Hello everyone,

I was practically brought up with coffee, given my Italian roots, and started to develop a love for it from a very early (maybe to early?!) age. While I was used to drinking moka at home and espresso exclusively in naples when visiting family, a few years ago I decided to buy an espresso machine to make traditional neapolitan espresso like in my favourite bars in Campania. This is still my goal.

My first machine was a Zacchoni Riviera manual lever machine. After a few modifications and a steep learning curve, it produced excellent shots. Unfortunately, there was no way to make two shots in a row due to the worst temperature stability imaginable.

Given my still non-existent budget, I then bought a modified Rancilio Silvia with a PID and an ITO module for profiling, with the aim of mimicking traditional lever machines. For various reasons, I knew this was only a temporary solution.

I am now about to order an ACS Vostok in the hope of finally finding peace of mind.

I drink only very dark Neapolitan roasts and can understand why many people do not like them. I think I have never had a really good Neapolitan style espresso outside of Naples. And even in naples you do not find these at every corner. However, if done correctly, the perfect Neapolitan espresso tastes like pure dark chocolate with hazelnuts and has the consistency of syrup with only a slight hint of bitterness, comparable to a very good dark chocolate.

That is my goal!

Given the expertise on EVO Levas (and Vostok) on this forum, I thought this must be the place to be.

Long story short: happy to be here!

    Tiramigiu prego prego 🙌 you will get what you need here for sure and have full control of your coffee when you get that machine

      Tiramigiu welcome

      Great machine too

      Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

        Welcome. Great machine and if anything can get you that Neapolitan experience the Vostok should be the one. You’ll need a good grinder and the right beans of course. ;)

        Need help to diagnose, recently my Vesuvius (model - circa 10/2014 s/n B00055) started to produce a constant “pfffff” sound" … like coming out of one of the PTFE tube going to the water reservoir during steam boiler heat up. I also heard the “pfffff” sound" several minutes after I turn off the machine. What could be the problem with my machine? Please advise. Thank you!

          Kape17 what could be the problem with my machine? Please advise. Thank you!

          Could well be a leaky safety valve on the steam boiler, as the vacuum breaker vents to the drip tray. if you take the top lid off and identify the tube that’s showing the leak back to the tank…we will know for certain.

          Contact me

              DavecUK Thank you Dave! I took a picture and it was coming from one this tube.

                  Kape17 Sorry, I stand corrected it was not “pfffff” sound" and I don’t see any leaks from the steam boiler. What I heard is a “gurgling sound” from one of the tubes (picture embedded above) in the water reservoir during steam boiler heating up and minutes after I turn off the machine.

                      Kape17 You still need to take the lid off, as I can’t identify which component is problematic from the photo you have provided. It could be from the safety valve, it could be from the anti backflow valve. I don’t know which.

                      Contact me

                          Kape17 Gurgling sound and a little flow of warm water into the water tank is only heard during steam boiler warming up and after machine was turn off or cool down. Thank you!

                            Kape17

                            Could the Pfffff sound have come from your partner observing you pandering to your coffee machine instead of them?😂
                            It has happened to me quite often.

                              Kape17 Smartphone photos are incredible nowadays…what were you using 🤣

                              Joking aside, you need to identify which tube is gurgling or whatever it’s doing and if you can, a larger photo, I have bad eyes in my older years. Plus it’s a bit blurry when zoomed, so I can’t make out the components clearly.. However, if you can’t and I had to guess, I assume it’s the vacuum breaker leaking.

                              If so, I would replace it with the new fitment which looks like this:

                              Contact me

                                  DavecUK I will find out tomorrow morning and take a video. What is the part number of the valve? And do you have an exploded view or diagram where it is located. Thanks

                                      Kape17 it is this part:

                                      From your photo above.

                                      And you hopefully should be able to buy just the part highlighted below:

                                      And with luck the black connector might be just screwed in, hopefully.

                                      Maybe contact ACS and ask them. Good luck!