Inside This ReviewInside This Review Overview · their machine the Verona. those of you who know your Shakespeare will know that 3 plays were set in Verona. The most famous being

© Bella Barista Bella Barista, Nene Court, The Embankment, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 1LD

Tel: 01933 273275 e-mail: [email protected]

IZZO ALEX DUETTO – A CLOSER LOOK Page 1 of 26

QUICK M I L L VERONA – A CLOSER LOOK

I have had 2 machines, the pre production

machine and then the final UK production

machine, which this review covers. It is a Quick

Mill Vetrano Dual Boiler, but the UK spec version

is called the Quick Mill Verona and is unique to

Bella Barista. This is a little confusing, but Bella

Barista commissioned certain improvements and

decided less confusion will be caused by calling

their machine the Verona. those of you who know

your Shakespeare will know that 3 plays were set

in Verona. The most famous being Romeo and

Juliet, so rather apt for the pairing of 2 boilers in a

dual boiler system.

This review is going to take a little more of an

anecdotal turn as I suppose the background is

interesting and puts the machine you will be

buying into perspective. The final production

machines was based on direct feedback from my

engineering review of the pre production model

and discussions with QM.

If any of you have read my recent Duetto review,

you may remember that I was rather

underwhelmed by the small incremental

improvements and large increase in price...this

sort of price creep is disappointing when it moves

beyond normal inflationary pricing. In a sense it's

slightly careless design. I will also make

comparisons with the Duetto, partly because I did

the high level design of the original Duettos and

partly because it's a close competitor of this

machine

I must admit to being a little reluctant to review

new machines at the moment, but when the Quick

Mill Vetrano arrived at my house, I read the

specification, it looked good and I thought...this

could be interesting. The first impression straight

out of the box was quality.

Overview Inside This ReviewInside This ReviewInside This ReviewInside This Review

Overview 1

How it works 3

Inside the Verona 5

A detailed Tour 7

Key Features 8

Using the Verona 20

Brew Temperature 21

Final Thoughts 22

Why should I buy a Verona? 24

Specifications 25

Gallery 26

H T T P : / / W W W . B E L L A B A R I S T A . C O . U K

quickmill verona closer look aug 2013 v4.doc

The details were correct at the time of writing, but the manufacturer and Bella Barista reserve the right to change the technical specification of the packaging, machines and any accessories supplied with the machine (including quantity and type of accessories supplied)



QUICK MILL VERONA – A CLOSER LOOK Page 2 of 26

It was a very nice looking machine with a front

panel that was "uncluttered". My next

overwhelming impression was of how quiet the

machine was, the Vetranos were always quiet, but

this Verona dual boiler version was sublime and

near silent. Probably the quietest rotary pump

machine I have ever reviewed. In fairness though

these are hand built machines and it might be

some are slightly quieter than others (but it's

usually easy to track down the cause of any "tin"

rattles. The portafilters are lovely and heavy, with

a removable plate on the spout of the double, that

actually allows you to clean it properly. A really

nice chromed metal end with a lovely feel to them

and basket inserts are very high quality. There are

2 types of portafilters available and I preferred

these (see right) as they are 140g heavier and

much better finished.

The front panel is clean and simple with a clear,

easy to read high quality combined brew and

steam pressure gauge. 2 Nice pin switches for the

on/off and then the steam boiler on/off and nice

laser etching on the front panel. The steel of the

front panel has been improved from early Andreja

models and the area behind the group has been

reinforced to reduce flex. Nice quality control

knobs and the ubiquitous "no burn" steam and

water wands.

Quick Mill wisely avoided overly complex

electronic solutions, keeping the Verona easy and

economical to maintain. It is simple to operate, 2

On/Off switches, one for the machine and the

other for the Steam/Hot Water boiler. There is no

need to do anything special to draw steam, hot

water or espresso at any time. The Verona

automatically maintains the water level in the

boiler as required and if run low on water in the

tank the machine switches off as a safety

precaution. If you prefer, you can simply flip a

Switch and plumb it directly into the mains, rather

than use the internal tank.

“Comprehensive documentation covering all

aspects of operation, routine maintenance

and production of espresso based drinks”

Overview –cont.

Some coffee enthusiasts buy second hand

commercial machines to make quality beverages at

home. They are very large, heavy, need to be

plumbed into the mains and have 3-6kw heating

elements in 5 litre or larger boilers. The Verona

gives the same quality and durability, without the

hassle.

Even if you are completely new to coffee making

and this type of machine, you will have no problem

making all those great coffee drinks in a very short

time. The Verona is easy to keep clean, a quick wipe

with a damp cloth and a buff with a micro fibre

cloth keeps it looking great. More complex tasks,

backflushing, group head cleaning etc. are actually

very easy to do and explained in the supplied Bella

Barista user guide.

Well packed inner box, protected by double packing in an Well packed inner box, protected by double packing in an Well packed inner box, protected by double packing in an Well packed inner box, protected by double packing in an

larger airlarger airlarger airlarger air----cell filled outer (inset) by Bella Bcell filled outer (inset) by Bella Bcell filled outer (inset) by Bella Bcell filled outer (inset) by Bella Baristaaristaaristaarista

Within is all the accessories (comprehensive) and securely packed.Within is all the accessories (comprehensive) and securely packed.Within is all the accessories (comprehensive) and securely packed.Within is all the accessories (comprehensive) and securely packed.

Well I lost the coffWell I lost the coffWell I lost the coffWell I lost the coffee scoop somehow, but there is one of those as wellee scoop somehow, but there is one of those as wellee scoop somehow, but there is one of those as wellee scoop somehow, but there is one of those as well




The Verona in my KitchenThe Verona in my KitchenThe Verona in my KitchenThe Verona in my Kitchen ---- giving an idea of giving an idea of giving an idea of giving an idea of size and scale in a standard kitchensize and scale in a standard kitchensize and scale in a standard kitchensize and scale in a standard kitchen

Overview –cont.




How it works (simplified diagram)

The cold/hot water (steam) pathways shown in blue/red respectively. Flip a switch should mains plumbing be desired and the

machine can be returned to tanked operation in a few seconds. The larger boiler is the steam/hot water boiler and the smaller

one is the brew boiler.

The sensitive thermostat is located in the water of both boilers, their temperature controlled by a proportional–integral–

derivative controller (PID controller). A PID controller uses three separate parameters; the Proportional, Integral and

Derivative values. These determine the level of reaction to any the large temp change, a correction factor that is applied the

nearer we get to the desired value and damping to reduce over/undershoots, or oscillation around a set point. The rapid on/off

switching of the boilers, due to the PID, is controlled by solid state switches, these have a very fast switching time which aids

temperature control and not contacts to wear as in mechanical relays.

