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What is a Thermoblock?
This entry was posted on May 7, 2012.
A thermoblock or thermocoil takes water from the reservoir in an espresso machine and heats it on the fly, versus heating up a full boiler of water. This technology is commonly seen on home espresso machines, where it manages either the brew function, steam function or both. The benefit of a thermoblock is that it doesn't take as long for your machine to heat up for either brew or steam; however, the drawback can be that your temperature for brew or steam is not quite as consistent as you might like.
Gail introduces us to a few different varieties of thermoblocks/thermocoils and shows how they compare to a standard boiler (specifically, the internals of the Breville Dual Boiler).
Special thanks to Breville for providing the sample internals for this video!
[...] between the older heating tech and the new heating tech (if you’re into that kind of thing) in this video. Then watch Gail take us through the BES840XL’s features and demonstrate functionality. The [...]
What makes the thermoblock go tick-tick-tick (or wham-wham-wham) as it puts water/steam out?
The pump pulling water from the reservoir and moving it through the thermoblock.
- Kat
Wow thanks for the tutorial!!!!
I have an older model expresso machine from Starbucks, it is no longer available. I believe that the problem with my machine is the Thermoblock coil. Can these coils be repaired? The machine I have has not been used all that much so this should not have happened. Please can you give me advice on this issue? thank you, m.luby.
The Starbucks Barista machines were a variety of private label espresso machines that are still available under their original manufacturer brand. Most often they were Saeco semi-automatics (either the Aroma or the Via Venezia) or Saeco Superautomatics (very similar to the Incanto) and they can be repaired. What's going on with the machine?
- Kat
[...] wonder what’s going on under the hood of your espresso machine? In follow-up to our video on thermoblocks, we asked Gail to show us different styles of boilers and walk us through how they [...]
vERY INFORMATIVE. tELL ME, DOES THE bREVILLE EXPRESS UNIT HAVE THAT CIRULCAR THERMOCOIL, OR THE OLDER TWO-PIECE DESIGN?
It depends on the model; the 840XL and the newer Barista Express models have the thermocoil; older models have the two part design.
- Kat
Hi Kat,
Thank you for the video, I really appreciate it. If I would like to purchase a thermocoil like that, where would i go to get one? And what type of pumps would I need to get to pump water?
Thank you so much!!!
Thomas
I don't know where you'd purchase one separately; these are manufactured specifically for Breville wherever they produce their machines. I doubt they have them available for general sale as it's a tech advantage for their machines over other models.
- Kat
Hi Gail!
Do you have any video with how do these units measure the water volume? Do they count electrolytes, or just knowing the debit it measures the time…I own BES870 (thermo coil)
Are you talking about the volumetric programming? If so, then it actually counts the number of rotations on the flow meter.
Kat
Is there a way to find the thermoblock just by itself?
Sorry, but I'm not quite sure what you're referring to. Is this for a specific machine or project? That will help me answer the question.
Thanks!
Hi Gail,
You had mentioned that the thermoblock for the Barista Express is an aluminum block lined with stainless steel and that the stainless part is lined with teflon. Is that correct? Love the machine but the teflon is a major concern?
Hi, Darrin,
We gave Breville a call to confirm if there was a Teflon coating in the Thermocoil and they said there wasn't in the Barista Express!
Great question!
Felicia
I have a Breville "The Infuser" manufactured in 2016. I think the model number is 840XL?
Is the thermocoil in this lined with Teflon?
-Thanks
Hi, Chris!
The thermocoil is not lined with Teflon coating. Great question!
Cheers,
Felicia
[…] unit operates with a ‘thermal block heating system‘ and users report that it makes espresso with a great head of crema. The espresso maker and […]
I own an old model from Breville (820XL) and does that use the older version of the thermoblock? Is that teflon coated as well? Thanks!