Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Hi Senator.
Thanks for that info. I only make one coffee at a time using the double-basket, 35-40ml shots over about 25 seconds into a 150ml cup.
I bought a tamper from C4 not too long ago. The plastic thingee wasnt really usable. Today I bought 500gms of Vivace Ultimate Espresso beans from their shop. Will see how they go.
Thanks.
grol
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Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
If you are making multiple coffees for "a bunch of people" the Ikon is not really the tool for the job (unless you plan on spending most of the night at the machine), it is great for one or two coffees at a time, but beyond that, and you are pushing the boundaries.
Have you tried any of the other Chch suppliers?
With your Ikon, convert your group handle to bottomless (push out the eject button). This will leave a big gaping hole in the bottom of it, and mean you can only do 1 coffee at a time, but there is a marked improvement in the taste of the shots when this is done (even cleaningg the button thoroughly still taints the espresso shot).
The "coffee sneeze" is common amongst any units without a release valve (one way valve?), if you are releiving the pressure a bit, then steaming, then removing the handle without too much fuss, sounds like its as good as you will get. I get the coffee sneeze sometimes, but not others (usually if I have over extracted the coffee and its poured a little slow).
Are you still using the "tamp" that is on the end of the scoop that came with the Ikon? Splash out and get a proper one if you are. There is a a sunbean "barista kit" sold at Harvey Norman that has a small tamp included, this is what I use at the shop and it is a near perfect fit. You wont get any sort of tamp pressure with the Breville scoop thingy
Sen
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Thanks for that. So this is par for the course with any Breville or Sunbeam home unit?
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Originally posted by 2F3A27243B2B20212D480 link=1258752491/18#18 date=1260255057Thanks guys. Im not sure what an "Hx" is.
Hx=Heat Exchanger, or a mid to high level machine that has a pressure relief valve. Some single boiler, dual purpose machines have this as well. The base price would be in the area of $1000 and then "up, up, and away!"
Greg
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Thanks guys. Im not sure what an "Hx" is. I have found that if I turn the handle a little to let a small amount of pressure off, then do the milk, the handle can be carefully removed without too much mess.
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Ive got an Ikon, and also remove the handle last thing when cleaning down, luckily im usually only making one as the Mrs doesnt drink much coffee, even more so at them moment as shes pregnant so off any caffeine.
But youre right i think this is the only way round it which is a bit of a pain if you want to make multiple coffees, one way round it is to make one at at time, by the time youve done your milk you will be able to remove it..
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Now youre talking an upgrade to Hx. ;DOriginally posted by 3124393A25353E3F33560 link=1258752491/15#15 date=1260004893Thanks. That works when making a single coffee. I guess the problem is when making multiple coffees in a row for a bunch of people.
Greg
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Thanks. That works when making a single coffee. I guess the problem is when making multiple coffees in a row for a bunch of people.
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
As far as I can tell the spray is not a bug, its a feature. (with apologies to software authors everywhere :P)
The only way to disable it is to wait long enough for the pressure to seep through the puck--usually a couple of minutes. When I use the Ikon at work I remove the handle as the last of the clean-up.
Greg
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Hi again. An update:
I am currently making a good tasting shot with the Ikon - after playing around with the grind and dosing. The shot looks right to me as it pours, about 20 - 30 secs, and has brown crema. Good flavour. I am finding however, that when I release the handle (even after waiting a while), I need to slowly release it else coffee grinds spray out and it makes a mess. If I release it slowly, stream and liquid squirt out over the basket still. Any pointers please? Should I grind even finer, but put less coffee in?
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
By the way Sunbeam NZ sent me out some spacers, so I put both in and am currently grinding around 9-10 on my recently purchased (new) EM0480.
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Thanks for that. Sorry, I meant I was using the double-basket - not the single - and it goes into one cup. That means a 50-60ml double shot, right?
Anyone know approximately how many grams these are meant to hold. The Ikon merely comes with a scoop. Thanks.
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
no you still just really want 30ml shots, dont read to much into 30ml in 30 secs 10 14 - 20g of coffee etc etc.
if your pulling good shots in 20 secs work on your grind / tamp slightly.
sometimes finer grind and less tamp works best and sometimes the other way works better, beans effect it.
just work on YOUR shot and get something that you enjoy.......
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Can anyone please tell me how many grams a Breville double basket holds. I dont have scales accurate enough to weigh my coffee.
I read that the following on http://www.home-barista.com/naked-extraction.html:
"My own brief definition of an espresso is an extraction using approximately fourteen grams of coffee to produce a sixty milliliter double in 22 to 32 seconds (timing from the moment the pump starts"
So if I use the above as a guide, and if my holder only holds say 10g, does that mean I should produce 10/14 x 60mls = 42ml shots? Thanks in advance.
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Re: Help with Ikon BES400 and EM0480 please?
Thank you very much for that. I havent done anything about the burrs yet, but packing as much coffee into the basket as practical, tamping hard, and leaving it while I heat the milk, the resulting puck is dry. I still get a bit of coffee on the showerhead though, but not as much.
I think I should phone Sunbeam before ripping into it. If I want to try make turkish coffee, it will need some adjustment. Unless of course it needs to bed in or something.
Thanks guys. :-)
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