If you haven’t seen it already, @lancehedrick has published a nice review of the upcoming Vostok 1 group on Youtube. There is no real surprise for those of us who have followed @DavecUK ’s postings (and the planned improvements for this machine), but its still is a well made video
I’m sure this will raise interest in ACS… So well done !
some bits were a bit off in terms of correct info, but they do look a great machine.
id love one but its too big. most the points picked up on davec already said,
now away to spam his comments am i - haha
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It’s funny (and sad at the same time) to read some of the vitriolic comments on this video which remind me of what happened when the Evo Leva came to the market (probably with the same cast of characters as well!)
Eiffel Luckily though, those will not be buying it…..instead, they will continue to push the virtues of the machine they prefer. The Vostok is too complicated for me now! But, I can really see it appealing to a very wide market. Anyone who cannot handle the size, then hopefully many of the features will transfer to the Evo. Hope folks do not quickly start to copy the ideas, or that Paolo patents them correctly
Going by the video, the Vostok 1G is well priced and feature laden. The good news for us, Evo Leva owners, is that we’ve been able to get exactly the same results for 18 months, albeit without the automation capabilities of the newer machine…
In an commercial setting, some of the added features are easier to justify (Automatic termination of shots, timers, some comfort features, etc), but for hobbyist use the upgrade, while tempting, is harder to justify… It’s nice to have the choice though as the Evo Leva and Vostok 1G are both great variants of the same base design.
Looking at some of the comments on Lance’s video, it’s very clear some people haven’t got a clue what they are talking about, and have not even bothered to watch the video! i.e.: “How is the group head connected to the brew boiler? I thought it was a dipper design.”
Err… One of the first things Lance explains is that the machine has 3 heat controllers: for the 2x boilers and for the group.
Question (I have asked this before, and it’s in here somewhere, although a while ago). But what’s the difference between the Evo and the Vostok? i.e.: Why would I buy one over the other?
well the new vostok comes in a one group, pretty sure it was just a multi group before,
the new vostok has all the pressure sensor sides for shot stopping and group evacuation,
it has the same boilers and and did have the same group but obs now the vostok has the modded group to allow it to vent, i presume this is just the evo group modded but could be wrong,
its also bigger, and imo prettier
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Cuprajake - Thanks Jake. So, in summary, a V Evo on steroids! 🙂
The Vostok 1G looks like an amazing machine. It goes a bit to far me and imo more complexity is even more stuff to potentially have issues arise with. At least, I am telling myself that so I try to not email ACS and ask to be put on the list for one (ha!) It would be nice though if the Leva had the new pump and the external pre-infusion setting.
Has anyone looked at adding the barista lights to the Leva since the controller seems already set up for it?
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trey_antipasto My understanding re: new features is that all will be ported to the Evo. At this point (and at the prices mentioned by Lance), I think it becomes only a question of what you prefer aesthetically. On complexity… just don’t use it. Leave it on ‘manual’, and it’s the same as the current Evo, plus the ability to control pre-inf pressure from the panel rather than by removing a panel.
The one thing I think is not going to work on the Evo is the light. The hardware - except for the light itself - is all there, but there is nowhere sensible to attach the LEDs to. Anglepoise anyone?
trey_antipasto Has anyone looked at adding the barista lights to the Leva since the controller seems already set up for it?
The lights underneath were my idea, and Paolo laughed, but I’m assuming he added them. The Evo doesn’t have the little transformer the Vostok has…but it could be added I guess. The problem is a mod to the front panel would be required to add a barista light….which might irritate Paolo (but I will ask).
You may well have noticed the bulb symbol on the Evo control panel….that’s for controlling the non existent light.
Grahamsphillips thanks for the heads up.
I think @lancehedrick reviews keep getting better and better.
Towards the end he made some very interesting distinctions between the espresso from the consistent 9 bar pressure that comes from a traditional E61 or a sprung lever machine versus the declining profile possible on something like a Decent or even a direct lever machine like a Flair or Strietman. A point the Decent creator John Buckman also made a year or so ago in the Lever magazine and who Lance’s acknowledges in that context.
I liked the way Lance made his case for the pros and cons. All in all, a pretty well balanced review.
@Amberale Is probably the 1st Australian to order one so we’ll look forward to his impressions.
It’s going to land here Down Under for more than AU$1000 less than the Nurri and the specs look to be as good if not better than the Nurri. The features on the latter are pretty darned good e.g. heater cartidge in group head for temperature
stability versus two cartridges in the Vostock. Are 2 better than one or is the second cartridge unnecessary or is it one big cartridge versus 2 smaller cartridges? I have no idea.
Plus it’s from an experienced manufacturer with world class pedigree, so it’s a highly competitive machine.
The other comparison will be to the Evo I guess. Will ACS be cannibalising the Evo sales like LM appear to be doing (mini v micra) or are they very different machines appealing to very different market segments?
tompoland heater cartidge in group head for temperature
stability versus two cartridges in the Vostock.
I had always thought that the system and layout of the group heaters were pretty much identical between Nurri and ACS, particularly since TOF is now making both groups… Two cartridges are necessary (or ‘better’ if you prefer) as they each sit on one side of the group; if you had only one, it would be difficult and time-consuming to heat the group consistently throughout and “keep it there”, as there is a large volume of air (the sleeve/cylinder/brew chamber) in the middle which does not conduct heat all that well.
tompoland Will ACS be cannibalising the Evo sales
I would think yes, to some extent. If the Vostok 1 group had been available 6 months ago, I would have ordered it instead of the Evo, as I prefer the looks (added features are nice, but not a deal breaker, and they are expected to be ported over). The size of the Vostok may prove problematic for some - the Evo is a bit smaller, although by no means small!
However, I think cannibalisation is a non-issue, in the sense that sales that would have gone to an Evo will go to a Vostok instead - both benefit from using components - and presumably tooling - from other machines (Multi-group Vostok, Vesuvius, Minima), so it’s not like there would be a critical volume below which one or the other becomes infeasible or unprofitable, or at least not quickly.
I was intrigued by the review, and enamored by what ACS does. I’d consider it if I were in the market. I have the Vesuvius, and it’s been going strong for over 4 ½ years, but I do shake my head at ACS in terms of a lack of visibility, availability and product updates. One of the resellers here in the U.S. (Chris’ Coffee) stopped carrying it entirely. Maybe someone can clue me in on why they are the way they are.
Lance did a very nice job with that review.
Pete
ACS Vesuvius, Evo Leva, Minima, Cafelot Robot
Qty 2, Femobook A68, Niche Zero
Arc800 RTD Roaster
CoyoteOldMan system and layout of the group heaters were pretty much identical between Nurri and ACS, particularly since TOF is now making both groups
Hadn’t thought of that. You’re probably on the money.
Acs are a small company,
I bet it’s hard to keep up with demand, when you compare to say the profitec lever which is a gigantic operation
Plus it would increase the price as the dealer mark up would be insane.
The comments on the vid are really annoying, londinuim lot out in force, but half of them don’t seem to have taken in what he’s said ..
Also shows you how against change they are,
When you look at the leva X and the kees levers they all have temp stability built in just like the ACS, you cannot say this of most current levers as they don’t that it. There all 60yr old design…
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