Takeaway

Andreja Premium Evo is Quick Mill’s dependable E61 heat exchanger for homes that want café cadence without a science fair on the front panel. You get a 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass boiler driven by a 1400 watt element, a 52 watt Ulka vibration pump with Quick Mill’s pulsor for noise and pressure smoothing, a three liter bottom-fed reservoir with dual floats, and an honest dual-gauge face. The control stack is simple: a Sirai commercial pressurestat governs boiler pressure, the E61 lever handles pre-infusion and start/stop, and you do a short cooling flush after idle like every proper HX. Most U.S. units ship without a PID and live entirely by the pressostat. Many EU and AU “0980 PID” variants add a boiler PID and a shot timer. The frame and casework are stainless, the tank is easy to access, and the vacuum breaker means you can use an external outlet timer without vapor lock games. Real numbers, real steam, repeatable workflow.

At a glance

  • Architecture. E61 group, heat-exchanger boiler, vibration pump, dual manometers. Reservoir only in stock form.
  • Boiler and power. 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass boiler, 1400 W element, Sirai pressurestat. Some retailers still list 1.6 liters from older sheets. The current U.S. importer shows 1.8 liters.
  • Pump. 52 W Ulka vibe pump with brass ends. Quick Mill pulsor installed to reduce noise and stabilize pressure.
  • Water. 3.0 liter BPA-free reservoir, bottom-fed design. Dual floats for audible low-water and heater cutout.
  • Dimensions and mass. About 16 in H, 11 to 11.5 in W, 17 to 17.5 in D, near 46 lb. Metric listings cluster around 41.5 cm H, 25.5 cm W, 48 cm D, 20 kg.
  • Wands and hardware. Anti-burn wands on current EU units, joystick valves available from dealers as an upgrade.
  • Variants by region. U.S. “Andreja Premium Evo” uses a pressurestat only. UK/EU “Andreja 0980 PID” adds boiler PID and often a shot timer. Several AU retailers advertise PID and timer. Verify your region before buying.
  • Typical pricing, late 2025. U.S. around 1,850 dollars at several dealers. UK about 1,453 pounds for the 0980 PID on promo. Australia frequently 2,849 dollars AUD.

Build and design

Quick Mill builds this machine like a tool, not a trophy. The shell and frame are 304 stainless, seams are tidy, and the drip tray tolerates real purges. The E61 group sits out front with the classic lever, mechanical pre-infusion chamber, and 58 mm standard fittings. Two deep-blue gauges give you boiler pressure on top and pump pressure on the bottom. Cup clearance is about five to five and five eighths inches, which covers normal home cups without gymnastics. The reservoir lives under a removable cup rail and lifts out easily for cleaning. Nothing is precious. Everything is meant to be used.

Inside, the Evo runs a 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass boiler and a 1400 watt element. The coating is Quick Mill’s treatment aimed at reducing metal leaching into water; U.S. dealers call this out across their spec sheets. Heat-exchanger brew water rides a tube through that steam boiler on its way to the group. Because this is a classic HX, brew temperature management is about the idle state of the boiler and a quick cooling flush when you start brewing after the machine has sat. The control brain is a Sirai pressurestat, a commercial part known for durability and tight cycling around the set band.

The pump is a 52 watt Ulka with brass ends. Quick Mill adds a pulsor on the discharge to quiet the vibe hum and to tame pressure pulsing under flow. That helps the gauge track more steadily and makes the machine sound less frantic. Compared with other vibe-pump E61s the signature is more subdued.

The reservoir system is better than the average tank box. It is bottom-fed, so you do not have silicone pickup hoses kinked in the tank. Two floats handle low water. The high float beeps a warning. The lower float cuts power to the heating circuit so you do not cook the element. The pump can still run, which lets you finish a shot in progress. This is small-shop thinking that pays off in the home.

Quick Mill also adds service touches: a vacuum breaker to prevent false pressure and to make outlet timers viable, a resettable high-limit thermostat, a thermal fuse on the pump, and bottom boiler drains for clean transport or storage. These are simple, useful decisions that show up years after purchase.

