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Permalink Reply by Alun Evans on March 31, 2009 at 2:16am

Hey Kevin. There is actually an Astoria +4U group on BX. There are a lot of comments on the machine there. The official website http://www.plus4youtherevolution.com/ has comments from a variety of users, including national barista champs past and present. I used one for the first time in Trieste in November. I am used to working on semi's so the leap was qantum for me...as well as the shameful fact that I am a roaster first, a barista a poor second. Luckily I had 3 days training at the factory post Trieste, so now I am pretty confident that if I have a second whirl on the machine I will be a (in my own mind) a pro!

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Permalink Reply by Rob Tuttle on March 31, 2009 at 6:14am

Good morning Kevin...
My first hands on was at SCAA in Minn last year and I thought the concept was great but I did not like the 53mm group. With that said, Gary over at Astoria has worked hard on making it the machine it is today!
With the new 58mm group head design and the thermal stability that this machine can offer, this is truly a coffee geeks dream!!!
The temps are controlled both at the boilers as well as the group heads. I was fascinated to play with the different flavor profiles one could get with changing the temps of the boiler vs the group heads. Once you have a chance to play on one, I think you'll be hooked!
I know that there will be a few of the new +4U's around at the SCAA show this year. We will have one in our booth if you want to come play! I am pretty sure that Monin and Astoria will have one in their booths as well.

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Permalink Reply by nik orosi on March 31, 2009 at 1:12pm

if is out the one with 58 then ok, with 53 you cannot put more than 15g...la marzocco vs. +4u is like aston martin vs. hundai
steaming wands are kind childish...f1 look is ok, computer is fab and all in all its a great machine but was build for italian market, now with 58 will see...

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Permalink Reply by Rob Tuttle on March 31, 2009 at 1:34pm

Wow...I have never heard LaMarzocco referred to as a Hyundai before! :-) hehehe

nik orosi said:

if is out the one with 58 then ok, with 53 you cannot put more than 15g...la marzocco vs. +4u is like aston martin vs. hundai
steaming wands are kind childish...f1 look is ok, computer is fab and all in all its a great machine but was build for italian market, now with 58 will see...

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Permalink Reply by nik orosi on March 31, 2009 at 2:06pm

lol.....great....

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Permalink Reply by Alun Evans on March 31, 2009 at 7:04pm

Hey this is GREAT news. I struggled with the 53...my machines in Indonesia are all 58mm. I was told that indeed the 53 depth is for the Italian espresso market. According to Paolo at cma 53mm produces better quality espresso. I did not know the 58mm was available, hopefully not just for the US (110v) market!

nik orosi said:

if is out the one with 58 then ok, with 53 you cannot put more than 15g...la marzocco vs. +4u is like aston martin vs. hundai
steaming wands are kind childish...f1 look is ok, computer is fab and all in all its a great machine but was build for italian market, now with 58 will see...

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Kerkhof on April 27, 2009 at 9:00pm

Thanks for all the input on this! The machine was neat to play with at the show!

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Permalink Reply by Jason on April 28, 2009 at 3:41am

Hi People,

As far as i know and been told by the factory the +4U's standard format is 53mm, the US market requires a 58mm group. I don't think the 58mm group will ever become standard........ Sorry......

Regards

Jason
UK Customer service manager
C.M.A Astoria.

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Permalink Reply by Domagoj Trusic on April 29, 2009 at 8:43am

I have two in my shop thay are more than ok,
can do fine to 16 grams and more with some modification,
good start and very economic in all ways....
contact me for more info...

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Permalink Reply by Jason on April 29, 2009 at 12:47pm

Hi,

you can replace the brass "shower" plate holder, with a reduced holder. This reduces the size in the group head and will "allow" you to over dose the group handle.

I would suggest that you contact your Astoria distributor, who should be able to help you.

If they cant, please point them in my direction and i will give them the part numbers.

regards

Jason
jjones@cmaspa.com

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