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The new Kees Van Der Westen Spiritello espresso machine is a single-lever machine that transcends time, bringing to you the elegance of truly pulling espresso shots.

The lever machine is the most “espressonistic” of espresso machines. The lever offers a satisfying tactile process for the barista and a compelling theatrical experience for the customer. Every shot pulled is visually and taste-wise a delight, for everyone involved.

Working on our machines is a process based on intuition. Ergonomics and a logical set-up for the barista are important matters to enable pumping out those shots without fuss. This intuitive approach applies even more so when adjusting functions by a screen.

Lever Group

The big shiny spring-loaded lever group is the most prominent part of the Spiritello. This classic technical marvel, praised for its thorough pre-infusion and diminishing extraction pressure, is now enhanced with the latest modern-day improvements. This ensures a virtual ideal extraction, so brewing a tasteful espresso comes naturally.

Plug & Play

Starting up the Spiritello only requires plugging in and filling up the reservoir. It comes with a built-in 3.5 litres stainless steel water reservoir and an internal quiet rotary pump. The drip tray is easily removed by sliding it forward and up. Naturally all parts to connect it directly to water mains and/or drainage are included as well. To give you the convenience of choice.

Zappo Steam Wand

The Zappo type steam wand consists of a double walled stainless tube, with a PEEK steam tip, four holes of 1.2mm each. These insulated steam wands are generally appreciated for their “non-burn” qualities, but their ability to have milk hardly or not adhere is a possibly even greater benefit.

Digital Display

There is a large 2" round display at the front of the Spiritello with a push/turn knob to its side. The barista can tune the machine exactly to their wishes. Eco mode and a host of handy features are readily accessible. A shot-timer automatically appears in full view on the display, whenever the lever is pulled.

Locking Mechanism

Most eye-catching feature of the lever is that it operates in a smaller range. It does not need to go all the way down to lock, during the pre-infusion stage. We developed an effective and reliable locking system. This virtually eliminates the inherent danger of the classic lever to hit the barista when something accidentally goes wrong.

As safety being one of the most important aspects of our espresso machines, we were definitely convinced to solve this problem. Yet, we think it essential to keep the movement of the lever. This theatrical effect is one of the important visual attractive points after all, it is true espresso drama! Besides, the moving lever provides important feedback on how well pre-infusion developed and the rate of extraction.

Fully Saturated Group

Temperature stability is magnificent, if we may say so ourselves. Our approach is to create an exact water temperature and then make sure it does not lose any heat on its way to the coffee puck. Coffee boiler and group are one, temperature is PID controlled. The cylinder sits inside the group and is fully surrounded by a generous amount of the very same water that will flow into the chamber when pulling the lever. The bottom of the piston is made in PEEK. This is fully heat neutral, so the water does not lose any of its heat and the piston does not become dirty.

The coffee boiler is fed with preheated water from the heat-exchanger in the steam boiler. All parts are stainless steel (316L where in contact with water). Stainless has a roughly ten times less heat transferring capability, compared to brass.

Easy Flush & Stop Extraction

Water quickly fills the brewing chamber, when the piston moves up, through a mechanical valve actuated by the piston, plus through an electric solenoid valve. This solenoid valve is also used to flush the group comfortably by simply pushing a button and to automatically relief pressure at end of extraction, to prevent the infamous sneeze or waiting time.

A second button can be pressed to activate this solenoid to stop the extraction at any moment, with the lever quietly moving to its resting position.

Water Tank

The Spiritello is our first machine with a built-in water reservoir and pump. The reservoir is made in stainless steel and holds 3.5 litres. It can be topped up easily, when lifting the cup tray a large opening is revealed.

When it needs cleaning, the body part around it can be removed quickly without tools.The reservoir itself can then be pulled out directly even when full, it has a self-closing valve at the bottom.

Naturally the Spiritello also comes with all parts to connect it directly to water mains and drainage. With this set-up it enjoys direct water mains pressure towards pump and group.

Pressure Gauge

An old-school pressure gauge is connected directly to the brewing chamber, to keep an eye on the actual pressure at the puck. Starting pressure of the spring is adjustable from approx. 8 to 10 bar.

Settings

The pre-infusion pressure of 1.5 to 4.0 bar is adjustable by a large knob within easy reach underneath the machine. This pressure and subsequent extraction pressure, is shown at the pressure gauge. Clearly, the slow but thorough soaking of the puck with just a very low pressure before the high extraction pressure hits, is one of the reasons lever groups are forgiving and tend to brew great tasting shots easily.

The temperature of the hot water is adjustable by turning a jet, to be reached with a screw driver through a hole at top of left hand body panel.

Extraction pressure is adjustable by turning a disc on top of the spring. Tools to make this easy come with the machine. This is typically a personal thing. Some swear by a high starting pressure, others prefer to keep a small difference between infusion and extracting pressures.

Details

Drip tray is easily removed by sliding it forward and up. It is made by rubber pressing, out of one piece of flat stainless steel. Nice round inside corners, so easy to keep clean.

Next, the rear gauze material of the Spiritello is also pressed, for aesthetic reasons and to provide some air circulation for the electronics print and solid state relays.

Both steam and coffee boiler can be emptied rather easily. The coffee boiler has its own discharge tube at a ball valve, ending up at the drip tray. The steam boiler also has a ball valve into which you can screw a supplied fitting with tube.

Pump

Pump is a stainless steel rotation pump, powered by a 180 Watt motor, fit for continuous use. This pushes water first through an adjustable pressure reducer, then to the heat-exchanger in the steam boiler, followed by the coffee boiler and lastly into the brew chamber underneath the piston. The heat-exchanger pre-heating the water allows the use of a small coffee boiler, yet ensures the machine keeps its coffee target temperature easily and precisely, also when working hard and fast.

With the machine connected to the mains, water will go directly to the pump. Pre-infusion pressure is still fully adjustable. When the water mains pressure is sufficient (3 bar) one may decide to dis-engage the pump. This may limit the range of pre-infusion pressure, but results in a truly silent machine.