ECM Synchronika II Espresso Machine

I've been using an HX semi-auto for the last 12 years and felt it was time to upgrade to double boiler with the latest advancements of the last decade. My last machine was/is awesome - it's what I learned on - but the Synchronika II is another level. The machine is beautiful, build quality and fit & finish are top-notch befitting a machine at this price point, and all controls have a nice, "luxury" feel and positive engagement, including the firm "click" of the on/off switch. The PID, steam power and features like programmability and "sleep" mode make it a joy to use on the daily. And the rotary pump (using reservoir) is much quieter than my previous vibratory pump.

Not sure yet about flow control...I'm still figuring out how to incorporate that into my routine but it doesn't seem like it's something I will find absolutely necessary going forward. But I'll continue experimenting.

I know the six-minute heat-up time is a big marketing point but, honestly, it's not that big of a deal for me, although it does work as advertised. I usually let it warm up longer anyway. Hopefully the element is not a failure point in the future.

I few niggles: the reservoir cover opens toward the back and doesn't stay open on it's own, so holding the cover and pouring water out of a pitcher can be a bit awkward. I'd also prefer a bit more range of motion or angle from the milk frother wand. Oh, and the fact a bottomless portafilter does not come standard with the machine is dumb. The single spout that *does* come with it is virtually useless for, I bet, the majority of buyers of this machine.

Bottom line, I have no regrets spending the premium on this machine. My coffee has absolutely gotten better and much more consistent, which is a major upgrade. Using my trusty Mazer Electronic-B grinder, I'm tasting notes and nuance in my shots that I couldn't achieve with my old HX. It's making me want to try a lot of different coffees and roasts.

Last, the buying process was easy and straightforward with lots of help from the Clive Coffee staff. Communication is great and the one time I had a minor issue, they took care of it immediately with no fuss. The Clive customer service is great piece-of-mind. So...I think this might be the *last machine*. Can't imagine what else I would want.

This was supposedly a small upgrade from my 15 year old Alex Duetto, also a dual boiler, PID, E61 group head. Both direct plumbed. What's to like?
1. The increased clearance means I can pour directly into the cup along with a scale of coursed.
2. The PID is easy to adjust, so I do espresso at 198 F and 202 F for my pour over coffee stand in. (More below.) I learned that the lower temperature for espresso reduces bitterness.
3. I've begun doing preinfusion using 2 bar line pressure rather than the pump. Why? See below.
4. Using a single dose grinder works well for my processes.
5. With a coffee leveler and blind portafilter I'm getting virtually zero channeling
6. I'm able to get consistent results steaming milk, although it took some adjusting. Alignment of the steaming wand angle seems to be crucial. Making it look like the steaming wand runs parallel to the left side of the drip tray, with the wand pulled fully out towards the user has worked best for me. (Hard to describe with words. A video would help.)

So I'm using the Synchronika to make ~pour over coffee and am loving it. It takes around 5 minutes for a cup rather than 10 and is simple to do. The coffee is light roast and I can use the same grind setting as for espresso. I do preinfusion until coffee starts coming out of the portafilter, then turn the flow control almost off. It takes about 20 seconds to pull 50 g of strong coffee to which I add hot and cold water.

So all in all, a great machine.

I am very pleased with the build and aesthetic quality of this machine. I am also pleased with the entire Clive purchase process. They helped with my research, made helpful suggestions, and answered questions in a friendly and knowledgeable manner. They made me feel comfortable with an internet purchase of this magnitude. The shipping process was prompt. The machine was well packaged and arrived undamaged. It makes excellent espresso and looks great on my countertop.

This was my first espresso machine and I can say w/ 100% confidence that I made the right choice. It is easy to use and makes consistently exceptional coffee. The chrome can be hard to keep pristine but you know what you are getting into.

I have never owned an espresso machine. After talking to 3 online vendors, i chose Hannah at Clive. She built probably 10 different quotes as i changed my mind for months. Absolutely love the fit and finish of the ecm synchronika! Dual boilers and dual gauges help me to know when to start the morning. Reservoir is super easy to fill even if glasses in the warmer. The joysticks are fantastic. I make a cortado and americano every day. Purchased the bottomless portafilter with my points. Love it. Everything is so well made and is absolutely beautiful to look at.

