Owning the La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II

The Mini Vivaldi II from La Spaziale is an industrious dual boiler machine, boasting several innovative features and commercial certifications, including NSF. The Mini version features a vibration pump and large 3 liter water tank that is accessible from the front for easy refilling; while the standard Vivaldi II removes the reservoir and adds a rotary pump with exclusive plumbed operation. Both are available in black or red, and both can operate with either 15 or 20 amps of power using the included convertor. The operational difference between the two amperages is as follows: with 15 amps, there is only enough power for one boiler to heat at a time, so the machine will automatically alternate between heating one or the other; with 20, both boilers can heat simultaneously for a quicker heat up and recovery time, and slightly increased steam power. At home, you won’t notice the difference, but in a commercial environment, we definitely recommend running the machine at 20 amps. The Mini Vivaldi II has a 0.45 liter brew boiler, as well as a 1.2 liter steam boiler, and a powerful, dry steam can be accessed immediately by pulling a lever. La Spaziale has packed a lot of innovation into both versions of the Vivaldi II. Both machines feature programmable timed brewing for both a single and double shot; both dispense water from a dedicated wand at the press of a button; both feature a 4-hole steam wand perfect for microfoam; and both utilize La Spaziale’s patented coffee delivery system, drawing dry steam from the highest point in the boiler to heat the group head. 

The Vivaldi II’s crowning feature is easily the temperature regulation control pad integrated on both the standard and Mini versions. A temperature selector enables you to choose a brew temperature in 1°C increments ranging from 91°C (195.8°F) to 97°C (206.6°F). Plus, you can even make adjustments to the group’s temperature. It’s basically espresso mission control. To soup it up even more, each Vivaldi II can be optionally equipped with a 7-day on/off timer; the Mini can be outfitted with a passive pre-infusion chamber so it can function like the standard Vivaldi II; and there’s an ESE pod adaptor kit available (though, we don’t recommend you spring for a Mini Vivaldi II just to use pods). La Spaziale includes a comprehensive, full color manual with each machine to make it easy for users to learn the ropes and begin experimenting. Their machines are protected from overheating by a built-in safety thermostat, and feature fault diagnosis alerts for simple troubleshooting, which, we love, because there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to brew an espresso on demand. One difference about the Vivaldi II’s in comparison to other commercial machines: they use 53mm portafilters in place of the standard 58mm. There’s no difference in the quality of the coffee, the 53mm basket is just slightly deeper, and, of course, will require a 53mm tamper. If you like the sound of this, but need a plumbed machine, take a look at the standard Vivaldi II.