Workflow

Warm-up and readiness

From cold, the boiler is at operating pressure in roughly ten minutes. That only means steam and manometer are ready. For consistent espresso the group and portafilter must be heat-soaked. The manufacturer’s manual advises letting the group and portafilter fully saturate, citing 30 to 40 minutes for complete thermal equilibrium when you want your first shot to match the fourth. For weekday cadence most owners power on, prep, and pull once the machine has settled into a steady cycle, then tighten their grind as the session continues.

Cooling flush without games

Heat exchangers park overheated water in the HX tube during idle. The fix is not a ritual, it is a quick flush. Lift the lever, vent until the sputter becomes a smooth stream, drop the lever, lock, and brew. On medium roasts the flush is short. On dense light roasts you add a beat. When you are pulling back-to-back shots the HX has not had time to creep, so you often skip the flush completely. Boiler pressure is your guide. If the Sirai has you idling a little hot, lengthen the flush. If the boiler gauge is at your normal low point after a string of drinks, go straight in.

The control stack that matters

There are three controls that get used daily.

  1. Pressurestat set band. Treat this as steam strength and idle temperature band rather than a digits game. The Sirai cycles cleanly between the high and low switching points at about 0.2 bar. You set it once to match your roast style and milk volume. The importers usually ship around 1.2 bar max.
  2. E61 lever. The mechanical pre-infusion cavity wets the puck before the pump ramps to full pressure. With honest puck prep the pre-infusion reduces channeling and keeps bottomless work civilized.
  3. Reservoir discipline. The dual floats give you warning beeps and protect the heater. Learn the sounds on day one so low-water never becomes a mystery mid-service.

Ergonomics and cadence

Valve throws are short. Wands swing with full articulation. The drip tray holds a sensible purge, and the gauges live high enough that you do not crouch to read them. The machine is 16 inches tall, 11 to 11.5 inches wide, and under 50 pounds, which means it fits under standard wall cabinets and can be slid forward for cleaning without a deadlift. Cup clearance is about five to five and five eighths inches. You are not working around the machine. You are working with it.

Espresso performance

Stability you can repeat

If you warm the group properly and map that short flush, Andreja Premium Evo is a steady HX. The boiler volume and 1400 watt element keep recovery honest, so shots two and three do not drift when you begin steaming alongside. With a blind basket you should see pump pressure in the classic eight to nine bar range after you set the OPV. EU spec sheets call out an adjustable expansion valve for brew pressure; U.S. dealers often ship at a sane baseline so you can leave it alone once verified with a blind.

Starting recipes and real timings

On a medium house espresso, load 18 grams in a standard 58 mm double and target 36 grams out in 27 to 31 seconds from pump on. After a long idle, do the quick flush until flow smooths, then lock and pull. If you are pushing a lighter roast, lengthen the flush slightly, tighten grind, and run a 1:2.2 ratio in the low thirties. If you are taming a darker roast, shorten the flush and trim the ratio to 1:1.9 while holding time. The E61 pre-infusion will give you a gentle ramp so the puck wets before the pump hits full pressure, which usually shows up as calmer extractions under a bottomless.

What the cup looks like when you are on target

The flavor signature is the classic E61 HX mix of mid-range sweetness, rounded body, and a clean finish if you keep the tail in check. Medium roasts present syrupy mids that carry into milk without getting muddy. Light roasts can be clear and sweet if you give them the longer flush, a tight grind, and a clean finish. Expect balance over extreme clarity. That is what most households want from this class.

Milk steaming

Steam is why you buy a 1.8 liter HX in a compact box. Andreja loads the gauge near 1.2 bar at the top of the Sirai cycle, the wand purges cleanly once, and then you get dry, steady steam for the stretch and roll. Twelve-ounce pitchers are quick without feeling rushed. Sixteen-ounce pitchers for guests are doable in sequence. If you are practicing latte art, stay with a two-hole tip while you learn your first eight seconds of air. When your hands are honest, move to a higher-flow tip to improve throughput. EU listings note anti-burn wands, and many U.S. units ship similarly. Wipe, purge, repeat. The boiler keeps up because it is sized for real work.