The E61 group is warmed by a very efficient thermosyphon (shown by the blue dashed oval), specifically taken from a point

about 25% from the top of the brew boiler (preventing problems seen in some twin boiler machines). Lifting the lever starts the

pumping of brew water, lowering the lever stops the pump and additionally releases the pressure (all 140 psi of it) from the

group, so you can remove the filter handle safely, (the excess water goes into the drip tray when pressure is released)

The pump keeps the Steam/HW boiler about 60% filled with water that is heated and kept at a pressure of 1.4 bar The

temperature of this water is above boiling point and has an area of steam above (similar to a pressure cooker). The pipe for

the steam wand is at the top of the boiler (in the steam area) as the steam tap is opened, steam is forced through the steam

pipe and as the pressure drops more of the water instantly flashes to steam, giving a continuous supply. The pipe for the hot

water tap is submerged below the waterline in the boiler. As the hot water tap is opened, steam pressure forces the hot water

from the boiler through the pipe and out of the hot water outlet.




Inside the Verona – Is it complicated?

To the untrained eye, I suppose it is complicated, but

still easy to maintain and repair. It is about 3cm

narrower than a Duetto with a larger internal water larger internal water larger internal water larger internal water

tanktanktanktank, so space is at a premium. Importantly, there is

a lot of space under that pump,,,, because it's mounted because it's mounted because it's mounted because it's mounted

exactly as it should beexactly as it should beexactly as it should beexactly as it should be, and that means less room at

the top.

Extremely high Internal build quality, traditional

construction using heavy gauge copper tube and

brazed fittings, with great attention to detail.

Components are well positioned, neatly assembled;

all cables are well away from hot spots and

comprehensively tied to avoid movement. The wiring

is not quite as neat as an Izzo, BUT it's still super

high quality. Also in fairness, there a little bit more

electronic control of some functions in the Vetrano,

hence more wires (especially to that mains/tanked

switch that controls the solenoid valves). Now I'm

going to make some important points here and I will

expand on these later.

The macro component layout of the machine

although at first sight complex and possibly slightly

cramped, is actually very good.

• The Gicar PID above the coolest point on the

machine (the motor and pump). This has to

be a good thing.

• The Gicar autofill control box, at the lowest,

coolest point of the machine and well away

from the boilers.

• The Solid state relays are really well heat

sinked on the lower rear of the frame, which

is the absolute coolest part of the machine.

• The pump and motor, caged & mounted

upside down with the pump below the motor

(the best possible way to mount a pump).

Also fully approved by fluid-O-Tech who

make the pump!

Custom made boilers Custom made boilers Custom made boilers Custom made boilers

(insulated steam and (insulated steam and (insulated steam and (insulated steam and

bbbbrew boiler), very rew boiler), very rew boiler), very rew boiler), very

thick copper for the thick copper for the thick copper for the thick copper for the

steam boiler, and steam boiler, and steam boiler, and steam boiler, and

with a brass brew with a brass brew with a brass brew with a brass brew

boiler, rareboiler, rareboiler, rareboiler, rare on this on this on this on this style of dual boilerstyle of dual boilerstyle of dual boilerstyle of dual boiler....




The rotary pump and powerhouse of a The rotary pump and powerhouse of a The rotary pump and powerhouse of a The rotary pump and powerhouse of a

motor, cage mounted with the pump motor, cage mounted with the pump motor, cage mounted with the pump motor, cage mounted with the pump

below the motor. This is an ideal mounting below the motor. This is an ideal mounting below the motor. This is an ideal mounting below the motor. This is an ideal mounting

position. position. position. position.

The 2 Solid state The 2 Solid state The 2 Solid state The 2 Solid state relaysrelaysrelaysrelays, mounted in a very cool location, excellent heat sinking. Gicar , mounted in a very cool location, excellent heat sinking. Gicar , mounted in a very cool location, excellent heat sinking. Gicar , mounted in a very cool location, excellent heat sinking. Gicar

Autofill box well out ofAutofill box well out ofAutofill box well out ofAutofill box well out of the way in a nice cool position. the way in a nice cool position. the way in a nice cool position. the way in a nice cool position. In fro In fro In fro In fronnnnt of the Gicar is a drain t of the Gicar is a drain t of the Gicar is a drain t of the Gicar is a drain

grate, so no water can build upgrate, so no water can build upgrate, so no water can build upgrate, so no water can build up




Both Boilers have resettable limit statsBoth Boilers have resettable limit statsBoth Boilers have resettable limit statsBoth Boilers have resettable limit stats on the top on the top on the top on the top,.

Many components can be reached simply by

removing the water tank holder, under the cup tray

and the back panel, 5 screws in total, but does

take a few minutes as it's a little fiddly. Refitting

theses parts is also slightly more difficult and it’s

easy to drop a machine bolt into the internals of

the machine.

Inside is a high quality traditional copper pipe and

brazed fitting construction. With a brass brew

boiler and copper steam boiler. The drain system

in the Verona model allows easy descaling or

draining of both boilers without spilling water or

descaler everywhere. Descaling is possible

without having to remove the case, using special

drain taps at the bottom of the machine.

Maintenance is especially easy with this machine

and routine tasks are detailed in the Bella Barista

User Guide.

Inside the Verona – A detailed tour

2 solid

state

relays

only 1

visible

OPV, for safety

purposes(water expansion).

Not for brew pressure

F-O-T Rotoflow

rotary vane pump,

with balanced

bypass for brew

pressure regulation

& separate RPM

motor below.

Brew pressure

adjustment screw

(far left)

solenoids/wiring

for

mains/tanked

operation

Insulated copper

Steam/HW Boiler

1.4 litre

Gicar

Custom

PID

Temperature

probe

Sirai

Autofill

Solenoid

Gicar Autofill

controller

E61Thermo

syphon out

Autofill

probe

Calibrated

Safety valve &

vacuum breaker

combined

Steam Pipe

Resettable

limit stat

Hot water

pipe

Temperature

probe

Insulated Brass

Brew Boiler 0.75

litre




• High quality 0.7High quality 0.7High quality 0.7High quality 0.75l brass brew5l brass brew5l brass brew5l brass brew boiler boiler boiler boiler and 1.4 litre copper steam boiler

• Change brew temperature at the touch of a button

• Low Power mode (1670W max), 7 amp, with Brew Boiler Priority

• No cooling flush required (although 1 oz stabilisation flush advised)

• Absolutely Super quality standard 58mm portafilters, with chromed ends

• Commercial Rotary Pump specially fitted to reduce vibration and noise (quietest (quietest (quietest (quietest machine I have ever tested)machine I have ever tested)machine I have ever tested)machine I have ever tested). Importantly the . Importantly the . Importantly the . Importantly the pump has been mounted below the motor.pump has been mounted below the motor.pump has been mounted below the motor.pump has been mounted below the motor.

• Combined brew and boiler pressure gauge, super quality

• Ball Joint steam and water arms, lovely nice ergonomic knobs. You actually get 2 steam You actually get 2 steam You actually get 2 steam You actually get 2 steam wands a "burn" type fitted and a "no burn" wands a "burn" type fitted and a "no burn" wands a "burn" type fitted and a "no burn" wands a "burn" type fitted and a "no burn" typetypetypetype, plus 2 & 4 hole steam tips, plus 2 & 4 hole steam tips, plus 2 & 4 hole steam tips, plus 2 & 4 hole steam tips in the in the in the in the accessory packaccessory packaccessory packaccessory pack

• Drip tray drain system for plumbed operation & drain hose/trap supplied as standard

• Plumbed Mains/Internal Tank operation electronically selected with the flip of a switch. Also makes descaling a plumbed machine far simpler.

