Coffee Grounds in Coffee - not the usual

[Andy]

Single baskets can be a real PITA to use Dave, they seem to be universally unloved.

I love my single baskets!
...they get thrown in the junk box and they amuse small kiddies at work.

Does anyone actually use them for coffee?

[Yelta]

Its a new cafe, about 8 months old, I've been the barista since opening. All equipment was new when the cafe opened. Nothing has changed - same blend, same dosage. Only changes are a slow but gradual adjustment of the grinder - every few weeks making it a notch finer. So far I've just attributed it to the new blades wearing in. Though 8months is a long time to wear in.
Is the thinking with the grinder that grinds are actually passing through the filter basket? Grinds seem uniform. If the problem was with the grind the double espresso basket should be just as bad as the single basket no?

Single baskets can be a real PITA to use Dave, they seem to be universally unloved.

[Dave187]

Its a new cafe, about 8 months old, I've been the barista since opening. All equipment was new when the cafe opened. Nothing has changed - same blend, same dosage. Only changes are a slow but gradual adjustment of the grinder - every few weeks making it a notch finer. So far I've just attributed it to the new blades wearing in. Though 8months is a long time to wear in.
Is the thinking with the grinder that grinds are actually passing through the filter basket? Grinds seem uniform. If the problem was with the grind the double espresso basket should be just as bad as the single basket no?

[Thundergod]

What's changed?

You've already said new baskets but they've been OK until now?

New beans?

How much are you dosing?

Dull grinder blades?
Check the grinds for particle size uniformity.

[Dave187]

Thanks Yelta, will do.

Its a Boema AGCA grinder, which is a base model. Espresso machine is a three group head Dal Tio SRL Dal Tio S.r.l.

I'm not overdosing the single basket, which seems to be the worst. The double basket is close to being over-dosed but has minimal grinds in its shots. The single basket is a fairly deep concave to keep the grind pouring right in both the single and double baskets.

The used coffee pucks are a good consistancy from both baskets, as is the pour, timing and taste. I wonder if I need a smaller single basket for a more even basket. No idea what size basket came with the machine though.

[Yelta]

G'Day Dave, welcome to Coffee Snobs, why not take the time to tell us a bit about yourself here http://coffeesnobs.com.au/off-topic/...o-easy-me.html
Re your problem, knowing the make/model of your machine and grinder may help diagnose the problem.

You say "After one shot around the shower screen seems excessively dirty." is there a possibility your overdosing?

[Dave187]

Hi all,

I'm a barista in a small coffee shop, and have recently been getting an excess of grinds in my shots. I've searched around and haven't discovered what it would be as yet.

It is not:
- Grinds on the bottom of the group handle spouts - they are rinsed clean before every shot I pull.
- Too fine a grind - we use a spring loaded tamp that ensures the correct 30lbs of pressure is exerted. A full shot takes 27 seconds. Shots taste right, a courser grind results in under extraction and too much volume
- Pretty confident it shouldn't be the filter baskets as they are 6 months old and supplied with the machine. I'm hoping they aren't this bad anyway.


So other ideas? After one shot around the shower screen seems excessively dirty.