Re: more Faema teething problems, please help
Angela,
Assuming your dose is OK [there should be a slight imprint of the shower screen screw] on the puck [you can check this before you pull the shot] and your tamp is basically right [ie somewhere in the 12-15Kg zone] a fast pour would indicate the grind is too course.
This is very typical when you buy pre ground beans, firstly [at two days] they are stale [which means faster pours] but more importantly: when you tell the vendor to grind for espresso, he/she will probably assume you have a "low end" home machine which would have pressurised portafilters.
Hence youre getting a "supermarket" grind rather than a true espresso grind.
Suggest you check your dose and tamp [use bathroom scales] and then discuss the grind/fast pour issue with your vendor.
If he/she is any good they should be able to get it a little closer.
You want 30ml in 30 sec [single] or 60ml in 30sec for a double.
Course grinds are probably why the puck is soggy and sticking to the group.
Im not sure what you mean by the silicon tube, most machines have two tubes in the water reservoir: one is intake, and the other is an output from the Over Pressure Valve [ie generates water when the pressure is too high] If you getting fast pours I wouldnt expect much to come out from the OPV hose.
Usually the outlet from the Three Way Valve would feed into the drip tray [the water from this would usually come after the shot has been pulled and it may be slightly coffee stained.
Can you clarify further.
Depending on the age/condition of your group head gasket, 6 oclock sounds OK. Pull it as far as you can, if the PF does not leak it sound fine.
Keep us posted and Good luck,
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Faema Family - help needed please
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more Faema teething problems, please help
sorry CS members, I need more help. If you want to point me in another direction ( to where the answers are) thats fine.
The Faema Family is frustrating me so much I have left the Sunbeam out, just in case...
Now I am trying to figure out why all the grounds get stuck on the screen after a pour?
Why the coffee doesnt "drip like honey" not my words, saw it on someone elses Sunbeam DVD, out of the portafilter,mines comes out at a fair speed,and how I can re-position the silicone tube under the drip tray so the water/steam it sends out doesnt go all over the bench.
I know some CS members are a probably saying Im getting what I deserve because my grinder is on lay-by, and I have to use (freshly,within 2 days) pre-ground, but please go easy,I really appreciate the help, and I am listening to everything everyone says. Its a huge learning curve for me.
Is it OK for the portafilter to be in the 6 oclock position? I cant seem to move it any further, but is there something I should do I dont know about?
Many thanks-Angela
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Re: Faema Family - help needed please
OMG - I called you Smokey, sorry Sparky, getting past my bed time I think. :-[
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Re: Faema Family - help needed please
Thanks for the replies and the much needed help - sorry about the pre-ground coffee bit, hope it didnt hurt too much...
The Sunbeam grinder should be mine next pay-day.
The tube for the 3 way valve seems to be where it just leaks water onto the bench underneath, I will have to see if I can re-position it into the drip tray.
You are spot on about the drip tray Smokey, so shallow.I guess Ill get used to it.
The "On" button lights up, then the one that indicates hot water seems to cycle on and off, but I think Ill use the advice given and hand test the group head area to see if its ready to use.
Right too about the steam wand and its lack of movement, something else Ill get used to I suppose.
I need to ask another question that may seem silly - what is backflushing and do I need to do it with this machine?
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Re: Faema Family - help needed please
Yep the silicone tube to the drip tray comes from a 3-way valve. Ill release water after every shot.
The buttons on the machine should light up when the element is on and switch off when its off. Im not sure which button does this anymore as Ive completely rewired the buttons since first acquiring the machine.
These are great machines, in the Silvia league. I hope you get it working. The two worst points IMO are the shallow drip tray and the steam wand, which doesnt have much movement.
As for the steam wand, mine didnt come with the panerello and is just a straight wand with three holes in the end. Ive never trued it with milk though.
Cheers,
Mark.
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Re: Faema Family - help needed please
* for one ( strong) shot, should I use the big or little filter?
Id suggest you stick to the larger filter for all shots.
*if I use the big one, does it matter if its half filled?
Not really, but it will require finely tuning your grind to compensate, and again when you decide to fill to your normal level.
*the pour(?) seems very fast, what am I doing wrong do you think?
Grind is too coarse.
*there is a wide,removeable metal sleeve on the steam wand, what is it for? do I leave it on all the time? It is very loose- normal?
Its called a panarello and its supposed to make creating foam easier, most people choose not to use these in favour of the naked tip as it produces silky microfoam with the right technique.
*how long should I wait for the machine to heat up? I cant seem to tell, the Sunbeam has a light that goes off, made it easy...
Your machine has no boiler status light?! Sounds fishy, but you could always listen for the boiling water, and feel your portafilters temperature - it should be ouch hot.
* there is a plastic tube running into the space under the drip tray, what is this for? Is it some kind of overflow tube or something?
Your machine likely has a 3 way valve attached to the group, this will release the pressure and excess liquid from the coffee puck upon stopping the brew.
I just got up to the part about pre-ground, ouch
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Faema Family - help needed please
Hi again - we got the garage sale Faema Family up and running this weekend, and Im hoping I can ask a few questions from the forum members? Please forgive the bullet points, I just want to be as concise as I can...
* for one ( strong) shot, should I use the big or little filter?
*if I use the big one, does it matter if its half filled?
*the pour(?) seems very fast, what am I doing wrong do you think?
*there is a wide,removeable metal sleeve on the steam wand, what is it for? do I leave it on all the time? It is very loose- normal?
*how long should I wait for the machine to heat up? I cant seem to tell, the Sunbeam has a light that goes off, made it easy...
* there is a plastic tube running into the space under the drip tray, what is this for? Is it some kind of overflow tube or something?
and finally...have I even posted this in the right section? Are these machines worth the CAD$1,500 I have seen them for online?
whew! thanks for your patience guys, I hope you dont think my questions silly, Im trying to find all this out for myself, Grendel has been great - thanks Mike!
I should add that I am using Monjava beans, ground for a home machine ( quite fine & fluffy) at the shop. I have one of the Sunbeam grinders on layby, best I could afford for now. Its costing $189, and I am getting a Pullman tamper for Christmas, but for now I only haqve the plastic one that came with the Sunbeam.
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