Puddle on my Puck?

[joz]

I hope you guys can help me here.
For some reason at home on the Expobar Minore whenever I make a coffee there is some water that puddles on top of the puck in the handle.

The coffee seems to be extracted well with lovely crema and Im loving each one.But it annoys the poops out of me when i go to do s second shot straight away and theres water still sitting in the handle,it also makes a sloppy mess.
If I wait for about 5 mins its all fine, obviously it drains out.

How can I stop this?

I now put my self into your hands :-[

[Javaphile]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

It sounds like youre under-dosing. Try filling the basket higher. There should be an impression of the shower screen/screw in the top of the puck after pulling the shot.


Java "No pucking puddles please!" phile

[joz]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

Thanks Java"Reply"phile,
I can give it a crack and see how it goes.

[Shotgun]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

If your coffee tastes fine and the extraction is good and uniform, then puddling on top of the puck probably isnt a problem IMHO.

I get the same thing but my pucks are solid with even extraction and not watery when I tap them out and snap them in two. 

[dabbler]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

I agree - taste is the test.
If youve settled on a grind/dose/bean combination and not experimenting then just put up with puddles.
If you cant live with them its time to revisit dose.

I sometimes get puddles when the bean changes and I fiddle with dose.
dabbler

[joz]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

Well I still have the problem.
I have made sure that the dose is full.To get the inprint in the puck.To the point its hard to get the handle in.
I have adjusted grind settings(courser) incase it may drain better. Coffee tastes worse :P now and just runs out without crema.

Really what bothers me about the puddle is when Im making multiple coffees it makes a mess as when I release the handle. It seems that the pressure hasnt released and sprays a bit as the group handle is released.
If I wait a couple of minutes its fine,but I cant always just wait.

Frustration! :-[

[SniffCoffee]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

It seems that the pressure hasnt released and sprays a bit as the group handle is released.
If I wait a couple of minutes its fine,but I cant always just wait.

Sounds to me like the 3-way valve isnt working? Stuck or broken? Do you do chemical backflushes?

Sniff

[Shotgun]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

It seems that the pressure hasnt released and sprays a bit as the group handle is released.
If I wait a couple of minutes its fine,but I cant always just wait.

Sounds to me like the 3-way valve isnt working?  Stuck or broken?  Do you do chemical backflushes?

Sniff

OK, well thats not what I thought you were referring to when you began the thread. I get a puddle when I remove the group handle after a shot but the pressure has been released and its not an issue at all.

I agree with Sniff, maybe your 3 way is cactus?

BTW, you definitely shouldnt be dosing to the point where its difficult to get the group head on and it sounds as though you should be grinding finer rather than coarser.

[joz]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

It seems that the pressure hasnt released and sprays a bit as the group handle is released.
If I wait a couple of minutes its fine,but I cant always just wait.

Sounds to me like the 3-way valve isnt working?  Stuck or broken?  Do you do chemical backflushes?

Sniff

OK, well thats not what I thought you were referring to when you began the thread. I get a puddle when I remove the group handle after a shot but the pressure has been released and its not an issue at all.

I agree with Sniff, maybe your 3 way is cactus?

BTW, you definitely shouldnt be dosing to the point where its difficult to get the group head on and it sounds as though you should be grinding finer rather than coarser.

Yep I do chemical clean weekly.
But it sounds like the 3 way to me because it does have built up presure when I release the handle.

Oh dear repairs :-[

[GregWormald]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

So when you clean, and turn off the pump, do you get a release from the 3-way?

Greg

[SniffCoffee]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

But it sounds like the 3 way to me because it does have built up presure when I release the handle.

Could it be youre not pushing the lever all the way back down when stopping the shot and the 3-way isnt activating?

[joz]

Re: Puddle on my Puck?

Could it be youre not pushing the lever all the way back down when stopping the shot and the 3-way isnt activating?

Note to self... :-[
PUSH THE BLOODY LEVER ALL THE WAY DOWN! :


Thanks a million fellas, its all good again at the Jdub residence
The wifey is also happy again,
No mess!