Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. The Brewtus was designed to allow it to run on a 15A circuit, but I wouldn't mind upgrading to a 20A and having a bigger element. For that matter, I'd consider 220V if I could get it. My friends with commercial 220 machines have enough steam for a small train...
However, I've learned to work with the Brewtus as is, by using different tips for different purposes--big one hole for hot chocolate, small two-hole for latte art, etc. b On Mar 5, 2011, at 7:51 AM, John Brinkman wrote: > So bigger element then? > > On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 5:43 PM, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hey John, >> >> Have a look at my posts on steam tips about two years ago--I did a similar >> experiment on how fast tips would bring water to a certain temp, and also >> measured holes sizes and all that to get total hole area. I also watched >> the steam pressure gauge to see how the boiler handled the bigger tips. I >> think you will change your conclusion, since the boiler pressure drops >> dramatically and runs out of gas with bigger tips. Even with smaller tips >> the boiler doesn't have enough juice to hold pressure. If the steam wand >> was the choke point, you would expect the boiler to hold pressure or build >> higher pressure, but it does just the opposite, even with the stock steam >> arm. >> >> Still, I'll be interested to see what your experiment yields. >> >> bmc >> >> On Mar 5, 2011, at 6:35 AM, John Brinkman wrote: >> >>> Hi Kitt >>> >>> I think that it is a pretty well know fact that the Brewtus is down on >>> steaming power when compared to other similar machines on the standard >>> water heating test. According to the reviews on Home Barista of the >>> Brewtus, it is around 33% slower than other machines in the same sort >>> of price range, namely La Spaziale VII 1.2mm Tip, Vibiemme Domobar >>> Super, Quickmill Andreja Premium or Giotto Premium who all seem to >>> take around 28 seconds to raise a 8oz of water from 40 to 160 degrees >>> Fahrenheit vs the Brewtus which takes 38 seconds with the two hole tip >>> and 60 seconds with the single hole tip. Home Barista even mention in >>> the conclusion of their review of the Brewtus "However, both the >>> single and two-hole tips fell short of the steaming power one would >>> expect from a machine with a dedicated steam boiler." >>> >>> Now whilst steam speed is not everything and sometimes a bit slower >>> makes it easier, there are times when I would appreciate a machine >>> that can heat a jug in 28 seconds rather than 60 seconds (like when I >>> have to make coffee for the whole family). I have owned both a Brewtus >>> III and now Brewtus Rotary for the last 5 years love the machines. I >>> did noticed a slight increase in steam performance between the two >>> when I upgraded. It is however no where close to what I get from a GS3 >>> (haven't taken that step yet, still considering). I know that the >>> machines are not in the same price range but I would hope that the >>> Brewtus's steam would be slightly better than it is. >>> >>> I have played around with steam tips using an 8mm to 10mm converter >>> and various steam tip. I have found that the machine simply cannot >>> deliver enough steam to power a tip with 4 holes properly. I >>> believe/hope that it is not because it doesn't have enough steam but I >>> suspect rather because the steam arm is restricting the flow of steam >>> from the boiler. >>> >>> My aim is to try changing the arm to a standard arm to see if it can >>> drive a 4 hole tip with enough steam to be able to produce microfoam >>> (just not possible with current arm). I will also measure the time it >>> takes to heat water as a comparison. >>> >>> JohnB >>> >>> On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 3:27 PM, Kitt Johnson <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> John, >>>> >>>> What are you trying to "overcome" ... i. e., what aspect of steaming with >>>> the Brewtus do you see as "limited", and there-by unsatisfactory? (I am >>>> guessing that it is the elapsed time required to raise the temperature of 5 >>>> oz of whole milk from 44 F to 155 F, but you could be trying to raise 16 oz >>>> of milk in a large pitcher or unhappy with the nature of the foam or >>>> something else.) >>>> >>>> Would you mind telling me what (and perhaps how) you plan to measure as a >>>> marker of the performance before and after switching wands? Do you plan to >>>> use the same wand tip and same boiler pressure (=temperature) in the >>>> boiler? >>>> >>>> Just curious >>>> >>>> Kitt >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Brinkman" , 2011 7:38 AM >>>> Subject: Re: Steam Pressure >>>> >>>> >>>>> I am still convinced that the main limiting factor on the Brewtus >>>>> regarding steam delivery is the inside diameter of the "Cool Wand" >>>>> steam wand. >>>>> >>>>> I am planning to replace my cool wand with a standard steam wand, do >>>>> some tests and see what the difference is in steam performance. I will >>>>> let you guys know what the results are. >>>>> >>>>> JohnB >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Brewtus" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Brewtus" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. >> >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. 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