Originally posted by booge
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Sunbeam em7000 coffee pressure gauge
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I know this isn't my thread, but for the OP and anyone else reading:
I went and bought freshly roasted beans from a little roasting house.
EM0480: grind setting 7
Dose: mounded, tap, then wiped flat
Tamping: medium, once (I have no idea how heavy that actually is), a little underdosed in the end
Single walled double cup basket
Pressed the auto double cup button
Voila: The coffee pressure came up to the sweet spot, I managed to do it twice in a row, so it wasn't a fluke.
The coffee is slightly bitter, so a bit overextracted, but I can play with that.
TL;DR: Fresh beans worked to fix the coffee pressure (and related over/under extraction) issue.
I appreciate the help from those with experience, thank you.
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@ Badcoffee. At the risk of getting flamed, yes fresh beans will increase pressure at the same grind setting, my grinder produces perfect pressure for good tasting supermarket beans (Grinders Crema) at 9 on the grinder screen but requires 17 for fresh beans to extract at the right pressure and 30 second extraction.
Obviously the fresh taste better but newish supermarket beans should work in any machine assuming your grinder will go fine enough and they IMO taste quite acceptable for general use and a million times better than instant
This is from someone who's house hold uses a kilo of beans a week so we use both.
The above setting are on a Breville smart grinder pro and use with a BES920.
Are you pre heating your machine portafilter and basket, I have found that can help smooth out the taste at times.
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I WISH this were true for this machine, but I have literally gone through 100+ cups of coffee trying to get the coffee pressure to work right with supermarket beans and nope nope nope.Originally posted by geebee666 View Post... but newish supermarket beans should work in any machine assuming your grinder will go fine enough and they IMO taste quite acceptable for general use and a million times better than instant
To be fair I used the same pack (Vittoria Organic) for all testing. But with a gazillion of combinations of various grinds, dosing, and tamping, I could NOT get the %$#^$^ to work (not enough pressure or too much pressure and even when I hit the 'sweet spot' for pressure, the coffee was wayyyyy overextracted and bitter).
For the record, I can make perfectly fine coffee with my EM6910 with these same supermarket beans. I expected at least the same kind of functionality with the EM7000, but noooooooo....
This machine is %$#^%$%$ finicky as %$#^%$. <= this is my formal review of the machine :P.Last edited by badcoffee; 2 June 2017, 03:12 PM.
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Heh... sorry, I didn't even answer your question: but yes, I preheated.Originally posted by geebee666 View PostAre you pre heating your machine portafilter and basket, I have found that can help smooth out the taste at times.
And to clarify, I wasn't anywhere near the stage of caring about the taste: I have been sitting at the lowest level of 'please please let me have something drinkable' which is pretty sad for a $600+ machine.
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Where are you?
I reckon 5 minutes with a knowledgeable fellow snob would sort it. Two possibilities
a) 7000 is faulty
or
b) You need to do... (something different - the 6910 closely emulates typical semi-auto commercial machines to use, the 7000 "does it for you" in its own manner - for better or worse)...
I have both a 6910 and a 7000 (plus three other espresso machines). I prefer the 6910 for everything except the noise level. To my mind the 7000 is a typical half assed automatic - if you don't know how to make coffee they will give you something "more or less" drinkable (even more so with the "auto steam wand" - grrrrr...). The more you know the more the 7000 gets in the way. I did tame mine (a domestic imperative based purely on noise level), however even after 2+ "7000 years" every time I go back to my La Pav 2 group or anyones 6910 I smile. Says it all really.
TampIt
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I'm just south of the Gold Coast and I think you are 100% right. I actually advertised on airtasker to pay someone with experience with this %$$^$# machine to come and show me how to make a damn coffee. No takers :/.Originally posted by TampIt View PostI reckon 5 minutes with a knowledgeable fellow snob would sort it.
I know the machine isn't faulty: I already exchanged it once because I figured it can't possibly be this hard to use, but nope: the replacement is exactly the same.
Ahh, interesting. I'm actually a bit relieved that it's not just me who struggled with it to be honest. The reviews everywhere for the EM7000 are really good and felt like I was some kind of moron for not being able to get it to make a decent cup of coffee.I prefer the 6910 for everything except the noise level.