One practical detail: the vacuum breaker means you can put the machine on a simple outlet timer for morning warm-ups without fighting false pressure. It vents the boiler during heat-up and closes cleanly near operating temperature, so steam is dry and the gauge tells the truth when you step up to the wand.

Maintenance and reliability

Daily loop

Purge and wipe the wand after every pitcher. Water backflush at session end. Detergent backflush weekly if you pull daily. Knock the shower screen and basket into a soak on a schedule. These are boring habits that keep dispersion clean and steam dry. The manual is clear about warm-up behavior, normal boiler cycling, and the low-water logic, which helps you spot problems early rather than chasing ghosts.

Water sets the service story

The machine is tank only in stock form. Your water recipe determines your maintenance calendar. Run softened or remineralized water in an espresso-safe band for hardness and alkalinity. The importer’s materials are blunt about hardness and warranty. Hard water ruins machines. The T.E.A. coating and low-lead brass help with contact, but scale does not care about marketing. The smart path is filtered, softened feed water and regular descaling only when required by conductivity and inspection.

Access and parts

Quick Mill’s vendor network in North America keeps parts, manuals, and diagrams available. The Sirai pressurestat, Ulka pump, gauges, valves, and safety devices are common stock. Serviceability is helped by small touches like the resettable high-limit, the pump thermal protection, and those bottom boiler drains for transport or storage. This is a machine you can keep for a decade with ordinary care.

Programming and controls

Here is the honest list of controls that affect your shots.

  • Sirai pressurestat. Sets boiler pressure, which sets steam strength and the HX idle temperature band. Most machines ship near 1.2 bar at the top of the cycle. Adjust only if you know exactly what you are chasing.
  • E61 lever. Mechanical pre-infusion and brew start/stop in one motion.
  • Dual gauges. Boiler pressure on top for steam readiness and HX temperament. Pump pressure on the bottom for OPV verification and channel diagnostics.
  • Reservoir system. Bottom-fed three liter tank with twin floats. Audible warning before the heater is cut, pump allowed to run so you can finish a shot.
  • Optional PID by region. UK/EU 0980 PID and some AU units add a front-panel boiler PID and a shot timer. U.S. Evo is pressostat only.

There is no factory plumb-in on the Evo. Some retailers list a “direct connect option,” but the importer’s own listing is explicit: reservoir only. If permanent lines matter, you are shopping a different Quick Mill chassis.

Bench workflow: the way to run Andreja from day one

  1. Placement and water. Put the machine where you have full wand swing and a straight pull on the portafilter. Fill the tank with filtered, softened water. Learn the dual-float beeps and heater cutoff behavior now by lifting the tank and watching and listening. This reduces surprises later.
  2. Warm-up. Lock an empty portafilter into the E61 and power on. Expect about ten minutes to boiler pressure and a heat-soaked group in the 30 to 40 minute range if you want tasting-flight consistency from shot one.
  3. Baseline espresso. Start with 18 g in, 36 g out, 27 to 31 seconds from pump on. After a long idle, flush until flow smooths. Lock and pull. Keep dose and yield fixed while you move grind. Repeat three shots to find center.
  4. Light roast path. Extend the initial flush a beat and tighten the grind. Run 1:2.2 in the low thirties. Cut the finish if the tail dries out.
  5. Milk cadence. Purge one second to clear condensation, stretch for eight seconds, then roll. Wipe and purge. Pull another shot and repeat. If you begin doing 16-ounce pitchers back-to-back, consider a higher-flow tip to raise throughput.
  6. Cleaning loop. Backflush with water nightly, detergent weekly for daily users. Soak the screen and baskets on schedule. Empty and rinse the tank rather than topping up forever.

Competitive comparisons

Profitec Pro 500 PID
Pro 500 PID is the cleanest analog E61 HX with a front-mounted PID and integrated shot timer. Boiler volume is 2.0 liters in stainless with similar steam power and a little more back-to-back headroom. It is a touch wider and heavier. If you want a visible steam setpoint and timer without going dual boiler, Pro 500 PID is a polished alternative. If you prefer a Sirai and a simpler face, Andreja stays truer to the HX template.

