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  • #16
    Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

    Originally posted by luca link=1169630174/0#14 date=1169816482
    If I were handier and more knowledgeable, Id drill the tips out, too. I reckon that that might just be the perfect prosumer machine tip, with the ridges removed, of course. Another appoach might be to drill a hole of the same diameter inbetween the two other holes (ie. pointing straight). Do let me know if you do this and how it goes, as I might be able to get my hands on some blank steam tips soon ...
    Cheers,

    Luca
    Yep, tip design is REALLY important!!

    Well the La Cimbali (genuine) is 4 holes each 1.5mm diameter whilst the CoffeeParts is 2 holes each 0.8mm diameter....

    So tomorrow a 1.5mm drill and well see how she goes with half the steam (through half the number of holes) of the genuine article....

    Will let you know the result..... and the blank tips sounds VERY interesting

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    • #17
      Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

      Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today ?(well in WA anyhow )

      Luca

      I drilled the holes out to 1.5mm along the path of the original holes.....

      After a good clean, fitted the tip and half filled a litre jug with milk....

      Textured the milk, without being overly careful.... And the most beautiful microfoam formed in front of my very eyes!!! Dead easy and took a little less than double the time to reach temperature compared to using the standard 4 hole tip....

      Gave a quick tap, a swirl and the most glorious, silky smooth microfoam - with a perfect glossy sheen - just poured smoothly into the glass......one beautiful uniform glass of microfoamed milk which slowly - very slowly developed a head....

      sweet as!!!!

      So yep, Im real happy 8-) ;D ;D

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      • #18
        Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

        Chris,
        I agree with your comments about the Silvia. You advised me some time ago to bend out the wand and it helped. However to get excellent microfoam you have to purge out the water out of the wand and it requies a fair bit of messing about.

        By the way how large are the holes on the tip of the Giotto or a Minore II?

        coffeeNcake

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        • #19
          Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

          Originally posted by coffeeNcake link=1169630174/15#17 date=1169884493
          Chris,
          I agree with your comments about the Silvia.  You advised me some time ago to bend out the wand and it helped.  However to get excellent microfoam you have to purge out the water out of the wand and it requies a fair bit of messing about.

          By the way how large are the holes on the tip of the Giotto or a Minore II?

          coffeeNcake
          Hi coffeeN- There are 2 x approx 1.3mm. The design of the tip is also a major factor in my opinion. Its rounded and the porting of the holes is excellent- Id estimate the steam exits at approximately 30 deg. from the vertical...They are the best I have so far experienced.

          Chris


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          • #20
            Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

            I just read a pretty good and detailed review of the Expobar Minore II at

            http://www.home-barista.com/brewtus-buyers-guide-performance.html

            it also compares it to the ECM Giotto.

            As far as I can ascertain a key difference between the two machines is that you can set the temperature on the Minore II. The reviewer seem to lend a lot of importance to that feature. I am interested in your opinion as to how important the ability to set temperature is.

            I am also a bit perplexed on how to find the correct temperature for a particular blend of coffee. When pulling a shot there seems to be a lot of variables and I wonder if adding the ability to select temperature makes it even more difficult or confusing. When I use my Silvia to pull a shot I get an enormous variation in the quality of shots. Sometimes I am aware of the reason but often I have no idea why. So I am wondering if by adding the ability to temperature control could this make it more difficult or would this improve it. Is there an easy way of ascertaining the correct temperature to brew a coffee? Does a degree or two either way make a huge difference? Is there a significant difference in the temperature range that most common copies should be brewed at?
            thank you

            coffeeNcake

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

              [QUOTE=2muchcoffeeman link=1169630174/15#18 date=1169884741]
              Originally posted by coffeeNcake link=1169630174/15#17 date=1169884493
              Chris,
              Hi coffeeN- There are 2 x approx 1.3mm. The design of the tip is also a major factor in my opinion. Its rounded and the porting of the holes is excellent- Id estimate the steam exits at approximately 30 deg. from the vertical...They are the best I have so far experienced.

              Chris
              thanks Chris-that is good to know. When I did your coffee art course - I found the microfoam much easier to create on the larger commercial machines. I assume a major factor was the machine/wand and a minor factor was the special milk that was used.

              coffeeNcake

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              • #22
                Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

                Wow coffeeN,

                That must have been ages ago ....I havent taken a latte art course for some time...Was that the night that Toshi came to play?

                That night, we most likely used a modified "cafe" style milk....For latte art, I really dont like them- theyre too thick and harder work to pour and get great results with. In addition, theyre usually chockablock with extra added sugar...in an attempt to cover up the sour, underextracted swill we so often get served in the cafes that "Wanna do it fast mate. Were so busy :".

                2mcm

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                • #23
                  Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

                  It was about nine months ago and you didnt actually take the course but you introduced it.

                  I wont bother you over the weekend but call you some time next week and discuss the machines with you.

                  Thanks
                  coffeeNcake

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                  • #24
                    Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

                    Just as an update to this thread I decided to buy the ECM Giotto and a mini Mazzer from Chris. I will be picking it up on Wednesday. Now I have more than one reason to want Monday overwith.
                    coffeeNcake

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                    • #25
                      Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

                      Nice choice CoffeeNcake, I am sure you will be happy with your machine choice and will be glad you dealt with Chris. Look forward to pics of yoru shiny new investment, accompanied by pcitures of the coffee it makes of course.

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                      • #26
                        Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

                        wow great stuff coffeeNcake. sounds real nice.

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                        • #27
                          Re: help selecting my new coffee machine

                          coffeeNcake...

                          Great hardware choice there. I can see some superb coffee from that combination.

                          Enjoy

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