AVX-DB1 Hero X / MiiCoffee Apex / Turin Legato reviewed

AVX? Yes, AVX! To be precise, "AVX-DB1 Hero X". But don't let the name mislead you. That's what the espresso machine is called in Germany. In the USA, you know it as the MiiCoffee Apex V2 or Turin Legato V2. In the UK, it's the Gemilai CRM3007. Behind it is an OEM manufacturer from Asia (Gemilai) that supplies the same platform to various importers. The technology is identical. In Germany, the machine costs 550 Euros, and as always, it is our principle to purchase the machine ourselves.

The central question: Can a 550-euro machine with a hybrid system really deliver consistent temperatures? The short answer: Yes, but. The long answer follows now.

Design & Build Quality: Surprisingly Solid

Build Quality Score: 4.5/10

The AVX weighs 10.5 kilograms and stands stably on the counter. For 550 Euros, other manufacturers often deliver significantly lower quality. The casing is made of stainless steel and plastic elements, but it doesn't feel cheap. If we compare it with other machines in this price range – such as early Dedica generations or no-name devices – the AVX stands out positively.

Materials & Haptics

The boiler sits directly above the brew group and is made of stainless steel (0.55 liters). The internal components look tidy. We completely disassembled the machine – which is a bit fiddly, by the way, as you have to contort yourself to reach all the screws. But: everything seems repairable. No exotic parts, no predetermined breaking points at first glance.

The buttons have a clear pressure point. The display (more on that later) is a touchscreen, but it sometimes doesn't respond immediately. This is annoying when you want to adjust the temperature. But you don't use the display every day, so it's not a big deal.

The Catch: Bayonet Mount

A real point of criticism: when inserting the portafilter, metal scrapes on metal. It feels like sandpaper on sandpaper. Not dramatic, but unpleasant. Will it improve after six months? Possibly. Is it annoying? Definitely.

The Hybrid System: Not a Heat Exchanger, Not a Dual Boiler

This is where it gets interesting. The machine is often advertised as a "heat exchanger" or "dual boiler." Both are incorrect.

It is a hybrid system:

• 0.55-liter stainless steel boiler for brew water (with PID control)
• Thermoblock for steam (separate heating element)

Important: Both heating elements are operated with cold water. There is no heat exchanger like with classic heat exchangers. Therefore: hybrid. Nothing more, nothing less.

What does this mean in practice?

You cannot brew and steam simultaneously because only one pump is installed. First espresso, then steam. But: You don't have to wait 10 minutes for the boiler to heat up, as with some single-boiler machines. The thermoblock is ready in a few seconds after brewing espresso.

Heat-up Time & Energy: Solid, but Not Blazing Fast

Heat-up Time Score: 5.0/10
Power Consumption Score: 6.0/10

AVX promises "5 minutes heat-up time." In practice, it takes 15 minutes until the machine is truly heated through, and even then, you have to help it along. You can start after 8-10 minutes, but the first shot will then disappoint you (more on that in a moment).

Power Consumption: 0.1408 kWh for heating + one espresso. This is solid middle-of-the-road. Not as economical as a thermoblock device (0.08 kWh), but also not a power guzzler like large dual-boilers (0.25+ kWh).

PID & Temperature Offset

The machine has a PID control, allowing you to set the temperature. Good! However: Our machine had an offset of +1.5°C. This means if you set 92°C, it delivers ~94°C. This is not a drama – many machines have an offset – but you need to be aware of it. We set it to 92°C and were satisfied.

This log shows the temperature of the first shot, after one flush through the portafilter.

Espresso Quality: The Temperature Drama and its Solution

Espresso Potential Score: 3.5/10 (out of the box) → 2.5/10 with workaround

This is where it gets serious. The AVX has a massive problem: The first espresso after heating up is undrinkable.

The Problem: Catastrophic Cold Start

We measure directly in the portafilter with our Scace 2. After 15 minutes of heating:

• Flush through the portafilter to heat it
• Shot 1: 87.65°C (far too cold!)
• Shot 2: 93.09°C (already significantly better)
• Shots 3-5: 94.45°C / 94.50°C / 94.50°C (excellently consistent)

The first shot is 6.5°C below the steady state. This is catastrophic. Coffee tastes sour, underextracted, flat. Although the machine is switched on, the portafilter and brew group are still cold.

