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Introducing myself and my machine ;) Hi all!

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  • #16
    Just wondering, where are you getting your coffee beans from? If grinding finer doesn't work with the appropriate dosing and tamping, it could be the beans being not fresh enough. I use a very low end Breville machine, and I know with a single wall filter I can make coffee that tastes better and richer than many of the cafes out there. Also, try to let your machine warm up for 15 minutes after turning it on before you start making your first coffee. Even though it's a thermoblock machine it will still make quite a lot of difference when the entire machine is nice and warm.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by oble89 View Post
      Just wondering, where are you getting your coffee beans from? If grinding finer doesn't work with the appropriate dosing and tamping, it could be the beans being not fresh enough. I use a very low end Breville machine, and I know with a single wall filter I can make coffee that tastes better and richer than many of the cafes out there. Also, try to let your machine warm up for 15 minutes after turning it on before you start making your first coffee. Even though it's a thermoblock machine it will still make quite a lot of difference when the entire machine is nice and warm.
      Hi oble,

      I am using a brand of coffee beans called "Sacred Grounds" - my boss's wife runs a cafe and they use these beans, which being quite impressed with flavour, bought a bag from them. To be honest, I haven't tried finer grinds with the new filters - did not think of re-adjusting that with the change of filter to be honest - this is something I will do tomorrow!

      I always try to let the machine warm up for 20 minutes or so - this became apparent to me very early on!

      Thanks for the advice - will give it a go next coffe

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      • #18
        Hi Ian

        I have a similar setup to you (older model grinder) and have been happily making coffees for the past 12 months.

        The EM5900 has some programming functions you can adjust - water temperature, steam rate etc. I have all of these set to maximum. The factory default is less than max.

        You are already pre-warming the machine, are you pre-warming the PF? I insert the PF into the machine ~5 mins before i want to make a coffee and like you, allow the machine to warm up for longer than a few mintues (normally in excess of 30 mins). This reduces any drop in temperature. Pre-warm the cups. Grind as fine as possible without blocking the machine up, the number is arbitrary and i find as the beans age the grind needs to be finer. Don't store the beans in the hopper, only add them as you need them. Store the beans in a bag with a 1-way valve to retain freshness. You say you buy beans from a cafe but how old are the beans? When were they roasted.

        I use a milk thermometer rather than the approach of using my hands to tell the temperature but being a scientist, my milk thermometer is calibrated against a lab grade thermometer.

        Fresh beans, freshly ground, through a well warmed EM5900 produces very nice coffee.

        Cheers
        DrSmurto

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        • #19
          I've tried a finer grind and seem to be getting weaker coffee :/

          The quest continues!

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          • #20
            Hi TM, the finer grind per se should not give you 'weaker' coffee. Perhaps you've left the dose the same and brewed less coffee, which when adding milk has caused greater dilution? Or if you lowered your dose (the amount of coffee in the basket) to accomodate the finer grind, the net effect might be in the 'weaker' direction?

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            • #21
              Originally posted by Barry O'Speedwagon View Post
              Hi TM, the finer grind per se should not give you 'weaker' coffee. Perhaps you've left the dose the same and brewed less coffee, which when adding milk has caused greater dilution? Or if you lowered your dose (the amount of coffee in the basket) to accomodate the finer grind, the net effect might be in the 'weaker' direction?
              Thanks Barry... I think it's actually a combination of the finer grind and tamping too hard. I've backed off the tamping a little and it seems to be much better.

              I have also been practising my frothing technique, and I poured what I would call a near perfect flat white yesterday - no fancy leaf design, but just the right amount of froth (around 4 or 5mm). I found the trick is to keep the steam head just under the milk until it gets to about 50 degrees, and then allow the small spurts of air into the milk - I then let it get to just under 70 degrees, then put the steam head in deeper to stop the frothing and to continue simply heating the milk (note, these are the temps on my thermometer, which is a cheap one so it may vary to other people's thermometers).

              The quest continues... Currently having about two coffees a day, and resisting more. This may turn out to be a losing battle. A friend of mine - and also my boss - both are coffee snobs and they are putting away about 5 or 6 coffees a day! The missus and I are already getting "latte bellies" from our two... :/

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              • #22
                Hi there,

                I bought this machine last week and want to get some single walled baskets to. Can you please post the link so I can have a look and how did they fit? Also how much did this improve your shots?

                Thanks heaps.

