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Help, with coffee machines - em6910 800es

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  • Journeyman
    replied
    :lol: Have to agree on the PITA microswitch - I wanna meet a SB engineer in a dark alley sometime...

    There is also a thread by Ray_C on how to mod a SB grinder to make it whizz-bang for grinding performance. Have a read at - http://coffeesnobs.com.au/grinders/2...lems-good.html

    I'm not sure about the comment about 'Limited Programming' above. The 6910 can adjust thermoblock water temp, thermoblock steam temp and steam 'dryness' - I improved the heck out of my shots by raising the temp 2º above Factory and raising steam by 4º. Changing some of those settings around a bit has made quite a difference in my shots. Plus you can save your preferred shot settings to the program panel.

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  • applor
    replied
    When you get the money, invest in a next grade grinder. It will improve your espresso over the 440 again. I went from a 480 to a preciso, good step up. site sponsor sells K3 touch for a steal probably the way to go.

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  • whowe
    replied
    Great news regarding the shimming of your 0440 and improvement in the espresso. Once you start using fresh beans you may need to dial the grinder back a bit. Make sure you keep your dose and tamping pressure the same.

    Many here will tell you you'll get the biggest improvement in your espresso by spending $$ on a very good grinder. If you're happy with your combo now that it's working as you'd expect, play around with different beans from different roasters to develop your palate; different blends, single origin, light, medium and dark roasts. This is all part of the fun.

    I like my 6910, it's the best machine I've had so far but I do admire the BES900 or some of the Italian heat exchange or double boiler machines.

    Many people have 6910's, some love them, a few hate them for various reasons (some have proven to be less than reliable). With this machine, with it's limited programming options and dual thermoblocks, it's a great machine to learn on and you can knock out a lot of milk based drinks in a short time which can be handy when entertaining a group of friends.

    When learning, it's probably prudent to buy more beans than usual to dial your grinder in. A couple of 30ml shot glasses can also be handy for dialling in your machine.

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  • dtyson
    replied
    Originally posted by whowe View Post
    I think the burr set in the 0440 is the same as the 0480 so hopefully easily shimmable. If you enter the following in your preferred search engine "shim kit em0480", a link to a guide will pop up on That Auction Site. The guide is for the 0480 but should be applicable for the 0440. The author also sells parts.
    Ordered some shims on ebay. Got them today. The 0440 came with 2, so I've added another 2 to it, im getting decent grinds around 8-10 now and now pulling decent shots from the 6910s single floor baskets.

    Gave the grinder a good clean out as I removed the screws and pulled the housing around the burrs off. There is a micro switch the detects the hopper is in place which is a pain to get back in the right spot when reassembling as it is loose and only the wires holding it, so if anyone else tries it with the 0440, have plenty of patience. I still need to do some more test grinds to get the perfect pour, but will pick up some fresh beans tomorrow. Im glad I've gone with the 6910 though.

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  • whowe
    replied
    I think the burr set in the 0440 is the same as the 0480 so hopefully easily shimmable. If you enter the following in your preferred search engine "shim kit em0480", a link to a guide will pop up on That Auction Site. The guide is for the 0480 but should be applicable for the 0440. The author also sells parts.

    Anyway, for what they are and their pricepoint, the Sunbeam grinders are ok.

    Have you pulled apart your grinder and given it a good clean?

    If someone knows better please correct me.

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  • dtyson
    replied
    Ok, I have decided to keep the 6910 and sell the 800ES. The dual floor basket creates a better shot, so its definitely the coarse grind. I rang up Sunbeam and asked about the shim kit as I have read about others ringing them and getting them sent out from Sunbeam. The woman I spoke to was quite rude. She didnt know what the shim was and basically told me the 440 was not a very good grinder for the 6910 and that I should have bought the 480. I definately wont be buying another Sunbeam grinder.

