Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

[Dennis]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

K-Man,

Im guessing, your sludge pucks are probably due to the lack of a 3 way valve in the BES400XL. [I dont know the machine though]

With a 3 way valve machine:
At the end of a shot, the 3 way valve opens and the built up pressure/water is diverted away from the puck.
Without a three way valve, the puck stays soggy.

Unless you leave the PF in for a while :

[blue]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

can I suggest to anyone who has a partner not on board with your coffee obssession, that the easiest path is to make them a junkie too. my husband would make all sorts of horrible comments every time I ordered a coffee, and while i drank the coffee, and then after I had finished the coffee, sheesh! so I slowly converted him. Started with affogato (he has a mega sweet tooth so anything with ice cream was a good start. at home I also threw in marshmallows, his other weakness); moved him on to mocha, and now hell drink a flat white or latte without sugar!! and loves it. and hey, weve just opened a cafe to minimal whinging about cost, and he actually wanted to buy me a Wega !! (but my common sense and innate cost-saving prevailed and we got a good second hand Simonelli, and some awesome tables and chairs instead)

[Gar]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi everyone. Just joined yesterday after coming across the site a few months ago, so thought Id try my first posting.

I bought my first machine, a Sunbeam EM5800 about a year ago and was just using supermarket ground coffee. Although not too bad for milky drinks, espresso and long blacks were nothing like a decent coffee shop could make and I thought that I must be able to do a bit better. (I never knew that supermarket coffee beans were usually stale).

This site has given me a lot of information. Im now buying fresh coffee beans from a local roaster, grinding with a fairly decent grinder (EM0480) and using a Krups non pressurised basket, which is giving me a much better coffee experience.

Im looking to upgrade my machine in the next few months to maybe a Gaggia Baby Twin, Sunbeam Em6910 or a Silvia (but am a bit concerned about the whole temperature surfing bit). Does anyone know of a retailer of the Silvia in the Brisbane or Sunshine Coast area where I could go and test it out before making a choice ?

Looking forward to reading and replying to future postings.

Gar

[TC]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi everyone.  Just joined yesterday after coming across the site a few months ago, so thought Id try my first posting.

I bought my first machine, a Sunbeam EM5800 about a year ago and was just using supermarket ground coffee.  Although not too bad for milky drinks,  espresso and long blacks were nothing like a decent coffee shop could make and I thought that I must be able to do a bit better. (I never knew that supermarket coffee beans were usually stale).

This site has given me a lot of information.  Im now buying fresh coffee beans from a local roaster, grinding with a fairly decent grinder (EM0480) and using a Krups non pressurised basket, which is giving me a much better coffee experience.

Im looking to upgrade my machine in the next few months to maybe a Gaggia Baby Twin, Sunbeam Em6910 or a Silvia (but am a bit concerned about the whole temperature surfing bit).  Does anyone know of a retailer of the Silvia in the Brisbane or Sunshine Coast area where I could go and test it out before making a choice ?

Looking forward to reading and replying to future postings.

Gar
   

Welcome to CS, Gar...

The Silvia is a terrific machine...If youre concerned about temp. surfing, a PID is the perfect solution...

We just so happen to have them on special in July! 8-)

[hunt4more]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi, I am also new to CoffeeSnobs although have enjoyed a good brew for longer than I care to remember. As a result I have just purchased my first decent home machine, a Rancilio Silvia. I expect delivery in the next few days and am counting down. The final impetus to purchase came when my 12 year old percolator bit the dust last week. I have also noted the posts with regards temperature surfing and the addition of a PID. Can someone please explain, I have a lot to learn if I am to get a home produced latte as good or better than the one I get from my local (who use Veneziano coffee I might add)?

Thanks!

[Wushoes]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

mark princes old rancilio fan page would be a first stop for you...http://www.coffeekid.com/archived/Rancilio

[hunt4more]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Thanks. This link is very interesting and clearly it will take me a fair bit of practice to Cheat Miss Silvia. I like the idea of an automated timer although I am not sure I am quite that predictable in my demands (my wife may disagree)! I still would like to know what a PID is though.

[china-barista]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

im form to china barista
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My E-Mail:  jiam0816@yahoo.com.cn
MSN:  jiam0816@hotmail.com

[Dread]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi Im new to Coffee Snobs and thanks to the all information contained in this site I recently purchased my first espresso machine a Sunbeam EM6910. As a coffee newb I dont know a great deal about making a good espresso but I reckon after hanging around here for a few months and learning from the experts I soon will

[shauno]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi all, Im new here too

Currently Im using a tiny boiler Sunbeam Ristretto (cost me $60), which was actually an upgrade from an older (~$200) Sunbeam thermoblock. I bought a De Longi KG100 grinder (~$90), unfortunately about 3 weeks before the Sunbeam EM480 was released. Im getting reasonable results from the $150 setup, but Ive really hit the wall & cant seem to improve any more.

Ive been wanting to upgrade my machine for a while, so now (with a budget of about $350-$400) Im looking at the EM6900/6910, or a 2nd hand Gaggia Classic. Something with a bigger PF & unrestricted baskets should be a good improvement. Maybe add a Pullman tamper, and try to stop upgrade-itis for a while.

A Silvia + Rocky would be ideal, but its just a question of cost... I dont drink enough coffee at home to justify a $1000 upgrade.

[Thundergod]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Youll drink more coffee at home if you spend $1000.

And you might not have to upgrade again (for a long time).

[shauno]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Youll drink more coffee at home if you spend $1000.

And you might not have to upgrade again (for a long time).

If I had $1000 to spend on a new machine & grinder, I would

I think maybe a good 2nd hand machine ($250-$300), naked PF & good baskets ($100?) would be a good use of the money. Maybe upgrade my grinder to a Rocky or something later down the track...

[Cremaholic]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Short time reader, first time poster.

Am a lot new to all of this, but learning from you all.

I dont think I want to mention what equipment I have for now (its so far below what you guys and gals use and recommend), so lets just say I have my training wheels on so that when the time and $$$ are right I can make better informed choices in hardware and technique that I will actually be able to properly appreciate.

Cheers! Cremaholic.

[Dimal]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Welcome Cremaholic [smiley=thumbsup.gif],

Hey, dont be worried about the equipment you have.... we all started this journey from a similar place . The big secret to great coffee isnt so much the hardware (well, a really good grinder is pretty well essential) but all about the beans, when they were roasted and how, and only grinding the beans immediately before you make your brew, irregardless of what method you use to brew.

Well all try to help you along the way, were not into scoffing around here I can assure you CH. Get your self some freshly roasted quality beans, no more than you can consume in about a fortnight at a time.... grind, pound or smash em just before you brew with water no hotter than 94C and no cooler than 88C.... and then youre going to be close to coffee heaven in very short order 8-). Happy brewing CH ,

Mal.

[yogorilla]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Another forum noob here, my father won a G3 Ferrari machine some time ago in a raffle but was never able to get decent coffee out of it and passed it on to me. I managed to get a silly price on a Sunbeam EM0480 grinder last week and for the past few nights I have been staying up late watching le tour and drinking the best coffee I have ever made! I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship.