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- #81
This is what my machine looks like when it is at the proper temp. water comes out evenly all around the screen instead of just one or two places
If your choking the machine make the grind one notch larger and be sure all the grinds of the previous size are cleaned from the machine or they still foul the next shot or two as they mix with the new setting. The amount of tamp pressure is not as important as the consistency of pressure. Use a pressure you can match every time and adjust your grind to that.I continue to waste a bunch of beans getting the grind and tamp right. What worked well last night isn't working well this morning. Took me about six tries to get three almost acceptable shots. I keep choking off the machine.
If your choking the machine make the grind one notch larger and be sure all the grinds of the previous size are cleaned from the machine or they still foul the next shot or two as they mix with the new setting. The amount of tamp pressure is not as important as the consistency of pressure. Use a pressure you can match every time and adjust your grind to that.
What grinder do you have?
Once you have an even tamp pressure and your pulling shots that are consistently around 25 seconds or so you can then tamp firmer and coarser or finer and lighter to solve sour and bitter taste issues provided your strike water temps are also consistent. It is surprising just how much one variable change can make in the taste.Things a going in the right direction. I've tweaked the grind coarser and maintained light but consistent tamping. I think it may just be that the beans are oily. They are definitely fresh. One week since roasting.
I continue to waste a bunch of beans getting the grind and tamp right. What worked well last night isn't working well this morning. Took me about six tries to get three almost acceptable shots. I keep choking off the machine.
I've found that when I get a setup right my grinder and expresso machine will consistently pull great shots. But I like to switch off between expresso varieties. Whenever I finish a bag I generally move on to something else. It always amazes me how much of an adjustment I have to make when I switch brands. What used to be a perfect setup with the beans I just finished could lead to runny 5-second shots, or drip-drip-drip one minute shots with the new beans.
Agreed on the pour over, Mick. I have yet to really dial in my grind for my chemex. I've been using my Hairo for it and I'm somewhere on the cusp of too fine/too coarse. Right around 3-4 turns on the adjustment wheel.
Back to my little Breville. I must say I'm loving it. I'm starting to understand its capabilities and limits. So far I'm making really nice shots with this run of beans. Not one tossed out so far. Definitely a good starter machine.
As I have always said. "The perfect cup of coffee is a moving target"