Believe it or not there is a Vostok 4 group selling in Brisbane for…..$6000aud negotiable! I wonder if I could cut it in half and share it with TomP.

@"Amberale"#p30446 Really, I didn't think they ever made a 4 group, even as a special? 3 group is the most?

Dunno mate,it's a FB marketplace thing, sounds like a cafe closing. I figure just the groups would be worth $6k. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/aY9E47w.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/aY9E47w.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The ad claims only one of its kind ever shipped out of Italy. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/8JySFqU.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/8JySFqU.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

@"Amberale"#p30450 I can believe it's one of a kind. Paolo confirmed they made a few in the beginning, but they make no 4 groups now.

@"Inspector"#p30466 It would want to be. She is 4' long, weighs 110kg dry and uses 6000w.

@"Amberale"#p30446 or we can go halves and take turns. I'll have it for the first 20 years, and then you have it for the next 20. Fair 'nuff?

@"Amberale"#p30450 That is one VERY special machine. Studmistress OK with this? I can see here buying another ten bulls if you get this one AA.

The thing is spotless and I notice in the first picture it’s a mirror panel at the bottom showing the group, that’s a nice machine alright

@"tompoland"#p30494 It is spectacular isn't it mate. I am sort of toying with the idea of a one group Vostok and even that might not fit in the kitchen. This would have to go in the shed/pool room but is lots cheaper than a one group. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/wwVXBCQ.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/wwVXBCQ.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

ACS Vostok

Tiramigiu

Now I’m starting to question whether my decision to pre-order a Vostok was the right one 😅
Well, I think the decision would have been at least much more difficult if I had known that all these upgrades will be implemented in the “new” Evo Leva.

Does this mean that when you order, say next month, you will receive the updated version with all the upgrades, or will this happen only later this year?

DavecUK

Tiramigiu Now I’m starting to question whether my decision to pre-order a Vostok was the right one 😅
Well, I think the decision would have been at least much more difficult if I had known that all these upgrades will be implemented in the “new” Evo Leva.

Does this mean that when you order, say next month, you will receive the updated version with all the upgrades, or will this happen only later this year?

It’s simply part of the thing about continuous upgrade, the decision you made was not the wrong one and you can only base it on what’s known at the time. ACS are a small Artisan company, this comes with a lot of benefits to agility as well as machine development and it helps that I am friends with the owners. I am able to directly feedback needs and wants, as well as discuss in a relaxed environment.

I honestly don’t have any idea when the “updated” Evo will be available, or whether there will be an older model with the existing gear pump and a “Lux” model with the enhancements. The only people that can tell you that are ACS and I suspect they might not know for sure.

You could always change your order I guess….although it might confuse them you ordering something which doesn’t exist….but like I say, they are flexible! If you are really serious about wanting a Evo with all the goodies, then ask to see if you can revise your order…..you never know.

Cuprajake

Tiramigiu Vostok all the way 👍👍👍👍

Tiramigiu

DavecUK

You are absolutely right about the continuous upgrades. I know I’m going to have the Machine for a few years, so I didn’t want to feel like I got it at the wrong time. But I guess as long as there is technological progress, that feeling is going to be there. Especially when you have companies like ACS that are interested in constantly improving their product lines. That is definitely something to be appreciated. With ACS, I really feel that they are working in a user-centred way to develop the best possible product.

In any case, thank you for the advice! I briefly thought about contacting ACS, but only for a brief moment.

The human mind is certainly amusing. It’s funny how we’re so good at avoiding cognitive dissonance and justifying our decisions after we’ve made them. For me, it was enough to come to the conclusion that the Vostok gave me the legitimacy to set up a proper coffee station in the living room 😄. That would have been harder to negotiate with the Evo Leva 😅

Amberale

Someones got their Vostok.

I can’t wait for mine and Dave’s breakdown/walkthrough.

OldGregg

Amberale
Dang! Taken down before I saw it.

Amberale

OldGregg

Great pics still available on HB lever machines section.

alexcs

Same account put up some more pics

alexcs

Beautiful machine I’m having an extremely hard time not ordering one.

I think I’d probably opt for the steam and water to be straight down instead of the above for usability, but it does look amazing.

