Coffee Appreciation

I bought my first expresso machine *Delongi Dedica
https://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/ec685-bk-dedica-manual-espresso-maker/p/EC685.BK

But I'm having trouble getting any kind of shot through the portafilter when filled.

Using the double or single pressurised baskets and some standard off the shelf pre-ground coffee.

It appears to become blocked just after the initial extraction comes through.

Should I try finer coffee or am I doing somthing else wrong?
I thought preground coffee should work no problems with a pressurised basket.

Just guessing here.... but when you tamp coffee and water saturates it (your initial extraction), the puck swells, making it more difficult for water to flow through the coffee. It could be that the combination of your tamp and the saturation of the puck means your water cannot flow.

Have you tried tamping with less pressure?

Not tamping apart from flattening it.

Have you tried dropping the x?

In Italy they write espresso, even though the word's origin in Latin
rather implies it should be written with an x, simply because Italian
doesn‘t have the letter x whereas Latin did. Other languages, such as
English and French use x in many words where Italian doesn‘t because
these languages have the letter x (as an example express = fast). Thus
we deduce, that as Icelandic has the letter x we should pronounce and
write the word expressó like that, with an x.

Also just tried turning it off and on again - to reset the programming.
Too late in the evening for coffee now but will give it a bash tomorrow morning.

THanks All!

we

ha ha

I had a Dedica until recently. It's quite easy to choke the machines.
Are you weighing coffee in? Very easy to choke it with too fine grind or too big dose.
If you're using pre-ground, try reducing the dose a bit.

Thanks, I tried this morning after resetting everything and got slightly more output but still only half a shot.

Not weighing but using the scoop it came with, normally two heaps.

Tried again just now with only a single scoop and nothing but a couple of drops came out = completely jammed.

I assume it's brand new?
Even so, have you taken all of the basket apart and given it a good scrub now?

Back in the thread a bit, I'd ordered a Niche to go with my Silvia. Got notification this week that it was going to be delivered early. Arrived today...excited to give it a try!

Nice! I do love my Sette, but if I were in the market for another grinder I reckon that'd be top of my list.

Likewise, my equipment is likely beyond my interest/pallette/taste for coffee but I just find the retention in the grinder I have so frustrating while making small adjustments

To be fair, the grind retention was the main selling point of the Sette for me. I haven't seen any direct comparisons between the two, just the consensus that they're both top tier for home grinders in that regard.

For some reason I thought the Niche had much less of a problem with popcorning when single-dosing, but after actually having a look, it looks like the Sette is actually better in that regard.

I think what I've found is that despite thinking of myself as being relatively ambivalent regarding aesthetics, it is the nicer design of the Niche that appeals to me.

I've been really impressed just unboxing it. It looks and feels like a premium product, which I guess it should for it's price tag.

I'd read about the popcorning problems on earlier versions, I think they reduced it in later models by adding in a small perspex plate into the feed hole. Can be bought and installed separately for early machines but is included on later builds, including mine.

Not sure how it compares with the Sette with this countermeasure but like you say, they're both top tier.

I've been really impressed just unboxing it. It looks and feels like a premium product, which I guess it should for it's price tag.

Yeah it really does look like a nicely designed machine, both in terms of quality and aesthetics. I've not had any issues with my Sette but the finish does look a bit cheap. To be fair, it's not a massive concern for me, though next to the La Pavoni and little wooden coffee roaster I've got it does look a bit less fancy.

I'd read about the popcorning problems on earlier versions, I think they reduced it in later models by adding in a small perspex plate into the feed hole. Can be bought and installed separately for early machines but is included on later builds, including mine.

Ah that would explain me flip-flopping on my impression of it. I was looking at a review of an early model there without the little plate but I recall seeing it mentioned as an improvement.

How did you order? Website just sends me to a 3 year old Indiegogo page!

Through IndieGoGo. Orders aren't open atm.

Am giving Cricklewood Coffee a go - geographically nearest roasters and keen to virtue signal by shopping local and that - will report back.

Still having w0ahs with my Dedica

Heres a video of trying to push a double shot out through an empty filter
https://streamable.com/rp5v2y

I think it shows water leaking from between the group head and the portafilter at the start of the shot. Any ideas whats wrong?

Broken/damaged seal?

Is there coffee in the portafilter or just using as an example of the leaking beforehand?

Yeah... That ain't right!

If it's empty and you're still getting nothing out, something is really wrong.
Is it a brand new machine? Did you take all of the basket apart and clean it all thoroughly?

With the pressurised basket it's easy for the small hole in the metallic part to get blocked with old coffee. If it's a second hand machine, give it a good descale. If it's brand new, probably send it back?

Not sure about your leak, I think that's likely just water finding it's way out once the basket is pressurised and path of least resistance since the basket is blocked.

I'm going as the incredible hulk.

I'm afraid my sour espresso saga continues.

I gave my Gaggia Classic a good deep clean (after a blockage in the solenoid valve which needed sorting) and took the opportunity to replace the grouphead seal/gasket, changed the OEM shower block and screen for a brass block and IMS screen and flushed it all with Puly Caff. Also have an 18g VST basket in.

I bought some nice beans from my local this morning and had an espresso from them while I was there to baseline the flavour a bit. I'm brewing 18g in and 40g out over 28-30 secs and still producing a shot that has unpleasant sourness. This has been the case across the beans I've had and I'm currently on a medium roast blend as opposed to the darker single-origin beans I have had previously.

The only thing I can now think is that I'm brewing too cold - I'm letting it warm up for 10mins or so, perhaps it needs longer and a flush through before brewing? Is there anything else I'm missing?

Advice appreciated!

Cool bit of kit in the classifieds. Always wanted to try a syphon

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/15771874/