• Brew Boiler can be independently turned off via PID

• Drip tray can be easily be removed and drip drip drip drip tray grid is dense enough to prevent tray grid is dense enough to prevent tray grid is dense enough to prevent tray grid is dense enough to prevent visibility of dirty visibility of dirty visibility of dirty visibility of dirty water in water in water in water in drip tray (unlike drip tray (unlike drip tray (unlike drip tray (unlike thethethethe horizontal horizontal horizontal horizontal wire type grid wire type grid wire type grid wire type gridssss in some in some in some in some machinesmachinesmachinesmachines).).).).

• Gicar custom PIDGicar custom PIDGicar custom PIDGicar custom PID Temperature control of brew and steam boilers. P, I & D parameters can be modified, offset can be programmed (can display C or F). Gicar PID has been Gicar PID has been Gicar PID has been Gicar PID has been specially programmed to split steaming and specially programmed to split steaming and specially programmed to split steaming and specially programmed to split steaming and brewing parametersbrewing parametersbrewing parametersbrewing parameters properly properly properly properly. Including a . Including a . Including a . Including a more pressurestat type response for the more pressurestat type response for the more pressurestat type response for the more pressurestat type response for the steam boilersteam boilersteam boilersteam boiler, improving steaming by 12, improving steaming by 12, improving steaming by 12, improving steaming by 12----15%15%15%15%

• Steam/Hot Water boiler can be turneSteam/Hot Water boiler can be turneSteam/Hot Water boiler can be turneSteam/Hot Water boiler can be turned off to d off to d off to d off to save energy save energy save energy save energy &&&& warms up in a fantastic warms up in a fantastic warms up in a fantastic warms up in a fantastic 3m 3m 3m 3m 40s40s40s40s & & & & much faster if much faster if much faster if much faster if last last last last used within used within used within used within 1111----2 2 2 2 hours. Due to powerful 1400W heating hours. Due to powerful 1400W heating hours. Due to powerful 1400W heating hours. Due to powerful 1400W heating elementelementelementelement (@230V). On UK voltage this draws (@230V). On UK voltage this draws (@230V). On UK voltage this draws (@230V). On UK voltage this draws nearly 1500Wnearly 1500Wnearly 1500Wnearly 1500W

Key features - A long list

• Solid state switching of Brew Boiler & steam boiler heating elements. With Solid State relays (SSRs) mounted/heat sinked at the rear on a cool panel, no pressurestat for improved reliability

• Combined MA-TER Vacuum Breaker & safety pressure release Valve (all venting into drip tray). No venting inside machine case

• Neat brazing and traditional internal construction

• Powerful steamer able to maintain steam pressure at 1.0 bar or higher.

• 1 F (Fahrenheit ) temperature resolution even if C (C=Centigrade) is selected (full explanation on page 14 )

• Hinged hatch on cup warmer tray to facilitate tank refill without removing cup tray

• BrBrBrBrew Pressure adjustable without removing ew Pressure adjustable without removing ew Pressure adjustable without removing ew Pressure adjustable without removing case, via access hole to rotary pumpcase, via access hole to rotary pumpcase, via access hole to rotary pumpcase, via access hole to rotary pump

• Both boilers can be individually drained, with removal of a single plate on the bottom of the machine (no case removal required). Special valves on the end of copper tubesSpecial valves on the end of copper tubesSpecial valves on the end of copper tubesSpecial valves on the end of copper tubes allow drainage into a tray and not into the bottom of the machines case. Excellent for descaling.

• Heating elements can be accessed via the same access port, for easier removal.

• The use of brass pins for back panel retention has been superseded by the use of steel pins, to avoid thread stripping and breakage (note: the first 16 machines will have brass pins, but Bella Barista will post steel pins out to all purchasers when available).

• Reliable Low water detection via hall effect float in high quality internal tank.

• Insulated Brew and Steam boilers

• Redesigned all metal (Aluminium) height adjustable feet

• Fully stainless steel construction, inside/out

• Steam boiler Steam boiler Steam boiler Steam boiler auto fillauto fillauto fillauto fill lock lock lock lock out, if you are pulling a shot from the group. This preventsThis preventsThis preventsThis prevents the annoying phenomenon of the steam boiler refilling and lowering group pressure during a shot, which ruins the shot.




Item/Description Picture Comments

The external case is fairly easy to remove. 4 screws and a press in back panel allow reasonable access to the machine for the rear. Whole case removal involves a few more screws. The only fiddly part is the removal of 2 screws where a long screwdriver or angled shaft is advisable.

Quck Mill use a "standard" securing fitment in more areas of the case, these are common on most/all prosumer machines. They are a simple grip riveted, threaded insert applied using pressure. If over tightened the grip can be broken and they spin in place, making screw removal difficult or impossible (even drilling out the fitting is not easy because, it can spin!) and not easily replaced by consumers

Nice quality wiring, it perhaps doesn't look as neat as some machines. due to the extra wiring involved in controlling the extra solenoid valves for mains/tanked operation. In the future QM may want to consider mounting the pin switch for control of these solenoid valves at the bottom of the machine (if allowable under EU law). This would allow the wiring to be neatly tucked away in the bottom with no need for the wires to the water tank carrier.

Brass brew boiler and copper steam boiler (very thick). All screwed fittings on brass holders brazed to brass endplates (steam boiler). Steam/Brew boiler are factory insulated.

High quality internal components, but limiting the use of “clever electronics” means the Verona can be placed on a cheap standard mains timer to switch on/off as required

All major components very accessible. This makes servicing quick and easy. There is a large removable access plate on the underside of the machine for heating element removal and easy access to the descaling taps.

Plastic high pressure pipe in a special compression fitting, this is what's inside the steel braided pipes on other machines. There is one big advantage however, should these ever leak, the joint can be remade by simply slicing the end of the tube absolutely straight with a sharp knife, replacing in the fitting and tightening (they self flare/seal). This type of fitting has been used by QM for years and has proved reliable.

In fairness, these fittings have not been

problematic on QM machines




Electronic temperature probe for steam boiler (no pressurestat to fail). Steam pressure can be adjusted from the PID, so no requirement to remove the case.

Rotary pump with large RPM motor, so pump replacement shouldn’t be necessary very often in the Domestic environment. If the pump ever fails, it is relatively cheap and very easy to replace and is removed from the motor with a single screw. This makes the machine quiet, possibly one of the quietest prosumer machines on the market, certainly the quietest machine I've ever tested

The motor is cage mounted and the pump mounted underneath the motor. This is something I very strongly recommended nearly 6 years to another manufacturer and is very similar to the technical specification drawing I sent them at the time. Just to dot the I's and cross the T's, I asked QM to ensure they had this configuration approved directly with Fluid-O-Tech, who manufacture the pump. This is absolutely the best way to mount a rotary pump to ensure when (not if) the shaft leaks, it will not damage the much more expensive RPM motor, should it not be picked up on regular maintenance. Pumps are consumables, motors are not!