Amberale

alexcs

I like the fact that you can get the wands right away from the activating levers.
I hate having the steam from the hot water wand swamp the control lever and front of the machine with moisture.

Amberale

@DavecUK
I vaguely remember you explaining why the Vostok needs the inbuilt water tank even when it is plumbed direct but I can’t remember why and I can’t find the reference.
Could you explain that for me again, pretty please?

DavecUK

Amberale I vaguely remember you explaining why the Vostok needs the inbuilt water tank even when it is plumbed direct but I can’t remember why and I can’t find the reference.
Could you explain that for me again, pretty please?

If you want to control pressure accurately on preinfusion, always have the same fill rate, in other words consistency. Even if you use a pressure reducing valve, it’s operation will intrinsically change flow rate. It’s better not to use mains fill if you want consistency/advantages of

flow
incoming temperature
pressure control.
Ability to add additives
Easier descaling (much harder with no tank!)

In terms of leak safety, there is no difference when plumbing into a tank or direct as the Vostok has a solenoid valve which will close after too long open (many machines do not have this!). Of course you are still risking leaks downstream of that, which is a reason I prefer mains fill.

So it needs it because of it’s design…the design could have been done to eliminate the tank as on the multi group models, but there are many advantages to having the 1 group system…Such a system would also not work so well in a busy location where large quantities of water can be drawn etc..

Amberale

DavecUK

Ok, I think I have sorted most of this out in my head.
With the PI pressure and fill time I wasn’t thinking too hard about the variations.
Then I thought about my, ahem, water purification system (still).
We are on rain water with an electric pump that is pressure switched.
It was/is impossible to maintain an even flow of cooling water to the reflux condenser through a needle valve and the process just couldn’t be stabilised.
The solution was to use water gravity fed from a tank 70′ odd feet uphill.
Our house water supply is also from a rainwater tank via a pump and I can see how this would play merry hlel with an espresso machine.

I also had trouble trying to work out how the pump was supplying both the boilers with cold water and the group with hot water.
Then I realised that my Bianca does exactly that.
I presume there a solenoid that switches the supply route.

Once again thanks for the information.

Amberale

OK, forgive me but it is late on a Saturday night and I am just about to go to bed so don’t feel the need to rush into an answer.

Does the pump on the Vostok both provide pressure to feed water into the brew boiler AND pressure from the brew boiler for PI and filling the group?

I am trying to get my head around why the tank is necessary if the water for the PI and the shot are coming from the boiler and that pressure is supplied by the pump.
Is it that line pressure filling the boiler will add to the pump pressure for pre-infusion and fill rate and introduce inconsistencies?

The descaling/initial temp stability/additive access makes sense.

In my usage case the water is prefiltered & treated in the same room as the machine with an inline system that contains around 2 litres of water.

I am not in the least worried about how it is set up, just trying to get my head around the reasons and how the plumbing works.

Thanks for the help.

Amberale

I’m just waitin’ for my man……

The sideboard is now 605mm deep and seriously underpinned.

DavecUK

Amberale It’s going to fit fantastically well, you definitely have the right space for it.

chlorox

Amberale

Thats a very nice looking sideboard!

Amberale

DavecUK
Thanks Dave.
There is a solid steel (25mm x 2.5mm square) frame forming a base and up the back supporting the rear of the benchtop.
That is on 6 heavy duty castors and the whole thing is bolted to the wall.
There is plumbing in the cavity behind the whole thing.

On a side issue, my water supply (well filtered) is via 5mm line at 2bar and 1.6 ltr/min.
I’m hoping that should be sufficient for the Vostok and save me from changing up to 9mm.
What do you think?

dutchy101

I hope that is a lever at 6:00 clock on the pic and not an overexcited cameraman

MediumRoastSteam

dutchy101 - Looks like it’s Bianca’s portafilter handle. :-)

Amberale

dutchy101

🤣

Amberale

MediumRoastSteam

The old girl sitting in for the moment.

DavecUK

Amberale I’m hoping that should be sufficient for the Vostok and save me from changing up to 9mm.
What do you think?

I think you’re going to have a nice time

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