La Spaziale LUCCA A53 - Programming Pre Infusion

What is Pre-infusion?

Pre-infusion is the low-pressure soaking of the coffee bed before an espresso machine builds to its full 9 bar brew pressure.  This settles the coffee puck, which can minimize channeling and improve shot consistency.  

Pre-infusion on the Direct Plumb A53

Pre-infusion on the plumbed A53 model can be programmed 0-8 seconds.  Because water line pressure is feeding the machine, the brew solenoid opens for the desired number of seconds, allowing water to flow through passively without activating the pump.  After the pre-infusion time is met, the pump activates for the remainder of the shot.

Programming pre-infusion on the A53:

With the machine on, hold down the power button for 5 seconds until "95", the power light, and the "boiler" light are blinking.*  This is programming mode.

*Note: If your coffee boiler is set to a higher or lower temp., that is the number that will be blinking, i.e. a boiler set to 90 will be blinking on "90", power light and boiler light.

From programming mode, hold down the "B" (boiler button) for 5 seconds until the number is not blinking but the boiler and power light remain blinking. You are now setting the length of pre-infusion. Each number, 85-ECO, represents 1 second of pre-infusion time, i.e. 95 is 3 seconds of pre-infusion.

Tap the boiler "B" button until the desired number of seconds is displayed, indicated by all the numbers lit up from 85 to the setting you selected (85-your setting will be lit). 

When you are satisfied with the number of seconds, tap the power button to exit out of programming mode and back to normal function.