Coffee Appreciation

It just keeps it all in the portafilter as opposed to all over your kitchen, I get the same measured dose out of my grinder every time... Pull out the ring, tamp your coffee and away you go...

Such a simple gadget, I didn't even know it was a thing...

I don't have a dosing grinder, so my grind level is done by eye since my dope I mean coffee scales broke. You could make a ring like that to give you a better eyeball level. But then I'd still need scales to work out the dose and where to mark it, initially.

You can get them in a lower profile design also:

Personally I have never felt the need for them though.

True, didn't know they existed and I don't spill much coffee. Maybe I should look at a dosing grinder instead of guessing (or just buy another set of £5 digital scales)?

I'd definitely get some scales. The variation in mass for the same volume when you change grind fineness is pretty significant. Always best to go by mass.

Always best to go by mass.

I'll take "Things Irish people say" for $200, Alex.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness...

Yeah, I know but I don't want another set of scales that dies after a couple of years.
Any suggestions?

I still use a little £5 scale that I bought years ago. If/when that dies, I'll likely pick up one of these: https://coffeehit.co.uk/collections/coffee-brewing-scales/products/coffee-gear-digital-dose-scale-500g-0-1g

Their stuff seems to be relatively well regarded (though I'm mostly thinking of their hand-grinder) so would happily pick up one of those.

I read you should aim for 10 bar?

Years ago I did adjust mine the old fashioned way of measuring flow, but have just got hold of a pressure gauge. It was up at 12.5 bar, dropped to 10 after three efforts (my OPV was extremely stubborn, even with a ring spanner added to the allen key for extra torque), and bam!, a massive improvement to the espresso.

If it helps anyone, when I get a mo, I’ll measure the amount of water dispensed from the group head in 30 seconds and post here.

I read you should aim for 10 bar?

Yeah now I’m putting normal coffee through the machine again, I’ve put it back up to 10 bar pressure.

Fair play :0)

I measured the amount of water for 30 secs, starting from the flicking of the switch, it came out at 323ml. Approximately.

Really not sure if this will help anyone without a gauge, but surely it'll get you into the right sort of range of pressure.

I broke my Isomac Macinino Professionale after returning from a two-week holiday and trying to flush out the stale beans. Currently lacking any real grinding power. If anyone has seen similar and has a fix I'd love to see it, otherwise I have the unit available for spares if anyone needs it.

Also considering the Eureka Mignon Specialita vs. Rocket's new mini Fausto. Seems like a premium on the rocket for design, does anyone have experience with the Mignon?

Yeah, I have the Eureka Mignon. It's been faultless so far. Decent vfm, in my opinion.

Edit: can't remember which model is which in the Mignon range, but I went for the one with the timer and display which I find to be a useful feature.

I'd like to nail my bottomless portafilter technique, I'm still really shit at it even though I've owned one as long as I've had my Gaggia Classic... I'm pulling great shots with the standard portafilter but I get a lots of spraying/squirting when I switch to bottomless, just can't get the hang of it...

Any experts out there with a similar set-up who can help?

Switching to a convex tamper helped a lot for me. 58.4 as well not 58mm.

Are you breaking up any clumps in your grind? What's your grinder?

Do you think something like this would noticeably improve what you get from an aeropress? I'm a little way off getting a machine (want to install water purification first) but figure I could buy the grinder first and see some improvement.

I've got a 58mm Motta, there is a tiny bit of wiggle room in the basket...

Using a Mahlkonig Vario, not getting clumps AFAICT but I haven't broken the grind up in the basket after I dose for ages... It looks pretty good and unclumpy... I tap the coffee level before tamping...

Mahlkonig Vario

nice.

until I changed my shower plate I used to get really inconsistent flow through mine which led to a lot of channeling/spurters - the IMS precision screen helped a lot. still get the occasional messy shot which I can't nail down but that also helped a lot.

I probably just need to persevere then! I've got an IMS screen as well, it's really improved the consistency of my shots...

I've not used an aeroporess so can't be sure. However, a decent burr grinder will nearly always improve things.

I've used a Baratza grinder and french press for years, with very satisfactory results.

What do you have currently?

https://coffeehit.co.uk/products/baratza-encore

Nothing, using pre-ground coffee ☹️ so probably quite easy to improve upon.

Ah ok; nice beans and a grinder will make a big difference then!