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Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

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  • A_M
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Originally posted by 506572704078657A767B73170 link=1230381127/17#17 date=1236473076
    If you are getting 20 ml of good brown extraction, then you are in the right ballpark.
    AND

    Originally posted by 506572704078657A767B73170 link=1230381127/17#17 date=1236473076
    The usual test is to grind, tamp, put a 5 cent coin on top, and lock in the portafilter. Take it off and keep adjusting the amount of coffee until the coin is just pushed gently onto the coffee.

    This usually gives the best extraction with maximum flavour.

    What he said ;D You can only push a cheep system so far... After that it is just not worth the effort..

    Remember at 20ml of good syrup and a touch of blonding, you will have do as good as if not better than many cafes.

    Add your steamed milk etc and for the outlay... Good coffee..

    Leave a comment:


  • sTu_Deimus
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    quick response: The spray is also seen now that Im trialling this single floor basket.

    Proper response later when I have time to fully consider your suggestion.

    Stu.

    Leave a comment:


  • GregWormald
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    If you are getting 20 ml of good brown extraction, then you are in the right ballpark. The spray is probably caused by the double-floor basket. Do be brave and cut/grind most of the bottom away, or get a single floor version.

    You might be able to get a bit more coffee out by making the grind a bit coarser, but this is likely to speed up the flow too, and may result in an under-extraction.

    Id suggest that the next check is to see if you are putting in the optimum amount of grounds.

    The usual test is to grind, tamp, put a 5 cent coin on top, and lock in the portafilter. Take it off and keep adjusting the amount of coffee until the coin is just pushed gently onto the coffee.

    This usually gives the best extraction with maximum flavour.

    Keep having fun.

    Greg

    Leave a comment:


  • sTu_Deimus
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Ok, fair enough... the flow of sacred brown syrupy liquid is only probably 10ml before it turns to a brown spray, but I probably get 20+ml before the real yellow part comes through. I guess I should just put this t the grade of machine an start saving my pennies for something better.

    Put it this way... making coffee for people at a dinner party is fairly time consuming... :-/

    Stu.

    Leave a comment:


  • A_M
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Originally posted by 2205240E1534383C2422510 link=1230381127/14#14 date=1236382652
    One thing that hasnt improved is the time before the flow turns yellowish - still barely more than one espresso worth.

    You need to define.... What you mean ???

    20ml / 25ml or 30ml ?

    On the smaller systems and with the small volume 20 - 25 and I would be Happy...

    Leave a comment:


  • sTu_Deimus
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Thanks for the tip RR... Ill go order one myself! How well does it fit your machine?

    Kaanage... yes Ive pondered it...

    I actually took that unit back to be replaced at local repair shop (Box Hill), but they had a half-suitable single-floor basket, so Ive been trialling that for the last few weeks. It seems to not be an ideal fit, since clear hot water always drips down the side of the group handle (around the filter), but the flow from through the filter is still good.

    One thing that hasnt improved is the time before the flow turns yellowish - still barely more than one espresso worth.  :-?

    Interestingly, that new basket is actually practically identical to the one on my old $80 Breville machine  :-/

    While Im saddened that fixing numerous drawbacks at once means its harder to determine which made the best difference, Im happy to report that now that I have this new basket and am using freshly roasted beans, its definitely a much richer flavour than Ive had before... even without the choc/mocha additive that I usually have.

    Thanks all

    Leave a comment:


  • kaanage
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Unfortunately, the basic layout of these machines (from a cheap Breville BarVista to the rather gorgeous 800ES and their Sunbeam EM3600-EM5800 equivalents) limits the best espresso that can be obtained to be only OK by this forums standards. They just arent temp stable enough to do better.

    Ive actually had better espressos from the even cheaper Sunbeam EM2300 Ristretto when carefully temp surfed.

    That said, what youve done (decent grinder + fresh beans) will get OK espresso if you can also get a depressurised double basket (dont even bother with the single). Cutting the base off with an angle grinder is the easiest option but you need to leave a small rim of metal around the edge of the base so that the pressed in filter base doesnt blow off over time.

    Leave a comment:


  • richierichie
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    If youre still looking for an unpressurised basket, i have just ordered one and it came quite quick. I called Groupe SEB and ordered a 2 cup basket and a new seal (krups) and it came to about $25.
    They said it would take 6 weeks, but arrived in ten days!
    (the number on the invoice is 02 9647 8599)

    hope this helps

    Leave a comment:


  • sTu_Deimus
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Hi Thundergod... Im still on the original Sunbeam filters because... I didnt realise that I could readily interchange with other types. The only types Ive seen in person were some Krups machines in a store, which didnt have any filters visible, and the place where theyd go (in the group handle) seemed rather larger than that one in my EM4800.

    Ill go make some more enquiries (including those on this site, as you suggest).

    Thanks, Stu.

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Stu if you are grinding fresh beans why are you still using a pressurised basket?
    Have you seached this site to see if there are unpressurised replacements?
    I think AM said Krups baskets.

