medium roasted type coffees I think you'd be able to tell the difference. Especially if it's fresh roasted. Lighter fruitier coffees are maybe a bit weak in milk it might turn out more like a milkshake than what you'd think a coffee is supposed to taste like but it's still interesting. I found some fruity coffees work well with a little milk but if you get it right they're really nice straight too.
@@BensCoffeeRants I will try that out when I buy more coffee.
Where did you get the Worm Hole Ring?
I bought it from Sun Zubing at TheRisingForce.cn when I bought the Force Tamper. It was $19.
@@postbeam8200 - Not an active site.
Upgrade your shower screens to IMS screen and upgrade to a silicone gasket.
Great setup! But don’t store you milk jugs on top of the machine. Instead try putting it to the freezer and use really cold milk ! Trust me 🥶
Put that sugar in the bin, just get it away from the Synchronika. Great machine, had mine almost two years, with a Compak F10 grinder. I feel really spoiled.
But I need the sugar :) its my precious... The Compak F10 looks like an awesome grinder! The grinder is defiantly critical to making consistent espresso.
Where'd you get the clear tube for the single dosing mod on the Atom75?
This is the Polycarbonate Tubing I used cut way down to size. I did have to enlarge the opening of the bellows a little to get it to fit perfectly:
smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OMHIHM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Bellows:
smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D0I21CI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
so you basically appreciate that you have a bunch of retention in your grinder which stops the mess when grinding... why did you buy a grinder like this anyway? do you grind for 10 espressos in a row? doesnt make sense to me. this is a COMMERCIAL grinder with high retention. a specialita would have done the job aswell. furthermore you use lavazza coffee. did you check when those beans have been roasted? also that scale... for what? could have just bought cheaper. you dont use pressure profiling either on the machine.
you just bought the most expensive things of everything basically without needing it... congrats for that.
So you have there somewhere around 5000$ worth of equipment and then you use Lavazza? Man you missed the point.
You know I have thought about your point a great deal. I drink mostly cappuccino so the Lavazza super crema has been a nice blend. I have experimented with a dozen other coffee beans and I liked the Verve Blend I got from Clive Coffee when I bought my Eureka, but I really like the amount of crema I get from Lavazza which works well with my morning work commute Cappuccinos. But I am out of coffee again (funny how that happens) so i am going to go check out a local roaster in town and try something new. And as far as the cost of the equipment dictating which coffee brand I should buy, I think that taste is subjective. If I had a $60 Mr. Coffee machine then would it be OK with you to drink Lavazza super crema? That is silly or just plain old Snobbery. This equipment is just a tool, that's all. Precise tools make it easier to achieve good repeatable results. But the journey is the part that matters, learning, experimenting, and exploring coffee, even Lavazza super crema.
@@postbeam8200 That high end equipment was intended to extract the absolute best taste out of a good, fresh roasted coffee. At least where I live Lavazza tastes like burnt coal. This is like you would hire a chef with three Michelin stars, you bring him to your home, and then you say: ok, now make me a tea. And he says but I can cook some amazing dishes that you have never experienced before. I don't care just give me that tea.
The part with journey and learning part it is true up to a point. We should all learn every day. Is just that you don't buy a Ferrari to learn how to drive a car. You buy a cheap one so that when you scratch it you don't cry.
Buying your coffee from a local roaster, as you said, is a far better option.
@@florinchis4051 You know the best part about buying a $5,000 setup?
You can buy whatever beans you like!
Are you the type of guy to walk up to the Ferrari owners and lecture them because they are driving to the grocery store instead of the racetrack?
@@onemanshow4116 Only if the Ferrari owner made it run on LPG. :))
All that equipment and you use low quality beans.... Feels like using a 500 dollars frying pan to cook a 3 dollars steak.
I don’t normally comment but felt the need to here.
I immediately discredited this individual as anyone with more knowledge than money since he doesn’t seem to know the difference between the RDT and WDT as he clearly spewed in his video. Study up on these two DIFFERENT theories. He also stores the milk pitcher on top of the machine which is not beneficial when frothing milk, but passive aggressively let’s another commenter know it doesn’t matter.
Once he discounted the bottomless portafilter as a waste of time LOL, I knew bro was trippin. Fact: the fewer surfaces that your espresso touches before you drink it, the better it will taste. A shame that your pallet is not refined enough to discern this. About 19 years ago when baristas started modifying their PF to become bottomless, it was NOT so that social media whores could make cool videos of dripping espresso and post on YT. It was for improvement of taste as well as analysis of the extraction. I took one of my Cimbali PF to a machine shop and had the bottom cut out; they weren’t available for purchase at the time. Unless you are in a shop, I see know reason to split a double, so no need to let the espresso touch the PF underneath the basket - just pull it into your cup. Oh, and those things hanging down under a portafilter are called spouts! Not armatures.
Like the cool paper towel holder from Costco. I use one too.
Your voice sounds like RDJs lmao
4:29 ......
once you add some milk... wow why they hell did you get a setup like that when you dont even care about stale coffee in the grinder? could have gotten a specialita and an entry level machine. total overkill septup there
Jealous simp
I don’t get it. Is this what we’re up to now. We buy expensive toys, do a video, then post it on youtube to show off what others can’t afford. Well, that’s really stupid!
$6k worth of coffee stuff but used Home Depot plywood for counter tops???? Priorities man priorities