Models we service and repair
Kees van der Westen has been building in Waalre, Netherlands since 2000. Hand production in the most literal sense — every machine is assembled by hand, configured individually, hardwood and brass as standard materials, paintwork and detail finishing at a level that stands alone in the espresso machine world. KvdW is ultra-premium territory; in Berlin and Brandenburg there are well under ten machines in the region, mostly at specialty cafés with a clear profile, plus a handful of ambitious home users with a Speedster.
Mirage is the café platform. Triplette (3 group), Veloce (2 group), Idrocompresso (variant with hydraulic pressure logic), Duette (more compact 2 group), Volante (lever variant). This is the KvdW line for serious café setups that combine a visual statement with top technical performance.
Spirit is the more compact premium platform. 2 group as standard, Triplette as the 3 group. You'll spot the odd one in Berlin specialty cafés — anyone running a Spirit made a deliberate decision against La Marzocco.
Speedster is the home and boutique machine. Single group, lever-gauge design with the characteristic visual feedback element, wooden handles, brass components. One of the iconic home machines of the specialty coffee scene worldwide — if you own a Speedster, you're a home connoisseur at the highest level.
Pre-infusion design — the KvdW core concept
KvdW has its own pre-infusion logic, distinct from the Slayer pre-brew lever or La Marzocco pre-brewing:
- Mirage and Spirit: pre-infusion via a separate solenoid valve and defined pressure ramp-up, programmable or manually modulated
- Mirage Idrocompresso: hydraulic pressure logic instead of electric or pneumatic — a maintenance discipline of its own
- Speedster: lever-gauge design, manual modulation with visual feedback in real time
- Mirage Volante: lever platform with pre-infusion through lever effort
What this means for service: pre-infusion adjustment is KvdW-specific (not comparable to Slayer or La Marzocco), the wear points are different (KvdW solenoid valves, pre-infusion chamber seals, the lever-gauge mechanism on the Speedster), the diagnostic logic is different (a pressure drop can come from pre-infusion components, not necessarily from standard E61 elements), and the Idrocompresso is a league of its own.
We do pre-infusion adjustment in the workshop with a pressure measurement setup and a reference gauge.
Typical problems and how we fix them
Speedster, lever gauge responds sluggishly. A classic on Speedsters with years of use behind them. Lever-gauge mechanism blocked by old grease and coffee dust, gauge internal seal perished, or a KvdW-specific adjustment component out of spec. Cleaning, fresh lubrication, seal replacement, adjustment in the workshop against a reference gauge — 2-3 hours, depending on how dirty it is and what shape it's in.
Mirage Triplette, one group drifting in temperature. KvdW's multi-boiler logic works differently from Dalla Corte, but the diagnostic sequence is similar: check the PT100 sensor in the affected group, check the heating element in the group boiler, check the control board. On the Idrocompresso variant, the hydraulic pressure logic gets checked separately on top. Sensor replacement and calibration in the workshop with multi-boiler equipment.
Spirit, pressure drop at one group. Diagnostic sequence: check the pre-infusion solenoid valve (a KvdW-specific part, not E61 standard), then the brew group gasket, then the Procon rotary pump, then the OPV. The pre-infusion component is often the first suspect, because it exists on top of the standard E61 logic.
Speedster, wooden handle or brass component with play. Speedster wooden handles (brew and steam valve) are a trademark — walnut or other hardwoods, hand-finished. Mounting screws can work loose, threads can strip over the years. Brass components can develop play from oxidation. We check the mounting, retighten, replace thread inserts where needed. For handles beyond saving, we order through the distributor — KvdW supplies original woods in the matching part variant.
Water under the machine. Pre-infusion chamber seal perished, or the steam boiler heat exchanger gasket. Diagnosis by visual inspection and pressure test; original replacements exist for both components, swapped in the workshop.
Genuine parts from Waalre — a fair word on pricing
We source Kees van der Westen parts through the authorized distributor and in some cases directly from the factory in Waalre. Procon rotary pumps, pre-infusion solenoid valves (KvdW-specific), lever-gauge components for the Speedster, wooden handles in the hardwood variants, control boards, PT100 sensors, brew group gaskets, Idrocompresso hydraulic components — all original.
