Update 13-4-07 21:20: Solved. Problem caused by a faulty Grinder (EM0480).
Firstly, thanks go out to anyone who can comment on this. I dont normally post on forums unless I am truly stumped and have exhausted everything I can think of. Any help is much appreciated.
Onto the problem: I have just bought the Sunbeam combo of the EM6910 machine/EM0480 grinder and have run into problems even getting the 6910 to produce a shot of coffee at any level. The pump is going, but just cant seem to push the water through the group head (flows fine when there is no coffee in there, so the pump is working at some level).
Trying not to be too verbose, here is what I have done:
Initial Attempt: from posts I read on this site, I set the Grinder to 11 and tamped the double shot basket firmly (but with nowhere near the 30 pound suggestion I have seen posted here for the 6910). Pressed the pre-programmed double shot button, pump fired up, the pressure indicator went up (a little above the gold area, about halfway into the section just past the golden area) but no coffee came out. Removed the group head and the coffee was wet. Thought I must have to fine a grind, so tried again...
Second attempt: Set grinder to 15 (after a complete cleanout), tried a much lighter tamp (three finger pressure) and repeated... much the same outcome, but a couple of drops came out.
Next attempt: Set grinder to 20 (after another complete cleanout), a very light tamp (two finger pressure) and repeated... much the same outcome, but a few more drops came out, maybe a couple of mls.
Next attempt: Decided to change tack and used a pre ground pack I had bought a week ago (not a supermarket one, a coffee house that I had asked to grind it for a stove top); exactly the same type of results as 2 and 3.
I have had 15 or so attempts over the last 4 days and the only time I can get anything at all is with a grind of 25 (even though the 0480 document says it only has 24) with barely any tamp. Even this morning I dropped the grinder to 22 to have another try and nothing - and that was pressing the manual button which is supposed to deliver 240ml - maybe 3ml at best. And that was with two separate attempts. On the first attempt, the espresso gauge stayed in the golden zone the entire time and still nothing.
Ive tried two different coffees in the grinder as well; from two different places to get that out of the equation...
So... to my mind, the logical guess would be that the problem is with the pump on the 6910. Its just that I dont know how fine fine ground coffee should look. When comparing the stuff I had ground for stovetop to the grind I get around the 11-15 mark, the bought one actually looks slightly finer, so I would guess that the grinder is OK, but even at 25, the grind is still very fine, only just passable for use in a plunger (which I really dont want to do, just as a comparison).
I was just after confirmation/other opinions/ other things to try before I start the return process as I know how difficult that can be sometimes if you are not 100% sure about what the problem is or where it lies.
I have left messages with Sunbeam as well, but am waiting to hear back from them.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Although I am definitely a newbie in this area, I have been going through these forums for over a year now in anticipation of getting my setup and researching the techniques for making good coffee – I know that doesnt mean much, but I just wanted to distinguish myself a little from the people who just purchase setups like this spur-of-the-moment and then expect it to be easy. Im definitely prepared to learn and practice to get results, but I just dont think things are working as they should…
Thanks again.
Sorry for the long post….
P.S. Went for the Sunbeam over the Silvia only because my wife wanted the easy to use – without thinking type functionality that the more consumer targeted Sunbeam is supposed to offer.
Shutting up now….
Firstly, thanks go out to anyone who can comment on this. I dont normally post on forums unless I am truly stumped and have exhausted everything I can think of. Any help is much appreciated.
Onto the problem: I have just bought the Sunbeam combo of the EM6910 machine/EM0480 grinder and have run into problems even getting the 6910 to produce a shot of coffee at any level. The pump is going, but just cant seem to push the water through the group head (flows fine when there is no coffee in there, so the pump is working at some level).
Trying not to be too verbose, here is what I have done:
Initial Attempt: from posts I read on this site, I set the Grinder to 11 and tamped the double shot basket firmly (but with nowhere near the 30 pound suggestion I have seen posted here for the 6910). Pressed the pre-programmed double shot button, pump fired up, the pressure indicator went up (a little above the gold area, about halfway into the section just past the golden area) but no coffee came out. Removed the group head and the coffee was wet. Thought I must have to fine a grind, so tried again...
Second attempt: Set grinder to 15 (after a complete cleanout), tried a much lighter tamp (three finger pressure) and repeated... much the same outcome, but a couple of drops came out.
Next attempt: Set grinder to 20 (after another complete cleanout), a very light tamp (two finger pressure) and repeated... much the same outcome, but a few more drops came out, maybe a couple of mls.
Next attempt: Decided to change tack and used a pre ground pack I had bought a week ago (not a supermarket one, a coffee house that I had asked to grind it for a stove top); exactly the same type of results as 2 and 3.
I have had 15 or so attempts over the last 4 days and the only time I can get anything at all is with a grind of 25 (even though the 0480 document says it only has 24) with barely any tamp. Even this morning I dropped the grinder to 22 to have another try and nothing - and that was pressing the manual button which is supposed to deliver 240ml - maybe 3ml at best. And that was with two separate attempts. On the first attempt, the espresso gauge stayed in the golden zone the entire time and still nothing.
Ive tried two different coffees in the grinder as well; from two different places to get that out of the equation...
So... to my mind, the logical guess would be that the problem is with the pump on the 6910. Its just that I dont know how fine fine ground coffee should look. When comparing the stuff I had ground for stovetop to the grind I get around the 11-15 mark, the bought one actually looks slightly finer, so I would guess that the grinder is OK, but even at 25, the grind is still very fine, only just passable for use in a plunger (which I really dont want to do, just as a comparison).
I was just after confirmation/other opinions/ other things to try before I start the return process as I know how difficult that can be sometimes if you are not 100% sure about what the problem is or where it lies.
I have left messages with Sunbeam as well, but am waiting to hear back from them.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Although I am definitely a newbie in this area, I have been going through these forums for over a year now in anticipation of getting my setup and researching the techniques for making good coffee – I know that doesnt mean much, but I just wanted to distinguish myself a little from the people who just purchase setups like this spur-of-the-moment and then expect it to be easy. Im definitely prepared to learn and practice to get results, but I just dont think things are working as they should…
Thanks again.
Sorry for the long post….
P.S. Went for the Sunbeam over the Silvia only because my wife wanted the easy to use – without thinking type functionality that the more consumer targeted Sunbeam is supposed to offer.
Shutting up now….

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