Reservoir or Direct Plumb Espresso Machines
Find the machine for your everyday espresso ritual.
Choosing your equipment
Choose an espresso machine that can use a refillable reservoir or a direct water supply. Compare Turin Gallatin and MC3 models by their heating systems, pumps and connection requirements, then plan the installation around your coffee station.
Two Water-Supply Approaches
A reservoir lets you start with a self-contained installation and refill as needed. A direct connection supplies water from a line and can reduce routine refilling at a permanent station. Neither option alone tells you how the machine heats brew water, produces steam or controls a shot.
Connection support is model specific. Verify inlet requirements, fittings, water treatment and any drainage arrangement in the machine’s instructions before installing it. A direct water supply and a plumbed drip-tray drain are separate features.
Compare the Gallatin Models
Gallatin R combines a rotary pump with a heat-exchanger boiler and included flow control. Gallatin DB also uses a rotary pump, but has distinct brew and steam boilers with independent PID controls. Both offer reservoir or direct connection.
Gallatin V uses a vibration pump and offers optional flow control. Its manual-valve direct connection is described for occasional use. For a coffee station intended to stay plumbed regularly, compare the R or DB and follow their installation guidance.
Where MC3 Fits
The MC3 offers a 1.5L tank or direct-water connection with touchscreen controls, programmed volumetric shots and manual operation. Its heating arrangement combines a heated group and dedicated brew-water system with a 2.5L steam boiler. It is not the same conventional dual-boiler architecture as Gallatin DB.
Choose between these models based on the interaction you want as well as the water supply. An E61 lever and flow paddle feel different in daily use from a touchscreen with programmed shot options.
Plan the Working Space
Allow access for tank filling if you will use reservoir mode, even if you may add a water line later. Check power, counter depth, machine height, wand travel and cleaning access. Review which fittings come in the box rather than assuming every installation component is supplied.
If you have no intention of plumbing a machine, compare the simpler water-supply category of reservoir-only espresso machines as well. Use all espresso machines to compare the full range of heating and extraction controls.
Must these machines be connected to plumbing?
No. The models in this category also support reservoir operation. Check the exact configuration and instructions for switching or selecting the water source.
Does direct connection automatically drain the drip tray?
No. Incoming water and outgoing drainage are separate arrangements. Verify whether the selected machine supports a drain connection and what the installation requires.
Are all direct-connection options equally suited to permanent use?
No. The Gallatin V’s manual-valve arrangement has specific occasional-use guidance. Compare Gallatin R or DB for regular plumbed operation and follow the chosen model’s manual.
Buying guide & FAQs
5 products
Let customers speak for us
Beautiful and strong grinder
Solid, faster, and beautiful. Great cost-benefit option!
Juan Camilo GonzálezArango
Awesome
Thank you
RAMY ERFAN
Occasional clogging issues, other than that it is great!!!
Borislav
Love this product very easy to use
Ryan
I just love it, it's my first real espresso machine. so far even my worst shots taste great.
Michael
Grinder works amazing right out the box , i was very surprised with it specifically because of aome of the reviews online but mine works great. Shipping took a very long time but no complaints once received. Happy with the product!
Wirving
Amazing grinder and service from Turingrinders.com
I'm super happy with the new grider, solid, powerful, easy to use and perfect for my espresso machine. I have been using it for over a month and I am really enjoying it the results I get.
Great service from Turingrinders too, ship quickly, great burr aligment and 0 calibration. Could not be more satisfied !
Davide Maragliano
Turin DF64 Gen 2.7 Single Dose Coffee Grinder
Royal Sipe
First espresso grinder
A piece of art that is a pleasure to use.
William Faoro
Love our Turin
After doing a lot of research and talking to many of our coffee aficionado friends, we decided to buy Turin DF64. And boy it hasn't disappointed us one bit. We are grinding coffee beans daily for different types of extractions. Highly recommend it to everyone.
Moyda
A terrific choice for single dose brewing
If you’re in the market for well built grinder for single dose brewing and nearly zero retention, add this grinder to your cart ASAP. Pairing with my Lucca A53, I was concerned the portafilter support forks would be too large. They are in fact, but the Turin grinder is so fast, you’re not going to rest it there anyway. Even better, I can articulate the 53mm portafilter to distribute grounds around the basket while grinding. The forks are close enough to rest the PF on, just not enough to hold it unsupported. The grinder took a few pounds of coffee to break in the burrs. Straight out of the box the coffee (espresso) was just a bit flat, but now that’s done with. The Turin has gone through a few changes based on owner feedback. It’s not worth deducting a star, but I have two minor things I'd address. First, the rubber feet on the machine are leaving black marks on my counter. Petty complaint I know, but no one reaches perfection without improvement. The second is the layout of the grind setting markings. To help these older eyes, I would rather the numbers be closer to the hash marks and/or the marks be printed at different heights, similar to a tape measure. To solve the issue on my Turin, I colored over every 5th mark with red sharpie and now it’s ridiculously easy to get a quick read on my settings. The subtle pop of red looks good too. It’s fast, relatively quiet. Easy to keep clean, has nearly zero retention and looks perfect next to the LaSpaziale.
Norm Aubin
From DF83 toDF83v
After 3 years of daily 1st Gen DF83 use… A user abuse left me in need of a replacement espresso grinder.
The DF83v was ultimately what I committed to purchasing.
Every step of my daily coffee is improved.
Vince H.
Amazing
It's beautiful. Design is stunning. The control over grind is very precise. My espresso is now perfect. So little retention with the bellows. If you are crazy OCD then blow it out with a Wolfbox blower on high after using. What a deep dive down the engineering rabbit hole of perfectionism. I sometimes pull out the antique hand grinder for a rough irregular grind of cheap beans and make some boiled coffee to keep grounded.
Richard Fentzke
Good one!
I waited almost a month for my order to arrive and that was not necessarily what I was expecting but I stuck in there until it finally did. Now I am enjoying truly excellent lattes which was my goal. It was easy to setup and use and that’s a plus. Since it is still new I don’t have any issues to report such as ease of cleaning etc but it seems fairly straightforward. Bottom line for me: worth the wait.
EEV from Maryland
Grinder with European voltage
Very fast und reliable, they even reimbursed me as it was clear, that I live in the US.
ruediger kolbow
