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Rocket Appartamento vs Expobar Office Lever

In this guide, we’re diving into a detailed comparison of the Rocket Appartamento vs Expobar Office Lever. We’ll cover all of the essential information to help you figure out which machine is right for you or your business.

rocket appartamento vs expobar office lever

You’re going to learn...

  • Which features the Rocket Appartamento and the Expobar Office Lever share.
  • How the different features on these espresso machines work and what they mean for you.
  • Advice on which machine to pick based on performance and individual needs. 

Quick Summary

Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento Espresso Machine

With automatic pre-infusion and a modern design, the Rocket Appartamento is ideal for proficient home users, small offices and restaurants. It’s the best bet if you're looking for a commercial tier semiautomatic machine with a distinctive appearance and professional quality results.

Expobar Office Lever

Expobar Lever Semi-Auto Espresso Machine

This prosumer model can transition from the home to small cafe setting with many of the same features as the Rocket like automatic pre-infusion and an E-61 commercial group. This is the ideal option for home experts who want a machine with an adjustable OPV. 

Note: We've linked to the most similar machine of this machine we could find for sale. Exact machine specifications may differ slightly on the imported US version as with many Espresso machines.

Similarities

Lever-Operated Semiautomatic Machines

Designed with levers to operate dosing, the Rocket Appartamento and Expobar Office Lever are single-group semiautomatic machines that bring greater control to the user.

Whereas automatic machines measure out a programmed amount of water when the brew cycle is activated, semiautomatic machines are fully controlled from start to finish by the barista.

While a certain level of skill is required with a semiautomatic machine, it provides the opportunity for instant customizability of every shot and experimentation with different doses.

Pour-Over Design

These pour-over espresso machines are built with water tanks that are manually refilled by the user.

When home users and professionals opt for pour-over machines, it's often for the portability these designs offer as they don’t need to be plumbed into a water line.

Another advantage is a lower price tag. For anyone looking for a budget model, a pour-over machine can be the right fit.

Note: The Expobar Office Lever does come in a configuration that combines pour-over and plumbed-in functionality.

Vibratory Pump

With vibratory pumps, The Rocket and Expobar provide the same quality performance as plumbed machines with rotary pumps.

One key difference is that vibe pumps tend to make a little more noise than the average rotary pump.

At the same time, a vibe pump is smaller, easier, and less costly if you ever need to replace it.

E-61 Commercial Group

Temperature stability and automatic pre-infusion are two professional-grade features that the E-61 commercial group offers.

These groups keep water circulating between the boiler and the group, guaranteeing brew temperature consistency.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the E-61 group is automatic pre-infusion. When the brew cycle is engaged, water will be evenly distributed over the coffee bed, ensuring even extraction of the coffee’s subtle flavors.

Heat Exchange Boiler

The purpose of the heat exchange boiler is to allow the user to make espresso and steam latte milk at the same time.

Single boiler machines without heat exchangers don’t have this capacity. Instead, they perform these functions separately, requiring time between each to reach the appropriate temperature.

The Rocket and Expobar maintain brew and steam temperatures via a single boiler with a separate internal compartment and a copper tube that heats water to the optimal brew temperature as it siphons to the group head. 

If you’re used to single boiler machines, the heat exchanger is an upgrade. You’ll have a cappuccino made in record time.

Style

You can easily tell the Rocket and the Expobar apart just by looking at them side by side, but it’s hard not to notice the similarities.

Encased in stainless steel, both machines have a glossy finish. On the front, the twist-turn steam valves are a little different, as is the placement of the gauges. Still, the overall appearance is fairly close.

One of the biggest visual differences between the machines is the Rocket’s stylish circular cutout pattern on the side panels. The Expobar’s side panels are plain.

Ultimately, what these machines share is a kind of industrial vibe that fits a number of modern home kitchen or small businesses aesthetics.

Key Differences

Rocket Appartamento No Burn Hot Water and Steam Arms

Intelligently designed for safety and user friendliness, the Rocket comes with burn-free hot water and steam arms.

Unlike traditional hot water spigots and steam wands, these will remain cool to the touch, reducing the risk of accidental burns.

Another perk is that since the steam arm is cooler, milk won’t stick to it, making it easier to clean.

Rocket Appartamento Steam Power

The Rocket Appartamento is known for some serious steam power. This machine creates perfect cappuccino milk with silky-smooth microfoam.

Because the Rocket steams so efficiently, it produces high-quality results in a flash.

Especially from a business perspective, this can be an indispensable feature for boosting customer service.

Rocket Appartamento Metal Tamper

It’s not hard to imagine why baristas love metal tampers. They’re sleek and elegant with an appeal that plastic tampers don’t seem to have.

Beyond style, metal tampers also have a heavier weight that facilitates balanced tamping.

Tamping takes skill, but to a certain extent, it comes down to your tamper. Many baristas find that metal tampers create more consistent results.

Rocket Appartamento Removable Cup Guard

The Rocket Appartamento comes with a guard on the cup warmer area that will keep cups from sliding off in case the machine is bumped into.

Because the cup guard is removable, it's a little more accessible for cleaning—just pop it out and wipe it down.

You may even prefer to work without the cup guard if you need to reduce the height of the machine very slightly to fit into a space with limited overhead room.

Expobar Office Lever Dual Pressure Gauges

The Expobar comes with one more pressure gauge than the Rocket model. 

Both machines have a boiler pressure gauge, which functions as an indicator of when the machine is ready to brew and steam, eliminating the guessing game.

With the addition of the brew pressure gauge, the Expobar allows you to monitor the pump pressure. As this correlates to your brew ratio, it will help you perfect your process.

Expobar Office Lever Adjustable OPV

The Expobar’s adjustable OPV is a feature for baristas who want to experiment with the brew pressure.

Changing the brew pressure on the Expobar is pretty straightforward. You just need a screwdriver to adjust the OPV.

Experts and prosumers who are interested in testing out some experimental flavor profiles with the same coffee will benefit from this feature.

Price Considerations

At Majesty Coffee, we're proud to bring the most cutting-edge espresso technology to our customers at affordable prices.

Our Rocket Appartamento is available with White circular cutouts for $1,700 and with Copper circular cutouts for $1,750.

So Which Should You Buy?

Choosing between the Rocket Appartamento and the Expobar Office Lever can be challenging as both machines are equipped to support quality espresso production in a home, office, or small business environment.

But that doesn't mean you can't choose the right machine based on your individual requirements.

If you're looking for extra steam power and safe operation with the no-burn steam wand, the Rocket is going to be a solid option, especially for businesses like small restaurants.

The Expobar's dual gauges and adjustable OPV are great for the home espresso enthusiast and tinkerer to get creative with brewing.

Here's the bottom line.

Both of these machines are excellent home, office, or small business options. If you're not sure which is for you, consider your personal preferences.

If you're looking for faster steaming and built-in user safety, the Rocket is the best choice. If you want to be able to experiment with the brew pressure, the Expobar is for you. 

For expert service and the best prices online, check out the Rocket Appartamento here on Majesty Coffee…

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