Gday all.
I just joined up the other day.... gotta say I like reading and learning more than posting (always worried about looking like an idiot).... but on Andys advice Im just going to jump in and start posting.
Ill start by saying that I did try the Search feature but really couldnt find similar questions and answers to mine.
Ive finally been able to afford to buy a new machine and bought myself a new machine (that would be described on the these CoffeeSnobs forums as "pointy end"). Its had a few teething problems which have had me concerned me a little... but Im trying to tell myself to chill out and relax.
Having used it for a couple of days now... I have seen some things that have had me wondering if what Ive noticed are normal... or oddities to be concerned about.
Firstly, when looking inside the machine (through the grill under the cup warmer) I can see the boiler. When I turn the machine on, and just before the unit gets to temperature, there is a pressure valve that splutters, spits and hisses quite a bit of water for about 5 seconds till it seals. It ends up that the water is being spat around inside the chassis and as a result some ends up on the electrical connections and wiring. Is this normal? I would have thought this to be a design fault and that the valve would have been shrouded to prevent possible electrical problems.
Secondly, can firm (perhaps over-firm) tamp pressure stop the shot from pouring?
Tonight I thought I would experiment to see what would happen if I tamped a little more firmly than usual. Having loaded a freshly ground dose into the basket, I put 2 cups under the portafilter... the machine made its usual noises - but nothing came out!
I stood there waiting for at least 25 - 30 seconds but literally only a couple of drops dripped out. I returned the lever to off position fearing damaging the machine.
Is this normal?
Can it harm the machine to have this happen?
Thirdly, can someone direct me towards a manual or guide on machine use with respect to proper turn on and turn off procedures for these types of machines? In fact, a guide or list of procedures from go to whoa would be great as the Diadema manual is bloody useless.
Im hearing things like "leave the steam-wand valve open when turned off to vent pressure out of boiler" and also "leave steam-wand valve open when first turned on in the morning, until the steam pressure builds and hisses out of steam wand".
If this advice is correct can someone explain why these processes are important. Im the kind of fella who like to understand why something is so... having never owned a high end machine I am pretty oblivious on how to use and treat them and would like to look after it in the best way possible. Utilising good practices from the start has to be the way to go - its just finding out what those practices are that Im finding interesting.
Cheers for reading guys. I look forward to being able to make contributions to your forum.
I just joined up the other day.... gotta say I like reading and learning more than posting (always worried about looking like an idiot).... but on Andys advice Im just going to jump in and start posting.
Ill start by saying that I did try the Search feature but really couldnt find similar questions and answers to mine.
Ive finally been able to afford to buy a new machine and bought myself a new machine (that would be described on the these CoffeeSnobs forums as "pointy end"). Its had a few teething problems which have had me concerned me a little... but Im trying to tell myself to chill out and relax.
Having used it for a couple of days now... I have seen some things that have had me wondering if what Ive noticed are normal... or oddities to be concerned about.
Firstly, when looking inside the machine (through the grill under the cup warmer) I can see the boiler. When I turn the machine on, and just before the unit gets to temperature, there is a pressure valve that splutters, spits and hisses quite a bit of water for about 5 seconds till it seals. It ends up that the water is being spat around inside the chassis and as a result some ends up on the electrical connections and wiring. Is this normal? I would have thought this to be a design fault and that the valve would have been shrouded to prevent possible electrical problems.
Secondly, can firm (perhaps over-firm) tamp pressure stop the shot from pouring?
Tonight I thought I would experiment to see what would happen if I tamped a little more firmly than usual. Having loaded a freshly ground dose into the basket, I put 2 cups under the portafilter... the machine made its usual noises - but nothing came out!
I stood there waiting for at least 25 - 30 seconds but literally only a couple of drops dripped out. I returned the lever to off position fearing damaging the machine.
Is this normal?
Can it harm the machine to have this happen?
Thirdly, can someone direct me towards a manual or guide on machine use with respect to proper turn on and turn off procedures for these types of machines? In fact, a guide or list of procedures from go to whoa would be great as the Diadema manual is bloody useless.
Im hearing things like "leave the steam-wand valve open when turned off to vent pressure out of boiler" and also "leave steam-wand valve open when first turned on in the morning, until the steam pressure builds and hisses out of steam wand".
If this advice is correct can someone explain why these processes are important. Im the kind of fella who like to understand why something is so... having never owned a high end machine I am pretty oblivious on how to use and treat them and would like to look after it in the best way possible. Utilising good practices from the start has to be the way to go - its just finding out what those practices are that Im finding interesting.
Cheers for reading guys. I look forward to being able to make contributions to your forum.

:-[

Comment