The ECM Synchronika is a dual boiler espresso machine from German company ECM. We tested the Synchronika 1 and in 2024 the Synchronika 2. In this article you'll find our collected results for both models, temperature curves and our video reports.
If you've gathered your own experience with the ECM Synchronika, we'd love to hear your comments. This complements our test and helps other interested parties get a more comprehensive picture of the machine in everyday use. Thank you!
Since the ECM Synchronika I will continue to be sold for a while, we'll keep the information about this machine up for now. All information that applies exclusively to the ECM Synchronika II can be found further down in the article: Jump to the new ECM Synchronika II
General Information and Facts
The ECM Synchronika is an espresso machine with enormous scope, weight, material quality and durability. This machine was built to withstand the test of time. All components radiate this.
We measure a width of 33.5 cm, a height of 41 cm without cups and with our own cups a height of 45 cm. This can be of interest to you if the machine is to stand under a low wall cabinet in the kitchen. The ECM Synchronika is already 48.5 cm deep in its base. With the portafilter clamped in, the Synchronika reaches a depth of 59 cm. This makes the machine a considerable weight of 30 kilograms.
The ECM Synchronika has a high-gloss polished stainless steel housing. It looks beautiful, reflects wonderfully and unfortunately collects numerous fingerprints. The polishing cloth will need a permanent place near the espresso machine.
The Synchronika is equipped with a 2 liter steam boiler and a 0.75 liter brew boiler. The rotary pump is very quiet and purrs like a kitten during extraction. We measure the remarkably low value of just 59.2 decibels. From the community we read that for some the machine rattles much more. We identified such rattling and slipping coming from the drip tray, which can be bridged with magnets or rubber holders.
The rotary pump, on the other hand, allows us to connect the machine to mains water. A drain hose can also be attached to the drip tray. We fill it with a maximum of 850 ml if it's not connected to the drain and if we still want to carry it to the sink.
The water tank holds 2.5 liters, can be removed via a flap from above, and is of high quality construction. The water is sourced via a valve in the bottom.
Scope of Delivery
The ECM Synchronika is one of the espresso machines that comes with a good set of accessories that really makes sense. Manufacturers sometimes go overboard with accessory items that then have inferior quality themselves. The ECM Synchronika comes with two beautiful, heavy portafilters that are perfectly balanced and have an appearance that matches the Synchronika very well.
Like the lever handles, they have a trapezoidal tip made of polished stainless steel, which is finished with a black hard plastic ferrule. A perfectly fitting heavy tamper with a finger-width base is a noble tool that does ECM credit.
Also included is a cup holder that elevates the espresso cups and ensures that the pours always hit the cups. The holder is nevertheless designed in such a way that a scale can fit both on it and next to it.
Those who want to connect the ECM Synchronika to mains water will find the connection hose already in the scope of delivery.
Temperature Curves
Once the ECM Synchronika has reached its thermal equilibrium, it is a relatively temperature-stable espresso machine. However, it takes time... We waited 35 minutes for the Synchronika with all important components to reach 93 degrees brew temperature. While the boiler reaches temperature much earlier, the E61 brew group and portafilter are so heavy that it takes the stated time to truly reach temperature.
The following graph shows in orange a warm-up phase of the ECM Synchronika. After 25 minutes we made the first shots, one per minute. By the 4th shot, the portafilter had also reached our target temperature of 92 degrees in this case. The next-but-one graph also illustrates this well.
After 35 minutes we were close to the target temperature with the gray curve, which in this case was 93 degrees (shown in yellow as a bar with +/- 1 degree to 93 degrees). Here too a purge shot is necessary, which heats the portafilter well, which even after 35 minutes is not sufficiently hot on its own (see also graph 3)
The WBC protocol shown in the first graph begins after one hour and then simulates various periods of inactivity. The temperature curves make it clear that the ECM Synchronika reaches temperature very quickly during extraction and reaches the target temperature after 7 to 8 seconds. It then runs very consistently. The consistency during extraction is extraordinarily good.
However, at a frequency of 1 minute the machine drifts slightly upward in temperature and gets warmer. This is a typical problem of Faema E61 espresso machines and is also the case with the Synchronika. The target temperature is therefore not truly reliable. Home baristas must get to know their machine very well to estimate at what temperature they're currently brewing.
Espresso Quality with the ECM Synchronika
The ECM Synchronika brings everything a good espresso machine needs. It has high temperature consistency during extraction, is well-built and relies on a first-class rotary pump. Nevertheless, there remains some uncertainty about what temperature the machine is actually at after what amount of time. The ECM Synchronika shares this problem with all Faema E61 espresso machines and the Synchronika offers no solution to it either.
