Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

[Kat]

I find with my Lelit Combi the steam runs out if I try to froth up more than enough for 4 cups of coffee. It just gets sort of bubbly and nothing happens to the milk. Just wondering..... does anyone who already has this machine know how long one needs to leave it before you can make more coffees? Also I think once the steam wand has turned on you cant go back and make a shot of espresso as its then too hot and will burn the beans, is this right?

Thanks

[Dimal]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Gday Kat,

4 cups is probably about the limit for a single session, based on my use of a very similar machine. You need to be very careful that you dont let the Boiler run dry though; after completing a steaming session you should refill the boiler by opening the Steam Valve and hitting the Hot Water Switch until such time as you get a continuous stream coming from the nozzle.

If you need to make more coffees after the previous 4 then just repeat the routine until all coffees are made. After refilling the Boiler (should do this after every coffee making session), it probably takes about 5 minutes for the Boiler to recover and be ready for brewing again. As for trying to brew more coffee immediately after texturing milk, this is not a good thing to do for the reason you mention and also because the Boiler water level will be low... always need to top up the boiler after steaming.

All the best,
Mal.

[Kat]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Thanks Mal for replying, that is what I have found too but also just wondered if anyone had had experience of making more coffee soon after the last 4 and how long they had to wait till temp ok to espresso again or do I just accept that if there are more than 4 waiting for coffee I need to microwae milk and just espresso into the milk, this is what I have been doing to get by
Kat

[Dimal]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

just wondered if anyone had had experience of making more coffee soon after the last 4

I know its not ideal Kat, but if you need to make more coffees after the first four, the plan I would use is to pull all the shots first, be it six, eight or whatever.... Then dive into milk texturing mode, using probably a maximum of a 600ml jug and then texture as much as is needed to provide all the Lattes required.

Microwaving milk is one alternative but a better way is to heat the milk up on the stove in a milk warming pan to about the 55-60C mark and then use this to make Flat Whites. Or maybe you could use a mixnmatch combo of all of the above. I guess it comes down to what works out easier for you mate.

All the best,
Mal.

[GregJW]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Hey there Kat,

Yeah, with all single boiler machines, it can be a juggle making more than 4 milk based coffees at a time. Ive never used the microwave (altho I can understand the frustration that might make you think of using it). If Ive textured one jug and have to do another, I sometimes just hit the water refill switch for a few seconds, just to get some more water into the boiler.

Then, if having to get back to brew mode, as Mal said, it takes at least 5 mins to cool down to a reasonable temp (even with cooling flushes). Thats when your entertainment skills come into play - eg tell a joke, sing a song, do a dance, etc to divert your guests attention away from their desire for one of your beautiful coffees . (Sorry I cant be any more constructive than that :-/.)

Hope the machine is going well and youre enjoying your coffee experience.

Greg

[Kat]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Thanks guys

[jprm]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Alan Frew has written an article called coffee for six that uses a rebadged lelit combi. Im guessing if you do exactly what he has described your machine should be able to make six coffees in one go.

the article is here - http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/challenge.html

[GregJW]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Alan Frew has written an article called coffee for six that uses a rebadged lelit combi. Im guessing if you do exactly what he has described your machine should be able to make six coffees in one go.

the article is here - http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/challenge.html

Yeah... I wouldnt "pre-grind" the beans but. Grind on demand (ie just before using them).
And steaming a 1.5 litre jug is a bit of a struggle with a 300ml boiler.

But, shows how you can organise yourself.

[Dimal]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Alan Frew has written an article called coffee for six that uses a rebadged lelit combi. Im guessing if you do exactly what he has described your machine should be able to make six coffees in one go.

the article is here - http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/challenge.html

This is based on Single Shot drinks though and if you or any of your guests favour a drink with somewhat more oomph and flavour then this scenario flies out the window unfortunately....

Mal.

[Kat]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Thanks, I have read it before, however, I cant get my milk to do that much froth, maybe its the size of my glasses, not sure, but doesnt work for me. Never mind, Ill just stick with heating milk separately for when we have more than 2 coffee drinking visitors.

[Dimal]

Re: Lelit Combi after you have brewed 4...

Never mind, Ill just stick with heating milk separately for when we have more than 2 coffee drinking visitors.

Thats what I normally did too Kat.... For the handful of guests who asked for Cappas, out came the frothing jug and for all the Flat Whites, the milk warming pan on the stove. Made life a lot easier....

Cheers,
Mal.