Lelit Mara X (PL62X)
Mara X is the brew-first HX that smooths the flush curve with group sensors and a control algorithm. It effectively hides the HX behavior for straight-espresso households. Steam is fine for 6–12 ounce pitchers, but it lacks the momentum of Andreja’s larger boiler when you start entertaining. Choose Mara X for espresso-first convenience. Choose Andreja if milk drinks define your mornings and you want the classic E61 lever feel.

ECM Mechanika V Slim
Mechanika V Slim fits narrower counters and uses a 2.2 liter stainless boiler with a vibe pump. It sticks to a pressostat and flush routine like Andreja. If width is limited, ECM wins on fit. If you want the beefier Quick Mill reservoir system and the Sirai feel, Andreja holds its own.

Rocket Appartamento
Appartamento is the style leader in compact HX machines with a copper boiler and similar shot quality. It does not offer Andreja’s bottom-fed tank with dual floats, and it goes wider on the counter. If design is the priority, Rocket takes it. If service touches and tank behavior matter more, Quick Mill is the quieter professional in the corner.

Bezzera BZ10
BZ10 trades the E61 for a fast-warming electrically heated group and a smaller copper boiler. It is quick to temperature and easy to live with for singles and small milk rounds. For larger milk service and E61 ergonomics, Andreja is the better long-term platform.

Quick Mill Rubino
Rubino is Quick Mill’s compact HX with a copper boiler and similar vibe-pump signature. It is a little more analog. Andreja gives you the bigger boiler, bottom-fed tank, dual floats, and the long-running parts ecosystem that U.S. importers have built around it.

UK/EU Andreja 0980 PID
Calling this out directly because search results collide. The 0980 PID variant adds a boiler PID and, in several markets, a shot timer. The core is still an E61 HX. If you want those conveniences in the same basic box and you are in the UK or EU, the 0980 PID is a clean answer at roughly £1,450 to £1,615 depending on promo.

Real-world numbers and notes

  • Boiler and power. 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass boiler, 1400 W element, Sirai pressurestat. Older or alternate sheets list 1.6 liters. Trust your dealer’s current listing and the importer’s page.
  • Pump. 52 W Ulka with brass ends and a Quick Mill pulsor for noise control and pressure smoothing.
  • Reservoir. Three liters, bottom-fed, BPA-free, dual floats with audible alarm and heater cutoff.
  • Dimensions and mass. 16 in H, ~11–11.5 in W, 17–17.5 in D, about 46 lb. Metric: 41.5 H x 25.5 W x 48 D cm, near 20 kg. Cup clearance roughly five to 5.625 in.
  • Vacuum breaker and timer use. Vacuum breaker prevents false pressure and vapor lock which is what makes outlet timers viable for warm-up.
  • Brew-pressure adjustment. Expansion valve allows brew pressure adjustment. Confirm factory setpoint with a blind basket and the pump gauge, then leave it alone.
  • Price snapshot, late 2025. U.S. about 1,850 dollars. UK about 1,453 pounds on promo for the 0980 PID. Australia around 2,849 dollars AUD. Regional VAT and importer policies vary.

Strengths

  • Serious steam with compact footprint. The 1.8 liter boiler and 1400 W element keep milk rounds fast and calm.
  • Durable control stack. Sirai pressurestat, vacuum breaker, resettable high-limit, pump thermal protection. These choices reduce failure points and make service simpler.
  • Better reservoir system. Bottom-fed three liter tank with dual floats is smarter than the usual hose-in-a-box approach.
  • Quieter vibe signature. The Quick Mill pulsor lowers noise and smooths pressure compared with stock vibe setups.
  • Parts and support. Longstanding importer footprint and common parts mean lower drama over time.

