Coffee Appreciation

Shouldn't worry too much about it, you could discard the first gram or two that you grind to purge any old coffee out, like conscientious sorts do with electric grinders, but I doubt the porlex holds on to too much old coffee. Give it a good tap when you're done too.

Ah cheers. A tap and a small purge, easy peasy.

defo good advise, i use the handle to tap the top half (actual grinder part) over my aeropress, seems to dislodge most of the leftovers

@Bombcup, since I've been boshing through lot of coffee recently, I picked up some Monmouth Guatemalan de-caffeinated today.

I've only tried pouring a few shots to make Americanos, but I found that it has a very slight burnt plastic-y taste to it. It improved a lot when I reduced from 18g to 14g, but I was just wondering if you know of any advice for getting the best out of it. Maybe I should try a latte...

I'll still obviously stick to using the normal stuff in the daytime, but it'd be nice to drink in the evening and not be awake all night.

Cheers,

Roddy

http://sprudge.com/shit-baristas-say.html

@Bombcup, since I've been boshing through lot of coffee recently, I picked up some Monmouth Guatemalan de-caffeinated today.

I've only tried pouring a few shots to make Americanos, but I found that it has a very slight burnt plastic-y taste to it. It improved a lot when I reduced from 18g to 14g, but I was just wondering if you know of any advice for getting the best out of it. Maybe I should try a latte...

I'll still obviously stick to using the normal stuff in the daytime, but it'd be nice to drink in the evening and not be awake all night.

Cheers,

Roddy

Mate I have to admit I haven't got round to playing with the decaf as espresso. I do taste it as a filter most mornings and we're getting milk chocolate and a slight earthyness from it, one of the more convincing decafs I've tasted.

If you're concerned about it take it back to the shop where you'll get a replacement and it'll come back to the roastery to be tasted. It could be that the couple of bad beans (hard, medicinal tasting) which can sometimes find their way into decaf ended up in your bag.

I'm off until a week on monday now but I'll ask one of the bar folk what they do with the espresso. Have you had a decaf americano in the shop, and did you enjoy it there?

Have you had a decaf americano in the shop, and did you enjoy it there?

Cheers, thanks for the advice. I haven't tried one in the shop as it was my girlfriend who picked it up from the Borough Market branch. I might try one there, and if it's totaly different then I may enquire. You could also smell it in the cup too; a vague smell a bit like the air from an innertube!

Anyway, I need to make a fair test, and also experiment as I've only just got it. I may also make a 50/50 blend with a non-decaf.

By the way, I had some of the Kenyan Tinganga Estate and it was amazing. Seriously rich!

Go naked portafilter TS. You know it makes sense.

I did and it still leaks, I don't see why it would... I still have a lot to learn...

Just pulled a very nice medium black... Gonna have another one after I've done my morning stretches... :]

Leaks from where? Grouphead gasket? Not tight enough? I think mine was worn portafilters..

TS - Grouphead gasket is the most likely cuplrit, but you will learn how to tamp when you go for the naked PF.

Also - BMMF recommended to me Grape Nuts as a cleaning medium for the Porlex. Throw some in the top and grind through. Grind another couple of grams of the new coffee to clean out any taste you're good to go.

getting a Gaggia Classic, for free. friend's boss is getting rid of it and friend doesn't want it. Looks ok from the 3 seconds I saw it before rugby yesterday, could be a shed but we'll see. can't complain for free.

De-scale it when you get it. Tartaric acid (eBay) is apparently safer on the Alu boiler of the Classic, but I've not heard problems from using normal stuff (I use Poundland stuff). Let it sit in there for a good while (it's like descaling a kettle, except you can't see). Also, remove the shower screen to check for gunk.

got it, gave it a superficial clean. steam wand seems fine but there is hardly any water coming through the group. have taken the shower screen off to clean that too but even still there's bugger all coming through. I can't dismantle any further as the two allen bolts holding the screen holder in just won't budge. I've actually twisted an allen key trying. probably cos it's warm at the minute, i'll let it cool down and try again.

will have to descale obvs. is it as simple as filling the reservoir with the solution and going through the priming etc (run the steam wand for a bit then the group and leave to sit, repeat and flush?)

any advise gratefully received.

Too big I think, see thumb

1 Attachment

will have to descale obvs. is it as simple as filling the reservoir with the solution and going through the priming etc (run the steam wand for a bit then the group and leave to sit, repeat and flush?)

Ok, remove the element above the shower screen too, which is attached with two allen bolts (5mm IIRC). Brush/scour any crap out. You can leave these parts off when you de-scale. Leave these parts in a cup of descaler while you do the rest of the machine.

Yep. Although some would say otherwise, I'd kick off with a strong solution and run it into a jug for say, twenty seconds until the water gets hot and comes out foamy. Let a little come out of the steam wand too. Turn the machine fully off and leave to sit for half an hour. If there isn't any sediment in the decaler that came out, then you can return it to the tank to fulsh again (and repeat). You may need to do this a fair bit if it's really clogged. I've had to descale kettles overnight before in extreme cases.

You'll also want to back-flush the unit too, so as to de-scale the other routes where water may wish to pass. To do this, block the portafilter's exit somehow (you can buy a "blind basket" to do so easily). I've blocked one with some cork in the spout fitting before. Anyway, put some descaler in the basket, then run the pump for 15 seconds or so. No liquid should come out. Now release the pump switch (and heater too) and you'll hear a big "splosh" as liquid returns back through the unit.

Have a look on Google, and I bet someone will have posted some pictures.

Also, there's a small chance that you pump may be goosed, but I'd say it's more likely to be scale, just as was the case with mine.

Roddy

i'm guessing the pump is ok (unless there are two) as the steam wand is fine. the main problem is the two allen bolts are proper stuck.

descaling now.

also just ordered a rubber blanking disc for backflushing, need a good tamper, this plastic one looks like its going to be shit. anyone got a spare?

getting somewhere with the descaling, now have flow through the group, one more round then flushing

Budget version of a blank basket. Stick down a load of parcel tape around your existing basket. Job done.

i'm guessing the pump is ok (unless there are two) as the steam wand is fine. the main problem is the two allen bolts are proper stuck.

Get an allen key in good condition, and use a lever like a pipe or a long pair of pliers to shift them. It may be easier when it's warm/hot. It'll be full of shite, some of which may be fine coffee grounds which the descaler may not dissolve.

Note that the flow from the Classic's shower screen always tends slightly more to the left, as the element above the shower screen which helps to disperse the water is fed from the left hand side.

Get an allen key in good condition, and use a lever like a pipe or a long pair of pliers to shift them. It may be easier when it's warm/hot.

This, or using an allen bit on a ratchet will give you the torque with a bit less risk of rounding from slippage.

Seems fine now, ran a shed load of water through and pulled one shot, didn't drink it as it was late but it seemed to pour too quick. Will tighten the burrs on the Porlex and try one in the morning

Cool, quick shot probably down to all the water lines now being clear.

Had an ok shot this morning, a bit bitter but that may be due to old beans. Flow seemed a lot better.

Just brewing some Indonesia Sulawesi Celebes. Smells delicious :)