    Leave a comment:


  • sTu_Deimus
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Hi ACog... re the grinder... yes, its a rather mysterious arrangement, and Sunbeam seemed to be suggesting that is all rather straight forward and documented.

    Re Ciscos - yes, they roast that day, or near-enough to.

    Stu.

    Leave a comment:


  • acoggins
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Hi Stu,

    On your last point about cleaning the grinder. I recently cleaned mine (a sunbeam EM0480) by removing the lower burr and housing (My gosh, I had enough stray grinds in there to last a week). I found that afterwards the grinder settings were all wrong. I.e. I used to grind on 11 and now grind on 20ish.

    Keep that in mind, your grinder will need to be dialled in to your specific machine, and if you go opening it up, it will probably need re-dialling in.

    Regarding the Ciscos beans. Make sure there is a "roasted on " date rather than a "used by" date. If they cant tell you when they were roasted, Youre best off finding a roaster who can.

    -ACog

    Leave a comment:


  • sTu_Deimus
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Hi all. Thanks muchly for all the unseful input. Heres where Im at:
    • Have bought some "roasted-daily" beans from Ciscos in Windsor (is near work). Quite happy with them, though I do wish to buy some from Dimattina when I can next get to one of their stores.
    • It appears that these new/fresh beans do give me a much longer shot before the yellow mix comes through. I can also definitely taste the difference too, though this roast is apparently more of a mocha than regular coffee flavour. Curiously,  I still do get the (brown, rather than yellow) spray sometimes. Presume it to be the quality of grind, so...
    • Ive spoken with Sunbeam, and they are sending the instructions and new ring/spacer to be installed above the lower burr.
    • I also still get blockages, that cause excess pressure, resulting in the basket sometimes blowing crap out the top/side of the filter basket, especially when I release the group handle after a brew. Rather annoying, since the only way to clean the crap from where the group handle locks into the machine is to dismantle the paneling around the water outlet - rather annoying.
    • Sunbeam also suggested cleaning the filter baskets in a 50/50 water/vinegar mix. Being paranoid about too-fine grains being stuck between the two filter panels, Ive done some cycles of soak and then pass-pressurised-water-through-when-fitted-to-the-machine, hoping to clean them out. Dunno if it helps. Lizzi, I like your efforts to "tweak" the lower filter hole - though I think Ill try to best master what I have before making wholesale changes... Im curious to see where your efforts end up.
    • I also find this grinder rather annoying to clean, since the only way to properly clean the lower burr and ground coffee chamber and release chute is to unscrew the lower burr housing, which then releases an electric switch (that needs careful replacement on reassembly) - not something Id want to do after each weeks use.

    Cheers, Stu.

    Leave a comment:


  • Lizzie
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    a friend of mine has one of the lower-priced Subeams with pressurised baskets, which she uses with freshly ground coffee, roasted by yours truly.
    until recently the group handle egularly flew off the machine, with all sorts of broken crockery as a result.
    the problem, upon close inspection, was the single hole in the bottom of the baskets (both single /double)... it clogged up readily and no amount of washing/blowing/needling/pinning/drawpinning could keep it open for any length of time.

    enter the husband, a practical farmer/mechanic with his equally tool-minded friend, and before you could say "crema" the hole was opened up... to the point that the extraction simply ran, foamed and sprayed everywhere.
    not to be outdone, my friend put on her thinking cap and came up with... a small round of coffee-filter paper
    it sits in the bottom of the basket, covers the single ( slightly too big ) hole, coffee on top, tamp, lock, pour.
    quite a good, nicely striped extraction as a result, without the crockery-damaging side-effects.

    i suppose this mod would make the basket half-pressurised? :

    L

    Leave a comment:


  • Coffee2Di4
    replied
    Re: Need advice re Sunbeam machine output

    Hi Stu

    My recommendation, wholeheartedly, is go with Brown BeanBay (link on the left). Andy roasts them as you order them and then posts straight away in an express post bag so, if you order them on Saturday, you will get them on the Tuesday or thereabouts - certainly the roasted beans are only days old when you get them. Also extremely reliable that what you are getting is fresh, as opposed to some cafes who, Im sure, dont necessarily stock the freshest roasted beans and in the most conducive environments. It may cost you $30 or so (including postage) at first but, trust me, as you get more addicted to fresh beans, youll find the 500g bags are just not enough! Also, I recommend starting off with the sample pack, which has up to four different beans to try, so you can see where your tastes lie - Ive done this twice now, and definitely have my favourite!

    Id suggest all your leftover problems stem from the quality of your beans now, rather than the machine or the grinder, although Id definitely recommend, once you get the fresh beans, to switch over to the single wall baskets (either single shot or double, depending on how much of a shot you are making - double shot basket is definitely easier to start with because the single basket is very finicky to tamp correctly).

    And trust me from someone who has found out now that youve got your own grinder, once youve tried fresh beans for the first time, there is no going back - youll never be able to go back to supermarket, GJs or any of that ilk of beans ever again!

    Cheers
    Di

    Leave a comment:

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