Trade-offs

  • HX behavior, not a number-led brew PID. You will do a short cooling flush after idle. EU/AU PID variants help you manage the boiler, but this is still an HX at heart.
  • Tank only in stock form. If direct plumb is a requirement, choose a different chassis. Retailer claims of “direct connect options” exist, but the importer’s spec is clear: reservoir only.
  • Vibration pump feel. Quieter than many, still not rotary-silent.
  • Spec drift across markets. U.S. lists 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass. Some EU pages list 1.8 liter copper. Some older sheets still show 1.6 liter. Verify locally.

Scores

  • Build quality: 9.0
  • Temperature stability: 8.6
  • Shot consistency: 8.7
  • Steaming power: 9.1
  • Workflow and ergonomics: 8.8
  • Maintenance and serviceability: 8.9
  • Value: 8.9

Total: 8.9

Verdict

Andreja Premium Evo is the definition of a grown-up HX. The machine earns its place by doing the fundamentals correctly. The boiler is large enough to move quickly through milk drinks without wheezing. The control stack uses proven parts and adds the small safety bits you actually notice: a vacuum breaker for timer use, resettable limits, a thermal-protected pump, and drains for clean storage. The reservoir system is smart and generous, the frame is stainless, and the face tells you only what you need to know. Set the Sirai band sensibly, heat-soak the group, map a short flush after idle, and use the lever. The machine will be boring in the right way for years.

If you need digits on the face, the EU/AU 0980 PID covers that, or you step up to a compact dual boiler with a brew PID. If your priority is reliable steam, mechanical pre-infusion, and a quiet, repeatable routine, Andreja Premium Evo is money well spent. It is a bar shift condensed into a home frame. It asks you to do your part and then it does its job without fuss.

TL;DR

E61 heat-exchanger with a 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass boiler, 1400 watt element, and 52 watt Ulka pump with a pulsor. Sirai pressurestat, dual gauges, 3.0 liter bottom-fed tank with dual floats, vacuum breaker, resettable high-limit, and pump thermal protection. U.S. Evo is pressostat only. UK/EU “0980 PID” and several AU units add a boiler PID and a shot timer. Dimensions about 16 H x 11–11.5 W x 17–17.5 D inches, 46 lb. Typical late-2025 pricing: U.S. around $1,850, UK approximately £1,453 on promo for the PID variant, Australia about A$2,849. Short cooling flush after idle, then café-grade steaming in a compact body.

Pros

  • Strong, dry steam with quick recovery from a 1.8 liter boiler
  • Durable Sirai pressurestat, vacuum breaker, and safety stack for low-drama ownership
  • Bottom-fed 3 L reservoir with dual floats and audible alarm
  • Quick Mill pulsor lowers vibe noise and steadies pressure
  • Stainless frame and casework, sensible gauges and ergonomics

Cons

  • No brew PID on the standard U.S. Evo, HX routine required
  • Tank only, stock machine is not plumbable despite some retailer claims
  • Vibration pump is not rotary-silent
  • Specs and features vary by region, so you must confirm locally

Who it is for

  • Home baristas who want classic E61 lever workflow with steady milk throughput
  • Milk-forward households that pull multiple cappuccinos in sequence
  • Buyers who value a simple, durable control stack and clear service touches over screens and apps
  • Shoppers in the UK/EU or AU who want a PID and timer without moving off the Andreja platform

Glanceable specs

  • Group. E61 with mechanical pre-infusion, 58 mm portafilters
  • Boiler. 1.8 liter T.E.A. coated brass HX, 1400 W element, Sirai pressurestat
  • Pump. 52 W Ulka vibration pump with pulsor, brass ends
  • Gauges. Boiler and pump pressure, deep-blue dials
  • Water. 3.0 liter BPA-free, bottom-fed reservoir, dual floats, audible alarm with heater cutout
  • Dimensions and weight. About 16 H x 11–11.5 W x 17–17.5 D inches, ~46 lb. Metric around 41.5 H x 25.5 W x 48 D cm, ~20 kg. Cup clearance near five to 5.625 inches.
  • Variants. U.S. Evo is pressostat only. UK/EU 0980 PID adds boiler PID, often shot timer. AU retailers list PID and timer.
  • Price snapshot. U.S. about $1,850. UK around £1,453 on promo for the PID. AU around A$2,849.