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Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM0480:-(

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  • Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM0480:-(

    Folks,

    I recently got the Silvia and have not been getting the shots I want. There is just not enough crema and a sip of the espresso reveals a slight sour taste. I tried playing around with the grind setting on my EM0480 but to no satisfaction. This is what I have done so far :

    [TAKE 1]
    Beans : Lavazza Classic Classic Italia Quality
    Results : Very little crema and the extraction was too quick (ie. hit 30 mls at 15 seconds)
    Steps :

    1. Got the Silvia up and running 30 mins before the shot. Warmed up the portafilter, filled glass with water etc. etc.
    2. Grind the beans using the EM0480 14
    3. Measured 1 single scoop for the single basket
    4. Tamp as hard as I could using the plastic tamper that comes with the Rancilio

    [TAKE 2]
    Same as TAKE 1 but this time I set the grind setting on the EM0480 to 12 hoping for a slower extract but it hit 30 mls within 10 seconds

    What am I doing wrong? Anyone with the same setup can maybe share their success?

  • #2
    Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

    The Lavazza beans are probably stale, could have been sitting on shelf for months on end, roasted beans go stale after a few weeks, thus lack of crema.
    Get some freshly roasted beans and try again.
    Have you got a good tamper? This is essential with Silvia.
    Dose the double basket so that you can see the screw impression in puck, underdosing gives a runny shot.
    Put the single basket away and forget about it, only use the double basket.
    Experiment with your grind, you need a fine grind, if you go too low you will know due to super slow or no extraction.
    Keep at it and you will soon be getting great shots from Madam Silvia!!!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

      I had the same problem as when I first got my Silvia,
      I made the mistake of going out and grabbing the first beans I cam across,
      twas so stale it was dry after grinding and had no crema, I ditched them and went and got some freshly roasted 5 senses
      OMG!!!! what a difference.

      I also ditched the standard filter baskets from the get go and got myself a fantastic Pullman tamper

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

        I agree with previous posts, first step is fresh beans and a decent tamper dont even bother with the plastic one supplied.
        I think your in Melbs southeast, if so and you want a address of a roaster in South Melbourne open on Sundays send me a PM, cant post name here due to site sponsor protocol though they do get a mention from time to time.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

          I use the same grinder with a Gaggia Classic and I got down to 6 on the grinder before coming close to the right flow rate for the shot (using the same tamp pressure).

          And yep...freshly roasted beans...a crema that supports sugar!

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

            Thanks for the responses folks.

            I tried setting the grind at 10 (Sumbeam states in the manual for a 12-16 setting for espresso but I guess it all depends on the machine and bean huh?) which helps to slow down the pour to a consistent 20 seconds (with very light tamp - ie . just even the coffee grind surface of the portafilter) but resulted in little pockets of crema at the top. Not nearly enough to cover the surface, and it took a few minutes for it to disappear ; taste is weak.

            Think it might be the beans and probably a good reason to why there was a special at the supermarket although the expiry on the bag is marked for the Sept this year. I will also consider the suggestion to get a proper tamper.


            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

              Originally posted by cremacrema link=1202505952/0#5 date=1202541896
              Think it might be the beans and probably a good reason to why there was a special at the supermarket although the expiry on the bag is marked for the Sept this year.
              Well lets see....

              Expiry Sep 08..... probably means they were roasted Sep 07....

              And roasted beans have a life of 3 weeks from roasting..... so I guess you could say they are VERY stale..... you can probably get more crema from tan bark!!!!!

              Get yourself some freshly roasted (a day or a couple of days post roast..... not 5 months : )that will make a huge difference.

              You also need to adjust the grind so with a 13Kg tamp you get the pour in the correct time. Light tamps are only used on pressurised baskets.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                Garbage in, garbage out

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                  Originally posted by greenman link=1202505952/0#1 date=1202506718
                  Dose the double basket so that you can see the screw impression in puck, underdosing gives a runny shot.
                  OK..first post here but I am struggling with the same thing, a really quick pour on a Gaggia Classic. I am in the process of adjusting the grind but the quoted bit above has me confused.

                  14g does not come anywhere near the top of the double basket. Should I be filling it to this degree?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                    Dose your basket so that there is little or no space between grinds and shower screen, when you remove portafilter from group you should see a screw indent in the puck and it should be fairly firm and dry, if you underdose the puck will be moist and you will probably have got a runnny shot. I use a Synesso double basket and I fill it to the point of having a mound above the basket then give a light tap and smooth off grinds so that they are level with top of basket then tamp and pull shot.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                      Thanks Greenman.

                      It would appear I am under dosing. Not only is the shot coming through in about 15sec, the puck is moist.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                        Updosing on a Classic is a must and dont forget to do the OPV mod too! It helps stop the gushing too.
                        (Search gaggia opv modification) - Best mod ever on a Classic.

                        YeeZa

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                          Yeeza,

                          Yes.....definitely seen the gushing.

                          Thanks for the note on the OPV mod. Ill check it out.

                          Apologies for the thread hijack! Its sort of on topic

                          TimG

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                            I had the same problem when i had the silvia and the em0480, Fresh beans are essential, this IS your problem, tip: get some WOW espresso from andy......it is amazing!, creama till the cows come home

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Help : Disappointing shots with Silvia & EM048

                              Thanks for the all advice guys, and apologies for this late reply.

                              I got some freshly roasted beans mid this week and wow, what a HUGE difference it makes! Now I just need to learn how to froth properly to get a decent latte :-).

                              Comment

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