ACS Vostok

Adrianmsmith

Thanks Dave. Good to keep up with progress.

Is it Still ok to persuade it to come out with finger nail (when it’s cold 🫣) or better to use small flat nose pliers etc?….

DavecUK

Adrianmsmith Is it Still ok to persuade it to come out with finger nail (when it’s cold 🫣) or better to use small flat nose pliers etc?….

I would think it will come out with a fingernail, or small wooden pointy thing etc..

ibnabouna

Thank you, everyone! Have you encountered any videos demonstrating the process? That might be a good one for the ACS Official channel.

My plan is to remove the shower screen and soak it in Cafiza and hot water to clean it along with my basket.

ibnabouna

Just a PSA to anyone who was thinking about the Bravo 54.7mm tamper for the ACS Vostok.

I received mine today and found that it does not fit 3 of the 4 baskets that ACS currently ships with the Vostok. Thankfully, it works well with one of them, which looks like the 14-16g standard basket, though I can’t be sure because ACS does not label or identify them.

I’ll probably invest in one of the B66 IMS baskets in the near future and report back if the Bravo tamper works with those.

Adrianmsmith

ibnabouna

All my acs baskets are 54.4

You may want to try the ims competition baskets

https://www.bluestarcoffee.eu/Mobile/en/IMS-Competition-San-Marco-Basket/m-m-3422.aspx

These are a sloppy fit for a 54.4 tamper 🫣

ibnabouna

Thanks, Adrian. I just measured with calipers and found the same, but it seems 3 of them have something unique at the top that doesn’t allow the tamper to enter. I’ll test more and figure out what’s going on.

ibnabouna

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support. It has been so beneficial thus far.

Can you please advise me on a strange issue with our new Vostok?

The water that comes from the machine has a burnt rubber smell. I tried water from the brew boiler and the steam boiler, and it has the same burnt smell.

In addition, since I have a La Marzocco Linea Mini next to the Vostok and both are plumbed in from the same water source, I dispensed water from the Linea Mini and it did not have the same smell. It smelled neutral, but the water from the Vostok smells as though it has rubber or oil in it.

Finally, when I dispense the water from the Vostok, it is very cloudy, but then it clears up after 5 seconds. I do not have this issue with the Linea Mini.

What do you think it could be?

I sent the same message to Paolo and am awaiting his response, but I’d love to hear your perspectives, if any, as well.

Thank you!

ibnabouna

As an update, Paolo was nice as usual and responded to me right away. He suggested I flush the brew boiler with some Pulycafe. So,

I put the machine in tank mode.
I removed the reservoir and washed it with some natural detergent before rinsing and drying thoroughly.
I added about 20g of Pulycafe to the tank and filled it with water before running it through the machine in batches.
After running the Pulycafe through the machine, I removed the reservoir and once again cleaned it thoroughly of all the remaining detergent.
I replaced the reservoir and ran about 3 gallons of water through the system to make sure no more detergent inside.

After all this, the burned plastic/rubber smell remained.

As a further test, I took some water from the same system feeding the Vostok and boiled it in a kettle to see if it was just the smell of this water when it’s hot. The water smelled fine.

So, it must be something in the path of the water. I’m waiting for further direction from Paolo.

In the meantime, I don’t know if it’s safe to use the machine.

Cuprajake

How old is the machine?

ibnabouna

It’s about 3 weeks old at this point. I’ve pulled about 100 shots from it so far.

Cuprajake

Ah, so not newness then

ibnabouna

Cuprajake No, I wish it was that simple.

Jason1wood

ibnabouna you thinking of moving on the Mini? 🙏😉

ibnabouna

The Linea Mini is in the process of being sold, but I’m honestly a little hesitant because of this issue with the Vostok.

Jason1wood

ibnabouna did think that as read your issues. You have a buyer already for when it does go?

DavecUK

ibnabouna The Linea Mini is in the process of being sold, but I’m honestly a little hesitant because of this issue with the Vostok.

I’m sure it will be sorted

Raja123

Work is still underway, but the coffee is flowing….

LMSC

Raja123 You have had Decent. I believe you already sold it off. How does the cup compare versus Decent (based on what remember)? Thx

Edit:

Just curious. Sure, there could be a difference. 😊

Raja123

I’ve learned to keep those kinds of opinions to myself. What I will say is that I prefer fast fill and rapid pressure ramp shots, which the Decent cannot do.

Raja123

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