The test Verona had a no burn steam wand with a 2 hole tip. Steaming is fine although I do feel the “no burn” steam wand does slightly reduce steaming power. I have specified a "burn" steam wand is fitted as standard to the machine and find it improves steaming around 20%. But the Verona also comes with a "no burn" steam wand in the accesssory box (these have a teflon insert to prevent the outside heating up). This allows you to choose which you prefer.

I strongly recommend you use the "burn" steam wand, this gives the best speed and milk quality. In addition you will also get 2 hole and 4 hole steam tips. This caters for people who want to steam fast, or at a more leisurely pace for the beginner.

The Verona does a very good job indeed of heating milk and produces great micro foam. It's a good steamer, BUT importantly it does maintain the steam pressure at 1.0- 1.1 with the 2 hole tip. The quality of microfoam is directly influenced by the pressure, higher pressure gives better microfoam..

So it's not quite as fast as the Duetto, but unlike the Duetto the pressure doesn't drop to 0.7 bar or less. If the pressure of the Verona is regulated (by the valve) to 0.7 bar without the tip fitted, there is very little difference in milk warming times, showing the energy in the boilers that can be applied to milk is similar.

Nice large cup warming tray. You can get plenty of cups on there, definitely no lack of space. I love the little hatch for access to the water tank, which means I don't have to remove the cup tray and cups when refilling.




The stainless steel drip tray is quite large holding a generous 1.4 litres before it requires emptying, This is in stark contrast the latest model Duetto drip tray which only realistically holds 700ml, before it can be emptied without risk of spillage. One thing I really like about the QM drip tray as opposed to the wire rack drip trays (as used in the Duetto among other machines) is the close diamond grid pattern hides the coffee waste that's underneath and it looks classier.

The tray can be removed by simply sliding out, whilst leaving the cup tray in position. It holds there by friction, so you can't actually leave a cup on there.

QM use a sealing washer bolted into the drain hole at the base of the drip tray...

The second picture shows the drain attachment which comes as standard with all the hoses. I have removed this from the test machine to allow the drip tray to slide in and out freely (I did replace the bracket, to add rigidity), all Veronas should come with this part in the accessories box If it is fitted, simply remove it as I have done.

The supplied drain hose is fitted to this drain attachment (some mains fill only machines do not come with this as standard). The mains water hose and the drain hose can be detached from the machine if it’s not plumbed in, to keep things looking tidy.

A switch to move mains to tanked operation is great. Very handy during descaling, or if the machine is to be moved to a non plumbed location. The switch is accessed by lifting off the cup warming tray. It electronic solenoid valves in the base of the machine. Although it all works fine, the engineer in me does rather prefer the simplicity of a manually actuated valve as in the Duetto.However, people love this feature.

Duetto

drip tray

(left)




Nice height adjustable feet, well proportioned in relation to the size of the machine. The foot is on straight, it's just the effect of the camera lens/angle.

You will notice a small felt sticky pad, I would add one of these as it makes sliding the machine around the counter top much easier. I used to use Teflon pads, but I find felt ones work better. They are the small furniture pads people use for wooden floors.

The split in the centre is how the foot adjusts...very neat.

I love the portafilters on the Verona, nice heavy weight, super quality and a really nice chromed metal end. The picture here shows the double and single portafilter supplied along with blind filter and mains water/drain hoses. Not shown are the extra steam arm, and 2 & 4 hole steam tip. There is an alternative portafilter, but I didn't like it much and it had thicker and less well finished "ears", which made it harder to lock into the group. I also didn't think the finish was as nice and it weighed 140g less. So I insisted on these!

The single portafilter basket is one of the deep singles I like, as some of the shallow single baskets are not so good. I first came across these deeper type baskets on all Izzo machines.

Understanding brew pressure at the pump head facilitates the easy check and adjustment of pump pressure….In the case of a rotary pumped machine, approx 9 bar. With the Verona, this is easier than most machines as there is a hole in the side of the case to safely adjust pump pressure without case removal

I like the balljoint mounted steam and hot water arms

A single combined gauge for brew pressure and steam boiler pressure, looks very neat and I have always liked this configuration. You find it in a few machines, e.g. La Spaziale, but Quiick Mill use a very nice looking gauge.

We have stressed to QM that the adjuster and hole definitely line up on the production Verona, they assured us that they will double check this during assembly




The front panel holding the E61 group has been reinforced to prevent flexing when locking in the group. On the first test machine I must have had a rogue gasket that didn't fit well. Some manufacturers use a hard group gasket that's slightly too thick for the group. This gasket is the main cause of any front panel flexing problems as the portafilter has to be pulled really hard to lock securely into the group and the reason for reinforcement in the first place.

I use a specific 8.0mm gasket from a supplier I have specified. These group gaskets are also slightly softer and are easy to remove for cleaning. They should be changed every 6-9 months depending on how much your machine is on. These gaskets will allow your portafilter to lock securely in the 6 O'Clock position with minimal force.

QM sent both their preferred gasket and mine to a lab and for testing, they were to all intents and purposes identical (hence my belief I had a rogue gasket. The production machine gasket fits well.

Gicar PID unit, specifically built for Coffee.

BUT, this ones a little different to the other units out there. Quick Mill have had the unit reprogrammed. I have moaned for years about the shared PID parameters for brewing and steaming. The two functions are mutually exclusive, parameters that are good for brew boilers, are not good for steam boilers, because as the steam boiler element comes on and tries to raise the temperature when you draw steam, the PID is actively reducing the power the closer you get to the preset temperature. This reduces available steaming power by about 17-20%, depending on how conservatively the PID is set

If you set it agressively to improve steaming, brew boiler stability is badly affected. it's why my original pressurestat Duetto, steams better than the later models without a pressurestat.

I love the 2 simple buttons allowing all functions to be programmed, yet keeping it very simple to operate.

Values that can be adjusted in addition to the brew temperature,, assuming your dealer permits it (although I don’t recommend the machine is left

Their supplier of E61 groups provides them to QM with the shower screens and gaskets already installed. On both the pre production machine and the production Verona the gaskets were in upside down. This means the portafilter will not fit well. Bella Barista should correct any like this before you get your machine. If they don't simply remove it and reinsert it as per the instructions in your

user guide.

Boring Tech speak warning, BUT very important!

The Verona Pressurestat actually has 2 completely separate PID loops programmed into it. This means the Brew and Steam Boiler parameters are NOT shared. in addition some band limit functions have been introduced which control the temperature range over which the PID parameters begin to work. Wider for the steam boiler and narrower for the brew boiler. In extensive testing, I have found the ideal settings for the machine, with just Proportional and a little Derivative damping for the steam boiler.

In practise this means up to 17% better steaming and full power applied to the steam boiler when you start steaming, just like the pressurestat used to do.

No other machine using the above Gicar PID has this special programming (comissioned by QM) at the time of

writing.




unattended until you know an adjustment is sound) are:

Proportional - the gain of the controller, size of response within the proprtional band to get back to the desired temperature, large values can cause overshoots, small values can make the controller slow to get back to the setpoint

Integral - an algorithm that moves the system towards a smaller and smaller deviation from the setpoint over time, values too large cause “hunting” around the setpoint

Derivative - best thought of as damping, not allowing the controller to respond to change so quickly, has little effect on the setpoint value, only when temp changes are detected. Values too large here can cause the system to become very unstable.

