EM7000 - After 7 years I just found out I'm a newb

[hoybers]

Hi,
I've been using sunbeam EM4800s for about seven years with results so pleasing I thought I knew what I was doing.
I've got a Cuisinart burr grinder and I've been using Vittoria Nero beans from the supermarket - which have been great in the cheap machine.
Today I realised the dream and upgraded to an EM7000 - Domayne were selling them can't ignore it cheap.
I'm guessing my beans are way wrong for the new machine, but I am having heartbreaking failure so far.
The pressure gauge is not even budging when I load up, although if I insert the cleaning disk it goes through the roof, so something is right...
It doesnt move whether I tamp hard, soft, whether I underload or overload. With the one or two cup basket.
I am getting coffee flavoured water and next to zero Crema. My puck is bone dry.
Have I made a huge mistake? Am I way out of my depth? Is it me, the beans or my hardware?
Any suggestions will help me sleep through the weekend, whilst I wait for a chance to call Sunbeam and cry into the phone.
It feels like a really crappy coming of age drama.

[Latte Lament]

Hi mate.
There is a saying that the grinder is more important than the machine.
To start I would get some fresh locally roasted beans from a cafe near you, instead if using old store coffee beans.
Then if your grinder can be adjusted grind the beans finer and go again.
You should also have two sets of baskets for your portafilter, if the above is not helping try using the pressurised baskets. It's the one with one hole at the bottom.
If still no luck and for really great results, you may want to upgrade to the matching sunbeam conical burr grinder which will work great with your shiny new machine.
For now worst case I think the pressurised baskets will get you off to a start though
Good luck

[hoybers]

Yep. I've just hit the learning wall.
The 4800 came with pressurised baskets which got around the twin factors of the low-grade grinder and supermarket beans, resulting in pleasant coffee.
I've got the DBM-8A, which makes great drip coffee grinds (turns out wifey was a bit cheap on that purchase). I am thinking about trying to install a few shims, as I'm already in trouble for spending on the machine upgrade.
The advice on the pressurised basket was also very clarifying, unfortunately, they didn't come with the machine, so I think I'll try to track one down until I can get away with spending on a better grinder.
Or I could just put some coffee on the bench and head butt it until I feel better, that might work too.

Thanks very much for your advice as I am now in a place where I at least understand the problem and can put a plan together.

[TampIt]

Yep. I've just hit the learning wall.
The 4800 came with pressurised baskets which got around the twin factors of the low-grade grinder and supermarket beans, resulting in pleasant coffee.
I've got the DBM-8A, which makes great drip coffee grinds (turns out wifey was a bit cheap on that purchase). I am thinking about trying to install a few shims, as I'm already in trouble for spending on the machine upgrade.
The advice on the pressurised basket was also very clarifying, unfortunately, they didn't come with the machine, so I think I'll try to track one down until I can get away with spending on a better grinder.
Or I could just put some coffee on the bench and head butt it until I feel better, that might work too.

Thanks very much for your advice as I am now in a place where I at least understand the problem and can put a plan together.

Hi hoybers

As stated: you need to grind a lot finer. Pressurised baskets allow you to use so-called "universal grind" which is really drip / plunger coarseness, about twice the diameter of espresso grind (i.e. under 1/8 the surface area to volume ratio, to be technical). Given the power of a 7000 I doubt they could work: the 7000 would probably just partially blast through them anyway and I would not wish to drink the result.

If you want pressurised baskets, ask any 6910 owner: they will have an unused set in a drawer somewhere unless they are already binned. At best, that is a poor stopgap. If you live in the west, I have two unused sets from my 6910's you can have gratis.

Grinder: Unless you have a freak of nature, your Cuisinart grinder cannot do anything remotely near espresso grind. RTFM and check if that is actually correct, as companies tend to rebadge their own gear every year or so rather than actually alter under the bonnet. Shimming it would be a waste of time UNLESS you have a perfectly matched set of burrs (looking up for pigs). Most likely result: trashed burrs as any play will be lethal. A better option may be to sell / gift it rather than break it.

EM480 is probably your minimum for medium / long term use. I had two of them for years, just recently upgraded and sold them off (still working fine). The friends with "lower" SB grinders were lucky to see two years out. I see the 480 around from $100 to $200. A secondhand one may need shimming (being a conical, not a flat burr they respond well to shimming). CS instructions abound on this site.

Another suggestion: check out the milk frothing area of this site. If you "whiten your cuppa", that may well be your next "easy to solve" issue: for nix other than the cost of milk...

Hope this helps.

