Silvia pulling shot too fast

[orchard]

This is my first time posting on this forum and I have had a problem with my Silvia V3/ Rocky that I just can not seem to fix.

I am pulling shots in 6-12 seconds........

Steps I have tried so far:

• Rocky grinder at finest possible setting
• replaced burrs on rocky + Recalibrated 'zero point'
• Tried a variety of decent beans
• varied the amount in the basket, even weighing with digital scale number of grams
• different tamper pressures
• temperature surfing the machine
• and recently tried adjusting the OPV to reduce pressure.

I have tried everything I can think about/read up on, short of spending $$$ on a PID. Which is still an option.

Seriously what I am I doing wrong. I get half decent coffee with a 12 second shot on some really good beans but it is by no means consistent and that is using every technique above to slow the shot down.

PS I have just had the broiler replaced but that did not alter anything from what I can tell.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Welcome ORchard,

What do you mean by 'decent beans'? When you weighed your dose, how much were you putting in what size basket?

I can't see how a PID will fix this problem. It sound like the beans or technique. Did the machine work well for you previously? How long have you had it?

[orchard]

I usually use single origin Toby's Estate or TE woolloomooloo if I forget to order online in time.

For a 21g basket I have tried everything from 18g-21g at different tampers. The machine replaced my old V2 Silvia and I never have been able to control the speed very well like the previous machine. It has always been a fight to 'slow' it down.

I have had the machine for around two years.

[STS]

I would give serious consideration to your grind. I would have thought with the rocky on finest setting you should be able to choke your machine.

Additionally take a look at your tamp & tamper. How well does it fit in the basket and how does your technique correct if you have a less than ideal fit. Your tamp/technique could be contributing to side channelling which may run the shot fast. Could also be worth looking at getting a naked portafilter to look at improving distribution.

Regards

Sean

[chokkidog]

PS I have just had the broiler replaced but that did not alter anything from what I can tell.

Nah, it wouldn't, not if it's out in the chook shed getting fat, was the first one tasty, I've heard they can be a bit stringy?

:-D Welcome to CS orchard.

[orchard]

Yes I used to be able to choke the silvia V2 with the same rocky, but this V3 is being a real pain.

I like the idea of the naked portafilter. My tamper was sold on recommendation at the coffee shop so I would like to hope it does the job well.

In all seriousness though would a naked portafilter really do the trick? It seems like the machine needs to reduce pressure somehow.

[STS]

In all seriousness though would a naked portafilter really do the trick? It seems like the machine needs to reduce pressure somehow.

Yes and no. It's not in itself going to slow your pour. If distribution problems in your basket are leading to the problem, however, then it is a tool that will help diagnose and correct this.

Alternatively, if you are convinced that the machine itself is the problem, it would probably be worth the spend to have a competent tech check and fine tune the machine's setup using a Scace device or similar.

Sean

[orchard]

Thanks for the help guys. As a reference this video would be a near identical pull to many of my shots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heGeFppz0H4

[orchard]

I just checked and my flow rate, unrestricted, is upwards of 650ml/min which is crazy. That is even with the OPV at its loosest setting. So perplexing....

[Yelta]

I just checked and my flow rate, unrestricted, is upwards of 650ml/min which is crazy. That is even with the OPV at its loosest setting. So perplexing....

Take it to an expert, pay a few bucks and get it fixed.

[Samm3y]

I have tried everything I can think about/read up on, short of spending $$$ on a PID.

I don't think a PID will help this problem. You will still have super long shots but at perfect temperature

Maybe try making a portafilter guage and see what pressure you actually have? Could be a busted OPV?

[orchard]

Thanks for advice guys. Even if I didn't manage to fix it myself, I have learnt a lot on how the machine operates.

Any recommendations on places in Brisbane to get this fixed/checked out?

[Yelta]

Thanks for advice guys. Even if I didn't manage to fix it myself, I have learnt a lot on how the machine operates.

Any recommendations on places in Brisbane to get this fixed/checked out?

Do the people you bought it from do repair work?

[grmaltby]

While you're looking for a repair vendor ... see if you can eliminate the grinder as a suspect by seeing if you can borrow another (or get someone to give you a good fine espresso grind) and see if you can get a halfway decent shot. My old Rocky, even with burrs replaced and at it's finest setting just above zero, is struggling to grind fine enough for espresso (I think the bearing is upset after I had to drill the burr mounting screws out ...).

Gavin

[Dimal]

I just checked and my flow rate, unrestricted, is upwards of 650ml/min which is crazy. That is even with the OPV at its loosest setting. So perplexing....

That flow rate is actually within spec' and normal....

More likely is that the Over Pressure Valve (OPV) is set too high such that the pressure being delivered to the top of the coffee puck is well in excess of ~9Bar. This makes it difficult to dial-in the grinder for a decent pour. You can either take your Silvia into a specialist coffee machine repair premises or put yourself on the list to avail yourself of Greg Pullman's Pressure Gauge Group Handle, and then set it up yourself...

A highly reputable company providing machine repair services in Brisbane is Bezzera Australia located at Cooper's Plains. They're no longer a Site Sponsor so you will have to Google for their website.

All the best,
Mal.