Coffee Appreciation

I think ultimately spray is the physical result of inconsistency in grind/tamp ergo flow - so those are the bits to address!

Yeah, I get that channels in the puck cause all the spray... I only drink a couple of cups a day so this is gonna be messy for quite a while before I get it right!

Is there consistent visible channeling in the puck?

I'll let you know when I have a go tomorrow, it's been a few weeks since my last attempt...

But normally there isn't, I think it's a tamping thing with me... I'm normally pretty careful with the grind...

It worked!! I got almost zero spray, so little spray that I couldn't find any to clear up!!

What an achievement!
#firstworldachievements

Just did it again, two on the trot...

If anyone knows someone looking for a super-machine for a cafe, I’m selling a 3gp Sanremo Opera which I just bought, inspected and serviced. Looking for offers around £6k, can install the machine and train user within reasonable distance from Northampton. Would appreciate it if you could spread the word. Cheers

3 Attachments

Nice! What was the key change?

From A to the big wide strum pal, everyone knows that.

Probably going through the coffee with a toothpick to take out lumps and a very careful tamp... It isn't perfect but it works!

So what was the issue? You agitate the grinds more before tamping? I stopped using my naked portafilter. Should get it going again just for the LOLs.

Ah, you answered. That's too much faff. Is there some way you can more evenly distribute the ground coffee direct from your grinder?

Not really, my grinder just chucks it out into a big conical heap... I give it a few light taps on my tamping mat, get the cocktail stick in there for a wiggle then light tamp followed by a couple of firm tamps... Doesn't take long...

I've got a lever pull grinder thingie that means it throws smaller amounts of grounds out each pull so I can move the portafilter around a bit to disperse the brown goodness.

Just got the house rewired and the pump (coffee) button on my Rancilio is now tripping the RCD.

Has anyone had this happen before? Probably an issue with the heating element right, and by issue it's probably fucked.... It's just strange that it was fine for the hour it heated up, then fused as soon as the pump is activated.

Replacing the element in the V3 Silvia seems like a total pain in arse. Has anyone replaced the boiler? It is th pre 2013 boiler, so that why i'm thinking og boiler upgrade rather tan element.

Sounds more likely to be either the pump itself or the pump causing a leak which is shorting something. If you’re handy with a multimeter you can check the continuity across the element terminals.

Hey Steve,
Have you got any more of those bargain 1kg bags of coffee at the moment?

No, sorry we’re all out now.

It shorted on warm up too.I'm sure there must be a micrcopic crack in element, I will check. Has anyone sent their pre 2013 Rancilio for a service / upgrade to boiler with removeable element?

Is it also worth checking if it is just the amount of power surging through the socket, like maybe trying to get it in the cooker ring?

Ok no worries.

Any reccomendations for coffee in SE1 (just a few streets south of the Tate Modern)? FCB Coffee, The Gentleman Barista and the Tate itself are what I've found so far.

Monmouth at Borough Market?

Thanks, that is a long time favourite but I managed to miss it from my list completely!

quite mad that Breville (Sage) finally released a UK version of their automatic brewer after I just bought a Moccamaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfkdkZRv6Mc

I’ve no experience of either machine but considering Moccamaster’s rep and guarantee (5 years vs 1 for Sage) I’d say you’ll be happier in the long term with what you have.