La Nuova Era Cuadra HX Espresso Machine
Overview
Our version of the La Nuova Era Cuadra includes a no-burn steam wand, no-burn hot water wand, and an upgraded brain unit.
Heat exchanger (HX) system with an E61 grouphead. Boiler pressure gauge. There is even a refill spout so you do not need to pull your machine forward to fill the reservoir. Brain unit, pump, and solenoid valve are near the bottom to avoid boiler heat which rises, and these same items are protected with stainless steel covering to prevent water from splashing on them. Need we say more?
Looking for another heat exchange espresso machine? Take a look at the Bellezza Inizo R Leva HX Espresso Machine
Features
Heat exchange system
- Copper, insulation – The boiler is made of copper which retains heat better than stainless steel. Typically copper boilers are more susceptible to limescale when you compare to stainless steel boilers. Therefore, we highly recommend utilizing the water softener that comes with this machine. The manufacturer wraps the boiler with insulation for maximum heat retention.
- Pull a shot & steam milk at the same time – Steam is always readily available. Hence, there is no wait time going from coffee to steam mode.
E-61 grouphead
- Constantly heated – Hot water circulates from the heat exchanger through the grouphead and back to keep the grouphead and your portafilter nice and hot. As a result, the grouphead temperature constant and stable when you compare to other groupheads that have a built-in heating element.
- Pre-infusion – Lever next to the grouphead activates a microswitch which turns on the pump to pump water through the coffee grinds. Pulling the lever half way up will open the valve to allow water into the grouphead without activating the pump. Please note that true pre-infusion requires the direct water connection whereby the water pressure from the water line creates true pre-infusion.
Tank/reservoir system
- Water softener – The best protection from any limescale buildup in your machine. The water softener must be charged before use. Please follow our instructions on how to do so. This water softener also acts as a particle filter to protect the machine from any unseen particles entering the boiler.
- Auto-shut off – Prevents burning out the heating element. The water tank sits on a spring activated plate. Once the water is low, the plate depresses the tank microswitch which turns off the heating element.
Vibratory pump
- Efficient – 41 watts, rated up to 15 bar with air valve bypass. You only need 9 bar to extract perfect espresso, and wattage has no correlation to longevity.
- Cost effective – Pumps will degrade in performance over time. Replacing a vibration pump will cost less than a rotary vane pump.
Steam/water wand
- Multi-directional – Allows for more movement and flexibility. The wands connect to the valves at an angle to the side for even more flexibility. As a result, there is less risk of burning oneself from the exposed grouphead.
- No burn – Normally the Cuadra comes with regular wands, but requested no-burn wands. Both wands have insulation, which allows you to touch any part of the stem. Please note after very long periods of use, the wands will eventually be hot.
- 2-hole steam tip – Allows for a slow gradual build-up of microfoam.
- Rotational knobs – Allows for easier control of the intensity.
Construction
- Frame – Made of stainless steel (not polished).
- Body panels – Sides panels are made of plastic with a polished chrome color coat. The back panel is made of stainless steel satin with a satin finish. The front panel is made of stainless steel with a polished finish.
- Drip tray – Made of stainless steel. Slides out from the machine for easy cleaning. Plastic insert and stainless steel drip tray cover add a really nice touch.
- Cup warmer tray – Made of stainless steel. Must be removed to refill the water reservoir. As with any machine, cups can take up to 2 hours to preheat using a cup warmer tray. You can use the water wand to flash heat your cups.
Accessories included
- Portafilters – Single spout portafilter & dual spout portafilter. Both are 58 mm. The filter heads have “La Nuova Era” imprint on them.
- Filter baskets – 1-cup filter basket which holds approximately 7 grams. 2-cup filter basket which holds approximately 14 grams. 58 mm in diameter.
- Tamper – A cheap plastic tamper. Manufacturers will normally include a tamper like this to keep the overall selling price of the machine low. We recommend upgrading to a better tamper.
- Cleaning brush – Used for cleaning the grouphead. Ergonomically designed with an angle for easier usage.
- Coffee scoop – A simple plastic scoop if you are using pre-ground coffee.
- Cleaning brush – Specifically for cleaning the grouphead.
- Funnel – Helps fill your water tank without the need to remove it. Useful if your machine doesn’t have the height clearance to allow you to fully remove the water tank from your machine.
- Water softener – Already attached to the intake hose.
- Instruction manual – Available in English and Italian.
Specifications
| Brand | La Nuova Era |
|---|---|
| Height (inches) | 15, approximate |
| Width (inches) | 14.5, approximate |
| Depth (inches) | 17, approximate |
| Weight (pounds) | 38 |
| Wattage (watts) | 1200 |
| Voltage (volts) | 110 – 120 |
| Boiler capacity (liters) | 1.8 |
| Tank capacity (liters) | 3 |
| Country of manufacture | Italy |
| Approvals | CE |
Notes
- WARNING: Before operating the machine (the first time, any time after the machine is transported, or when the water softener is removed), inspect the water softener in the tank. Make sure it is not leaking any of the resins into the intake hose. It can be removed from the hose for inspection. If you see any damage or resin leaks, do not use the machine. If you just purchased the machine, please contact us for a replacement. Otherwise, you can purchase a replacement.
- Upon receiving the machine, you will find a note inside by La Nuova Era saying that your machine has been checked and tested with coffee. Although it has been thoroughly cleaned, it may still contain minute traces of coffee.
General Espresso Machine Notes/Warnings:
- Upon first use (tank/reservoir models): On the initial start-up (or after a long period of non-use), it is important to make sure the pump is removing water from the tank. When the machine is powered on, you will hear the pump running. After 5 seconds, squeeze the in-line hose in the tank (usually the longest hose, has a particle filter attached). if you hear a different sound, this means the pump is working correctly. If not, immediately power down the machine and contact us. For more information, visit this page General Manual Pump Priming.
- Electrical: To avoid electrical damage to this espresso machine which is not considered a manufacturer’s defect, please acquire and install a single-outlet surge suppressor rated at 1080 joules or higher. Without the recommended surge suppressor, the espresso machine can be damaged at the power switch, the electronics, the heating element, the pressurstat, or the wiring inside. For more information, visit this page Power Protection.
- Water: To increase the useful life and not damage your espresso machine, please use softened water. Softened water is water without calcium and magnesium, but still has other minerals for espresso extraction. Do not use distilled, purified, or reverse osmosis water as these types of water create oxidation with the metals and cause the same damaging effects as limescale. For more information, visit this page Water Choice.
- Descaling: We do not recommend descaling unless there is an issue with the espresso machine. Too much descaling can eat away at the metals and gaskets inside an espresso machine. As a preventative measure, we recommend using softened water as explained in the bullet point above.
- Backflushing: This procedure of cleaning the grouphead will need to be performed from time to time. For more information, visit this page Espresso Machine Backflush – Why 50?
21 reviews for La Nuova Era Cuadra HX Espresso Machine