Rocket Giotto Fast R

Rocket Giotto FAST R – The E61, Rebuilt to Heat Up in Minutes

The single fair criticism of an E61 machine has always been the wait. Four kilos of brass takes its time, and if you brew before the group is stable you get a sour shot. Rocket Espresso has spent two years solving that, and the Giotto FAST R is the result — ready to brew in around 12 minutes instead of the 25 to 30 an E61 traditionally demands.

FAST refers to a redesigned brew group with a heating element and temperature probe built directly into it. Rather than waiting for the boiler to slowly bring the group up by thermosyphon, the group heats itself and arrives at temperature at the same moment the boiler does. Behind it sits the same 1.8L insulated heat exchange boiler and commercial rotary pump Rocket has built its reputation on, so nothing about the coffee has been traded away for the speed.

Here is what you get:

• Actively heated FAST brew group: An embedded element and probe bring the E61 up with the boiler, not after it. Around 12 minutes from cold to brew-ready.
• Commercial rotary pump: Quiet enough to hold a conversation next to, with rock-steady pressure through the whole extraction. No vibration pump buzz.
• Tank or plumbed in: Run it from the internal reservoir, or connect it directly to your water line. Switch between the two whenever your setup changes.
• 1.8L insulated heat exchange boiler: Brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. Copper construction with insulation that Rocket says cuts standby energy use by up to 20%.
• OLED display with PID control: Shot times, boiler temperature, standby timer and error reporting on screen. Three concealed buttons behind the drip tray keep the exterior clean.
• Twin pressure gauges: Redesigned boiler and pump manometers, so you can see what the machine is doing at a glance.
• Redesigned steam and hot water taps: New valve design with a double-walled no-burn steam lance — safe to grab, easier to wipe down.
• Digital shot timer: Integrated into the display. Time every shot, dial in your grind, repeat what works.
• New Giotto bodywork: Asymmetric three-dimensional side panels that extend up into integrated cup rails, developed with Valerio Cometti +V12 Design. Polished stainless steel or satin black.
• Soft-suspended plumbing: Boiler and pipework are mounted on soft suspension to damp vibration, which is a large part of why this machine is so quiet in use.

At 340mm wide and 30kg it needs a proper bench position, but it is a home machine in every other respect — 10 amp standard plug, no special installation, and it will run from the tank on day one if you are not ready to plumb.

Giotto FAST R or Giotto Cronometro V?

Both are 1.8L heat exchange E61 machines with PID and a shot timer, and both make excellent coffee. The differences that matter:

• Heat-up: around 12 minutes on the FAST R, around 20–25 on the Cronometro V. If you want coffee on a weekday morning without a timer plug, this is the whole argument.
• Pump: rotary on the FAST R, vibration on the Cronometro V. The FAST R is noticeably quieter.
• Water: the FAST R can be plumbed in. The Cronometro V is tank only.
• Interface: OLED display on the FAST R versus a hidden PID touchpad on the Cronometro V.

If your budget tops out around $4,000 and you are happy to run a timer plug, the Cronometro V is still a superb machine and the money is better spent on your grinder. If you want to walk into the kitchen and be pulling a shot ten minutes later, the FAST R is the machine.

What's in the Box

• 1 x Rocket Giotto FAST R Espresso Machine
• 1 x 58mm Double Spout Portafilter
• 1 x 58mm Single Spout Portafilter
• 1 x Double Basket
• 1 x Single Basket
• 1 x Blind (Backflush) Basket
• 1 x Tamper
• 1 x Group Head Cleaning Brush
• 1 x User Manual and Warranty Card

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really ready in 12 minutes?
Rocket quotes around 12 minutes on average, and in our experience that gets you a machine that will pull a good shot. For a fully settled brew temperature we would give it 15 and run a short flush through the portafilter first — still less than half the wait of a conventional E61, and a genuine change to how a weekday morning works.

What does FAST actually mean?
It is a redesigned E61 brew group with a heating element and temperature probe built into the group itself. On a traditional E61 the group is heated indirectly by water circulating from the boiler, which is why it lags so far behind. The FAST group heats itself and comes up in step with the boiler.

Do I have to plumb it in?
No. It runs from the internal reservoir out of the box and you can connect it to a water line later if you want to. The rotary pump supports both.

Can it brew and steam at the same time?
Yes. Brew water is drawn through a tube running inside the 1.8L steam boiler, so espresso and milk steaming run simultaneously with no drop in steam pressure. It will comfortably handle back-to-back milk drinks.

How is it different from the Giotto Cronometro R it replaces?
The FAST R is the current Giotto rotary model in the Australian range. The headline change is the actively heated brew group and the heat-up time that comes with it, along with the new bodywork, OLED display and redesigned steam and water taps.

What grinder should I pair with it?
At this level the grinder is doing more for your shot than the machine is. Look at a 64mm flat burr or better with stepless adjustment. See our coffee grinder range, or call us and we will match one to your budget and your beans.

Every Rocket machine we sell is genuine Australian stock backed by a 2 year factory warranty and supported by our own Illawarra-based service technicians with genuine parts on the shelf. We are not a drop-shipper — if something needs attention in year three, you have a real workshop to call.