Fair warning, stated up front: KvdW spare parts are the most expensive in our entire portfolio. There are clear reasons for that:
- Hand-built boutique platform — no mass-market price level
- Small global production numbers — KvdW deliberately builds in limited quantities
- Import from the Netherlands with the logistics that come with it
- Premium materials (hardwood, brass, high-grade sensors)
- Special components (lever-gauge mechanism, Idrocompresso hydraulics) are a price class of their own
A KvdW brew group gasket costs more than on standard brands, a lever-gauge replacement on a Speedster is an investment in its own right, a control board for a Mirage Triplette is considerably more expensive than on comparable brands. We always give a transparent cost estimate up front — no nasty surprise on the invoice, clear numbers on part prices before the appointment.
Lever-gauge service on the Speedster — our specialty
Lever-gauge service on the Speedster is the discipline where the machine shows its true character — and where standard workshops without KvdW-specific equipment fail. Here's how we do it: pressure measurement setup with a calibrated reference gauge at the portafilter outlet, lever characteristic checked across the entire range of travel, gauge internals checked for sealing and scale accuracy, pre-infusion pressure logic calibrated in step with the lever position, KvdW-specific torque values observed. A workshop job — no quick fixes.
Service by arrangement — no walk-ins
KvdW is not walk-in service. Workshop appointments by arrangement, with lead time: platform-specific preparation (checking spare part availability) and blocking out a workshop slot (KvdW service takes time and concentration). For emergencies in a café we come on site, do what's possible, and organize a follow-up appointment in the workshop. Shipping service across the DACH region for machines outside Berlin/Brandenburg — shipping logistics agreed in advance.
On site or in the workshop
Mirage Triplette and Spirit Triplette in a café: on site for emergencies, workshop for a full overhaul. Multi-group platforms are big and heavy, and with a built-in café installation, transport is difficult anyway.
Speedster: workshop appointment after pickup. Home or boutique machine — lever-gauge service needs workshop conditions.
Mirage Volante (lever): workshop for spring set service or lever mechanism maintenance. Lever service is a discipline of its own.
Idrocompresso: workshop appointment, practically always. Hydraulic pressure logic needs specific equipment and concentration.
What we don't do
Custom firmware on KvdW control boards. Kees van der Westen ships official updates through the distributor — that's all you need. Third-party software kills the warranty and can throw the KvdW pre-infusion logic out of whack.
Aftermarket components in KvdW platforms. The platform is ultra-premium; every gray-market part is a category violation. Original or nothing — period.
Pre-infusion mods on non-KvdW machines. We don't graft KvdW pre-infusion components onto an ECM or Profitec. If you want KvdW pre-infusion, you buy a KvdW.
Full repaints of custom finishes. KvdW machines often come in custom configurations with individual paintwork — we handle cosmetic care, full repaints go to specialized paint partners. We can put you in touch.
Repairs on fakes. KvdW is technically too complex for mass counterfeiting, but if you bring in a dubious machine, you get an honest assessment and no invoice.
Prices and flat rates
- Workshop rate: from 99 euros per hour net
- Speedster maintenance: flat rate, 3-4 hours, lever-gauge service included
- Mirage 2G / Spirit 2G maintenance: flat rate, 5-7 hours with standard findings
- Mirage Triplette / Spirit Triplette maintenance: correspondingly higher
- Idrocompresso service: separate flat rate, hydraulic pressure logic
- Wooden handle service: visual check included in the maintenance package, replacement separate
- Emergency call-out Berlin: flat rate, Brandenburg plus mileage
- Pickup and delivery: combined flat rate
Genuine parts billed separately. KvdW spare parts are the most expensive in our portfolio — transparent cost estimate up front. No nasty surprise on the invoice, clear numbers before the appointment.
We repair all espresso machines
Kees van der Westen is part of our ultra-premium portfolio — alongside La Marzocco GS3/Strada, Slayer and Victoria Arduino Black Eagle. We repair all espresso machines, KvdW fully included: Mirage, Spirit, Speedster and Idrocompresso. Super-automatics are not our business.
Get in touch
Send us the model (Mirage Triplette/Veloce/Idrocompresso/Duette/Volante / Spirit 2G/Triplette / Speedster), the year of manufacture if you know it, and a short description of the symptom. A photo of the type plate and a photo of the machine helps enormously with the initial assessment. For a Speedster, add a photo of the lever-gauge unit. If it's the Idrocompresso variant, please say so explicitly — different maintenance logic.
werkstatt@9bar-studio.de | 030 75 43 73 44