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  • #31
    Re: Sunbeam woes

    Graham,

    Interesting information there but it makes me feel even less hopefull that this problem will be resolved or even adressed by Sunbeam.

    While the support staff may not be coffee experts they make a point to portraying themselves as experts and are very quick to blame the end user. At no point was i made to feel like a customer, rather I was made to feel like the idiotic consumer that I am.

    As for your comment on the barrista courses, i dont know if you were targetting the sunbeam course, but on the course I went on they trained us on the exact machine I have. Oh also I realise that the sunbeam course is a bit short in the pants and to be honest I already knew everything they had to say (thanks to this forum). I mentioned it however because todate sunbeams stance has been that this is not a problem because I should not be extracting coffee with the needle at the 3 oclock poistion. This is definitly not what the sunbeams sanctioned course says I should do.

    At this point I fear that my only option is to grind a bit coarser for now while I save up the money for a real machine which I am sure will get much better support thanks to the sponsers on this forum.

    Comment


    • #32
      Re: Sunbeam woes

      Originally posted by fix link=1205724193/15#25 date=1205873817
      hi all

      the problems associated with the coffee pour could be related to
      1/ the pump relief valve
      2/coffee three way valve leaking or not clean.
      (needs backflushing on a regular basis. i find the powder works better than the tablets supplied)
      if the grind is too fine and the machine is working correctly, the gauge should read about 3 oclock and be steady.
      Graham,

      I run the celaning cycle with an espresso machine cleaning powder and the backflush insert about once a week.

      Interesting that you say this - a strange thing happened the morning that i took the machine in for the first time:

      Before taking it in I decided to give the machine a quick clean using the backflush method - Half way through this i noticed that the three way valve was not releasing. When the machine stopped the pressure neddle was still in the red and pretty much stayed there. I switched the machine off at the wall (hoping that it may be a solanoid holding the things closed) but the pressure stayed high still. I then carefully removed the group filter and released the water. Plugged the machine back in and it worked fine again with no problem with the three way valve again. It could mean something or could be totally unrelated - suffice to say it has never happened again.

      Comment


      • #33
        Re: Sunbeam woes

        Originally posted by Remy link=1205724193/0#3 date=1205734623
        ..drip drip drip releases a little pressure and the pin goes back to normal and so on. After approx 30-40 secs the surging stops and the pressure gauge remains steady, I assume because the puk is now saturated and flow begins to go a little faster.
        Using your double basket you should be aiming for about 60ml (including crema) in about 25-30 seconds from the time you hit the switch until blonding starts.


        Java "Sippin away" phile
        Toys! I must have new toys!!!

        Comment


        • #34
          Re: Sunbeam woes

          Dude, this is a regular thing on my SB, I guess the thing you have to ask yourself is how is the coffee? If you like it dont stress, if not, play with the tamp/grind, like Java says... Its all in the cup. Some of the best coffee Ive had came from pours that did the whole gauge dance thing...

          Hope it works out for you.

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          • #35
            Re: Sunbeam woes

            Thanks  Java "Sippin away" phile  ;D.... I just wrote that in a little notebook for quick reference cos I am hopeless remembering that stuff,.. Im likely to aim for 25-30ml in 60 seconds.  :

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            • #36
              Re: Sunbeam woes

              hi anthony
              Half way through this i noticed that the three way valve was not releasing. When the machine stopped the pressure neddle was still in the red and pretty much stayed there. I switched the machine off at the wall (hoping that it may be a solanoid holding the things closed) but the pressure stayed high still. I then carefully removed the group filter and released the water.
              the three way solenoid is jamming intermittently(shit to fault find)

              tell this to sunbeam

              graham

              Comment


              • #37
                Re: Sunbeam woes

                TG,. this morning is tried to do a pour by dosing and tamping a bit firmer as you might be doing it. I think I still dosed a little too much (will reeeeally make sure the scoop is level next time)because I was a little higher in the PF than I think it should have been.

                The shot was a good shot,.. tasted very nice and I think nicer than the cup I had yesterday morning with the same bean. However,.. I got surging. It was a little different surging this time though. The needle set itself on the second last line of the dark yellow and surged twice to about two lines into the red,..then the third surge it stayed on the leading edge of the red all the way through the rest of the pour.... which I cut off after about 45 secs (too long I know). Hmmm.

                Comment


                • #38
                  Re: Sunbeam woes

                  I use my hand to measure the level in the basket but if you want a better reference you could use an old credit card (which I use to level my grinds) to measure a level and full basket of beans.
                  Lay it flat half covering the basket and move it across to level the beans.
                  If you have the basket a little overfull you will scoop the extra few beans out as you level them.
                  Then youll have a reference point.
                  If thats still slightly overdosed (which I doubt) you could take out say 5 beans the next time and try again.
                  If underdosed, add a few beans.

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Re: Sunbeam woes

                    Good thinkin . I just happen to have an old card here,. erm..well actually its new one : ;D.. my daughters first ever card,.. "No Dear... you cant just throw your card in your handbag with loose change, keys, makeup, phone, mp3 player and other purse crud and expect it NOT to be scratched up so bad that you cant use it after only having it two weeks".

                    Yeah I think if I can get the amount of beans consistant every time.. it would make it a lot easier to then play with the grind setting and tamp. Changing one variable at a time.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Re: Sunbeam woes

                      Have just been reading up that "9 bar" seems to be the pressure to aim for.

                      Is the pressure gauge on the 6910 measurable in terms of a "bar" measurement, and if so, where would 9 bar sit?

                      Ofcourse, its all in the cup, and what tastes best to each individual user is the mark that each one should aim for, but I am a big fan of benchmarks as at least a guideline to work from

                      Cheers

                      Sen

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Re: Sunbeam woes

                        No senator there are no actual numbers on the sunbeam only colour ranges. Also i doubt that this will be a very acurate pressure guage and you might find machines give different readings. The guage however is good for getting a measurement relative to your last pours.

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Re: Sunbeam woes

                          Ok TG,.. I think I got it pretty well right this morning. Beans very level with the top of the spare basket. I just wiggled them in a bit first then leveled.

                          The pour looked verrryy nice, time of pour was about 23sec, there was no surging and the dial sat at 3 OClock all through the pour. But the ultimate test,..the taste!!! Im using the same beans as before to keep that variable set (while they last),..and the first thing I noticed with the very first sip,...was the crema!... it was not bitter/strong tasting like it usually is. The whole cup tasted milder with subtle flavours detected in the cup again at last.

                          I think a gentle nudge with the grind settings now might be the go,..so Im off now to pull apart my grinder and replace that part.

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                          • #43
                            Re: Sunbeam woes

                            Getting there.

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Re: Sunbeam woes

                              OK, now back on the topic, I have a 6910 and mine does not surge even when it is choked with too fine or too much coffee. You should send them an email and tell them that your friend has the same machine and you went to his place and used the same grind as he is using with the machines side by side. On his machine it was perfect and on your machine it was surging......Try that and they might have another look at it...

                              Apart from the average quality build, the 6910 can and will produce a great coffee. The frustrating thing I find is the 0480 grinder which has a mind of its own.....I will be investing in a Mazzer to fix this problem..

                              Good luck and keep at it, they will eventually get sick of you and fix the problem...

                              Cheers

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                Re: Sunbeam woes

                                Originally posted by clubbi4 link=1205724193/30#43 date=1206227303
                                I will be investing in a Mazzer to fix this problem..
                                Very wise... :-)

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