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Bezzera Strega - still a good choice?

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  • trentski
    replied
    General rule is 60ml in 30seconds for a double. Youre doing 40 in 25. So the flow is restricted.

    Leave a comment:


  • Moonshine
    replied
    What do you mean by 'restricted' ... a 40ml double shot should take only 15 seconds?

    or do you mean the shot volume should be more .. like 50-60 ml and let it run for say .. 40 seconds?

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  • trentski
    replied
    40ml from 19grams in 25 seconds is quite restricted. But if you like it who cares.

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  • Moonshine
    replied
    Hmm .. Just did my usual grind dose to check the weight of my double basket .. it held 19.73 grams

    My tamper is a Stainless steel convex one - and quite heavy .. so I only use the weight of the tamper and twist to polish .. no pressure.

    25-30 seconds for a 40ml shot for my mug sized latte. Bean using a blend for the last kilo .. only have 5kg of green arriving Mon or Tues.
    Have gone for the Costa Rica Tarrazu Single Origin. I like the SO beans better than the blends these days.. and prefer a dark roast that cooks until about 10 secs after 2nd crack begins when you see the smoke starting to bellow out .. then straight into the wooden bowl and put the small fan on top of the beans. I used to wipe the oil off some of the beans with a paper napkin ,, but don't bother now. It's all good.

    It's funny .. I used to write off my first coffee in the morning cause I couldn't taste it with any clarity. I put it down to my taste buds being sluggish and still waking up .. ie they need the coffee hit as well to get going.

    Since giving the smokes away .. 9 days ago (rollies) .. my taste buds are now functioning and wide awake when having my first coffee .. excellent.
    Last edited by Moonshine; 25 February 2017, 11:05 PM.

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  • Moonshine
    replied
    Hi Antony

    Do you have a link to these baskets - had a quick look and couldn't find them listed

    Also .. I assume they fit the std PF .. as I don't have a naked one

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  • Casa Espresso
    replied
    Originally posted by Moonshine View Post
    Cheers fellas

    Thinking about upping the dose for a slightly stronger coffee flavour

    Standard basket sizes that come with the machine are 7g and 14g I take it?

    A 10g and an 18g basket might be the way to go.

    What do you have .. or recommend?.. and where is the best place to get the good ones?
    Hi Moonshine

    the double in the Strega is really almost 18, its quite deep

    I have the IMS single (12g) and double (20g) here in stock

    Drop us a line if you want some

    Cheers

    Antony
    Last edited by Casa Espresso; 25 February 2017, 01:46 PM.

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  • Moonshine
    replied
    Cheers fellas

    Thinking about upping the dose for a slightly stronger coffee flavour

    Standard basket sizes that come with the machine are 7g and 14g I take it?

    A 10g and an 18g basket might be the way to go.

    What do you have .. or recommend?.. and where is the best place to get the good ones?

    Leave a comment:


  • Koffee_Kosmo
    replied
    Originally posted by Moonshine View Post
    I grind a little salt into the water reservoir and this seems to have done the trick

    Cheers KK
    You can also add a cup of regular tap water - that will do the trick equally well
    I love the daily tiger stripe shots I get out of my Strega

    KK

    Leave a comment:


  • ilikebeans
    replied
    Bought my Strega around 18 months ago after cutting my teeth on a La Pavoni Pro. It's a great machine and I still enjoy using it everyday I performed a mod as soon as I got it to upgrade the pressure relief valve on the boiler and plumb it in to the overflow line so there is no steam/water going inside the machine.

    Leave a comment:


  • Moonshine
    replied
    Hmm .. well so much for the whizz bang electric salt grinder with all the bells and whistles.
    Lasted 12 days of light use ... probably all of about 2 minutes when I add it all up. Back to Cash Converters for a refund.
    Last time I purchased something from them .. It was faulty and took it back for a refund .. only to drop back in a couple of days later to find they put it back on the shelf for sale to some other poor sucker. I amaze myself even going back to that joint.

    I guess I'll just have to drop a few salt crystals in by hand ... tough times ahead .. but hey .. a lovely Coffee at the end makes it all worthwhile

    Leave a comment:


  • Moonshine
    replied
    It does .. and seeing I picked up one of those battery operated salt grinders that lights up when you press the button .. it's fun... not to mention the salt is that pink Tibetan rock salt .. so it is an exotic experience ... and that's even before I get to drink the Coffee.

