ECM Synchronika 2 / ECM Synchronika II

MediumRoastSteam

There’s a new version of the Synchronika out there. Very much the same as the older one, but it now has a different PID display AND it has an assisted electric heated E61 group.

https://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/new-ecm-synchronika-ii-t94587-10.html

The claim (not by ECM, but it’s written on the BB website) is that the machine heats up in approx. 7 minutes.

Other ECM/Profitec machines with “fast heat up” and E61 group claim they get up to temp in approx. 12 minutes.

Looks like ECM has finally caught up with Lelit on the fast heat up front - as the MaraX and Elizabeth, and then later the Bianca, had this feature from 2020 if not 2019.

BB: https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/dual-boiler/products/ecm-synchronika-espresso-machine-copy

BB refers to it on their website as Synchronika 11, whereas ECM wrote Synchronika II.

ECM: https://www.ecm.de/en/products/details/product/Product/Details/synchronika-ii.html

Looks like someone needs to explain the concept of Roman Numerals to Bella Barista.

I also wrote using Arabic Numerals to avoid confusion. ;-)

Chriss29

It’s a step in the right direction, although I think Bezzera released their electronically heated E61 in 2018 with the Matrix DE.

I just find these metal boxes so dull and generic but it must be what sells.

The preinfusion capability looks good too.

The manual states the group will be too hot to touch within 7 minutes, which suggest the portafilter will be too so that’s very good.

MediumRoastSteam

Chriss29 - Thing is… With an E61 and it’s huge thermal mass - how long until it reaches the “right” temperature? No point having an E61 that’s too hot to touch and having scalding water being dispensed.

The interesting thing (good or bad, I don’t know… The naïve in me would like to think these people actually engineer those things properly, the cynical in me not as much) is that it has cartridges AND a thermosyphon. So both the boiler and the electric cartridges heat the group - I don’t really know the exact mechanics.

Chriss29

MediumRoastSteam I agree, ideally the group would be PID controlled again like the Bezzera and Sage Dual boiler but ECM don’t mention it’s PID controlled so it probably isn’t. If you’re a milk drinker it’s 15 minutes to steam so that’s one thing to consider.

It’s not for me but I can see it selling well.

HarveyMushman

It’s cool and nice to see some development on the old E61 but I sort of wish more companies would focus on trying to make nicer looking saturated/integrated/proprietary groups at the 1-2.5k price point.

It’s mainly a choice of an E61 or a silver box below that price.

I’ve banged on about this a lot on here but it’s not just the faster warmup time or back-to-back shot performance that benefits from better thermal stability. It’s the resultant coffee output too.

Adrianmsmith

I was most disappointed about the ridiculous decision by ECM to downgrade the synchronika due to the US voltage not being capable of heating both boilers simultaneously.

So ecm decided to remove the choice from the firmware of brew, steam or both boilers having priority….. due to i guess someone in the US using the wrong option.

Mine was anniversary edition so id guess v2 or 3 by then, firmware at least .

Having to wait for one boiler to reach temperature prior to the other starting to heat was a bad choice fir europe which we were part of at the time. Alas not now…..Another stupid decision!!…not by ecm that time 🫣.

Then there was the valve plugs not being made correct and randomly swelling and needing replacing . And the need to lube the cam and other moving parts.

Sounds like an advert for something better really!!

MediumRoastSteam

Looks like BB has updated the title to now say “II” rather than “11”. But if you read the blurb… still says 11. And the link above no longer works.

Here is the new one: https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/dual-boiler/products/2020-ecm-synchronika-dual-boiler-espresso-machine

Adrianmsmith

MediumRoastSteam so, does the synchronika v1 v2 v3 all come before the synchronika ii?

Was the v2 just the firmware version?

I thought v2 was when they upgraded to 2 bar steam, v2 pid, safety valve upgrade etc, when they removed the option for both boilers simultaneously….

So why now go backwards to the ii. was the v3 only available in US and australia?

If you need info to fix the syncka this is a good resource……

https://support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/sections/1500000400302-ECM-Synchronika

MediumRoastSteam

Adrianmsmith So why now go backwards to the ii

Don’t shoot the messenger. 🤪- it’s called Synchronika II. You might want to ask ECM why that was the decision. 🤪

Adrianmsmith

MediumRoastSteam

Sorry!!

Wasnt supposed to come over like that…..

Just was wondering

Anyone elso know??!!

Only out of interest, no plans to backtrack 😜🤭

MediumRoastSteam

Adrianmsmith - ah… 👍🍿- no worries.

So, as far as I remember, they never really versioned the Synchronika or the Pro-700 when they changed the firmware to remove the parallel heating of the boilers, nor when they upgraded to 2bar steam pressure.

So maybe that’s why they now call it the “II”, as apparently it now heats up in 6.5 minutes. I have no doubt it does. But to the right temp? I believe when I see it. 😊

MediumRoastSteam

Adrianmsmith

Interesting.

The machine and the translation!!

Still glad i upgraded to the Evo leva 😎