TampIt

[Latte Lament]

Hi mate
Yeah give the mod a go as it's definitely worth a try as a potential $5 get out of jail card at home
Try getting some heavy duty aluminium foil for the DIY shims as stated in this below step by step article:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack...esso/?ALLSTEPS

I once put some shims in an old sunbeam em0480 grinder and it totally fixed the problem.
The new ones have shims in now.
If you do end up getting steel shims try and get stainless steel as I think that is food grade. But it appears in the article that the heavy duty aluminium foil will work fine.
Then save up for a better grinder down the track. The sunbeams come up on eBay and gumtree often for good second hand prices

Also if you bought your machine new try calling sunbeam to see if they were meant to come with pressurised baskets and do some research on tamping technique too. Good luck

[Fard]

Definitely no duel floor baskets with the 7000.
I have a set from the 6910 if you want them.

[hoybers]

Hi people,
Sorry to leave the thread untended, I made a couple of coffees this morning and built four flat packs. Took extra long I was shaking so much.
What a difference 24 hours can make. I thought it over and decided to buy the em0480. I am way to clumsy to pull of the handmade shim thing, I will just sell the old grinder as a job lot with the old machine.
Of course, wifey had another idea and sent me to get some store ground coffee first, to make her happy. One quick trip to Campos later and I'm pumping in the orange zone and wow, there is such a big hit off the new machine when you get it halfway right. Anyway, proved myself and got the grinder too.

TampIt, you were right about the milk, it is a whole new ball came with decent steam pressure.

Thanks, Fard for the offer of the pressurised baskets, I no longer need them, it was definitely down to the grind quality and I love the stronger coffee this way.

I have a lot still to learn over the coming weeks, but I've got the right platform now and we'll take it from there.
Thanks again for everyone's suggestions, instructions and experience. I was close to writing it off before that.
By the way - the EM 7000 was $398 from Domayne, they are having a fire sale on the red ones. So I am still in front by a couple of hundred dollars and I've got two new toys.

[Matthew8]

EM7000 for $398!

By the way - the EM 7000 was $398 from Domayne, they are having a fire sale on the red ones.

Hi, wow that is cheap, I paid $799 about 5 weeks ago and that was the cheapest price around Adelaide at the time.
Can you advise which Domayne store (location)? I looked up their website and that say $799. If in Sydney I'll see if a relative can pick one up for me.

So I am still in front by a couple of hundred dollars and I've got two new toys.

Well done to you and enjoy the fruits of your labour. I went through a similar issue when I got the EM6910, a new matching grinder made all the difference.

[hoybers]

Hi,
I know, so cheap i had to buy it.
it was advertised in the half yearly clearance catalogue (red model only). I too looked online, with the same results.
I just called the nearest store and confirmed price and availability.
It does appear to be a nationwide catalogue, but i got it from NSW.
Sale ends 30/6
it is now making great coffee with the right grind

[Matthew8]

Thanks
We don't have Domayne in SA. I'll get a relative to check for one in Sydney.

[Morgz]

One more tip. Forget the pressure gauge, it's only an indication anyway and (on my old 6910 at least) has very little bearing on what ends up in the cup.

[krz]

Not only Domayne. I actually got mine from Hardly Normal for $399 2 weeks ago.

Im also a noob but reading all these threads has got me making good coffee now. Ok, it took about 7 cups to get right.

I have a Breville smart grinder, I use
setting 3 (fine)
12 seconds duration
= 14g of ground coffee. It goes into the single basket
I use the default setting for 1 cup, and I get about 35ml with great crema.

Its a great machine.

[hoybers]

Yep, I am loving it. Caught in the middle right now as. I had a couple of kg of the supermarket beans left and they are making an okay cup still... Meanwhile beanbay is grabbing my attention.
It is funny, the stronger coffee is making me want it more than ever. The timing is great with a newborn coming home today.

[Javaphile]

Yep, I am loving it. Caught in the middle right now as. I had a couple of kg of the supermarket beans left and they are making an okay cup still... Meanwhile beanbay is grabbing my attention.
It is funny, the stronger coffee is making me want it more than ever. The timing is great with a newborn coming home today.

Supermarket beans. *gag* Try BeanBay and you'll never drink that stuff again!

Congrats on the new addition to the family. Now coffee is really needed for all those long nights and lack of sleep! Perfect timing!


Java "Just don't give any to the baby!" phile

[ozscott]

Yep it's all in the beans....beanbay and grinder. Getting good Campos beans grinded for a non pressurised basket will serve well in the meantime.

Cheers