    If I was salt conscious .. all I'd need to do is cut back a tad on what I add to my chips .. and it's all good. The added salt probably preserves the water longer and doesn't need to be emptied out the boiler as often.

    Leave a comment:


  • Moonshine
    replied
    I grind a little salt into the water reservoir and this seems to have done the trick

    Cheers KK

    Leave a comment:


  • Moonshine
    replied
    Hi KK ..[Moon from over yonder] Anyway, yeah .. now you mention your post from yesteryear .. I did read it not that long ago, and thanks for the reminder about filtered water causing a problem as I use water from a 10" benchtop Matrikx 5 micron cartridge.

    Cheers
    Last edited by Moonshine; 4 January 2017, 08:07 AM.

    Leave a comment:


  • Koffee_Kosmo
    replied
    Originally posted by Moonshine View Post
    Howdy .. I've had my new Strega for around 6 weeks ... love it .. but the pstat seems strange and comes on and switches off erratically.

    I'm wondering whether it is faulty .. so I'm here hoping to get some feedback from other Strega owners

    1. Yesterday after switching it on .. the yellow light switched off, as did the heating element after a few minutes... it did come back on a minute or so later.

    2. The yellow light switched on and off at least 15 times during the 15 minute heating up process

    3. Once reaching 1.05 bar on the pressure gauge .. the yellow light switches off .. leaving just the green light on.
    The gauge slowly loses pressure and the yellow light comes on with a loudish click when the heater comes on for a few seconds to heat the boiler back up to 1.05 bar
    The strange part is - that after reaching max .. and switching off .. the pstat and yellow light switches on and off between 2 and 5 times when the 6th time it gives that louder click when the boiler heats up. Is this normal?

    I have no previous experience with these machines - only this seems very odd to me.
    There was a problem with the original Mater p/stat that wouldn't allow the boiler pressure setting to be lowered .. so it was changed before I picked it up.

    Does it sound like this p/stat is on the blink .. as it seems to be doing a lot of unnecessary work .. and I have reservations about it going the distance.
    Obviously being new ... it is under Warranty.

    Cheers for any assistance with this matter.

    Great Coffee machine .. and makes great Coffee
    Some may have seen my original Strega posts from several years ago - I am happy to report that it's performed flawlessly since I brought it home and has been used daily to this day

    I offer two simple solutions for Moonshines problem

    Its is more than likely a water quality problem - read that as over filtered water like RO and its not conductive enough thus tripping the low water level safety switch
    Or
    The the screws inside the water tank have some sediment film covering them and again fooling the low water safety switch to activate - In this case the fix is to remove the tank and wash it out with bleach then thoroughly rinse out until clean then refit and fill with water

    KK

    Leave a comment:


  • Moonshine
    replied
    Howdy .. I've had my new Strega for around 6 weeks ... love it .. but the pstat seems strange and comes on and switches off erratically.

    I'm wondering whether it is faulty .. so I'm here hoping to get some feedback from other Strega owners

    1. Yesterday after switching it on .. the yellow light switched off, as did the heating element after a few minutes... it did come back on a minute or so later.

    2. The yellow light switched on and off at least 15 times during the 15 minute heating up process

    3. Once reaching 1.05 bar on the pressure gauge .. the yellow light switches off .. leaving just the green light on.
    The gauge slowly loses pressure and the yellow light comes on with a loudish click when the heater comes on for a few seconds to heat the boiler back up to 1.05 bar
    The strange part is - that after reaching max .. and switching off .. the pstat and yellow light switches on and off between 2 and 5 times when the 6th time it gives that louder click when the boiler heats up. Is this normal?

    I have no previous experience with these machines - only this seems very odd to me.
    There was a problem with the original Mater p/stat that wouldn't allow the boiler pressure setting to be lowered .. so it was changed before I picked it up.

    Does it sound like this p/stat is on the blink .. as it seems to be doing a lot of unnecessary work .. and I have reservations about it going the distance.
    Obviously being new ... it is under Warranty.

    Cheers for any assistance with this matter.

    Great Coffee machine .. and makes great Coffee

    Leave a comment:

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