G'day n.t.s.... 
Yep, that intruding shower-screen bolt-head will be doing you no favours for sure. Best to keep the dose below that until you have the button-head screw fitted...
Having said that though, looking at the coffee grinds, I would say that there is still room to grind a bit finer than that. With my machine, it's currently setup to run at around 8.5-9.0Bar and my grind size would definitely be finer than yours, regardless of the basket I use. With tamping, more important than actual applied tamping force, is that you apply a nominal force consistently and as level as is practical to do (good advice about that above). It's easier to be consistent with a heavier applied force than a light one.
From your posts above, it seems that all the baskets you are using are of the 'ridged' type. These can make the application of a consistent tamping force more difficult because of the ridge intruding into the coffee cake, and absorbing some of this force instead of the coffee being compressed. No need to worry about grabbing VST baskets or similar as any decent quality 'ridgeless' basket (Synesso for example) will make life much easier for you and well worth the small investment.
I'd also highly recommend the hiring of Greg Pullman's 'Pressure Gauge Group Handle' as mentioned by Javaphile above. It is a simple procedure and once completed, you will know for sure that the OPV is properly adjusted and should not need touching again for a very long time. A very inexpensive and beneficial thing to do.
Don't know that there is much more advice that can be offered to be honest, Everyone seems to have covered all the variables that affect the pouring of consistently excellent espresso. I suppose, just to be sure, you could also buy a bag of professionally roasted coffee from Andy or one of the Site Sponsors, to take the coffee out of the equation. Anyway, all the best with your troubleshooting efforts...
Mal.

Yep, that intruding shower-screen bolt-head will be doing you no favours for sure. Best to keep the dose below that until you have the button-head screw fitted...

Having said that though, looking at the coffee grinds, I would say that there is still room to grind a bit finer than that. With my machine, it's currently setup to run at around 8.5-9.0Bar and my grind size would definitely be finer than yours, regardless of the basket I use. With tamping, more important than actual applied tamping force, is that you apply a nominal force consistently and as level as is practical to do (good advice about that above). It's easier to be consistent with a heavier applied force than a light one.
From your posts above, it seems that all the baskets you are using are of the 'ridged' type. These can make the application of a consistent tamping force more difficult because of the ridge intruding into the coffee cake, and absorbing some of this force instead of the coffee being compressed. No need to worry about grabbing VST baskets or similar as any decent quality 'ridgeless' basket (Synesso for example) will make life much easier for you and well worth the small investment.
I'd also highly recommend the hiring of Greg Pullman's 'Pressure Gauge Group Handle' as mentioned by Javaphile above. It is a simple procedure and once completed, you will know for sure that the OPV is properly adjusted and should not need touching again for a very long time. A very inexpensive and beneficial thing to do.
Don't know that there is much more advice that can be offered to be honest, Everyone seems to have covered all the variables that affect the pouring of consistently excellent espresso. I suppose, just to be sure, you could also buy a bag of professionally roasted coffee from Andy or one of the Site Sponsors, to take the coffee out of the equation. Anyway, all the best with your troubleshooting efforts...

Mal.



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