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  • #16
    There's no maximum gap, though a smaller gap will produce a thicker mouth feel. There is a minimum gap, however. You never want your coffee puck to hit the screen when dry. The easiest way to get a good gap is to prepare as normal, grind dose tamp etc, but we're not going to pull the shot. Carefully place a 5c coin on the coffee puck where your shower screen is at its lowest (with most machines this is in the middle, but it sounds like yours is at the edge). Lock the portafilter into the machine but don't start a shot. Remove the portafilter, and as carefully as you can remove the coin without disturbing the coffee. If there is no mark from the coin or a very slight impression your coffee puck height is ok/not too high. If the coin has been pushed into the coffee your coffee puck is too high. You risk damaging your machine and are causing excessive wear every single time you pull a shot like this. If there is a screw or bolt head sticking down into the puck you might be able to change it out for a countersunk head or even a flatter head.

    If the coin clears the shower screen but you're seeing an impression of the shower screen and/or screw in the puck after pulling a shot, don't worry. The puck stays compressed until the pressure is relieved at the end of the shot. Check out the glass portafilter videos on YouTube to see it happen live.

    If your shower screen is high in the middle and low at the sides, I'd keep your puck flat and just lower than the sides. What machine have you got?

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    • #17
      Originally posted by level3ninja View Post
      There's no maximum gap, though a smaller gap will produce a thicker mouth feel. There is a minimum gap, however. You never want your coffee puck to hit the screen when dry. The easiest way to get a good gap is to prepare as normal, grind dose tamp etc, but we're not going to pull the shot. Carefully place a 5c coin on the coffee puck where your shower screen is at its lowest (with most machines this is in the middle, but it sounds like yours is at the edge). Lock the portafilter into the machine but don't start a shot. Remove the portafilter, and as carefully as you can remove the coin without disturbing the coffee. If there is no mark from the coin or a very slight impression your coffee puck height is ok/not too high. If the coin has been pushed into the coffee your coffee puck is too high. You risk damaging your machine and are causing excessive wear every single time you pull a shot like this. If there is a screw or bolt head sticking down into the puck you might be able to change it out for a countersunk head or even a flatter head.

      If the coin clears the shower screen but you're seeing an impression of the shower screen and/or screw in the puck after pulling a shot, don't worry. The puck stays compressed until the pressure is relieved at the end of the shot. Check out the glass portafilter videos on YouTube to see it happen live.

      If your shower screen is high in the middle and low at the sides, I'd keep your puck flat and just lower than the sides. What machine have you got?
      Cheers, that’s exactly what I wanted to know, basically if the coin had to be placed in centre or on the side for a machine where the gap is smaller on the side. So it’s on the side.
      i have a Bezzera BZ99S, the shower brass piece (I’m not sure what the correct name is) has a couple of radial steps on the bottom face so when the screw (it’s countersunk so the screen has no protrusion in the centre) is just tight enough to stop the screen from spinning it has already compressed the screen upward which makes it concave, if it makes sense. I bought the machine second hand so cannot guarantee they are the original parts but I tend to think so.

      by the way is that a 5c usd or aud? :-)

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      • #18
        I would try loosening the screw off a little, what's it matter if it spins a bit? Or could you put a washer over the screw after you've or the screw through the shower screen so it tightens whilst flat?

        Has to be local currency or else it will try to flip itself over mid test due to being upsidedown

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        • #19
          Originally posted by Barry O'Speedwagon View Post
          I've used something like this for a few years, and find it convenient and effective (I'm in Canberra where the water is very soft anyway). You can use a variety of canisters in it. https://www.jetblackespresso.com.au/...-water-filter/
          Second this, also used for many years, great little setup. And awesome thread idea too

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          • #20
            Assuming you use the Flair correctly, would it usually pull a better and more consistent shot compared to a Gaggia or Silva?

            Looking to buy a new machine when I move out so tossing up between those 3.

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            • #21
              Don't know about better but certainly just as good, plus you have very granular control over the extraction process...

              Mal.