It really does.every time I go back to my La Pav 2 group or anyones 6910 I smile. Says it all really.
I want to take it back, but I'm pretty sure that they will test it, tell me it's working fine (because it is), and refuse the return. I'm not sure that yelling 'IF IT'S FINE SHOW ME HOW YOU MAKE A ^%$#%$ CUP OF COFFEE WITH IT!' would actually get me very far... :P
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Just wondering (with no disrespect intended) - are you a smoker?Originally posted by booge View PostTried my first shot of Espresso WOW today after delivery...i was fairly rushed just to see if i could taste anything different. Was disappointed, I'll tinker some more but so far I'm happier with the taste of Lavazza with a pressurised basket (i can hear minds blowing already). I hope to get better results tomorrow.
Smokers often tend to prefer over roasted and stale beans and overextracted ("burned") coffee as the bitterness means they can actually taste it. 🤔
Everyone I've come across who has claimed "Sydney has better coffee than Melbourne" (yes, people actually say this) has either been an incredibly parochial and defensive Sydney-sider or a smoker (or both, I guess).
/OT
I reckon most people who own this kind of machine have extremely low expectations, by CS standards - and probably there's a bit of justifying their excessive spending to themselves.Originally posted by badcoffee View PostAhh, interesting. I'm actually a bit relieved that it's not just me who struggled with it to be honest. The reviews everywhere for the EM7000 are really good and felt like I was some kind of moron for not being able to get it to make a decent cup of coffee.
If they knew how much we all spend on coffee kit, they'd probably feel better... 😏
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This made me laugh so hard.I reckon most people who own this kind of machine have extremely low expectations, by CS standards - and probably there's a bit of justifying their excessive spending to themselves.
I have really ^$^$$#@ low expectations (not even kidding): 'Drinkable' just about covers it right now.
I'm able to get the coffee pressure up into the orange zone with the fresh beans, so that's progress right there, sad as that sounds.
I'm having to stop the double cup pour part of the way through because the pour is too slow so ends up over extracted. One step coarser grind, and I lose the pressure, so then it's under extracted again. So frustrating. So trying same grind, higher dose and heavier tamping now.
Maybe I should take up smoking and I can over extract the hell out of it and it will taste great... :P.
And if anyone is at the Gold Coast, I will pay you money to come and show me how to use this $#@%. I'm serious.
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Originally posted by badcoffee View PostI'm just south of the Gold Coast and I think you are 100% right. I actually advertised on airtasker to pay someone with experience with this %$$^$# machine to come and show me how to make a damn coffee. No takers :/.
I know the machine isn't faulty: I already exchanged it once because I figured it can't possibly be this hard to use, but nope: the replacement is exactly the same.
Ahh, interesting. I'm actually a bit relieved that it's not just me who struggled with it to be honest. The reviews everywhere for the EM7000 are really good and felt like I was some kind of moron for not being able to get it to make a decent cup of coffee.
It really does.
I want to take it back, but I'm pretty sure that they will test it, tell me it's working fine (because it is), and refuse the return. I'm not sure that yelling 'IF IT'S FINE SHOW ME HOW YOU MAKE A ^%$#%$ CUP OF COFFEE WITH IT!' would actually get me very far... :P
I feel your pain.
As you have already tried to get someone, here is the "quick & dirty" which (hopefully) will get you started. Before any other CS'r's jump in, this is based on a dozen or so 7000's and too many 6910s to count. Ditto EM480s (have posted elsewhere on CS that I regret selling both my 480s as my Varios are poor at coarser grinds). A properly cleaned and set up 480 can do pretty good coffee - it is not the problem in this case (or badcoffee's 6910 would have made crap coffee for years).
1) The 7000 has significantly less shot power than the 6910, and as a direct result will not handle overdosing gracefully. While I appreciate it is easy for me to spend your cash, a decent set of scales to 0.1g accuracy probably saved my sanity (or maintained my current level of craziness, whichever applies).
2) Use your "freshly roasted beans from a little roasting house" - I am assuming their coffee is at least reasonable to your taste (you did try some, didn't you?). I have had very little success with supermarket beans in a 7000 - and they require a quite different set up (Aldi beans possibly excepted - and that may well have been a fluke as they were the same batch at two different friend's parties).
