Coffee Appreciation

Also forgetting the subjectivity of taste - what tastes good to someone isn't what tastes good to someone else. I know plenty of people who like their coffee burnt because that's what they think good coffee is; if I serve them a good espresso and they don't like it, the next time for sure I'll leave the machine on for 5 more seconds and use the close-to-charcoal beans I've had sitting around for two months if they would enjoy that. Follow the various rules to get a rough starting point, but more importantly understand what each of them achieves, then tinker around to find what works best for your tastes. I don't do WDT not because I think it doesn't work, but because my grinder doesn't clump too much, my palate is not sophisticated enough to tell the difference and I cannot be bothered..

Nice!

I use both paper and then screen

I usually go 17-18g.

14.5g in 31g out

I think the 12 or less reference is because the taper at the bottom of the basket stops the metal screen seating as well.

14.5g with the screen?

What I'm hearing here is nobody just uses filter papers.

Had our first moka in years, funny thing despite the great heavy flavour there was a touch of metallic taste to it, never noticed previously but maybe was just used to it? Alu maker, maybe try stainless again some time.

How clean was it? You can definitely end up with a lot of aluminium oxide in the bottom if they’re left for a while. Stainless for the win tho.

Anyone needs a 49mm Motta tamper and 49mm coffee distributor?

Got them the wrong size for my La Pavoni :-/

I do have a question!

My Europiccola leaks at the bottom. I noticed when, long after making an espresso and turned off, I find water on the underside, leaking from the plastic base. And of course it's the water from the chamber.

I ordered a Security Torx t20 and going to inspect what's going on. Any hints?

Certainly looked clean, though I suppose a second cup would clarify things.
Looking jealously at the Giannini…

2nd cup much better, no metal in the mix.

Will be boiler gasket needs replacing. Cheap to do, straightforward if you can do work on your bike. Just need an oil filter claw and some leverage.

I had a similar issue with Rancilio Silvia where water was leaking slowly long after finishing the coffee. It turned out to be a pipe connection to the pump. I guess pump is not applicable in your case, but it might be some other connection. I fixed it using Teflon plumber's tape

Yep just screen

Cheers waiting for the screwdriver to arrive and I'll have a look. Hopefully a quick fix.

It will be either the element seal or something to do with the pstat (no seals involved with that) so a cheap fix. Easy to do and basic tooling needed.

No oil filter wrench required. The boiler to base ring simply attaches boiler to the base and doesn't have any seals, nor is it's job to seal any water.

Like @Ptown says, I'd suspect a worn boiler gasket. I had a similar problem after I replaced all the gaskets on mine and hadn't tightened the boiler ring sufficiently. Oil filter claw will make the job a lot easier but isn't strictly necessary (though don't quote me on that, as mine needs tightening again after having serviced it back in August! No leaks at this point though, just a slightly rotating boiler)

It's possible that it's the seals for the element/pstat as @Kalkhoff says, but I'd be leaning towards the possibility of the boiler seal myself.

The only way the base ring could be making it leak is if it actually was able to spin free, which it can't do as the element and electrics are bolted to it. It can loosen a little (boiler can sometimes have lateral movement when it's warmed up) but wouldn't be the cause of the leak.

Pact are doing a free Clever Dripper for new subscribers for anyone who is curious - I imagine you can cancel fairly quickly.

https://www.pactcoffee.com/offers/

In my example, it was leaking after I replaced the gasket (didn't touch the element or pstat), and was resolved after I tighened the boiler ring.

Are you certain? I bought one with enough of a leak that rust had pitted the entire underside. I replaced the boiler gasket, which had hardened substantially and needed chiselling off, and there's no leaks anymore.

Edit: this was four years ago so could be misremembering but, like @mmccarthy, I don't remember touching pstat

As long as the boiler ring is threaded on enough to ensure the element (which bolts to the ring) can be tightened firmly to the boiler then the boiler to base gasket can't really cause a leak. I guess it's all hypothetical until he whips the base cover off and has a look 😁

Thanks just ordered. Like you say it looks like you can cancel at any time.

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That's a great deal, tempted to get one for leaving at the in-laws