Hi Guys,
I currently own a DeLonghi EC410 that I received for a Birthday present after talking about all the fun I had learning how to use the commercial coffee machine at a film festival I was volunteering at, and Im having some issues with it.
Im not sure if its time to give the DeLonghi the heave-ho or not...
The machine is now coming up on 2 years old and its been descaled once (I know.. I know.. *smacks hand*)... Recently the machine has been getting this huge pressure build up behind the portafilter when on "steam mode" which never used to happen before. Its gotten to the point now where Ill preheat the machine, and pull a shot, then flick it over to steam mode so that it heats up, then froth the milk and make the rest of the coffee. When I unscrew the portafilter enough there has been so much pressure build up in the machine that it explodes the filter out along with coffee grounds all over the kitchen, smashing the portafilter down onto the drip tray and probably taking about 5 minutes off my life from the fright
Any idea why this is happening? Should that pressure build up even be occuring? Do you think there is some valve inside that isnt working as it should?
I only just discovered that I could unscrew and remove the "shower screen" to clean it, as well as disassemble the portafilter and Ive got to say they are both in pretty foul condition. I dont have any fit-for-purpose cleaning gear so I basically used a pointed tip skewer to clear out the muck so that the flow was better. It doesnt seem like the machine is having as much trouble pulling the shots through but even after cleaning everything (havent descaled yet) it still practically explodes when you remove the portafilter.
Sure, I guess I could remove the portafilter before I switch to steam mode, but that leads me to wonder if the machine will have anywhere to build up its steam. It never seemed to be trying to build up pressure in this way before.
So Im stumped, is there anything I can do to fix it? Any ideas?
Ive been exploring the options of new machines and think that I would like to get a Imat Mokita Junior if I do decide to go that route. Ultimately Id love a Silvia, but I just cant justify spending that much. Well I cant really really afford either, but thats what credit cards are for, right? ;D
My thinking so far is:
New Machine:
* Clean, New, Warranty, Recommended by many "in the know"
* High Quality, ie. better boiler, basket, portafilter, group head, etc.
* Lot of Room to learn and improve -- Capacity for some really nice coffee
Old Machine:
* Time and drama trying to figure out or fix the problem
* Money for repairs
* Machine hasnt been cared for as it should (very dirty parts) - Is it recoverable? If so, is it worth trying to put all that work into getting a DeLonghi that isnt that crash hot in the first place going again?
I feel like in my researches Ive learnt so much about caring for machines, which machines are good and some solid basics on pulling good coffees that maybe I should cut the DeLonghi loose and start over.
What do the experts think?
Should I ditch the DeLonghi and go Imat Mokita Junior? Is there something better than that in the same price (500AUD) ?
Any help appreciated
Lachlan
I currently own a DeLonghi EC410 that I received for a Birthday present after talking about all the fun I had learning how to use the commercial coffee machine at a film festival I was volunteering at, and Im having some issues with it.
Im not sure if its time to give the DeLonghi the heave-ho or not...
The machine is now coming up on 2 years old and its been descaled once (I know.. I know.. *smacks hand*)... Recently the machine has been getting this huge pressure build up behind the portafilter when on "steam mode" which never used to happen before. Its gotten to the point now where Ill preheat the machine, and pull a shot, then flick it over to steam mode so that it heats up, then froth the milk and make the rest of the coffee. When I unscrew the portafilter enough there has been so much pressure build up in the machine that it explodes the filter out along with coffee grounds all over the kitchen, smashing the portafilter down onto the drip tray and probably taking about 5 minutes off my life from the fright

Any idea why this is happening? Should that pressure build up even be occuring? Do you think there is some valve inside that isnt working as it should?
I only just discovered that I could unscrew and remove the "shower screen" to clean it, as well as disassemble the portafilter and Ive got to say they are both in pretty foul condition. I dont have any fit-for-purpose cleaning gear so I basically used a pointed tip skewer to clear out the muck so that the flow was better. It doesnt seem like the machine is having as much trouble pulling the shots through but even after cleaning everything (havent descaled yet) it still practically explodes when you remove the portafilter.
Sure, I guess I could remove the portafilter before I switch to steam mode, but that leads me to wonder if the machine will have anywhere to build up its steam. It never seemed to be trying to build up pressure in this way before.
So Im stumped, is there anything I can do to fix it? Any ideas?
Ive been exploring the options of new machines and think that I would like to get a Imat Mokita Junior if I do decide to go that route. Ultimately Id love a Silvia, but I just cant justify spending that much. Well I cant really really afford either, but thats what credit cards are for, right? ;D
My thinking so far is:
New Machine:
* Clean, New, Warranty, Recommended by many "in the know"
* High Quality, ie. better boiler, basket, portafilter, group head, etc.
* Lot of Room to learn and improve -- Capacity for some really nice coffee
Old Machine:
* Time and drama trying to figure out or fix the problem
* Money for repairs
* Machine hasnt been cared for as it should (very dirty parts) - Is it recoverable? If so, is it worth trying to put all that work into getting a DeLonghi that isnt that crash hot in the first place going again?
I feel like in my researches Ive learnt so much about caring for machines, which machines are good and some solid basics on pulling good coffees that maybe I should cut the DeLonghi loose and start over.
What do the experts think?
Should I ditch the DeLonghi and go Imat Mokita Junior? Is there something better than that in the same price (500AUD) ?
Any help appreciated

Lachlan
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