Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

[Dutchie]

OK..... I was reasonably new to all this and experimented with my new Lelit.
Wife complained coffee was bitter etc etc.....

Then, over the weekend, I got everything working, nice crema and no bitterness. Wife rated coffee as pretty good.

Then today, espresso is runny, minimal crema about 1-2mm.
Add to that milk not steamed well and loose. Using A2.

I tried 3 times tonight and each time same result.
I know I have a clean machine etc.....with my beans roasted only a fortnight ago and same grinder setting 2 on my machine which worked well over the weekend.

Coffee is not bitter but just no smooth silky texture.

Has my coffee bean already gone off?
I tamp OK and initially thickness and good drip for first 10 seconds before going light cream in colour and then runny resulting in almost no crema. Coffee is strong in taste and dark in colour.

Any advice would be warmly appreciated......

[theredcapsicum]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

Hey Bean, im only new to this game but i find my grinding is really dependant on the weather, i have to adjust it if its hot or humid and also if its cold, other wise the consistency of my shots is poles apart, i see your in melbourne and the weather has been all over the shop lately, maybe try changing the grind. i hope this helps

[espressed_is_best]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

I find that when I get the same pour, slow to begin then losens right up with no crema, then its time to throw the coffee out and roast some more. Depending on what beans you are using this can happen overnight. Some will argue but I think in most cases coffee roasted a fortnight ago is already past its best. Also as theredcapsicum said, it could be the weather playing a part in it too but my money is on the beans.

[Stan]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

If the coffee is the same and the grind is the same it is more likely your tamp that has varied. The grind your coffee requires will differ with humidity, age of the bean, etc etc etc but it shouldnt be as sudden as you are reporting. That is why I would look at my tamping technique.

The dramatic change you have reported is more likely IMHO to be tamping technique or perhaps has the temp of your machine changed (unlikely as well) did you let it warm up enough? BUT I still think tamping will be the issue

[Dutchie]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

Thanks heaps guys.........now that you mention it, yes my tamping I guess did change ever so slightly.......add the coffee, tamp tightly, add more coffee and tamp again........ummm
I appreciate your opinions so will adjust my grind to perhaps finer setting. Our should it be more coarse??

[theredcapsicum]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

To slow the pour i would make the grind finer. to fine and you will choke the machine ( as i have done many a time ;D )
good luck

[Dutchie]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

Thanks for that..........I did reduce the step down by half setting and gor about 3mm of crema this time but the coffee tasted much stronger......

I think the humidity has gotten to my beans.

I came back from the shops tonight and purchased a new air tight sealed container to store my beans.......
Should I take them out of the bag or leave them in?
And then, based on some other posts, should I move this container into the fridge??  Especially in summer with high humidity.........ummmm

[Thundergod]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

Leave them in the bag because you can squeeze most of the air out.

[Dutchie]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

OK, what I thought, and left them in the bag TG.

Will be interesting as we have friends coming over for dinner any moment so will be the first big test since Ive purchased the machine 3 weeks ago.........

[Thundergod]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

Stay calm.

[Dutchie]

Re: Suddenly a fast drip and almost no crema

Newsflash...........3 coffees down and working well......wooo hooo
got to go........