Takeaway

Mechanika V Slim is ECM’s compact heat-exchanger that trims width to 25 cm while keeping a full E61 group, dual gauges, a 2.2 liter stainless steam boiler, and a 2.8 liter tank. It uses a vibration pump and a traditional pressostat rather than an on-screen PID. You work with a short cooling-flush, watch the boiler gauge, and let the machine’s mass do the rest. It warms to service in about 15 minutes, carries strong steam for 12-ounce pitchers, and gives tidy ergonomics in a footprint small kitchens can live with. If you want degree-by-degree brew control on the face, this is not that machine. If you want a stout HX with ECM build quality that actually fits, it earns the space it takes.

At a glance

  • Architecture: E61 group, heat-exchanger boiler, vibration pump, dual gauges for boiler and pump pressure. Reservoir only.
  • Boiler and power: 2.2 liter stainless steel steam boiler, 1400 W element.
  • Water: 2.8 liter top-fill tank under a removable cup-warmer tray. Low-water safety. Not plumbable.
  • Dimensions and mass: 250 W × 445 D × 395 H mm, about 20.2 kg. Plan for 565 mm depth with a portafilter on.
  • Controls: Power rocker, E61 lever, rotary steam and water valves, boiler and pump gauges, OPV adjustment under the cup tray. Warm-up about 15 minutes.
  • Wands: Insulated “no-burn” spec on current retail units in many markets.
  • Typical pricing, late 2025: USA new stock skews to the updated Slim PID at about $2,159; remaining V Slim listings appear around $2,699 CAD. UK Slim PID about £1,699. AU pricing ranges from about A$3,370 for V Slim to A$4,090 for Slim PID. EU Slim VI examples sit around €2,095 to €2,345.

Note on variants. ECM has updated the platform to Mechanika VI Slim and Slim PID. Same narrow chassis and 2.2 liter stainless boiler, plus a three-position convenience switch or on-face PID for boiler temperature, pre-infusion toggle, and ECO mode. This review focuses on the V Slim as specified, and calls out the update where it affects buying decisions.

Build and design

Mechanika V Slim’s headline is width. At 25 cm wide it slides into spaces where most E61 boxes simply cannot go. Depth is 445 mm to the face, 565 mm if you leave a portafilter on, and height is 395 mm. The chassis weighs about 20.2 kg, which keeps the machine planted when you lock in. The fit and finish feel like ECM: tidy seams, clean welds, a grate that sits flat, and hardware that survives daily use rather than complaining about it.

ECM stuck to a classic layout. Lever-actuated E61 group up front. Rotary valves left and right for steam and hot water. Boiler and pump pressure gauges centered where you can read them without bending. A back-lit power switch and two control lamps tell you what the element and level sensor are doing. The cup-warmer tray lifts off without tools for quick tank access. That matters on a tank-only machine. The parts list in the manual reads like you expect: E61 group, dual gauges, steam wand, hot-water wand, and a 2.8 liter tank under the tray.

Under the skin is a stainless steel 2.2 liter steam boiler driven by a 1400 W element. The brew water rides through a heat-exchanger tube to the group, which is kept hot by thermosyphon circulation. The boiler has a vacuum-breaker valve, so you do not have to open the steam tap during warm-up to prevent false pressure. A low-water safety drops the heater when the float sinks, and the orange lamp gives you the hint to refill before anything silly happens.

Hardware choices are practical at this size. A vibration pump keeps cost, size, and service parts in check. The OPV is accessible from under the cup tray. Adjust it with a blind basket and a coin on the screw until you land a sane nine bar baseline. The manual even walks you through this, which tells you ECM expects owners to learn basic setup.

Most current retail units ship with insulated wands so you can wipe and purge without branding your knuckles. If your unit is older stock, confirm the wand spec with your seller. Either way, ECM’s valve hardware is smooth and predictable.

Workflow

Warm-up and readiness

From a cold start, the manual quotes a heat-up of about 15 minutes to operating pressure. In practice, that gets the boiler to 1.0–1.25 bar and the group close enough for a first shot if your portafilter has been soaking. For a longer session, give the casework and baskets an extra few minutes to equalize so your second and third shots taste like the first.

Cooling-flush without drama

Any HX will park overheated water in the heat-exchanger during idle. The fix is simple: after idle, lift the lever and flush until the sputter smooths to a steady stream, then lock and pull. For medium roasts that is usually very short. For dense light roasts, add a beat. When you are pulling back-to-back, you often skip the flush entirely because the HX has not had time to creep. Use the boiler gauge as your quick read. If idle has the boiler a touch high, add a second to the flush and you are back in your window. The machine wants you to build a repeatable rhythm, not play whack-a-mole with mystery heat.

