My Sunbeam EM7000 + Breville Smart Grinder

[MrJack]

No, I don't think so.

Channeling is the term given to the uneven flow of water through the puck. If your coffee is not well distributed in the filter basket, there will be more flow where there is less coffee. This reduces the overall resistance to flow (so you get a faster pour).

Distribution can be (in my experience) harder to achieve with a finer grind, which could possibly explain why you are getting faster flow with a finer grind.

You can try experimenting with different ways to distribute the coffee and see if it helps? There are a few methods detailed here on the forum (I think one is known as the wiess distribution technique?).

[SGM2986]

What is bad channelling problem? something wrong with the new machine?

[SGM2986]

That doesn't make sense to me. Watery shots would normally be from the grind being too coarse (or tamp to light)

Doesnt make sense to me either it s better when I grind nearly coarse .

[MrJack]

Does seem odd. Unless perhaps you are having bad channelling problems?

[Honest_Gaza]

Hey guys,

I have the same machine but I am using Sunbeam 450 grinder.
I have to grind the coffee too coarse ( level 20) to get the coffee pressure in orange zone. is it normal? cause by going through the previous threads it seems like every one is grinding coffee too fine around level 7 0r 8 , but at that level all I get is awatery undrinkable shot. can any one help me please?

That doesn't make sense to me. Watery shots would normally be from the grind being too coarse (or tamp to light)

[SGM2986]

Hey guys,

I have the same machine but I am using Sunbeam 450 grinder.
I have to grind the coffee too coarse ( level 20) to get the coffee pressure in orange zone. is it normal? cause by going through the previous threads it seems like every one is grinding coffee too fine around level 7 0r 8 , but at that level all I get is awatery undrinkable shot. can any one help me please?

[artman]

Also note if you change your grind the quantity of coffee dispensed by the smart grinder will vary as it is a times dose. The coarser the grind the more the dose as the beans grind faster.

Cheers

[artman]

No I mean use a double basket all the time, it will be much easier to get consistently good results. Dose so the tamped level of coffee in the basket is just under the shower screen (search for 5 cent test ). Keep this constant as well as the tamp pressure and it will only leave the grind as your variable.

Cheers

[Homz]

Thanks artman, do I just use the same amount of coffee whether I'm pouring a single or double shot?
thanks for the help.

cheers
homz

[artman]

Hi Homz

Grinder setting (as in the number on the scale) is not comparable between grinders. You should just aim to keep your dose and tamp consistent and vary the grind to get the magic ~60ml (double) in ~30 seconds.

Using the double basket makes it generally much easier to get good results compared to a single basket.

Do a search here, heaps of great fundamental info that applies to all machines.

Cheers

[Homz]

Hey guys
Ive just picked up this combo to
Getting good results so far.
Any tips that you can share? What settings are you using on the grinder? I use the single shot basket but the shot dosent seem very strong. Beans are fresh from a local roastery.

cheers
Homz

[artman]

Good stuff!!

Cheers

[Fallingleaf]

Finally there after realising my tamp was too hard but grind too coarse. I was getting a sour aftertaste (good taste throughout though) but that has gone now...

[Fallingleaf]

Cheers guys - gave it a backflush (figure it can't do harm as it is the same procedure minus the cleaning tablet). Amazing how much gets up in there!

[artman]

You should back flush with water after each session and use a cleaner every couple of weeks or so dependent on usage. While back flushing do a wiggle with the PF to flush coffee grinds from the group and gasket area.

Cheers