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When I upgraded from a Sunbeam EM0480 to a Compak K3T (rebadged as Wega), the main thing I noticed was an improvement in consistency of both grind and in the cup.
When I upgraded from a Rocky doserless to a Compak K3 Touch the difference was immediate and very positive. I knew a grinder upgrade would make a tangible difference, but I had no idea how big a difference it would actually make.
Thanks for all the advice so far. Well for some reason things seem to have got worse - without me really changing any of the variables so it has me stumped and frustrated. I'm using the double basket in the naked portafilter holder and basically all of my shots are completely gushers with lots of channelling - having to cut the shot at about 12-15 seconds. The pressure only gets to about 5 bar. The puck is wet and muddy and now usually sticks to the shower screen - whereas before they used to by quite dry and firm with no cracks. I thought maybe the grinder had gone out of adjustment so I ground finer to no avail. Then I tried lowering the dose thinking maybe the puck was being compromised on portrafilter locking. No change. Then I tried updosing. No change. Ive tried three different roasters and beans of varying age (3,5,7,10 days).
Here is a pic of what I was originally getting (from my original opening post)
- now all I get is gushing, watery crap.
I have the shim kit for the Breville grinder but haven't installed it yet as last week it was grinding fine enough to choke the machine with adjustment room to go even finer
Hi all,
First coffee comes out at around 11-12 seconds, and total time to fill 2 x 30ml shots is around 35 secs (including the preinfusion of 7 secs). I try and cut the shot when blonding becomes apparent.
In my opinion, 60 ml is way too much!
Try exactly what you describe but cut it short about 25 seconds and 25 ml and see how you like the taste.
One thing I can't see mentioned, reduce your pre-infusion, I have mine set at 2 seconds, most people I know with the same machine only use up to 4 seconds, no higher.
Also don't completely write off either the grinder or machine just on certain comments on here without testing all variables.
If you want to upgrade your grinder the Baratza Preciso will get you 95% of the way there. No need to go crazy with some enormous comercial conical grinder
Hi Kaiser
Something I don't think anyone has mentioned - have you tried beans from a different supplier? Some suppliers roast darker, which with a tight pour like you mention may well become bitter.But as I home roast, I now roast lighter as a rule - which almost never becomes bitter (but can become sour!) Maybe you could try a bag of SO from beanbay?
PS Agree with a few here - if my espresso's are bitter, I tend to coarsen / speed up the shot. And forget the numbers! I've has great 25 sec and 45 sec espressos - but it is very dependent on the roast depth :-)
Matt
I think 35 seconds is likely over extracting. Try a bit courser grind and look to have your shot complete around 25 seconds as you will likely find the shots a bit sweeter with less extraction.
I don't know the grinder but in case the clicks aren't fine enough how about trying to change the dose?
More coffee = slower pour
Less coffee = faster pour
Thanks all. I know that a better grinder would be the ideal solution but I'd like to see what the ebst result is from the Breville before I write it off. I tried courser and finer grinds - coarse shot yielding 40ml in about 18 secs and the finer one yielding 20ml in 40 secs. I preferred the taste of the under extracted shot which had a bit more acidity while still retaining some body. The latter was undrinkable. I'll keep playing around. I'm eyeing off a Baritza / Mahlkoenig Vario as a replacement if I decide I can't get along with the Breville.
Heh, a Robur is way further than I was intending to go, but you make a very good point. I'd say I get a reasonable proportion of good shots, but I'd like to get it to an excellent proportion. An M4D maybe.
Hi Andrew - 'moll = milk' lol. Stoopid iphone! Have fixed that.
I was referring to the grinder in particular but to some extent, thinking of the coffee machine as well. Glad to hear you are producing great shots. From memory, when I visited Breville they had the BDB900 partnered with a Robur or similar. I think it's even in some of their youtube videos. What more can I say?
Dennis, when you say 'the Breville', are you talking about the BDB/BES900 or the BSG/BCG800, or both?
I have both, and while I'm considering getting a better grinder at some stage in the future and I might even upgrade from the BDB some time after that, I can get chocolate, caramel, nutty and even occasionally fruity flavours depending on the blend and the roast, just not as consistently as I'd like. I'm using a VST basket and Pullman tamper, but I don't think they're essential to getting a good cup. It has taken me the better part of 13 months to get to this point and for the grinder to stop clumping badly. I make six to ten coffees a day, mostly milk but some espressos, and everyone in the household likes their coffee strong so I use a 22g VST basket, 15 secs of pre-infusion using the manual button, and 60+ml of coffee in about 30 secs from the end of pre-infusion or until it blondes, which can sometimes take 40 secs or more. There has been some recent discussion in the BES900 thread about longer pours, I get no sourness and usually no bitterness from these pours, and the espresso is rich and full-bodied. This may not meet Dennis' definition of good coffee, so I'm looking forward to trying a better grinder and I'd like to experience what something like an Alex Duetto can produce as well. A side by side comparison would be great!
Kaiser, I presume you've been reading the BES900 owners' thread in the mid-priced machine forum, especially if you've mentioned 11 secs to the start of the coffee starting to pour. Had you asked your question there, you would have reached a higher proportion of forum members who are familiar with the BDB, its pre-infusion capabilities, the expected shot clock times to start and complete extraction, and the appropriate weight of coffee to dose the Breville double basket, which is a lot more than 14 g!
As far as I can see from your opening post you seem to be doing everything about right. Are you running the grinder for a couple of secs before you fill the portafilter to clear stale grounds? Does the top of grinder spindle oscillate/orbit when running, perhaps indicating some misalignment in the shaft which can contribute to uneven particle sizes? What sort of sound does it make when it runs empty, ie, is there any indication that the burrs may be touching slightly at some point? If so, this might indicate that trying out a better grinder may be your next step, but first try a slightly finer grind and a slightly extended pour and tell us what you think.
I must say i didn't mean to dip your name in on what i said either Dennis. However what you said was exactly what i found after updating my grinder from the Smart Grinder too the K3.
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