OPV setup and pump behavior

A vibration pump with an E61’s mechanical pre-infusion cavity gives a gentle ramp. Set the OPV baseline with a blind to nine bar, confirm on the pump gauge, and stop chasing pressure for flavor. The manual’s OPV procedure is short and clear, and the pump gauge lives on the face to keep you honest later.

Tank reality

The removable cup-warmer tray makes top-ups fast, and the 2.8 liter capacity means you do not babysit the tank between a couple of cappuccinos and a cleanup. The low-water protection is conservative. Refill when the lamp goes dark and the heater drops. The machine was designed to be a tank tool, not a half-converted plumb-in box.

Ergonomics that help you move

Valve throws are short. The wand articulation gives you proper pitcher angles for 12- to 20-ounce service. The drip tray is deep enough to catch flushes and purges without constant trips to the sink. The gauges read at a glance. Nothing is buried behind decorative trim. This is a working layout, scaled down.

Espresso performance

Temperature behavior you can trust

Stability on an HX starts with a consistent starting state and a repeatable flush. Mechanika V Slim delivers both. The boiler holds a steady 1.0–1.25 bar in normal use and the E61 group carries enough mass to ride out a household cadence without wild swings. Because the boiler is stainless and 2.2 liters, recovery is steady instead of spiky. Once you map your short flush after idle, the machine repeats. The manual even lays out the warm-up behavior and operating pressure band so you know what “normal” looks like on the gauge.

Starting recipes

On a house medium roast, start at 18 g in a 58 mm double and target 36 g out in 27–31 seconds from pump on. Flush until smooth after idle, lock and pull. For lighter roasts, extend the flush a touch and push the ratio to 1:2.2 in the low 30s seconds. If you are working a darker roast and bitterness creeps in, shorten the flush and run closer to 1:1.9. Keep dose steady while you move grind. The machine is there to be boring while the grinder does the interesting part.

Pressure sanity

If you inherited a factory setpoint higher than nine bar, adjust the OPV under the tray with a blind basket and a flat screwdriver until your pump gauge reads where you want it. The procedure is in the manual and takes minutes. Once set, leave it. Flavor lives in grind, dose, yield, and the flush window, not in constant pressure twiddling.

What it tastes like when you get it right

On medium roasts the cup leans toward syrupy mids and a clean finish, with enough body to stand up in milk. On lighter roasts you can get clarity without astringency as long as you respect the longer flush and keep the tail clean. The E61 pre-infusion helps keep channels down if your distribution is honest. The shot profile is classic prosumer HX: balanced, repeatable, easy to drink.

Milk steaming

This is the point of an HX. A 2.2 liter steam boiler at 1400 W makes real, dry steam and recovers quickly. Pull your shot, purge a one-second puff to push out condensation, and stretch. A two-hole tip is a friendly starting point while you learn the first eight seconds of air and the roll. Swap to a higher-flow tip when you are turning 12- to 20-ounce pitchers for guests. The boiler gauge is your friend here. Keep it near your normal operating range and the boiler will feel bottomless for two or three drinks in a row. The manual describes the purge for dry steam and the general steaming cadence plainly.

Insulated wands on most current units let you grab and wipe without rehearsing the burn drill. Purge, wipe, purge again, and you are back on deck. That is what you buy a 2.2 liter HX for on a small counter: speed that feels calm.

Maintenance and reliability

Daily loop

Backflush with water at session end. Detergent backflush weekly if you pull daily. Drop and soak the screen on schedule. The manual recommends basic cleaning of portafilters, baskets, tank, drip tray, and group gasket, and it reminds you that portafilter, drip tray, and water tank are not dishwasher parts. The three-way exhaust in the group dumps pressure at stop, which leaves a drier puck and a cleaner path. These are the boring habits that make machines last.

Water sets the story

It is tank-only, so your water regimen decides your service life. Use filtered water with hardness and alkalinity in an espresso-safe band, or a home recipe with modest KH and GH. ECM’s manual is blunt about limescale: scale will damage the machine. If your local water is tough, run a small in-tank softener or feed the tank with pre-treated water. The boiler being stainless does not grant immunity. It buys you time.

Access and parts

ECM publishes manuals and diagrams and has a broad dealer footprint in Europe, the UK, North America, and Australia. The vibration pump is a standard ULKA unit, the pressostat is a known part, the gauges and valves are common stock, and the OPV is user-accessible under the tray. That combination means routine service does not require a pilgrimage to a specialist.

Programming and controls

This is a short list and everything matters.

