Coffee Appreciation

Woah, tell me it’s not the long one that faces the coffee? The top one shouldn’t be a problem as it’s similar to an espresso machine screw. It’s generally better to dose so the puck doesn’t swell against the screen anyway, as it’s thought to cause channeling.

No the short one faces the coffee. The way the robot is set up is you tamp your coffee into the basket, then place this screen on top. The long one is to help you grab and place it. This means the screen always touches the puck.

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I absentmindedly pushed the screen down on top of the puck rather than just gently placing it the other day

They say in the instructions you're meant to give it a firm push into the tamped coffee.

I don't get that on mine, small indent but no cracks. Sorry for poor photo, all that cracking was me moving it now.

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Oops, must have overlooked that bit!

Gave this one a press, got the divot in the center, but can also see where it is coming though fastest on pre-infusion just off to the left of center. It always channels there!

As a result also it takes a long time for the stream to come together as one, usually about two thirds of the way through the shot!

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I haven’t managed to destroy my all steel one yet, and this might not help your issue, but when I pour the hot water into the basket I hold it at an angle and start right on the edge, splitting the stream, this helps to prevent the disturbance of the puck. As the basket fills I stay at that angle and overfill it to preheat everything.

That's a good point, I pour from a swan neck kettle so presumably it goes in at quite a concentrated force and because of the curve in the neck at roughly the same spot each time! I'll try your side pour method tomorrow and report back.

Do you mean you pour over a sink and let the water overflow the top of the portafilter?

Tried a swan neck and found that to be the case. I pour over the sink, using a Trangia camping kettle - best pour of any that I've tried.

Hmm. They say specifically to pour directly into the middle, aiming for the silicon nib. That's what I do, until a cm or so under rim.

My pucks don't seem to have any of the cracking in these photos. They also do say not to read much into it, as when you remove the press after extraction, then repress to remove excess water / air it can easily crack the puck etc. there is a whole chapter on it.

If it helps :

• pour in ground coffee (about 18g)
  
• give it a mix with the wdt thing
  
• tamp down with mid force
  
• press in the screen firmly
  
• pour 95degree water directly onto the silicone bit (I just have a normal kettle)
  
• do the usual extraction
  
  • 10 seconds with no pressure, but holding arms
    
  • 20 seconds press (I don't weigh output, just press until the arms nearly touch the legs , maybe 2 or 3 cm away
    
• remove cup
  
• just press excess water and air
  
• job done
  

My technique was derived from 4.5 years of experimenting, works well for me.

This guy Cafelat’s.

Tried the side pouring method, I feel like it might lift the puck on one side a little, the pre-infusion came through first on the side I poured.....

Had an idea, I give you the high-tech kettle stream dispersal tool... Seems to work, the water was almost clear after pouring through this wonder!

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Mmm extra micro plastic goodness

Would a metal tea strainer help?

100% robusta in TK Maxx. 1kg. Anyone feeling brave?

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Fuck it, I am. Only live once, right?

it’s powerful and spicy.

the frisson of excitement at getting a bargain will soon fade as the bitter regret of 1kg of beans to get through takes it toll...

I bought some Starbucks espresso beans yesterday they are fucking vile

Lavazza ones are ok for mainstream.

I've ordered some Yellow Bourbon ones after all the positive reviews on here. Hopefully they'll arrive before I run out of current ones. Have some emergency Morrison branded ones as a backup that I'm dreading to open.

bitter regret of 1kg of beans to get through takes it toll..

This.

Somewhere there’s a fixie thread on a coffee forum where they’re all buying and talking about Foffa

I got a yb subscription in the end. Turns out 500g of coffee doesn’t last very long

It’s just for a bit of fun.

The dark side of fun.