Coffee Appreciation

I YOLO'd it and downloaded the app, it works fine. I even updated the firmware on the machine as "danger" is my middle name, and that was ok too.

Some thoughts on the machine as I've used it a few times now.

It's interesting to use because it does the same thing, every time (or insofar as I can tell).

What this means is that you can tell the difference between knocking the portafilter on the tamping matt to settle the grounds, vs stirring them with the end of a teaspoon to distribute them.

I'm using the inbuilt shot timer and then checking the expresso on my scales, aiming (for a somewhat arbitrary) 28 second extraction giving 28g of liquid from 14g of beans.

There's a huge variance available with the same grind, but different approach to puck formation, which is really interesting (to me).

The other interesting factor is that my old lever machine was much less sensitive - it would produce basically the same shot time after time, impervious to any differences in priming the portafilter.

This means that the new machine is more fun, in many ways, as it presents a raft of new challenges. I will be glad when my grinder arrives, as the hand-grinder is a bit of a chore.