The Solution: 2x Flushing (Temperature Surfing)

Here's the workaround that you absolutely must apply:

1. Let the machine heat up for 15 minutes
2. Flush once for 25 seconds through the portafilter (let water run through)
3. Wait briefly (10-15 seconds)
4. Flush again for 5-10 seconds
5. Now you can pull your first espresso shot

With this trick:

• Shot 1: 93.07°C (only 1.4°C difference)
• Shots 3-5: Consistent at ~94.5°C (Delta < 0.1°C!)

The Impressive Strength: Consistency after Warming Up

Once the machine is warm, it delivers dual-boiler level consistency. Shots 3, 4, and 5 differ by less than 0.1°C. This is phenomenal for a 550-euro machine.

Temperature curve during extraction:
Slight "drop" (decrease of approx. 1.1°C during extraction). Sensibly perfectly fine.

WBC Stress Test: Here it struggles

In the continuous load test (14 consecutive shots), the limit becomes apparent: the temperature drifts from ~88°C (start) to over 93°C (end). Range > 4.5°C. The machine is not suitable for gastronomy or catering. However, that's not its purpose. We measure it anyway for completeness, as it is part of the test protocol.

Conclusion on Temperature

If you are willing to flush twice before the first espresso, you get an impressively consistent machine. If you don't want to: then the machine has the potential to annoy you with sour espresso during the first few shots. Think about it.

OPV & Pressure: Finally Easy!

A real plus point: The OPV (Over Pressure Valve) is located at the front of the machine and is tool-free adjustable. A rotary knob, no screwdriver needed. You can insert a blind filter, observe the pressure, and set it to 8-9 bar. Done.

Our machine came with too high pressure (>10 bar). The problem was solved in 30 seconds. That's how it should be.

Volumetric Dosing & Programming: Time-based, Not Precise

Volumetric Dosing Score: 3.0/10

The machine has no true volumetric dosing (no flowmeter). It stops after a preset time. This is better than nothing, but not precise.

What does this mean?

If your grind is too fine, the machine stops after 25 seconds – regardless of whether only 20 grams of espresso are in the cup. If the grind is too coarse, the water rushes through, and you have 60 grams in the cup.

Our recommendation: Use the manual button and adjust with a scale. This is the only way to make consistently good espresso. You can then use the programmable button for the first flushing shot (25 seconds).

Pre-Infusion: Please Don't Use It!

The machine has a pre-infusion function. Sounds good. But it's not.

The problem: In the pause between pre-infusion and main extraction, the machine completely relieves the pressure. The water – which has already interacted with the coffee and is already dissolved coffee – flows through a valve into the drip tray. So you are throwing away the heart of your espresso.

Please turn off the pre-infusion. The machine has a vibratory pump that ramps up slowly anyway (~7-8 seconds to full pressure). This is perfectly sufficient for pre-wetting.

Milk Froth & Steam: Works, but with Caveats

Frothing Quality Score: 4.8/10

The thermoblock provides steam. We set it to the highest level (147°C). Michel (our barista pro) says: "It works, but it's not easy."

The Process

1. After espresso: purge steam wand (approx. 10 seconds, until consistent steam comes out)
2. Froth milk

Speed: 300ml of milk from 6°C to 60°C takes ~60 seconds. This is not fast, but not unbearably slow either.

Texture: Fine-pored, creamy – if you hold the pitcher very tilted. The steam doesn't have the power to rotate the milk in a vertical position. You need to tilt the pitcher to create the necessary angle. This is doable, but less comfortable than with machines with rotary pumps.

Steam Wand

The wand has a knurled wheel as a valve. Aesthetically unusual, but functionally okay. Important: Don't turn it off like a faucet! Close gently, otherwise the valve will eventually come loose.

Workflow & Operation: Light and Shadow

Usability Score: 4.3/10

The Display

Touchscreen, displays brewing time and temperature. This is practical – you don't have to start the timer on the scale. But: the display sometimes responds sluggishly. You tap, nothing happens. You tap again, suddenly it jumps. Not dramatic, but annoying when setting the temperature.