Display in F or C

Offset – The difference between the displayed temperature, and the actual brew boiler temperature. This reflecting the true temperature of the water hitting the coffee

e.g. You might need a boiler temperature of 105C to get water at 95C from the group, setting your offset to 10, will allow the PID to display 95C, even though the brew boiler is really at 105C.

The Steam boiler is PID controlled, but as mentioned earlier there are new P2, I2 and D2 parameters (along with 2 Band parameters). As parameters are no longer shared with the brew boiler, it allows for better steam boiler response.

Time

The PID simply tries to adjust the temperature over time as shown, each time the system is disturbed a similar, but less dramatic process takes place

A PID helps get your temperature where you want it, in a short time, with minimal overshoot, and with little error, but of course, with compromises, hence the ability to adjust P,I, & D values

Note: The PID and it’s sensitive “in boiler” thermostat, allows you to see all the changes going on in the brew boiler, unlike some other machines I reviewed, which either do not display overshoots beyond the temperature you have set, or don’t display anything at all.

The PID display alternates between steam and brew boiler temperature every few seconds.

Typical PID response




The ability to turn off the Steam/HW boiler is also far more valuable than you might at first think. This is good for 2 reasons.

• It saves energy

• You do not leave, the machine at high internal temperatures for extended periods in the home environment, this makes your machines internal components last longer.

The powerful heating element allows the 1.4l Steam Boiler to be up to pressure in less than 3m 40s. This is fantastic performance, by the time you have ground the coffee and got the cups ready, you are almost ready to steam..

Today I had my Verona on for 2 hours, switched on the steam boiler and 3m 30 seconds later I was steaming!. If the steam boiler has been used within the last hour or two, the time to come up to temperature is substantially reduced (a few minutes). The brew boiler alone only uses about 80-100W per hour to keep warm.

The only compromise of using a smaller boiler is that the amount of hot water drawn is more limited. If you draw 400ml, the boiler will refill in less than 10 seconds and you can draw another 250ml of boiling water. If you want more than this 650ml, then you will have to wait for it to refill and give it 30 seconds. or so. In practise I noticed no problem.

If you want an Americano, simply boil a kettle in 1 minute rather than keep a 1.4 litre steam boiler running and I have always said, don't use an expensive espresso machine as a kettle, a kettle works much better.

The steam boiler is turned on/off by a pin switch on the front panel.

The tank has handy lifter for easy removal and replacement when full. It's the same super high quality tank they have always used. You can also see the nice metal guide for the sliding float system of low water detection. This has been refined over the years and it probably the best of the sliding float systems out there. A Duetto tank is 30% smaller and of lesser quality in comparison.

The tank once removed stands upright on it's own and contains the magnetic float system which activates a small hall effect sensor in the case to give a low water alarm/indicator.

Both Brew Boiler and Steam Boiler have resettable limit stats

PID temperature resolution is in 1 F increments if F is chosen or 1C increments if C is chosen. The PID actually has an internal resolution of 0.6C. So for finer control, it may be best to set everything up in C mode then switch to F mode for controlling brew temperatures.

Note: The 1F increments also apply to any temperature offsets programmed, these take the form of a seemingly unrecorded key press if in C mode, but actually it has been changed by 1F




Low Power mode. For situations where you may be limited to 8 amps or less, the Verona can be switched to a “low power mode”. This allows only one boiler to be active at any one time.

Obviously in the UK this would not normally be necessary unless running on a restricted power supply e.g. Generator or some Caravan sites. The real value probably comes for our US cousins who tend to have more challenges with high power appliences.

This function is enabled via the PID. After entering programme mode the parameter F02 = 6 UK standard Setting for both boilers active at once, to 4 = One boiler active at a time, Brew Boiler has priority. A setting of 3 turns the brew boiler off, for things such as maintenance or refilling after descaling.

Operation in this mode on (UK/European voltage) makes little difference to the Verona which for all intents and purposes will work completely. The only real difference that will be noticed is during warmup, the brew boiler will warm up before the steam boiler starts heating….but again the overall warmup time of the machine will be totally unaffected. In certain circumstances a slightly more agressive PID setting might help when running in lower power mode and colder conditions.

Combined vacuum breaker and safety pressure release valve. Oh, I love this I really do!

The first picture shows the combined quickmill valve (made by MA-TER) with 2 plastic tubes leading to the drip tray.

The second shows a Duetto (and it's the same for most/all machines from other manufacturers). The safety valve is indicated and the separate vacuum breaker is the farthest valve at the rear of the picture with a tube on it.

I first saw this combined safety valve a while ago on another QM machine and I liked it then. In an overpressure event, this is going to all go to the drip tray and not inside the machine.

I did have a concern about the price of this combined valve, because the impressive looking safety valve in the right hand picture is £40 at current prices. With a vacuum breaker at £10-£12, how much was this combined valve going to be if it ever needed replacement?....Good news....it's only £25

If the saftey valve ever has to operate, because the steam pressure goes too high, due to a simple fault. The QM valve on the left dumps the steam/water into the drip tray.

The conventional type of valve in the picture on the right during an error condition will dump it's "guts" (the steam and condensed hot water), all over the inside of the machine and any associated electronics e.g. PID. Over the years I've seen other manufacturers use shields and plastic covers around eletronics to try and limit the effect. none of that really works.

Note: sometimes conventional valves spring a slow leak, which also forms a large amount of condensation within the machine. The combined valve means no problems with slow leaks causing damage within the machine

Hot water is taken from a point mid way up the steam boiler and not at the bottom, which is actually better. BUT, please, use a kettle instead for your hot water! Use an espresso machine in emergencies or for warming cups.

Most dual boilers have impressive hot water production because they take the water from the bottom of the steam boiler. This is great in terms of sheer volume of water, but not so great if anything goes wrong as the heating element is exposed. Also any crap in the boiler, loose scale etc.. sinks to the bottom, all ready to block your hot water valve.

Brass Brew Boiler (I love it)

After making the comments on the right, a brief summary of the boiler types to put it in context may help.

I know that i'm not going to be thanked for mentioning this, but I review as I find! I am what they call a supertaster, to me all flavours are very intense and I can taste the slightest thing. The one thing I can taste in all copper boiler espresso machines is...the copper. Sure the coffee masks it, but it's still there, I can still taste it.

For most people (because only 25% of the population are




Boilers can be made of:

Copper - Good workability, easy to place fittings, very very long lasting. In model steam engines, the material of choice.

Steel - difficult to work without changing properties, harder to put fittings on, welds are stress areas. Steel does not respond as well to continual heating cooling. Not as good antibacterial properties as copper or brass

Brass - has to be the right quality, but when it is, it's a good material to use or place fittings on and has good thermal properties. not quite as long lasting as copper in model steam engine applications, but to all intents and purposes, should last the lifetime of an espresso machine.