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  • whowe
    replied
    Looks much too coarse to me. I also have a 6910 paired with a Breville BCG800 (Smartgrinder). Over Xmas, when in Adelaide, I bought my sister in law a 6910 paired with an EM0480 (on Gumtree for $230 for both). Using the single wall, double shot baskets, I can get good shots with both grinders with the 6910, 60ml in about 28-30 seconds.

    Prior to the 6910, I also had an 800ES and used the single wall double shot Krups basket. The shots with with machine varied quite a bit which I put down to poor temperature stability.

    The double wall basket you've been using with your first Breville will slow down your pour and give you a "fake" crema, especially when using less than fresh beans.

    The 6910 is a good consumer level machine but needs to be paired with a good grinder. If your pour has no crema and the pressure gauge barely moves (assuming it works....), and as summing your dose and tamp are consistent, then the issue looks as if your grind is not right.

    As an experiment try using the dual wall double shot basket that should have come with the Sunbeam. It should slow down your pour greatly, just don't tamp too hard with this basket as you may choke the machine. The dual wall baskets are much less sensitive to grind and tamping pressure. Your pressure gauge should also shift a bit further.

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  • dtyson
    replied
    This is the grinds I get on the EM440 at the finest grind setting:


    Do you think that is still too coarse?

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  • dtyson
    replied
    Yeah true, its pretty weak that sunbeam sell these conical burrs grinders for espresso machines, when they wont even grind properly for their own espresso machines. Does anyone have the EM440? has anyone shimmed it either, is it the same as the other sunbeam models for modding? The only thing I could really find was here
    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/grinders/3...-grinders.html

    Leave a comment:


  • Hildy
    replied
    don't give that a go, get a grinder that can grind for espresso!

    Leave a comment:


  • dtyson
    replied
    1. is the BES250/800 using a pressurised basket?

    Yeah, its just a domestic double floor basket


    2. what does the grind on the EM440 look like? you may be able to get away without shimming by installing the burr carrier backwards...
    I would say on the finest setting, 1 (out of 1-25) it still looks quite coarse, not quite as coarse as salt. But not much finer. The manul claims for that setting it should be more like a flour consistancy but its far from that. I can't find alot on the EM440 from peoples experience or shimming it. ( the top burr is attached to the hopper on this model and is not a removeable piece like others.


    I am going to have to check out the grinds of the person who has the EM6910 that I first used to compare. The EM6910 also has double floor baskets which the manual only recomends using with preground coffee, but maybe i should give that a go too.

    Leave a comment:


  • Hildy
    replied
    1. is the BES250/800 using a pressurised basket?
    2. what does the grind on the EM440 look like? you may be able to get away without shimming by installing the burr carrier backwards...


    (basically, do you have a sample of espresso grind, for a non-pressurised machine, that you can compare to?)

    the EM440 can be made to grind properly for espresso, but is not perfect (for various issues primarily around being made to a price).

    Leave a comment:


  • Journeyman
    replied
    I have a 6910 and an EM0480 grinder as well as a backup EM0450 grinder. I had a bit of a saga getting the grinder to work - you can read about it at http://coffeesnobs.com.au/brewing-equipment-midrange-500-1500/34352-my-new-machine.html

    I had similar issues with lousy coffee even after cleaning the 6910. No matter how I dosed, levelled and tamped, got crap. What I found was the previous owner had 'burred' the little stud and the burrs weren't sitting down properly.

    You could also look into shimming the grinder - basically placing a very thin washer under the bottom burr. There's a guy on ebay who sells 6910 group head seal for about $21 and he has the shims for $1 each.

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  • KJM
    replied
    No pressure = grind or dose. I suspect the grinder. Personally. My eldest daughter has a 6910 which pulls a competent shot, so I must be the grind or dose.

    My $0.02.

    But I have to say: wow!

    /Kevin

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  • dtyson
    replied
    There you go, basically paragraph 3 and 4 is the main bit lol

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