Portafilter & Basket

The portafilter is made of stainless steel with a plastic handle. Solid. The included basket is huge: 22-23 grams of ground coffee fit in. That's a lot. Too much for most. We prefer to work with 18-19 grams. The basket has a wide rim and the holes could be a bit further out, but it works.

Tamper: Plastic body, metal base. The gap to the basket rim is too large (~2mm play). An upgrade to a more precisely fitting tamper makes sense.

Water Tank & Drip Tray

• Water Tank: 1.7 liters, removable from above. Good.
• Drip Tray: ~500ml volume. Sufficient.

The Problem: Portafilter – Shelf Distance

Only 7.5 cm. That's not much. A normal espresso cup with a scale fits. A large cappuccino cup with a scale? It gets tight. If you use larger cups, weighing becomes difficult.

Volume: Average

Score: 3.0/10

We measure 64.8 dB(A) in operation. That's not quiet, but it's not a drill either. Typical for vibratory pumps. The machine doesn't rattle or clang. It just hums along.

Accessories: Basic Equipment

Score: 3.5/10

Included in delivery:

• Portafilter (2-spout)
• Blind filter, single, double
• Tamper (plastic, too small)
• Milk pitcher
• Cleaning brush

That's okay for the price. Nothing more. The tamper should be replaced, which makes life easier and the espresso better. And above all, it feels more valuable.

The Naming Chaos: One Machine, Many Faces

Because this topic is important (and Google brought you here), here's an overview again:

Attention: Pay attention to the version (V1 vs. V2) and whether an OPV is installed. This makes a difference. Our machine is the V2 with OPV (Hero X).

The Kafmasino version is a special case: it uses the same chassis but has its own electronics with Bluetooth and app control. So, technically not identical.

Conclusion: Who is the AVX Hero X the right machine for?

Overall Score: 4.8/10 (Compromise)
Price-Performance: 6.32/10

The AVX-DB1 Hero X is a machine for beginners who are willing to put in the effort. If you just want to press a button in the morning and expect perfect espresso, then it's probably not your machine.

Strengths

• Temperature consistency after warming up and flushing: Dual-boiler level at 550 Euros. Impressive.
• OPV tool-free adjustable: Great!
• Solid build quality: Doesn't feel cheap, is repairable.
• PID control: Adjustable temperature.
• Fast steam readiness: Hybrid system makes it possible.
• Price: 550 Euros for this equipment is fair.

Weaknesses

• Catastrophic cold start: Without 2 flushes, the first shot is undrinkable.
• No flowmeter: Time-based volumetric dosing is imprecise.
• Pre-infusion unusable: Wastes coffee, please do not use.
• Steam performance: Works, but not comfortable.
• Portafilter-to-drip tray clearance: Too little space for large cups with a scale.
• Display haptics: Touchscreen sometimes sluggish.

Who is this machine suitable for?

Yes, if:

• You have a budget of 500-600 Euros
• You are willing to flush twice before the first espresso
• You want to work with a scale
• You occasionally make milk-based drinks but don't need to brew and steam simultaneously
• You don't make 10+ espressos every day

No, if:

• You don't have patience in the morning (then rather a thermoblock or thick-film heater)
• You need true volumetric dosing (then: machine with flowmeter)
• You want commercial-level quality (then: dual boiler)

Price-Performance

With a PLV score of 6.32/10, the AVX is fairly priced. You get more machine for less money than with classic single-boiler machines (e.g., Rancilio Silvia ~700 Euros, ECM Casa ~900 Euros). But: You have to accept its quirks.

Our Experiment

We want to know what the machine looks like after a year of use. That's why we are giving it away to a shared apartment or a person who will use it for a year and provide us with regular feedback. Interested? Write it in the comments below the video. You must pick it up in Basel and return it after a year.

Technical Data at a Glance

Further Links

• 📄 Our Test Protocol (Version 2.3) → Link
• 🎥 Short video from us about the machine → YouTube
• 🎥 To the long video → YouTube
• 🛠️ Recommended specialist workshop for AVX DB1 → Coffee24 (Partner link)

We recommend specialist partners whom we know provide good work and reliable service. When ordering via our commission links, you don't pay more, but we receive a small support – which we invest directly in new test equipment.

Other helpful articles:

• How to prepare espresso: Step-by-step guide