Plastic - If the right plastics can be chosen, this could be an potential material for espresso machine boilers. Unfortunately surface contamination, lack of antibacterial properties and thermal stress make this unlikely at present

supertasters split 35% of women and 15% of men) I am sure it's not an issue. The amount of copper is also not dangerous to health and copper (brass) has antibacterial properties which helps in a boiler. The Verona has a good quality brass brew boiler (and the right type of brass), because I can't taste anything, hot or cold the water has no "taint" to me, coffees taste cleaner and better.

Does this mean that copper brew boilers are no good?...No, they have been used for years, most people can't taste it or are not really aware of it..BUT, if you are one of the people who can, the Verona is the machine for you! To me the coffee tastes cleaner and sweeter.

There are other boiler materials, but I do like brass....I believe good quality brass is still used in Dalla Corte, La Spaziale Vivaldi (mini Vivaldi), La Marzocco GS3. Although none of these machines are using the same type of conventional boiler design as QM for their brew boilers.

All steam boilers I have come across are Copper or Steel...for steam boilers I do prefer copper (The QM does have a copper steam boiler). It's also partly why I personally never drink the water from any copper steam boiler, that much water in my americano and the taste would overwhelm the coffee for me. Hence my recommendation for a kettle. I don't like steel steam boilers in general, because with the exception to the Dalla Corte steam boiler, the other steel ones I have seen have a welded in heating element, and when it fails, you have to replace the entire steam boiler! I also don't believe the steel steam boilers I have seen will last as long as copper.

Good group to drip tray heigh of 14cm. This sounds like a minor thing, but it does make a difference. The Duetto has a groupo to drip tray height of just over 12cm and those extra 2cm do make a difference. They actually had a chance to change this in the Duetto MkIV, but unfortunately didn't when they redesigned the whole drip tray area.

The pre production machine has wrap around foam insulation with no cable ties. I actually added them to the boilers of the first test machine, because the insulation (with some weak adhesive on the edge) was already coming undone. QM tried to argue the point, with stuff like "well the cable ties will eventualy harden and need replacement". To my mind a weak excuse, even if they do eventually break people can replace them. So in the end we told them just to do it!

The production machine came with 3 cable ties securing the insulation on the brew boiler only! I was just about to put on my "angry head", when i noticed that the larger steam boiler had a continuous tube of insulation and could not fall off, so didn't need cable ties.




Descaling & boiler draining - Here was an area I was definitely unhappy about and we have had it changed. Dual Boiler machines are difficult enough to descale at the best of times, the brew boiler always being particularily difficult. In the Verona, the steam boiler hot water take off point being high up in the boiler (good for lots of reasons), was just not great for descaling.

This function is not just important for descaling, but to properly drain boilers for long term storage, or over winter conditions, where freezing is a risk.

I wanted drain taps on both boilers, for descaling and for long term storage. QM said they do this for a customer in the US and sent me a video (image extracted on right). This showed a short stubby drain tap directly attached to the boiler, the engineer after having removed the case and associated ancilllary equipment, struggled to get a tube on it, to prevent descaler going everywhere. Well this wan't doing it for me, we needed something better!

I asked why can't these little valves be on the end of copper tubes and you simply reach under the machine and undo the taps. "Against EU rules" I was told, besides the consumers have no problem with this system....err no, I didn't believe that for a second. I asked if the valves were within the case, and accessible on tubes leading to the bottom of the existing acess panel (and sent them a drawing)...would this then meet EU rules? Obviously yes, because that's exactly what they did. The UK Verona has a grid that can be removed by just undoing 4 small acorn nuts at the bottom

Once removed this gives access to both heating elements and the drain taps for both boilers. The drain taps are on tubes and are just a few mm inside the case and can be easily reached from underneath. All that is needed is a shallow tray...no plastic tubes, no case removal, no spills!

I have never seen this feature on any prosumer espresso machines and don't believe any machines currently have it.

The drawing above shows my crude drawing of the boilers, and copper tubes with valves, the images on the right show the access hatch underneath the machine. The idea is to stand the machine on some blocks (or books) and with the access panel removed, simply slide a plastic tray (not included) under the machine, open the taps and drain the boilers (or descaler), greatly simplifying the descaling process




PID location

It's absolutely ideal, placed above the motor, the coolest high point of the machine. The 12V transformer that supplies it is again cunningly located on the right approximately the middle of the machine, as viewed from the front, again a relatively cool and safe location. On many machines the PIDs are placed near relatively hot locations (e.g. above the brew or steam boiler)

After steaming the water level in the steam boiler drops, sometimes if a shot is pulled from the brew boiler, the vibration can just expose the autofill probe in the steam boiler and start the autofill process. Or if the steam boiler is cooling (because it has been switched off), the contraction of water will sometimes set off the autofill of the steam boiler.. This is an irritation because it drops brew pressure to almost nothing and ruins the espresso shot. This issue exists across ALL HX and Dual boiler espresso machines. it does not happen often, but when it does, it's irritating. The UK Verona has a special bipolar switch and circuit to prevent the steam boiler autofilling when an espresso shot is being pulled!

The front panel on earlier QM machines would show marks and stains a little over the years, the metal not being as high quality as the rest of the machine (this was partly because it was easier to add cuts and holes). Modern laser cutting techniques mean the front panel on the Verona is very close to the metal used on the rest of the machine and has a much improved finish compared to earlier models I reviewed some time ago now.

Another small detail. The rear panels of QM machines are held on by brass pins. They act as a sort of self tapping screw in a hole securing 2 pieces of steel. The rear panel then spring clips onto them. This is not a correct choice of metal from an egnineering perspective and I have heard of these breaking. So I specified steel pins are used. It's a small detail, but just another one of the many things covered.

So even something only a few millimeters in size..I worried about it and QM fixed it.

Note: Unfortunately they were only able to get enough to do my machine. The first production machines will still have brass pins.Bella Barista will send out steel replacements as soon as they are ready. So if ever the brass ones break, you can replace them with the steel ones




The Verona is a twin boiler machine, so the

usual surfing and cooling flushes required with

an HX machine are unnecessary. The Verona

maintains the brew boiler at the optimum

temperature (whatever you decide to set) for

espresso extraction. I did not find flushing to

be that necessary although I always like to flush

15-20ml before the first shot in a series, I call it

a stabilization flush and it ensures I start from

the same point each time.

It’s simple, fill the portafilter, tamp and lift the

lever and then lower it again when you have the

required amount of coffee, the Verona does the

rest. It makes consistently great espressos and

easily maintains the temperature during the

pour as the brew boiler of 0.75l has a fairly

large thermal mass. Domestic or light

commercial volumes of espresso one after

another will be absolutely no problem with this

machine.