  • Power and lamps. One rocker, green and orange indicator lamps. Readiness is boiler pressure in the 1.0–1.25 bar window and a heat-soaked group.
  • E61 lever. Mechanical pre-infusion cavity, gentle pump ramp.
  • Dual gauges. Boiler pressure for steam readiness and HX temperament. Pump pressure for OPV checks and channel diagnostics.
  • OPV access. Under the cup tray. Adjust with a blind basket while watching the pump gauge.
  • Tank. 2.8 L under the removable cup-warmer tray. Low-water safety cuts the heater. Reservoir only.

There is no PID screen on the V Slim. You are driving a well-sorted HX by routine. If you want on-face boiler PID and a shot timer, you are shopping ECM Synchronika or Profitec’s dual boilers, or the updated Slim PID.

Bench workflow: from unboxing to a calm service

1) Placement and water
Give yourself wand swing and room to pull a portafilter straight. Fill the tank with filtered, softened or remineralized water. Learn the low-water lamp behavior now so you recognize it later. Lift the cup-warmer tray for fast top-ups.

2) Warm-up
Lock in an empty portafilter. Power on. Expect about 15 minutes to operating pressure and a warm group. If you are tasting three coffees, give metal and baskets a little extra time. The vacuum-breaker handles boiler venting automatically.

3) Baseline espresso
Dose 18 g, distribute evenly, tamp level. After idle, flush until the stream smooths. Pull to 36 g in 27–31 seconds. Move grind first. Repeat three shots while holding dose and yield to center yourself.

4) Light-roast path
Extend the initial flush a beat and push the ratio to 1:2.2 in the low 30s seconds. Keep the finish clean to avoid astringency. If the tail dries out, cut the shot a little earlier.

5) Milk cadence
Purge the wand for dry steam, stretch for eight seconds, then roll. Wipe and purge immediately. Pull another shot and repeat. If you are on larger pitchers for guests, switch to a higher-flow tip.

6) Cleaning loop
Water backflush daily, detergent weekly for daily users. Soak screens and baskets on a schedule. Empty and rinse the tank instead of topping forever. These habits keep steam dry and HX behavior predictable.

Competitive comparisons

Profitec Pro 400
Pro 400 is a compact E61 HX with three boiler-temperature presets and a pre-infusion toggle on modern trims. It gives newcomers an easy way to nudge HX behavior without opening the case. Mechanika V Slim counters with a narrower body and ECM’s build feel, but it leaves temperature to the pressostat and your flush routine. Choose Pro 400 if you want presets on day one. Choose V Slim if you want the slimmest honest E61 with a traditional workflow.

Profitec Pro 500 PID
The Pro 500 PID adds an on-face boiler PID and an integrated shot timer in recent revisions. It is wider and heavier, and it carries the same “real steam in a compact home frame” promise with a 2.0 liter stainless boiler. If you want a visible PID band and timer without going dual boiler, Pro 500 PID is the polished alternative. If width is the limiting factor or you prefer the simplest interface possible, V Slim is the practical pick.

Lelit Mara X (PL62X)
Mara X is the brew-first HX that manages group temperature with probes and a logic layer. It nearly deletes the flush routine for straight espresso, and it is quieter than most vibe-pump E61s. Steam is good, not as muscular as a 2.2 liter tank when you are running bigger pitchers. Pick Mara X if your life is mostly straight shots and you want the friendliest HX behavior. Pick V Slim if you want classic E61 control and stronger milk service in a tighter chassis.

Bezzera BZ10
BZ10 uses an electrically heated ring group and a 1.5 liter copper boiler. It warms fast and steams well for its size. It lacks V Slim’s E61 lever and mass, and it is even more compact. Choose BZ10 if quick warm-ups trump everything. Choose V Slim if you want E61 feel and a larger steam reserve.

Rocket Appartamento
Appartamento is the style leader in compact HX machines. It shares the classic E61 lever, a copper boiler, and a tank workflow. It is wider than V Slim. If you want Rocket’s finish and do not need the narrow footprint, Appartamento will make you smile. If the cabinet dictates width and you still want real HX steam, V Slim fits where Rocket will not.

ECM Mechanika VI Slim and Slim PID
ECM’s update to the platform keeps the chassis and adds a three-position switch or a visible PID for boiler temperature and convenience features like pre-infusion toggle and ECO mode. If you are buying new and want those extras without moving to a dual boiler, the VI Slim or Slim PID are the modern trims. The shot quality lane is the same. The control surface is easier.

