Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

[dannyh]

I bought a new Astoria Plus 4 you, 2 group machine for my soon to be opened cafe in Phuket. I have been practicing on it this week.

I found that the handles are a really tight fit into the group, even when empty...the dealer said this is normal for new machines.

I have found that the dosing method of filling the basket and then leveling is actually overdosing to the point that I can’t lock in the handle. A lesser amount of coffee works fine but now I am facing a consistency problem as I need to guess how much to fill the basket. Obviously the leveling technique is more accurate, whereas now I am guessing using my eyes only.

Has anyone else had a similar problem? I guess  Scottie Callaghans dosing tools may solve the problem, but looks like I need to buy quite a few to get one which has the right amount of curvature.

[Andy]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

Which size basket is it Danny?

I remember when the machine was released in Thailand at their National Championships a couple of years ago there were quite a few people that had trouble dosing at first but by the end of the first day there were plenty of great shots being pulled.

It was the 53mm (53 or 54 from memory) and the trick was to dose without collapse and then level and light tamp.

Jason (the tech from from Astoria UK) did a demo for us tamping on that narrow baskets. Level without tamping pulled exactly the same shot as level and tamped... the narrow and deep basket worked well but for tradition, the USA and now Australia have 58mm groups on the Plus4U.

[dannyh]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

Thats interesting Andy and I had previously also used the smaller (I think 53 mm baskets) at Chartrees Showroom in Bangkok. He supplied the machines for that championship you mentioned. He did me a great deal on the 58 mm version before the next model came in so I couldnt resist... and I love the machine.
Even without collapsing the level seems too high so I am thinking a curved dosing tool may do the trick.

[Andy]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

Its a seriously under rated machine, great thermals and green power usage and lots of tweaks for those that want to play. Ive had some really great shots off the Plus4U with a known coffee.

Ive not tried the 58mm so dont have any tips, sorry.

You could maybe drop a line to Crown Coffee or Roastmax as they both sell these machines here and they might have some ideas for you try?

[dannyh]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

Thanks for the suggestion I will contact them.

I agree it is underated and the green power is a great selling point. I was almost seduced into buying a Synesso, but at half the price this machine is great value and more than adequate in the Phuket coffee market where people still look confused when I talk about fresh coffee .

[Andy]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

green power is a great selling point

Depending on use and local power costs the machine can pay for itself in a few years.

Are you using the Mini-E as your grinder? If so, you could try dosing by time too.

[dannyh]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

Power is actually quite expensive here, and I dont think many people would take electricty consumption into consideration when buying an espresso machine.

Yes I agree the Mazzers E could solve the issue by timing the dose....although I have seen some debate on CS about the dosing accuracy. I agonised over what grinders to buy. I have a mini E at home and I like it, but i decided to go with SJ and Mini (backup) both with doser because I thought it was the best way to go with baristas who I would train. This was before I found that leveling off resulted in too much coffee. I still think a curved dosing tool may do the trick. I have been "levelling off" by actually "digging" a bit below the level of the basket edge using my finger but obviously this is difficult to repeat with acuracy.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

This was before I found that leveling off resulted in too much coffee. I still think a curved dosing tool may do the trick.

Easy enough to make a couple of temporary curved dosing tools with some solid cardboard/plastic and a circular surface to trace. Might give some info re whether proper ones are worth a try.
Cheers
BOSW

[dannyh]

Re: Dosing issue for Astoria Plus 4 you

Easy enough to make a couple of temporary curved dosing tools with some solid cardboard/plastic and a circular surface to trace. Might give some info re whether proper ones are worth a try.
Cheers
BOSW

Thanks Barry, yes I think I will try making one