The use the PID means that the SteaSteaSteaSteam Pressure m Pressure m Pressure m Pressure

can be altered if desiredcan be altered if desiredcan be altered if desiredcan be altered if desired (raised or lowered)

without having to remove the case or adjust a

pressurestat. A few simple presses of the PID

buttons allow the steam boiler temperature to

be set to whatever is required.). The Verona has

good steaming capabilities and I don’t believe

you will be disappointed with the quality of

micro-foam produced. Large amounts of milk

can be steamed as it won't run out of steam at

all during the steaming process

It’s nice to have really hot water on tap,

recovery time after drawing hot water for an

Americano is very fast. Although I Although I Although I Although I have always have always have always have always

said, said, said, said, for regular hot water production at home, for regular hot water production at home, for regular hot water production at home, for regular hot water production at home,

a kettle is a sensible option to consider and a kettle is a sensible option to consider and a kettle is a sensible option to consider and a kettle is a sensible option to consider and

saves having to have the main steam and hot saves having to have the main steam and hot saves having to have the main steam and hot saves having to have the main steam and hot

water boiler on all the timewater boiler on all the timewater boiler on all the timewater boiler on all the time. . . . The boiler being is

a decent 1.4 litre in size, but QM chose to

ensure the heating element can never never never never become

exposed. This means the hot water take off is

not at the bottom of the boiler, but at a position

above the element. All this means is that after

drawing about 250ml, you simply wait 10

seconds for it to refill, then draw the next

250ml of water. The water remaining in the

boiler is so far above boiling, that when the cool

water comes in it's immediately heated to

boiling and is why you only need to wait for it

to refill

The E61 group is not only beautiful to look at,

but proven in service for over 40 years. It makes

superb coffee with good thermal stability and

built in progressive infusion. An industry

standard and easily serviced (as are many of the

components in the machine), so parts such as,

pumps, gaskets, shower screens, filter holders,

filter holder handles etc. are all a standard size

and readily available from multiple suppliers.

This also means that the pricing of these spares

is highly competitive.

•

Using the Verona

Pressure Settings & Steam Production

..fill the portafilter, tamp and lift the lever…..the

machine does the rest

Espresso

Hot Water

The E61 Group




On the internet, there are discussions about

ideal brew temperatures for espresso and

varying them for different coffees. Some

machines costing many thousands of pounds

can (apparently) control absolute brew

temperatures down to fractions of a degree. I

am sure they must be very good, but of course,

there is usually the law of diminishing returns

to consider and the cost of parts for very

specialist machines made in very small

quantities.

I do not know what difference fractions of a

degree make in the cup…when there are so

other many variables, roast, grind, extraction

speed, water quality, etc. The Verona has the

capability to control brew temperature in 1

degree increments, and up to now I have not

really made very much of this. I have also not

talked about specific brew temperatures. This is

because for me the actual, specific brew

temperature vs. the display value is not that

important, as long as that difference is

consistent. It is just a number, although the PID

has an easily adjusted Offset, allowing you to

tune the display temperature to closely match

the actual brew temperature (it’s pretty close at

the factory presets), but might vary fractionally

from machine to machine.

I do care about some specific things with regard

to brew temperature though:

• Can I adjust the machine to work in the

entire range of; slightly too hot, or too

cold for any coffee

• Will the machine maintain a stable

brew temperature during the shot

• Is the recovery time OK

• Is it repeatable (assuming grind tamp

and dose are the same)

The test Verona had absolutely no problem

fulfilling these requirements and it seemed very

stable during the shot (with my measuring

equipment). The true test though is in the cup,

if the taste is good then it is OK, too bitter or

too sour, reduce or raise the temperature by 1

degree and try it again. The next time you roast

a batch of the same coffee, or buy it ready

roasted, the same temperature may not give the

same results. I think that focussing too much

on the machines capabilities in the area of

absolute temperatures and worrying about

10ths of a degree to fine tune brew temperature

(especially with so many other variables) is

doing the machine a disservice and missing the

point. To make great coffee you need a good

machine, but you also need, good quality

(correctly roasted) fresh beans, a clean

machine, decent water and a good grinder.

You may not adjust the temperature very much,

but you can when you need to. The adjustment

covers a large, range much larger than that

considered acceptable for making espresso.

Temperature stability is good during the shot

and there is sufficient thermal mass to ensure

this happens.

Temperature adjustment is simply a press of

the left hand PID button to put you into temp

adjustment mode and then press up or down to

set the desired temperature. A PID with only 2

buttons makes things quite simple. However all

important PID parameters are adjustable (P, I

and D values, plus offset and C or F display.)

With the Verona, your concerns should not be

getting the right brew temperature or stability

during the shot. Do not worry about

repeatability; if you grind and tamp the same

way each time, it produces consistent results.

The designers have taken care of all this for

you, far better to worry about important things,

like the coffee and the grinder.

For me, it is important that a machine is easy to

use, works quietly and competently, day after

day. I’m interested in drinking great coffee, not

playing around with a machine …. The Verona

is great….because I don’t have to think about it!

Brew Temperature




Final Thoughts – so what’s the bottom line!

The Verona although superficially just another dual

boiler machine, is so much more in terms of the

thought that has gone into it, plus some of the

changes I asked for.

High quality stainless steel case and frame (no High quality stainless steel case and frame (no High quality stainless steel case and frame (no High quality stainless steel case and frame (no

plastic or painted steel)plastic or painted steel)plastic or painted steel)plastic or painted steel). The front panel is a very

clean, with classy pin switches and lights,

reinforced inside to reduce flex when locking in the

group.

It’s a little larger than most prosumer machines,

but looks quite compact compared to something

like a Duetto (it is actually 3 cm narrower than the

Duetto).

The use of a commercial Rotary pump instead of

the more usual Vibration pump is an outstanding

idea. Rotary pumps sound coolotary pumps sound coolotary pumps sound coolotary pumps sound cool …and much better

than the harsh tone of a vibe pump. The rotary

pump installation in the Verona is the quietest of

any machine I have reviewed.

Yes absolutely, I already have done. I have not used Yes absolutely, I already have done. I have not used Yes absolutely, I already have done. I have not used Yes absolutely, I already have done. I have not used

my Duetto since and will be packing it into a box my Duetto since and will be packing it into a box my Duetto since and will be packing it into a box my Duetto since and will be packing it into a box

for storage. for storage. for storage. for storage. The Duetto produces a great shot, it's

steaming is probably more powerful, but

microfoam is harder to get right. I used a Duetto

despite the copper brew boiler, because it was the

best of the prosumer machines available at the

time. It has preheat for the brew water, but unless

your in a busy cafe, this isn't important. For me

personally the QM presses all the right buttons.

Vibration Pump Vs Rotary

My personalMy personalMy personalMy personal hot buttons and why I changedhot buttons and why I changedhot buttons and why I changedhot buttons and why I changed::::

• High quality brass brew boiler, It has no copper

taste (as a supertaster I can detect it) from the

brew boiler

• It really looks like a top quality machine

• It's very quiet

• Easy to descale, no loosened scale jamming in

small E61 group orifices as a result of the usual

brew boiler descale process, because the

boilers can be properly (and easily) drained

• PID has totally separate algorithms for brewing

and steaming (2 functions with mutually

exclusive requirements). Now I get a

pressurestat type response at last!

• Large Internal water tank approx 2.8l

• Mains or Plumbed

• Nice large drip tray, easy to remove and I cant

see the crap in the drip tray too easily

• Combined safety/vacuum breaker valve, all all all all

venting into drip tray to protect electronicsventing into drip tray to protect electronicsventing into drip tray to protect electronicsventing into drip tray to protect electronics

• I love the portafilter handles and quality of the

portafilters

• External pump pressure adjustment

• The fantastically fast steam boiler warm up time

of about 3m 40s

• The maintenance of high steam pressure at or

above 1 bar for good micro-foam production

• VVVVeryeryeryery clean front panel with good group to cup

tray height

• Internal positioning of the pump is

excellent...absolutely the best configuration

possible...no worries about leaks

• Internal positioning of heat and water sensitive

components, especially the PID and SSRs

Will you upgrade your Prototype Duetto to a Verona?