                Tony

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                • #23
                  Originally posted by kiwilad View Post
                  Hi there,

                  I bought this machine last week and want to get some single walled baskets to. Can you please post the link so I can have a look and how did they fit? Also how much did this improve your shots?

                  Thanks heaps.

                  Tony
                  Hi,

                  To be honest - I don't really think they helped the shot all that much. I just didn't notice the difference *shrugs*.

                  But, if you want the link, there is some on eBay now... hang on...

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                  • #24
                    And... I got in trouble for trying to post an eBay link... Sorry! Didn't know

                    Kiwilad, if you PM me your email address, I will email you the link.

                    Cheers,

                    Ian

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                    • #25
                      I use the Krups unpressurised double basket sold by one of the sponsors - Things Coffee (part of the Pullman group). Link

                      Fits my EM5900 perfectly and the quality of the pour improved immediately. I found the pressurised baskets produced a more bitter, astringent shot. Using the unpressurised baskets gives a smoother shot.

                      Ian - if you can't tell the difference between the pressurised and unpressurised baskets I'd be asking how fresh your coffee beans are? Does the bag you buy have a roast date on it (not a best before date)?

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                      • #26
                        FWIW twisted.mellow and kiwilad,
                        my thoughts are as per one of the very first replies.
                        thta is matching the grinder to your machine to your beans.
                        before trying the suggestion below - remove one of the variables stated above
                        and go out and get as fresh and as good a quality beans as possible - ie ensure they are freshly roasted and
                        within a range of 3 to 6 weeks since roast.
                        this will ensure you get to a trusted result and you can decide later what supplier of beans you source long term.

                        The EMO450 / EMO480 are famous (here) for not being set up at the factory.
                        Sunbeam (cust service) will supply shims to adjust lower burr, this raises it closer to the top burr set.
                        And can put in range to allow the 'stepped adjuster' to work as designed.
                        If this doesn't make sense think of it as a new car and the motor is rough and needs retuning to factory spec.
                        IMHO I believe Sunbeam specify these grinders on the 'loose' side as its a 'safer' course to take than the opposite.
                        My experience is that add 1 additional shim (only add one at a time, google 'how to' from this site) to the lower burr set equals 'upping' / going higher / repositioning the grind setting up In the steeped adjuster by 7-12 points ie if your now grinding on 4 then add shim adjuster up to 11 to 16 BUT cause your prob grinding to coarse try coming down to say 12 and then if not the shot result your seeking (ie double basket = 30ml in 30 sec) then next shot adjust grinder down to 11 or even 10 do another shot and compare.As you get close say 30 ml in 15 or 20 sec then
                        only go 1 step at a time lower on the grinder.
                        good luck

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                        • #27
                          Try a few things, in this sequence: source a different bean to see if it makes a difference (perhaps give the BeanBay a try?); if it tastes slightly better but still weak and watery, try grinding finer and finer; if the shot still lacks a little, try adjusting the dose--some baskets work better with about 14~15g of ground coffee, some with about 17~18g, assuming you're using a double basket.

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by oble89 View Post
                            Try a few things, in this sequence: source a different bean to see if it makes a difference (perhaps give the BeanBay a try?); if it tastes slightly better but still weak and watery, try grinding finer and finer; if the shot still lacks a little, try adjusting the dose--some baskets work better with about 14~15g of ground coffee, some with about 17~18g, assuming you're using a double basket.
                            It looks as though I WILL have to try another type of bean now... my boss's wife just sold her cafe! Ah well... Apparently there is a roaster here in Coffs, so I might go and have a talk to him.

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                            • #29
                              I highly recommend the Bean Bay sampler pack - Bought it last week!

                              Roasted on the Wednesday, delivered the next day to Newcastle, fresh and tasty! Only got a bag and a half left now - very satisfied with the variety!

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                              • #30
                                ah the trusty em5900 - this machine served me well when I had it

                                a few things

                                a) there should be a serial number on the back of the machine. If you enter this onto the sunbeam coffee school website you should get a free lesson! (unless they've stopped this promo recently) Not sure about locations near you though?
                                b) in terms of milk steaming, I found turning the steam pump to HOTTEST and WETTEST produced the best microfoam. It means the pump is working harder and spins the milk better. Also small quantities is smaller jugs work better - it doesn't really have the kick to steam half a 600ml jug properly i reckon
                                c) as other's have said, freshly roasted beans should give you a very decent cup on the em5900 with single filters. Try some new beans and let us know how it goes!

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