If you haven't seen it already, @"lancehedrick"#742 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"#1 's postings (and the planned improvements for this machine), but its still is a well made video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4UtmXO9zVU 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

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"#p35306 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

@"Cuprajake"#p35327 - 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?

Lance Hedrick - review of the VOSTOCK

sketchy

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.

tompoland

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.

Cuprajake

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…

tompoland

Cuprajake There all 60yr old design

100%

chlorox

Cuprajake

The trad levers do fluctuate with every use or flush in terms of temperature so they are more inexact. That’s fine but charging what they charge for 70 year old technology is bad for us consumers. It’s important for acs and nurri and more cpmpanies following theiir example to really make a success of the new line levers in order to make the general coffee market aware of the revolution that is going on and of the new abilities of these machines and that u don’t have to spend Leva X money to achieve it. That way the expectation and demand of consumers will hopefully require the manufacturers to add these capabilities and they become the new industry standard for premium levers. Its about time levers won back some of the market share the pumps won beginning in 1961…

LMSC

Nice positive review by Lance; his quick comparison / observations of flat 9 bars vs Decent vs ACS was interesting.

Having used to extensive and thorough reviews by Dave, and used the Evo for more than 1.5 years, his review didn’t excite me, tbh. To be fair, he didn’t have much time with the machine either.

His reviews are markedly different now and more technical. His review should hopefully turn lever buyers’ attention to ACS.

Going by the innovations in the lever market, these will become the industry standard; those who adopt and innovate are more likely to sustain than those who fail to…!

lancehedrick

LMSC thanks for watching! Yes- as said in the video, it was less a review and more of a “first look.” I had just a few days with it because they needed it back for an expo in Naples. HOpefully i’ll get my hands on it longer next time.

Cuprajake

I know it’s an old man’s game 😛 and I still think the 90’s was 10yrs ago. 😂😂😂

But I’m glad of the advances

There’s a place for all machine, I don’t get all the in fighting, it’s nice to see people setup outside the box and take a risk.

Going from the norm must be scary,

There are people on the yt comments comparing it to a Cremina because they cost the same…🤯

dfk41

I think, when the production machine is ready, if Paolo is careful as to who he asks to review then providing all gremlins are ironed out, it is going to be hard to knock the current crop of levers with ‘electronic wizardry’. Traditional machines are always going to have their place but…….when Londinium came to fruition in 2012/13 they really had very little opposition. Now they do have real opposition, in terms of features, build quality and price (LR24 is £3700 or 4171 Euros, Vostok 3300 Euros in UK, £2931) then it is hard to understand who in their right mind would buy an out of date, old fashioned machine, and more importantly, remove the fan boy influencers and what have you really got?

MediumRoastSteam

dfk41 - in the lever world, both the ACS V Evo and the Nurri are highly innovative and certainly have disrupted the market, forcing the competition to up their game, become obsolete or find their niche in the market for what they are (plenty of those around, not only with levers - Profitec is a great example). The good news for us is that we, the customers, have more choices and can take our pick for what is best for us. 👍

Interesting times! For me, all I want is a nice lever machine (or a pressure profiling machine), made in Europe, half the size of those currently on offer! 🤣🤣🤣. We’ll get there.

Doram

MediumRoastSteam For me, all I want is a nice lever machine (or a pressure profiling machine), made in Europe, half the size of those currently on offer! 🤣🤣🤣. We’ll get there.

When you say pressure profiling, you mean actual pressure (not flow) profiling, right?

Because if you settle for flow, you don’t need to wait for the future (Bianca, Minima/Mara X with Coffee Sensor…).

chlorox

MediumRoastSteam

I really hope the new wave lever machines will force the traditional lever makers to up their game and their products or lower the price. Why must a profitec 800 or an izzo alex cost as much as they do with their simple make up ? Why not come out with more upgraded levers and then offer the traditional levers at a lower price point? Thta would be better for the consumers and widen the market further.

MediumRoastSteam

Doram - yeah. Pressure profile, like the Vesuvius, the Crem One, the VBM I don’t know what, the Decent, or a spring lever machine (so not profiling, but decline pressure). But the current ones on offer are rather massive.

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam Doram - yeah. Pressure profile, like the Vesuvius, the Crem One, the VBM I don’t know what, the Decent, or a spring lever machine (so not profiling, but decline pressure). But the current ones on offer are rather massive.

I was going to discuss with Paolo whether a smaller machine using the LSM group could be manufactured….

MackOT

I do like the automation that they put on the Vostock. Especially the function that stop the shot base on time or pressure. But the same function will require the machine to be back flush like E61 group head for cleaning. Am I wrong on this?

Anyway, I am so happy that Lance did the review the ACS machine. When I told people that I have ACS machine, they always said never heard of it.

Cuprajake

Yeah there is a need for back flushing with the feature.

John_Yossarian

I wondered whether Paolo would consider coming up with a new name. Vostok symbolises the fight between USSR and USA who is going to be the first to send a man in space. It always gives me some negative connotations.
The machine is great, no question, but the name might hold it down.
Someone recently named their newly born boy Apollo Ares. I do not want to be this child when they go to school one day.
EDIT: This might be as I have just finished watching A Spy Among Friends. The Kim Philby story. I still cannot fathom how anyone can spy on behalf of such oppressing regime. Mind boggling.

MediumRoastSteam

John_Yossarian - interesting point. This was discussed before, but the search functionality in this forum is far too basic and doesn’t seem to search content, only users and topics.

I think ultimately ACS needs to think of its name and the associations of it in light of what’s happening in the world right now. It’s ultimately a marketing decision, as, whatever the name is, the machine is the same. Personally if I were to buy one I wouldn’t care, but that’s me. Unfortunately people will tend to, generically speaking, associate it with the origin of the name and recent events rather than the era of the space race itself.

chlorox

John_Yossarian

Well that boys father could be a fan of Greek mythology I suppose…

chlorox

MediumRoastSteam

One alternative can be to name it after Laika, the first dog in space. It’s less directly associated to Russia while still honouring the achievements of the first cosmonauts to orbit the earth which is probably the idea behind choosing vostok as the name (Gagarin is too Russian obviously)

Cuprajake

I really don’t think it matters

Do people not buy Volkswagen because of the links to Hitler?

I know two Apollo’s

Creed and 13

John_Yossarian

Cuprajake I do not think it would stop a real coffee enthusiast. But getting in the USA might be a problem for some.
Both names you mention are fictional 😀

-Mac

Don’t forget the Battlestar Galactica one. Or does that negatively remind of Starbucks?

DavecUK

lancehedrick I had just a few days with it because they needed it back for an expo in Naples. HOpefully i’ll get my hands on it longer next time.

I’ve been checking it over today and setting it up for the Rimini Exhibition, just in case you broke it! 😉

« Previous Page Next Page »