Real-world numbers and notes

  • Boiler and power. 2.2 liter stainless steam boiler at 1400 W.
  • Group and pump. E61 lever group with mechanical pre-infusion, vibration pump, OPV adjustable under the tray.
  • Water. 2.8 liter reservoir only. Top fill under removable cup-warmer tray. Low-water safety cuts heat.
  • Warm-up. Expect about 15 minutes to operating pressure for weekday shots.
  • Dimensions and mass. 250 × 445 × 395 mm. 565 mm depth with a portafilter on. About 20.2 kg.
  • Wands. Insulated “no-burn” spec on many current retail units.
  • Price snapshot, late 2025. USA Slim PID about $2,159. Canada shows V Slim around $2,699 CAD. UK Slim PID around £1,699. Australia V Slim around A$3,370 and Slim PID around A$4,090. EU VI Slim around €2,095–€2,345.

Strengths

  • Narrow footprint with a real HX and E61. 25 cm wide and a 2.2 liter boiler is a rare pairing.
  • Strong steam with quick recovery. The boiler size and wattage deliver café-like milk speed for a home bar.
  • Clean ergonomics. Dual gauges, removable cup-warmer tray, accessible OPV, and a deep drip tray.
  • Serviceable parts. Vibe pump, pressostat, gauges, valves, and published manuals mean low drama.

Trade-offs

  • No on-face PID on the V Slim. You manage boiler behavior with a pressostat, gauges, and a short flush. If you want presets or a visible setpoint, the VI Slim or Slim PID are the updated trims.
  • Tank only. No direct plumb. Your water regimen dictates your maintenance calendar.
  • Vibration pump. Quieter than older boxes, still not rotary-silent.
  • HX basics still apply. A small cooling flush after a long idle is part of the routine.

Scores

  • Build quality: 9.0
  • Temperature stability: 8.6
  • Shot consistency: 8.7
  • Steaming power: 9.0
  • Workflow and ergonomics: 8.9
  • Maintenance and serviceability: 8.8
  • Value: 8.9

Total: 8.8

Verdict

Mechanika V Slim is a tidy answer to a real problem: you want a full E61 HX with serious steam, and you simply do not have the counter width for a standard case. ECM kept the feel and the power and removed the fat. The machine warms to an honest operating state in about fifteen minutes, repeats shots as long as you keep a simple cooling-flush rhythm, and rips through milk service like a café head living in a small apartment. The ergonomics are right. The gauges tell the truth. The OPV is adjustable without surgery. The tank is big enough that you are not filling every two rounds of drinks. This is an HX for people who want to work, not tinker.

If you live for degree-level numbers and want a PID on the face, buy the updated Slim PID or step into a dual boiler. If you value compact width, great steam, and a simple, durable control stack, the V Slim earns the spend and earns the space. In a market full of shiny boxes, it is one of the few that delivers café cadence in a footprint this narrow.

TL;DR

Narrow-body E61 HX with a 2.2 liter stainless boiler, vibration pump, dual gauges, a 2.8 liter tank, and real steam power. Reservoir only. Warm-up about 15 minutes. You manage temperature with a short cooling-flush and the boiler gauge rather than a PID screen. If you want presets and an on-face readout, ECM’s VI Slim and Slim PID add a three-position switch or visible PID while keeping the same chassis. Typical late-2025 pricing: US Slim PID about $2,159, Canada V Slim around $2,699 CAD, UK Slim PID about £1,699, AU V Slim around A$3,370 and Slim PID about A$4,090, EU Slim VI around €2,095–€2,345.

Pros

  • 25 cm width with a full E61 and 2.2 liter boiler
  • Strong, dry steam and quick recovery for 12-ounce pitchers
  • Dual gauges, accessible OPV, removable cup-warmer tray
  • Published manuals and common parts for low-drama service

Cons

  • No on-face PID on the V Slim; you run a classic HX routine
  • Reservoir only, no plumb-in
  • Vibration pump is not rotary-silent

Who it is for

  • Small kitchens that need real HX steam and an E61 lever in a narrow chassis
  • Milk-forward homes that want café cadence without a giant box
  • Users who prefer a simple, durable control stack over screens and menus
  • Buyers who may upgrade to ECM’s Slim PID later but want the V Slim now for its price and availability

Glanceable specs

  • Group: E61 with mechanical pre-infusion
  • Boiler: 2.2 liter stainless steam boiler, HX brew path, 1400 W element
  • Pump: Vibration, OPV adjustable under cup-warmer tray
  • Gauges: Boiler and pump pressure on the face
  • Water: 2.8 liter top-fill tank, removable cup-warmer tray, reservoir only
  • Size and mass: 250 × 445 × 395 mm, about 20.2 kg. 565 mm depth with portafilter
  • Warm-up: About 15 minutes to operating pressure
  • Wands: Insulated “no-burn” spec on many retail units