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Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

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  • #31
    Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

    Hi guys,

    Thanks for all your advice so far. I bought a Grindenstein today, I love it!

    I dont know if any of you have/have had/have used the Sunbeam Cafe Latte machine before, but for some odd reason, about an hour after i push the power button to switch the machine off, it automatically turns to standby mode. This means the machine is constantly warm. This is good coffee prep wise, however not so good since its an unnecessary consumption of energy. Is this normal, or could i perhaps be a defect in my machine?

    As far as tampers go, i took my group handle into a coffee supplier shop today, a 52mm was too big. However the lady said the only 51mm tamper available is one with a concave base. I was looking for a flat based tamper, and I dont want to have to spend more than $40 for a custom-made one. Is she right, is there only one 51mm ready made tamper available?

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    • #32
      Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

      Mandarounious,

      A belated CS welcome!

      I know there are generic 51mm tampers on the market, generally solid stainless steel things, but I dont know about the base profiles. If youre not in 58mm your choices are severely limited unless you get one made up to suit. Shop around and see what you can find, check coffeeparts in case they have something in that size, otherwise Id be happy to help out as soon as I get my workshop set up. Ive made several tampers for the 5800 in the past and others that share the same basket. In that size I only produce flat base units.

      Greg

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      • #33
        Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

        mandarounious, the Sunbeam EM6900 and EM6910 also go in to standby mode after 1 hour of non use. Press any button to bring it back to life.

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        • #34
          Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

          He said it goes into standby after switching it off.
          Typo or bug?

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          • #35
            Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

            Hi,

            mandarounious: so how big is the Grindenstein? Ive seen a bunch of photos and it really looks small, 5-6 pucks max in my opinion. Im using a DIY knockbox and I thought it was big. It holds around 15 pucks or so but I still have to empty it quite often, more often than I would like

            Thundergod: I think you were right with that joke

            Cheers,
            dsc.

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            • #36
              Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

              I found the grindenstein, while cute as a button, only held a buttons worth of pucks. I have just kept going bigger too - less emptying, more roasting, brewing and drinking time!

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              • #37
                Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                Originally posted by Baristacrat link=1174477597/30#35 date=1175722017
                I found the grindenstein, while cute as a button, only held a buttons worth of pucks. I have just kept going bigger too - less emptying, more roasting, brewing and drinking time!
                The Grindenstein holds about 6-7 double pucks...I like it because it is so small and therefore unobtrusive. The emptying component is not a hassle for me as its a matter of picking it up and turning it upside down within a distance of about 1m from where it sits on the bench. I dont even raise a sweat or get short of breath doing it.

                If time management is an issue and emptying a knock box interferes with other tasks then Id bring the wheelie bin inside and leave that next to the espresso machine...should get about 1000 - 2000 pucks in one of those :P

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                • #38
                  Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                  The afore-mentioned CoffeeParts "Knock-Tubes" are deceptively roomy little blighters.... Mine will comfortably hold 18-20 Double pucks before it needs emptying and cleaning, and cleaning is a snap by the way 8-),

                  Mal.

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                  • #39
                    Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                    Ola,

                    Saambo: 6-7 pucks fill the entire thing, like it all sticks out, or is there still some room left? The Grindenstein is cool looking though, my DIYed box looks like crap

                    Cheers,
                    dsc.

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                    • #40
                      Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                      just bought a Cafe Latte silly me supposed to make coffee, looks and tastes like lightly beige mud. Any help welcome.
                      Attempted several grinds. Had to return first machine as it produced even worse coffee and cold at that. New machine is at least producing hot but not yet coffee to drink

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                      • #41
                        Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                        Originally posted by pete link=1174477597/30#39 date=1176377001
                        just bought a Cafe Latte silly me supposed to make coffee, looks and tastes like lightly beige mud. Any help welcome.
                        Attempted several grinds. Had to return first machine as it produced even worse coffee and cold at that. New machine is at least producing hot but not yet coffee to drink
                        Can we just check the basics first - are you using coffee within its window of freshness ground to demand on a decent quality burr grinder? How long is it taking you to extract your shots and what sort of volume are you getting?

                        Hang on ... just checked the sunbeam product page and it says that the caffe latte has a "Crema system - Italian designed," which sounds to me like a pressurised basket. This is designed to foam up whatever is forced through it so that it looks like real crema is created, even if the coffee is preground and ancient. Unfortunately, this will make it very difficult, if not impossible, to get a typical espresso shot out of the machine. However, non-pressurised baskets are available ... but Ill leave it to the sunbeam owners to chime in about where to get them from.

                        Cheers,

                        Luca

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                        • #42
                          Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                          Hi Luca
                          Thanks for input.
                          The non presurised basket sounds good for as you say the crema isnt real at all. Sunbeam said to use Med grind and I have tried a wide variety of grinds but still the coffee is weak as dishwater.
                          I have some old Breville baskets that fit , they may help.
                          Im dying for a decent brew.
                          This machine is actually producing hotish liquid better than the one I returned which was only just warm as well as weak.

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                            Originally posted by pete link=1174477597/30#41 date=1176430275
                            Hi Luca
                            Thanks for input.
                            The non presurised basket sounds good for as you say the crema isnt real at all. Sunbeam said to use Med grind and I have tried a wide variety of grinds but still the coffee is weak as dishwater.
                            I have some old Breville baskets that fit , they may help.
                            Im dying for a decent brew.
                            This machine is actually producing hotish liquid better than the one I returned which was only just warm as well as weak.
                            Pete,

                            this thread (http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1128380756/40#40) is probably a good place to start - if you dig around in there, theres stuff on basket changeover, as well as some advice on the general running of these machines (i.e. the stuff that isnt in the manual, so that you can trick the machine into making coffee)

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                            • #44
                              Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                              Hello all,

                              I bought a Sunbeam EM5600 (Latte) last month - after our very very old Krups died! Also got a Sunbeam EM0480 grinder. It was then that I discovered your forum, and I have found it very helpful - have learned a lot. Had no idea about what was involved in the world of coffee before then! I can see a barista course coming up and I suspect that my Latte will soon be replaced!

                              But in the meanitme - I have managed to get one of the Krups double unpressurised filter baskets, and waiting for the single version on order. Have managed to get quite a reasonable output after girnding the coffee quite fine - about 11 on the Sunbeam grinder. Whether it sputters is variable - some pours are fine, others leak and drip. But no major disasters so far.

                              But my quesiton is about the puck. I read that pucks are supposed to be dry - the pucks on the Latte, no matter which filter basket is used, are wet and sloppy. What does this mean, is it a problem, and does it affect the coffee?

                              Thank you for your forum. It is fantastic for those of us who want a decent coffee at home.

                              kay

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                              • #45
                                Re: Sunbeam Latte: Espresso Machine

                                Welcome to Coffee Snobs kay.

                                Im guessing that your EM5600 may not have a 3 way valve to release pressure after the shot is finished. In which case I dont think theres anything you can do but get used to it and learn not to try pull the handle out too soon.

                                Someone with more knowledge than I should be along soon to confirm.

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