Kees van der Westen Spiritello

The Spiritello is Kees van der Westen's single-group lever machine, built around a spring-loaded group ("Idrocompresso"): a low-pressure pump, adjustable from 1.5 to 4 bar via a dedicated knob, runs pre-infusion; once the lever is released the pump stops and the spring drives water through the coffee at a pressure the group's gauge shows in real time. When mains water pressure is at least 3 bar, the pump can also be disengaged, at the cost of a narrower pre-infusion range. A purpose-built locking mechanism removes the classic risk of the lever bouncing back at the top of its stroke.

The coffee boiler is a single piece in stainless steel built into the group, heated by an element and PID-controlled; the separate steam boiler has its own two heating elements and can be switched on or off independently of the coffee side. The machine ships ready to use with a built-in 3.5-litre water tank and an internal rotary pump, or it can be plumbed directly to the mains and to drainage with the fittings supplied. A button next to the lever stops extraction and returns the lever to rest without pulling it; a second button flushes the group. Both boilers drain through a ball valve for servicing.

A large front display shows temperature and shot timer, and offers two automatic stop modes: by preset pressure, or by weight, once an ACAIA Lunar scale is connected. It is a lever for anyone who wants to manage pre-infusion and pressure by hand, with a safety feature built specifically against the classic risk of a bouncing lever.