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              • #22
                What's the closest thing on a typical menu to a bigger piccolo latte? A barista suggested a flat white with an extra shot with flat white, I think a cappuccino extra shot with 3/4 milk is closer. Could I just ask for a double piccolo or is that a made up thing?

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                • #23
                  Originally posted by t0fu View Post
                  What's the closest thing on a typical menu to a bigger piccolo latte? A barista suggested a flat white with an extra shot with flat white, I think a cappuccino extra shot with 3/4 milk is closer. Could I just ask for a double piccolo or is that a made up thing?
                  Do you mean essentially 2 piccolos in one cup? Not 1x double shot piccolo? A piccolo is approx 30ml shot to 60ml milk in a 90ml cup. I've heard in Melbourne they have a thing called a Magic that's a double shot latte in a 160ml cup. I think that's pretty close. I used to order a small latte with an extra shot to try and get that type of thing. I once asked for essentially 2 piccolos in one cup and it confused the barista no end. You could always ask what size cups they have and adjust your order from there.

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                  • #24
                    Originally posted by zuroy View Post
                    Assuming you use the Flair correctly, would it usually pull a better and more consistent shot compared to a Gaggia or Silva?

                    Looking to buy a new machine when I move out so tossing up between those 3.

                    The Flair is capable of producing an espresso equal to (or superior to in my opinion) many prosumer HX machines. Obviously, it's not for everybody. Consistency comes down to the user, but in addition to the normal grind / dose issue, you do have to ensure that all brewing parts are sufficiently pre-heated (which is not difficult in a home kitchen environment).

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                    • #25
                      This looks like a good place for my question. When roasting a blend do you roast different beans separately then mix them together or do you mix green beans then roast? Or is there another method?

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                      • #26
                        Typically green beans are mixed then roasted together. When roasting a blend none of the beans will be perfectly roasted, so there is a relatively large window for error. When roasting an SO the window is much smaller because all the beans should be the same and roast the same, so either you hit it or you miss it. Roasting multiple beans individually and then blending is possible but significantly more labour intensive and requires more skill, it also has less benefit because once blended the different beans will cover each other up as bit, so it's less commercially viable. Some amateur roasters still do it though because it's worth the additional effort for them. Still not particularly common.

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                        • CoffeeHack
                          CoffeeHack commented
                          Editing a comment
                          I also wondered about this, thanks for the explanation!

                      • #27
                        Thanks Ninja. I only roast in a popcorn popper so either method sounds easy enough to achieve. Is there one you would recommend over the other?

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                        • #28
                          Originally posted by sprezzatura View Post

                          Jaystea So it is! In that case you will use the continuous pour option (usually button 5 which is default programming volumetrics with a longer press and hold) on the 5 keypad (unless ECM has a ‘smart’ backflush option - some machines do - check the owner’s manual).
                          FYI the Elektronika has a backflush program in the electronics. It’s in the manual how to use it correctly

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                          • #29
                            Originally posted by Westy5 View Post
                            This looks like a good place for my question. When roasting a blend do you roast different beans separately then mix them together or do you mix green beans then roast? Or is there another method?
                            Depends on the beans in the blend. If they are of similar qualities, (density, moisture content etc) they might work ok roasted together.
                            some blends have the individual parts roasted individually and post blended. It depends on the development of the blend

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                            • #30
                              Originally posted by level3ninja View Post

                              Do you mean essentially 2 piccolos in one cup? Not 1x double shot piccolo? A piccolo is approx 30ml shot to 60ml milk in a 90ml cup. I've heard in Melbourne they have a thing called a Magic that's a double shot latte in a 160ml cup. I think that's pretty close. I used to order a small latte with an extra shot to try and get that type of thing. I once asked for essentially 2 piccolos in one cup and it confused the barista no end. You could always ask what size cups they have and adjust your order from there.
                              A magic is a dbl ristretto in a 160ml cup

                              Comment


                              • lancruiser
                                lancruiser commented
                                Editing a comment
                                Don't forget to top it up with frothy milk.
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