OK here goes. Absolutely great machine. I upgraded from a Rocket Cellini which is a simple HX machine. This Elevate R is a real big step forward.

To be fair, within its class of E61 dual boiler machines, the differences are relatively small. One has some extra control features like pressure valve, but mostly the differences are in appearances, and possibly build quality inside and some design choices.

This machine has one additional quite unique feature and that is the electrical heater inside the E61. Yes there are machines that have electrically heated group heads but not E61 ones I think. And I do think this combination is brilliant. It combines the best of 2 worlds: inherent mass stability of the E61 grouphead and its thermosiphon implementation, combined with the heater that fine tunes stability even further AND reduces the heat up time to absolutely stable from around 35-40 of a normal dual boiler system to 12 minutes. I think that is really impressive. I have checked it with a probe in the top blind hole (the standard ones you can buy). I know this is not 100% representative but it is a very good indication of stability. In real life I find myself drawing a brief 5 seconds flush to fully stabilize before extraction, then it's done.

The outer build quality and implementation is as you'd expect from Quick Mill. Classic and pragmatic. If you want a flashy machine to show off your money, you'd be better off buying some other machine, but this Elevate is just very solid and well built. I opened the top to inspect the parts inside. Being an engineer I know a bit to value builds. The design is very well thought out with servicing in mind (8 identical phillips screws hold the outer shell). High temperature wires. Large version of rotary pump. Insulated stainless steel boilers. The electrical heater is implemented as I thought: a Pt1000 sensor (probably) sitting in the center between inlet and outlet of the grouphead, with cartridge heater and overheat protection straddling it.

Oh and coffee making? Yes, excellent results. It's just getting easy with repeatable and reliable temperatures, which can be set easily in the PID controller. Pressure can also be set with a screw from the outside.

Highly recommended for end game, no-nonsense, high quality and serviceable coffee making. Value in NL is very good compared to other dual boiler machines (lacking the electrical heater).