Ideal temperature for espresso shots - R58

[nickm]

I mainly make milk drinks (6 or so a day) with my R58 however whenever I make a short black for a mate he says that the shot is lukewarm. Any directions on where to find the "standard" group head temp for delivering a good short black?

My PID is set up for a boiler temp of 125C. Based on the guide in the manual (off the top of my head) that should deliver water at 90C.

[trentski]

Rinse the cup with boiler water first. Should be plenty hot then

[DesigningByCoffee]

Like heating milk, it may well be his experience/setup/preference?
Like trentski, I heat my cups first (also helps turn over the boiler water more regularly too) but the shot is still never going to burn your tongue - and neither should it! But if people are used to a hissing, spitting machine making their spro's - then maybe it'll need to be an education process…

[BrettD]

R58 is a dual boiler, 125 would be the service boiler (for steam & hot water)
This will not affect the temp of your shots.
If you have it set for a 90 brew temp (it's probably set to boiler temp of 102) this is a few degrees lower than the default (approx 92 at brew head, from a 105 setting)

Perhaps try some double wall shot glasses (also pre heated) to keep the warmth in for your mate.

Brett

[simonko]

I suspect typo as you set steam boiler in bar rather than degrees on the 58, right?

[nickm]

Looks like I have my boilers mixed up. Steam boiler is at 125, the other boiler set at 105

[BrettD]

I think different markets / firmware versions may have expressed the service boiler in bar, but mine uses degrees C for both boilers.

Nick,

105 is the Rocket default setting, and according to the table in the manual, that means a brew head temp of 92. That is about what most would call a "standard" brew temp.

FWIW I have mine set to 106, but I prefer that for the (slight) extra body / higher extraction / taste NOT a hotter beverage.

Make sure your machine is properly warmed up (40 mins+ with the portafilter locked in the whole time) a cold portafilter & basket may leach some of the heat out of the shot.

Where does you mate get a "short black" from that he doesn't describe as luke warm?

Brett

[nickm]

Thanks for the tips Brett, a few traps that I've fallen for. I haven't been heating the portafilter, nor the short black cups (however I always heat my flat white cups). My mate has a Rancilio Silvia/Rocky combo which he reckons is much hotter. Will have to do a test myself on his setup to see the difference.

[trentski]

Cold group handle will certainly change the flavour of your shots. They should improve significantly with a warm handle.