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  • How to make a super automatic make decent coffee?

    I have been given a Saeco Magic Comfort automatic and some espresso italia beans.

    I know that I will not be able to get cafe quality espresso from this machine, but I would love to get some tips to get it working to its potential, at least for milk based drinks.

    My initial thoughts:

    WOAH is it hot. I have set it to minimum temp and it is only now something resembling ok.
    The coffee comes out fairly pale and watery
    The milk (in my incapable hands) froths up to giant air bubbles

    We used to have a Krups machine and a sunbeam (??) burr grinder, but the machine was utter rubbish and when it died, we replaced it with a plunger. We made perfectly acceptable coffee (with crema) by grinding (illy or 5 senses) to order.

    Ive been told that 5 senses is the way to go here in WA, and that essenza is also roasted daily too. Our regular cafe (Milkd) use essenza and I can drink their coffee without having to add copious amounts of sugar. I have heard that Epic is the best place to go for coffee in Perth - but their opening hours coincide with the time Im required to spend in my office on the terrace.

    Anything else you can share with me?

  • #2
    Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

    Welcome to CoffeeSnobs.

    Let me try address the frothing problem.

    Giant bubbles suggest you are holding the steam holes too high.
    You need to put the wand into the milk and then lower the jug until you hear gentle slurping noises as the air is occasionally sucked into the milk.

    That should increase the volume of milk as you put little bubbles into it.

    Im sure some fellow sandgropers should be along soon to help with the rest.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

      Wow! What a nice gift!

      What you need to do now to get it to make great coffee is to trade it on a machine that really will make better coffee! ;D

      Ah well. If you cant do that, then at least see what you can adjust your grind to and see if that doesnt improve things for you. A friend has adjusted his auto machine to a fine grind and is still only just getting passable coffee. Turning your temp down was probably a good start.

      Welcome to the forum by the way!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

        Hi and thank you for the tips.

        Unfortunately I cant trade it in - it is a 18 month old machine and I think I would get shot anyway.

        The beans feel very oily to me.. I dont think theyre helping things, but I dont want to waste good coffee on testing the machine, but then on the other hand I wont get good coffee unless I use good fresh beans.. and round and round in circles we go!

        We had people around today and I ended up pulling out the plunger instead. :S

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        • #5
          Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

          Originally posted by scoota gal link=1162687935/0#2 date=1162704582
          What you need to do now to get it to make great coffee is to trade it on a machine that really will make better coffee! ;D
          Welcome to CS

          Yep, that was my thought as well (just wasnt game to say it :-[ ).. IMHO the best you can hope to get from all but the MOST expensive super autos will be passable coffee.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

            *runs panting into room*

            Did somebody mention brew temperature?

            Pale coffee is usually due to (a) stale coffee, (b) too fast a pour or (c) too cold a brew temperature. The dead giveaway of a really cold brew temperature is that it starts to taste really acidic - like lemons. Im surprised that you would think that it is too hot ... I dont know what your superauto looks like inside, but if it uses a thermoblock to heat the water on demand, as many of them do, and the flow is very fast, the water will probably be too cold.

            If I were you, Id bite the bullet, buy some fresh coffee (maybe even something with robusta in it to give you a bit more leeway), use the setting for the most coffee possible that will get you the closest to something like 45mL in 20-25 seconds (probably the finest grind setting), then taste it on the highest, lowest and the middle temperature. $10 of beans is a small price to pay to learn how to get the most out of your machine.

            Cheers,

            Luca

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

              Epic are open from 6.30, but if that is a stretch (a long way from the terrace!) then Velvet Espresso in King Street might be worth a look. They just opened and I think the barista there used to work with Corey from Epic at his last business. They are using a 5 sense blend.

              Automatics are hard, but Id recommend you experiment a lot! Youd be amazed the results you can get from unlikely machines. The difference is that a really good machine makes it easier for you to get your part of it right - a not-so-good machine means you have to work harder. Of course with some machines you have little chance of a good coffee but you sound like you are working at it the right way for the Saeco.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                I have an incanto which would be similar and only use it when we have parties- or to make the wifes decaf ;D
                But before Silvia, ( not my wife, but shes come to accept her) I used to trick the machine a bit to get a better brew. Firstly - the brew pressure is something you cant adjsut so its going to come out pretty fast and so to limit it grind the coffee finer and finer until it slows down and you get better extraction.
                Then - on my machine you need to change the brew temp to low and the dosing to LOW too and then updoes through the preground inlet. Effectively what this does is trick the machine into thinking there is a small amount of coffee to tamp and then when it comes to its preset tamp squeeze- theres more there- thus a tighter puck!
                I also wait for the first squirt of hot water before putting my cup under and pull it when I think its pale.
                Good luck.
                RH

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                • #9
                  Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                  Sorta defeats the "superauto" tag ;D

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                    So it isnt perfect - however, thanks to the following:

                    - bumping the temp back up
                    - grinding the coffee finer
                    - pulling off the silly plastic thingo at the end of the steam wand
                    - working out how to make the milk do nice whirlpools and go nice and glossy and sweet(!!) and not turn into giant ugly bubbles
                    - getting the cup out of the way of the first hot water bit and pulling the cup out when it starts to lighten up
                    - practice, practice, practice and practice

                    Im making an acceptable cup of coffee. Thank you so much for all your help! I will stick around and learn more and hopefully not suffer too much upgraditis...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                      Great stuff Rachel [smiley=thumbsup.gif],

                      When youve got the coffee machine "trained" to operate the way you want it to, youll have to lash out and try your hand at roasting at home :.... seems like the next logical step and its so easy to do. Keep us up to date with your journey

                      Mal.

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                      • #12
                        Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                        Thanks Mal, I have a funny feeling though that this is the start of a slippery slope to a new machine and grinder and associated accoutrements... bugger. :

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                          Originally posted by RachelG link=1162687935/0#11 date=1162908060
                          Thanks Mal, I have a funny feeling though that this is the start of a slippery slope to a new machine and grinder and associated accoutrements... bugger. :
                          Yep slippery slope coming up- just try to slow down when youve passed the $10g mark!
                          Seriously though, play around with the machine, try to see as many other machines in use, visit one of the sponsors etc.
                          And most importantly, dont get too stressed about it. Its an interesting journey
                          Brett

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                          • #14
                            Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                            Hi Rachel,

                            Glad youre getting better coffee now. When I joined this site I was refilling Nespresso capsules - trying to make good coffee that way was a serious challenge. Ive upgraded now, but while I was waiting, I started roasting my own coffee. Its relatively cheap to do, around $30 for a popper or heatgun, about the same for a starter pack of green beans from here and off you go. Its a great way to have fun with your coffee while working out the best way to go machine-wise.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: How to make a super automatic make decent coff

                              OK so Im getting microfoam, decent shots with thick crema and compliments aplenty... so why do I want more??

                              Oh oh. Im doing some reading about roasting in the hope that a popper will satisfy me in conjunction with some decent beans and the current machine, but why why why do I keep idly (or not so idly) looking at the specs of higher end machines and grinders??

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