We made very good espressos, both those with a more robust structure and complex specialty coffees. The Synchronika delivers what it takes with sufficient heat-up time. At shorter heat-up times or even under heavy use, however, there are also outlier espressos.
Energy Consumption
The long heat-up time is needed to bring the large boilers to temperature. Of course, this also has consequences for energy consumption.
We measure 0.43 kilowatt hours after a 25-minute heat-up time and 5 double shots. This corresponds to our standardized protocol, which we apply to all machines. It should be noted that we would have needed to wait another 10 minutes to measure the machine at full temperature. We'll provide this measurement later. The result will likely be somewhat higher. But even now this is a high value for dual boiler espresso machines. Some thermoblocks get by with less than a quarter for the same espresso extraction amount.
Steaming and Milk
Steaming with the ECM Synchronika is straightforward. With its 2-liter steam boiler, the machine delivers good power to get the milk completely in motion. At the same time, the milk doesn't heat up too quickly, which allows for a pleasant rolling phase. This makes the ECM Synchronika a good hybrid machine for households that value both good espresso and milk-based drinks like cappuccino or flat white.
Conclusion on the ECM Synchronika I
The ECM Synchronika is certainly a wonderful machine. It makes good espressos and froths fine-pored microfoam for cappuccino and co. But the test also leaves me somewhat puzzled. Despite all appreciation for the manufacturer and the local specialist dealer network - for me the machine seems like it's from another era. The Faema E61 brew group recently celebrated its 60th birthday. The guarantee of durability is also a symbol of inertia and rarely found in combination with real innovation. This is expressed by the long heat-up time and high power consumption. If you're looking for volumetric flow control or programmable pre-infusion, you won't find it on the ECM Synchronika.
Those who conclude poor environmental credentials from high energy consumption don't factor in the robustness and longevity of the machine. The specialist dealer network mentioned above has been repairing the Synchronika and similar machines for the past 50 years and will continue to do so for the next 50 years. This is why an investment in the ECM Synchronika should be seen as a long-term investment. If you take care of your Synchronika, you'll probably never buy another machine in your lifetime.
So who is the ECM Synchronika the right machine for? Maybe for you if you desire durability and longevity. If you don't want to overwhelm yourself with numerous adjustment options, but instead want a high-quality, very good espresso machine from a German manufacturer that will accompany you for a very long time.
Recommended Specialist Dealers
We search for specialist partners for you that we know deliver good work and good service. We stay in close contact with the dealers. These are affiliate links. If you order via this link, it won't cost you more, but we receive a small commission that we put toward new test equipment.
Update: New ECM Synchronika II Unveiled
At the end of June 2024, ECM presented the new Synchronika 2 at the World of Coffee in Copenhagen. Compared to the Synchronika 1, there's an update that is revolutionary for the type of espresso machine with Faema E61 brew group and makes the Synchronika II the fastest heating-up espresso machine with E61 brew group. Two heating cartridges with 200 watts of power each are built into the brew group. These are actively heated until the heat-up time is reached and significantly accelerate the machine's heat-up time. We measure a heat-up time of 8 minutes! This is the fastest value we've ever measured for an E61 brew group. The previously fastest modified E61 brew group we measured comes from Sanremo and was used in the You. Here the heat-up time was 15 minutes. The steam boiler, by the way, is still not up to speed after 8 minutes. You'll need to wait a few more minutes.
Temperature Curve After 8 Minutes Very Good!
After the 8-minute heat-up time, the ECM Synchronika II shows very good temperature performance. We measure a standard deviation over 5 shots of just 0.63° Celsius. In the first shot, between second 5 and 25 of the extraction, we measure a maximum temperature difference of 1.7° Celsius. Over all 5 shots we reach a value of 2.15° Celsius, with the temperature mean at the set temperature of 93° Celsius at 92.63°.
After the machine has been idle for a longer period, we also observe increasing temperature with the ECM Synchronika 2, typical for espresso machines with Faema E61 brew group.
Power Measurement and Energy Consumption of the Synchronika II
Of course, the fast heat-up time also has major impacts on energy consumption. Especially if we leave out the steam boiler, we measure a consumption including heat-up of just 0.17 kWh for 5 shots. The fast heat-up saves electricity on the one hand, but on the other hand the two heating cartridges of course use electricity. Nevertheless, the value for a dual boiler of this extent is a good one. If we also switch on the steam boiler, the energy consumption for 5 shots is 0.31 kWh, which is still a good value for a dual boiler. Bravo ECM!
