Coffee troubles (weak)

[bugsy2126]

Hi there, first time poster long time viewer.

I recently acquired (well my family) a 6910 Espresso machine and have been practicing creating coffees. However, after sorting through assorted problems associated with learning to coffee, I seem to have hit a roadblock... my coffee is weak. The pressure gauge goes all the way to top of the optimum section which we figured was a grinding problem, however even when a shot comes out, and after battling with frothing the milk, the taste is still very weak. Im sure some of the strength comes from the bean, however coffees made at my work are ten times stronger with just the one shot.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Chris.

[yeeza]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Hey Chris,

What beans you using? What you grinding with? Might help to sort out the problemo! And I guess also, what size cups/glasses are you using?

[bugsy2126]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Im using Vittoria espresso coffee and a small Phillips grinder. I understand that this isnt the best grinder however we have managed to get the coffee fairly fine and when used with plunged coffee it delivers a pretty strong flavour. Do the grinders make a big difference in strength?

EDIT: Ooops, the cup we use is a 300 mL cup.

[mwatt]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Hmm ... Im going to guess the beans might be at least part of the prob. Chances are theyre past their peak. Try to get hold of some locally roasted beans that have been roasted in the last three weeks or so. Good luck!

[bugsy2126]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Whereabouts does one acquire locally roasted beans? Im really new to the whole serious about coffee thing. My mum always bought Gloria Jeans coffee  :-/

Also, the cafe where I work in is delivered shipments of Mocador 1kg bags which cant be the freshest of coffees however it delivers a bang from just one shot. I guess the bean could be making a bigger difference than I thought. Was just thinking it might have been my technique or stamping incorrectly.

[beanflying]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Hi Chris,

I am assuming you are using the double basket for 300ml? You want to get about 50-60ml from the double for the 300ml. My preference is 250ml with doubles for that extra wired feeling

Grab a bag of Brown Bay Espresso WOW (5 thumbs up) and have a really good go then or there is a few other sponsors who roast as well.

[mwatt]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Whereabouts does one acquire locally roasted beans? Im really new to the whole serious about coffee thing.

Was just thinking it might have been my technique or stamping incorrectly.

Whereabouts are you located? As bf said - you can try any of the sponsors over there, or someone might know somewhere closer to home



... Oh, and just quietly, I think you mean tamping
Hope your coffee journey just gets better and better!

[yeeza]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Im using Vittoria espresso coffee and a small Phillips grinder. I understand that this isnt the best grinder however we have managed to get the coffee fairly fine and when used with plunged coffee it delivers a pretty strong flavour. Do the grinders make a big difference in strength?

EDIT: Ooops, the cup we use is a 300 mL cup.

Hey Chris,
Yeah youve got a few things working against you there mate.... well pretty much everything you mentioned haha, sorry man. Like Michelle said, your Vittoria is probably stale already, the phillips grinder Im not familiar with it... Im guessing its got a few blades that spin around real quick.... how much it costs usually gives you a fair indication of grind quality. I think the going minimum is the Sunbeam EMO480 at rrp $199. Theres grinding fine, and grinding fine. Espresso grounds can be really finicky.... small adjustments can make a huge difference, hence the price difference. Plunged coffee is more forgiving with grind size.

Your cup is probably too big unless youre pulling double shots. FWIW I generally (for myself) dont go over a cup bigger than 220 ml for milk drinks.... (and I usually pour doubles into that too).... Try a double shot into that 300ml cup, and you may see a difference. Its subjective though, and purely personal taste.

Youve got a machine that is totally capable of pulling some great shots though - PROVIDED you have a grinder to match and fresh coffee.

Hope that helps mate.

[bugsy2126]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Wow thanks for the responses guys. You know it only JUST hit me how big the cup size was. Here I was using a single basket :S. The manual is saying one shot for cups around ~195ml and here I am with a 300 mL cup. To be honest, I hadnt measured it until just now when I was asked how big it was.

Yeah I only realised how much grinders were when I started looking through this site and saw a minimum grinder was 190 bucks heh.

Im located in Cherrybrook, Sydney which I guess is near Castle Hills, Pennant Hills, Dural etc. Gotta look into some local coffees.

Thanks again for all the responses. I think its time to try the double basket.

[yeeza]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Im located in Cherrybrook, Sydney which I guess is near Castle Hills, Pennant Hills, Dural etc. Gotta look into some local coffees.

Yeah I guessed that from your postcode (2126)

Check out CS member NUNU or Wine Of The Bean in the search. Anthony lives in Carlingford and Im sure hell happily supply you with the goods.... (sorry if I just volunteered you Nunu :)

[bugsy2126]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Cool, good to know where to get some good beans.

One last thing, what is the difference between a double basket, single basket, single shot and a double shot (with the 6910 its a picture of one cup and a picture of 2 cups). If I want to make a 50-60 mL shot do I just use the single basket with a double shot (2 cups)? Or double basket with one shot?

Oh man, I confuse myself.

[yeeza]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

haha, yeah double basket, with the 2cup button....into one cup hehe. Better still, if you use the Manual button to start and stop the flow before it starts oozing blonde overextracted bitterness... unless thats how you roll.

I used a 6910 the other night at a friends place, and I found updosing (cramming more coffee than the recommended 14g) into it works best for this machine. Almost cram as much in as you can before the dry coffee puck rubs on the screen and you cant get the portafilter handle in. Theres heaps of threads though on this machine, thatll describe it better than me.

[mwatt]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

I dont know about the buttons on the 6910, but definitely use the double basket

[mwatt]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

Beat me to it, Dan

[bugsy2126]

Re: Coffee troubles (weak)

I always thought the blonde stuff was the crem or creme or something and was important to a coffee. Oh so much to learn