“The Verona can produce awesome espresso

shots, that were at least as good as, or

better than other twin boiler machines I

have reviewed




Well there's always stuff you can change, but it's

about practicality and cost. One manufacturer

has already changed stuff that didn't need

changing and introduced a machine with no

extra benefits for a lot more money. Currently

the Verona is going to cost less than a Duetto

and I feel offer a lot more.

Yes there is some stuff I'd like to see, but it is

only worthwhile if it can be done without

increasing cost, something that's quite unlikely.

Or perhaps it will appear in an entirely new

model of Dual boiler sometime in the

future...who knows. I can't share it though

because it's commercially sensitive.

It's a great machine, currently I feel the best of

all the Dual boiler machines I have tested

(Duetto, Dalla Corte Mini, La Spaziale mini

Vivaldi, Vivaldi II, Quick Mill QM67, Expobar

Brewtus (all models), Rocket R58. Yes I know

Bella Barista sell all of those, but this is not a

sales review. If you want one of those machines,

and love the looks or the specific features, go

and buy it. I just think this is better than all of

them and this is the one I think you should

buy..

When you own an espresso machine, it’s much

more than how the machine looks (although the

Verona does look good), it's about keeping it

working and looking good for a long time.

Simply put, any Espresso machine will require

maintenance, how easy and cheap this

maintenance is becomes very important when

you own it. The Verona is incredibly easy to

maintain, its generic parts are cheap to buy and

easy to obtain. A Verona E61 group can be

totally rebuilt to work as new for around half

the cost (and about as quickly) as replacing a

single solenoid valve in non E61 machines. With

proper maintenance and lubrication, you can

get many years service out of an E61 group

before having to worry about even minor

maintenance…

The best thing of all, if your not a clean freak

and only get the urge once every 3 months or

so. The Verona will still clean up like brand new

6 years later, an advantage of traditional steel

construction!

Being traditionally built and with simple

electromechanical components, faults are very

easy to diagnose, cheap and easy to fix,

generally without the need for any special

diagnostic equipment or tools.

Think for a moment about other machines with

solenoid activated groups (non E61), flow

meters, push buttons, and computerised

timed/metered shots. If you get a problem, it

can be difficult to diagnose, and very expensive

to repair. Some main control boards on these

complicated machines can cost between £100-

£200 or even more.

Parts for such machines can be more difficult to

obtain, because they cost quite a lot to stock

and are bespoke to a specific machine.

You will have the Verona a very long time, far

better to have a machine that can easily be kept

in tip top condition and supported by a Retailer

and manufacturer with extensive spares. Minor

model changes ensure good spares

interoperability, availability and service

expertise.

Also in fairness to Quick Mill, they were willing

to listen and make considerable changes,

especially the owner of the company! The PID

was one area where they knew for a fact I didn't

like shared PID loops and had it reprogrammed.

Part of the reason for the delay in this review,

as I had to extensively retest the PID along with

all the requested features in the production

machine.

Anything you would change?

Why should I buy a Verona




If you have a Duetto, or any of the other Dual

Boiler machines with copper boilers, should you

rush out and sell it to get one of these....NO,

unless your like me and can taste the copper.

I've tried to cover everything in the review, but

there was so much we had changed, I've

probably forgotten some of it, things like the

routing of certain wires away from hot spots,

alignment of structural elements, fits and

clearances, as well as extra vibration strips etc..

Always remember, it's not a collection of ideas

that make a great machine, it's about the

people that assemble it, the retailer that

supports it and the care that's taken to make it

work as a harmonious whole, something

special.

This machine was designed from the ground up

to be a very good dual boiler machine. It was

then breathed on by me, refined and the little

details sorted.....QM listened, listened properly

(they were even prepared to fly their design

engineer out if necessary) and made a great

machine. It's well priced, looks great and works

well. There's a bit of me in the Verona, so I

really hope you like it.

Why should I buy a Verona? Cont.)

If you are trying to decide what dual boiler machine If you are trying to decide what dual boiler machine If you are trying to decide what dual boiler machine If you are trying to decide what dual boiler machine

to buy right now......to buy right now......to buy right now......to buy right now......I rI rI rI recommend you ecommend you ecommend you ecommend you buy this onebuy this onebuy this onebuy this one!!!!



IZZO ALEX DUETTO – A CLOSER LOOK Page 25 of 26

Specifications

Height-Width - Depth: H410 x W330 x D470 mm (as measured, dimensions on QM web site are incorrect)

Weight: 27kg approx

Voltage & Power (approx): 220 V-50Hz, 2350W max (1150W in steam off mode) 1400W steam 800W Brew, 150W Pump

Temperature control PID for Brew boiler (to solid state relay), PID for Steam Boiler (to solid state relay). separate PID algorithms

Water Tank : 2.8 litres, removable with low water sensor/ mains plumbed option (electronically switchable), easy access flap for refilling tank.

Twin Boilers 1.4 litre Steam/HW, 0.75 litre dedicated brew boiler

Pump Type: Commercial Rotary Pump (inverted, cage mounted, for leak protection). External adjustment possible via access hole without case removal.

Group Head: 1 (E61 type), manual lever action

2 Filter Handle(s ) for 1 or 2 cups, Internal Diameter 58 mm

Construction/Finish: Heavy Gauge Polished Stainless Steel case and internal frame, removable drip tray and cup warmer

Water/Steam

Hot water on demand. Steam on demand (ball joint mounted). 2 steam wands supplied "no burn" and "burn" type. Burn type fitted as standard Steam Boiler can be switched On/Off as required, sub 3 minute warm up time.

Boilers High quality, heavy gauge Brass brew boiler. Heavy gauge Copper (with brass ends) steam/HW boiler

1 Manometer Gauges: Dual Display, measures Boiler & Brew pressure

Low Power Mode Brew Boiler priority, maximum current draw limited to approx 7 amps or 1670W @ 240V

Adjustable Feet Aluminium, split construction

Boiler Drain Function Access hatch underneath machine and easily accessible drain valves for descaling, or draining for storage.

Combined vacuum breaker and Safety valve

All vented into drip tray, increasing protection of electrical components




A coffee powerhouseA coffee powerhouseA coffee powerhouseA coffee powerhouse Classy retro stylingClassy retro stylingClassy retro stylingClassy retro styling

Gallery – A few pictures of the Verona

cup warmer and water tank access hatchcup warmer and water tank access hatchcup warmer and water tank access hatchcup warmer and water tank access hatch, pump , pump , pump , pump adjustment hole visibleadjustment hole visibleadjustment hole visibleadjustment hole visible

Inside This ReviewInside This Review Overview · their machine the Verona. those of you who know your Shakespeare will know that 3 plays were set in Verona. The most famous being

Documents