I've used this machine daily for little over four years and it's a true workhorse. Just had issues w/leaking brew boiler due to my own ignorance and had no issue trading out for new one. Be sure and research the water you're using, I made the mistake of using distilled water which is basically acid to the stainless steel boiler. Preferably something w/PH of 7+.

Love at first sight. Everything we wanted and more. Love the overall build and functionality.

Function of the machine is easy to use and everything is thoughtfully layed out. Hannah was wonderful and helped answer all my questions and support has been great.

This machine is incredible and I appreciate Clive's pre-shipment inspection/setup. It produces consistent shots once you're dialed in, which as you know changes daily. After one month of using the reservoir, I had the machine plumbed in with a different filtration system than offered at Clive's. A directly plumbed-in espresso machine is a game-changing convenience. I've filled reservoirs on my various machines for over 15 years, and I'm glad that's over. What needs to be changed emphatically is the plumbed drain tray system provided by ECM. The drip tray is large and should be fashioned to be directly connected to a drain hose, but instead you're given a small plastic tub that fits under the main tray to allow connection to a drainage hose. It's far too small for even a home user and will ultimately spill over as you make your espressos. For the cost of the machine, this is an easy and essential fix. Whether they provide a large plastic 3D-printed tub or the part (available, but difficult to get stateside) to directly connect the stainless drip tray to a hose, we need to get ECM and Clive's, as their distributor, to fashion a new system. Please make it so! The machine also has strong and consistent steam pressure for making your cappuccinos and other milk-based drinks. I'd deduct 1/2 star for the poor drainage system on an otherwise amazingly well-crafted machine, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again from Clive's. Their service has been amazing!

Cannot rave enough about how good and consistent the espresso is on the Synchronika. I had the M58 at first add had problems with it and ended up returning it. They say that dry pucks dont mean anything but on the Lucca M58 mine were so wet you could hardly get the grounds out. From the get go on the Synchronika my pucks are dry everytime and the espresso is soooo creamy. I can tell you the Synchronika is noticeably louder then the Lucca M58 but it has so much more steam power and consistency with shot pulls that its hands down worth the extra 300$. The drip tray on the Synchronika is also much easier to empty. The pressure release valve isnt built into the drip tray like it was on the Lucca M58 so you can lift it up to dispense instead of having to maneuver it around and in the process spilling water everywhere. Such a well built machine and I hope to have it for many years. One thing Im not sure I love is the eco mode where it basically goes into a sleep mode if not being used for a period of time. So if you go to use it again you have to wait for it to come to temp again. I still need to look up if thats something can be turned off but Im sure a lot of people would actually love that.

Simply the best. Believe the hype and what you read. It’s spot on. Build quality, features and finish are top notch. Be aware It’s big and heavy. I had it plumbed in with the Clive water system and it’s awesome. August, Daniel and the entire Clive team were great.

Great machine, Clive is great to work with!

Paul, Kelly, and Amelia have been super helpful. Love the machine. Performs even better than my high expectations. Could be "last espresso machine ever" as I don't know more what I could ask for. Highly recommend it.

Best worst financial decision

Great machine! Excellent coffee

It took two other machines to finally arrive at this perfect solution. I was replacing a 15+ year old Rocket r58 and other machines felt less solid and well made, also prone to leaks or other issues. This machine is a dream. Easy to use, perfect shots and built like an old Volvo! Solid, heavy(yes, it weighs 70 lbs) and built for use! And thanks to the Clive staff for gracious and no argument help!

Doing the initial setup was a bit challenging, but I got help from Clive and I'm up and running. The ECM Synch II is an incredible machine.

This machine was great until the pump failed in less than a year and a half old. I previously had a Rocket Espresso Evoluzione which had no issues with more than 14 years of daily home use. The ECM use is only 2 to 3 shots a day and suddenly the pump started making a very loud noise with very little preassure so my assumption is that I'll be replacing the pump. This was my first ECM machine - likely my last! Very disappointing!

Loving my machine. Beautiful, easy to use while still being customizable. Also, props to Clive Coffee for fantastic service.

Everything is great - machine came double boxed, and there are good videos about some easy maintenance topics online from Clive. I had some additional questions about usual servicing schedules that weren't in the manual and the like which support was good about answering. I have no reservations at all about this machine.