3) Start by getting the dose correct for the basket. Standard 7000 double basket is 16g, single is circa 7.5g (slightly higher than my VST 7 / 7.2g). I suspect you are overdosing (if you haven't already worked that out...). As proof of concept, I would suggest you dose it exactly to spec or just underweight. Consistency is king.
4) Adjust your grinder until you get around a 25 second (NOT counting preinfusion time) shot which weighs around 30g (single basket) or 60g (double basket). As 480s settings are dependent upon shimming / clearances I would guess that it is a lot finer than your current setting. If you run out of adjustment, get shims from SB... they used to be free a few years back.
5) Taste it - it should be a lot better. Then tinker / fine tune to suit your taste buds.
A note: The 6910 / 7000 pressure gauge is only consistent in the sense of giving a repeatable reading. The reading on your machine may well be totally different from anyone elses. When the shot timing and weight is close the coffee should be OK (greatness comes later). Note whatever the gauges reading is at that time and use that as a guide for future tinkering.
Hope this helps.
TampIt
PS: getting decent frothed milk out of a 7000 is a whole 'nother can of worms - retraining old habits probably needed in your case.
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Have you tried using fresh roasted beans from a specialty cafe or roaster that are between 4 to 15days post roast?Originally posted by badcoffee View PostI WISH this were true for this machine, but I have literally gone through 100+ cups of coffee trying to get the coffee pressure to work right with supermarket beans and nope nope nope.
To be fair I used the same pack (Vittoria Organic) for all testing. But with a gazillion of combinations of various grinds, dosing, and tamping, I could NOT get the %$#^$^ to work (not enough pressure or too much pressure and even when I hit the 'sweet spot' for pressure, the coffee was wayyyyy overextracted and bitter).
For the record, I can make perfectly fine coffee with my EM6910 with these same supermarket beans.
Sounds like you're using stale beans and that could be your problem.
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[QUOTE=badcoffee;608782]I WISH this were true for this machine, but I have literally gone through 100+ cups of coffee trying to get the coffee pressure to work right with supermarket beans and nope nope nope.
To be fair I used the same pack (Vittoria Organic) for all testing.
I knew it, Vittoria beans, say no more. Been there, done that.
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Definitely not a smoker!Originally posted by Magic_Matt View PostJust wondering (with no disrespect intended) - are you a smoker?
Smokers often tend to prefer over roasted and stale beans and overextracted ("burned") coffee as the bitterness means they can actually taste it. 樂
Everyone I've come across who has claimed "Sydney has better coffee than Melbourne" (yes, people actually say this) has either been an incredibly parochial and defensive Sydney-sider or a smoker (or both, I guess).
/OT
I reckon most people who own this kind of machine have extremely low expectations, by CS standards - and probably there's a bit of justifying their excessive spending to themselves.
If they knew how much we all spend on coffee kit, they'd probably feel better...
I've had some more success with the Espresso WOW beans after some tinkering. On the Breville smart grinder I'm on setting of 16 for the grind, with a 10 second grind time....still trying to get the amount just right as I've had some good ones and some that aren't as good.But it's getting there.
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First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
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- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
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10 seconds? Are you using the single basket or double? Those settings strike me as too coarse and maybe not enough time, but the coaser you go the quicker it grinds, and the numbers don't mean the same particle size on different grinders. Have you got close to choking the machine?
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This line from Tampit above is the most helpful in this thread I reckon -
"A note: The 6910 / 7000 pressure gauge is only consistent in the sense of giving a repeatable reading. The reading on your machine may well be totally different from anyone elses. When the shot timing and weight is close the coffee should be OK (greatness comes later). Note whatever the gauges reading is at that time and use that as a guide for future tinkering."
I'm constantly amazed at how people are totally transfixed by the little gauge on their Sunbeam or Breville machines. I see it come up so frequently that I feel like starting some sort of campaign to get Sunbeam to remove them from their machines. After owning many different machines over the last decade or so I now have an EM6910. I was making good coffee with it from the start and have continued to improve over the last few weeks. The other day something caught my eye and I thought, "that's right, this thing has a pressure gauge!" I'm not sure how a pressure gauge can be of any use when it lacks a scale of any kind, except maybe in the way that Tampit mentions, or to make sure you don't stuff anything while backflushing the machine.
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