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Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

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  • gregpullman
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Great! Well done.

    Leave a comment:


  • Gregzeee
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Hey Greg,
    Sorry it took so long to reply, but I put the SL70 away in disgust for a month or so.
    Took it out, watched the fantastic little video you recomended and WOW, the little SL70 makes the best milk......eezzyyy once you watch the vid a few times, and I know its weird to use a milk thermometer, but part of the problem was that with my old comercial machine, once the milk was warm it hit temp pretty fast, and by checking the home machine with a thermo, it surprised me how long the final stage took compared to the real machine, so that helped. Still working on the perfect long black, but if a visitor askes for a latte or crapaccino then at least I am proud of what I can serve them.
    So I gotta admit, it was me trying to use a home machine like a real one that was the problem (well 85%) not the machine being junk.
    Thanks for the vid, it made the difference

    Leave a comment:


  • gregpullman
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Thanks, yeah I saw it on CG years ago and saved it as it was useful for me too. The original link doesnt seem to work anymore but there are a few directories around that still host it.

    Leave a comment:


  • lucinda
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Greg that was a great little vid. Even for those of us who havent got the solis.

    Leave a comment:


  • gregpullman
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Have a look at http://web.starman.ee/jaanpht/milk/aaronfroths.mov

    Hes using a SL-70 and shows the technique for good microfoam. If youre doing the same and getting poor results its probably the machine youve got, otherwise itll show you what to do.

    Leave a comment:


  • Gregzeee
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    thanks for all the info, I will get the new basket and try the foaning tips, and YES The Bean guy does sell from big Hessian bags.

    Leave a comment:


  • Gregzeee
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    thanks, I look to have been duped.
    will dump the baskets but cant get rid of the grinder.
    I will dump the bean guy I think

    Leave a comment:


  • JavaB
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Originally posted by telemaster link=1169943673/0#7 date=1169974453
    Also re the steam wand, if it is rebadged V V the wand from that machine will work well with the black tip on and the panarello removed
    Brett,

    Nope, it has a straight steam wand with no enhancing device of any sort..... heaps of steam from a single hole..... the wand only moves in an in/out direction..... but once mastered it makes the most amazing microfoam.... at least as good as- if not better than the silvia.

    The solis is often used as an example of the best small domestic at producing microfoam on various sites (Coffee Geek is one)..... takes a bit of practice... but can produce great latte art milk!!

    Once Gregzeee looses the pressurised baskets (Saeco dealers can supply replacements), gets a real tamper and grinder, fresh beans etc he/she will have quite a capable machine .... not a $1600 one by any stretch of the imagination..... but good value for money at $550.

    Leave a comment:


  • telemaster
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    My 2 cents worth- from memory the solis is similar to a Saeco Via Venezia. As said above, with the non pressurised pf, youll get good espresso. My son has the V V with that handle and has had good success with it.
    Re the tamper, if it is a rebadged V V it will have the 53mm pf. We got Greg Pullman to make us one up and it has been excellent (I have them for my daughters and my machines)
    All the best and dont despair- at least you havent paid an unfair price for what will make good coffee with a bit of work and time.
    Brett
    Also re the steam wand, if it is rebadged V V the wand from that machine will work well with the black tip on and the panarello removed

    Leave a comment:


  • Coffee_Kid
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    If your wondering to get a good cheap tamper that fits well with the solis, theres not many. So what I did was get a plastic tamper and went and got some sand paper and sanded it down till it fits the basket. It might be a challenge to get the whole tamper round but it shouldnt be that much off circular.

    Leave a comment:


  • JavaB
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Gregzeee,

    Welcome to CoffeeSnobs...

    Solis arent the best machine in the world..... but they can produce a good espresso.

    Firstly, as Coffee Kid said- dont use the pressurised baskets!

    Secondly, dont use the Solis grinder!!!

    Get a well fitting tamper (not that pressed metal bump next to the group)...

    Do the correct grind, tamp thing with the non pressurised baskets and a capable grinder.... extract no more than 60 ml from the double basket (not the volumes that the Solis manual talks about)- the Swiss for example make a long black passing all the water in the cup through the puck..... NO, NO, NO

    I had my SL90 performing close to the Silvia when it was used correctly...

    And lastly..... change your bean guy..... Anyone with any real knowledge wouldnt claim it was any better than about $500 worth (with the SL90 being a couple of hundred more)...... Makes me wonder what he knows about beans

    Edit:

    Just remembered I posted this a few days ago:

    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1138058473/195#197

    in relation to packaged machines/grinders

    By the way, your bean guy doesnt sell beans out of large hessian sacks- about 12 months post roasting (and claiming they are fresh?) does he

    Leave a comment:


  • Coffee_Kid
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Since you already have the Solis, here are some tips

    1. Get a non-pressured filter if you already havnt got one.
    2. If your beans are too fresh there would be bigger bubbles but i dont think it matters that much. It also varys on different types of beans and blends. How does it taste would be the main thing.
    3. As for steaming, when the green light goes on turn the knob just to when you here the click and leave it there for about 30seconds then bleed the water until its dry. After its dry turn it back to where the click just engages the boiler and wait until you think you have enough steam.
    4. For the angle, try leaning the jug spout near the silver tab and just move around that spot until you find your whirlpool. I can do it with 300ml and 600ml using that technique

    Hope it helps

    Leave a comment:


  • barri
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    You can get an expobar for $1600

    Leave a comment:


  • segrave
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    mmm i agree with 2mcm, the bean dude lied . thers heaps better for under 1600 and even for a similar price u could have got a Silvia which im sure u would enjoy more.

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Re: Solis SL70..is it a toy or is it just me ?

    Originally posted by Gregzeee link=1169943673/0#0 date=1169943673
    I have worked with coffee for some time, using mainly Wega machines, and had lots of training. My 1st go at home has been a Solis, which was recomended by my bean guy as the best home machine under $1600 (and it was $550). Lets start........short black has bubles in the crema, long black has little crema to speak of, and I have tried the Solis grinder up and down the grind scale with every combination of tamp pressure, you cant texture milk...it more like blowing in it as the single hole in the wand and lack of angle adjustment make getting the milk to swirl almost impossible so all it does is heat the milk.
    For a long black it takes about 1 minute for the boiler to re-heat after you put water in the cup before you can extract coffee at the right temp.
    Is it me ? Is there a skill to these little machines I dont know about ?
    Am I expecting decent coffee at home but the truth is I wont get a real coffee without a real machine ?
    Or did the bean dude lie ?
    Hmm...If your bean guy truely thought that the Solis was the best machine under $1.6k hes either hugely dishonest or really poorly educated about machines  :. It might be the machine in his range which delivered the best margin, perhaps even the best in the $500 range...but under $1600  :-?. Im a tad surprised with your training that you would choose this type of machine? Why not a proven performer like a Silvia??

    Its probably possible to get a good shot out of a tweaked Solis but you will always be fighting the machine in its native state. What grinder are you using? If its also a Solis, you will struggle...Spend up and buy something like an Iberital challenge. I assume that this machine has pressurised baskets- get rid of them if possible.

    Leave a comment:

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