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  • My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

    I have taken the plunge!

    After about three months of research, I have finally made my purchase!  How lucky was I to come across a second-hand ECM Giotto Premium, in excellent condition, at a very good price?!!  So now I am the very proud (if a little overwhelmed) owner of a Giotto.  Thanks to you Coffeesnobs for your advice/opinions/recommendations etc.

    Oh my god oh my god, the Giottos really beautiful!  But so big and shiny in my little kitchen... suddenly I feel very small and green!  :-[  Ive had it for two days and I havent even made my first coffee, as I only just picked up my new grinder at lunchtime today (a Rocky).  I just had enough money left over to buy some coffee beans, this new obsession has really cleaned me out!

    Can anyone tell me how much of a cooling flush I need to do on this machine, or is it just trial and error?  Any other tips before I start, or do I just dive in and start experimenting?  

    Any little bits of advice you think I might need to get me started would be greatly appreciated!  

    Cheers!
    Yulia

  • #2
    Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

    Congrats on the newly acquired setup, very nice.

    When it comes to HX machine temperature surfing this article http://www.home-barista.com/hx-love.html is an excellent start.

    Without wanting to fire up the " if it tastes good do it " debate, I check my HX using a thermocouple now and then to see how much water needs to be flushed.

    Make as many shots as you can. I sometimes make shots I have no intention of consuming just to try a different dosing, grinds, techniques etc. Ill taste them but it is more like wine tasting, sip, spit contemplate.

    -Stephen-

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    • #3
      Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

      From my own experience you will start off being very scientific about it then slowly move into automated mode where your empirical judgement takes over.

      Why was the Giotto for sale? Someone moving up to a bigger unit?

      Cheers

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

        Thanks Sharkboy for the article link, I shall read it with great interest.  Im planning to make a lot of coffee on the weekend!

        Hey, Wired.  I think my machine is an ex-rental.  I got it from Koffeeone, as I understand it they cater to office environments, including machine rentals.  They cleaned and seviced it for me before I picked it up, it basically looks new, so Im very happy!

        Thanks for your advice!

        Cheers
        Yulia

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        • #5
          Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

          Just make sure you dont copper plate the bloody thing.

          Enjoy your new toys. Youll gain a better understanding of coffee in general, as well as a more refined palate. Youll probably refuse to order coffee from anywhere else, since you will be sure you can do better at home.

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          • #6
            Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

            Originally posted by nunu link=1129202297/0#4 date=1129298285
            Youll probably refuse to order coffee from anywhere else, since you will be sure you can do better at home.
            Thats what I though for a long time until they opened a cafe at work that pretty well make the best cappuccinos Ive ever tasted. Im using their beans but still cant get it quite up to their level. Very frustrating.....

            Enough of my troubles, enjoy the lovely Giotto.

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            • #7
              Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

              Thanks!  Ive got so much to learn .  I spent all weekend trying to get the grind and the tamp right, and I still havent mastered a really decent shot... I cant seem to get the milk right either - cant get the microfoam happening at all!  Im known as the expert milk frother on the Saeco at work, so Im feeling very humbled right now! :-[

              Patience, patience, must learn patience.

              Cheers!
              Yulia  

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              • #8
                Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

                Yulia:

                Yes, the frothing thing is tricky and is dependent on the tip as well as the user. I persevered with the standard four hole tip on my Bezzera for weeks after I got it. I still use it but it tends to produce low density cappuccino type froth rather than the denser more liquid microfoam.

                I got a two holed tip from coffeeparts which seems to be capable of good microfoam. It is much slower than the standard tip but it does work.

                Grant

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                • #9
                  Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

                  Originally posted by wattgn link=1129202297/0#7 date=1129532615

                  I got a two holed tip from coffeeparts which seems to be capable of good microfoam.  It is much slower than the standard tip but it does work.

                  Grant
                  My steam tip is already two-holed... maybe I just need to keep practising.  Or try a different two-holed tip??  Can you get single-holed tips??

                  Cheers!  
                  Yulia

                  PS - Ive just been reading a topic in Got Milk about this very same subject (lack of microfoam using an expensive HX machine). Seems like the answer is indeed practise, practise, practise!

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                  • #10
                    Re: My (almost as good as) new ECM Giotto Premium

                    Theres a good article here.... http://tinyurl.com/9uprr Yulia, about getting the microfoam happening but would probably be a lot easier to get down pat if you could get an experienced competent barista to demonstrate it for you. All the best,

                    Mal.

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