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  • Unico Splendor queries

    First post!

    I recently bought a Unico Splendor at Cosmorex in Canberra. They are always very helpful and Im really excited with the new purchase. I am new to machines with the E61 and the Splendor specifically. I have a question concerning making an espresso.

    Basically, Im concerned that the resulting puck is a bit wet and sloppy. The extraction time in total to get about 30mls is between 30-40 seconds, so a bit on the slow side. Im fairly confident I have the grind setting correct, Im just wondering whether Im underdosing or overdosing and/or tamping incorrectly. Any pointers on this would be fantastic, alternatively any specific tips for this machine (idiosyncrasies) would be highly welcome too.

    For what its worth, Im using Cosmorex Blue blend which Im grinding on my Rocky Rancilio (doserless) on setting 9.

  • #2
    Re: Unico Splendor queries

    Great pick-up!

    I know that sometimes when the puck is sloppy its cos ive got too fine a grind. Maybe try and coursen it up a notch and try again.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Unico Splendor queries

      Lucifuge
      Congrats on the new machine & wishing you many happy years of great coffee

      As a starting point grind your beans to a consistency similar to salt and adjust from there

      Standard dose single is 7 grams and double is 14 grams by weight

      Tamp pressure should be 15 to 20 kg (a set of bathroom scales will help with this)
      What tamper are you using?

      KK

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Unico Splendor queries

        Originally posted by Koffee Kosmo link=1227826268/0#2 date=1227826824
        Lucifuge
        Congrats on the new machine & wishing you many happy years of great coffee

        As a starting point grind your beans to a consistency similar to salt and adjust from there

        Standard dose single is 7 grams and double is 14 grams by weight

        Tamp pressure should be 15 to 20 kg (a set of bathroom scales will help with this)
        What tamper are you using?

        KK
        Cosmorex threw in their brand one. Its a lightweight alloy with a convex base , Im guessing 57mm or 58mm.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Unico Splendor queries

          Just checking that it was not the plastic one Luci

          Another tip and you will need to experiment with this
          When you tamp you will need to find the correct depth of the puck in the basket, matched to your machine so it does not touch the screen when you tighten the PF to the group head
          This will prevent damage to the puck

          KK

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Unico Splendor queries

            Hi Lucifuge.

            Im using cosmorexs blue blend (yum!) in my splendor, but my grinder is a Macap M4.

            Im sure Ill get howled down by some people here, but the only way Ive been able to get consistent pours is to weigh the beans prior to grinding.  Ive tried dosing by ground volume but the results have been wildly inconsistent.  Weighing the beans is the only way I can achieve some semblence of conistency with my set-up.

            For the Splendors single portafilter I use 12 grams - that gives me approx. 30 mls in 30-40 seconds (including pre-infusion).   13 grams will result in a either fractured puck and gushing pour, or a choked pour.  Less than 12 can be a bit weak in taste for my palette.

            For the double portafilter I weigh 18-19 grams grams and get a similar pour, both volume and timewise, for 2 cups.  

            At these volumes my pucks are dry, not sloppy.

            Ive found my Splendor to be very fussy on grind - small adjustments (ie. 1/4 of a turn of the Macaps micro-adjustment) can have large effect on the pour.  1 full turn can be the difference between a 10-second gusher or a complete choke!  I dont know if other HX machines are similarly fussy, but it can be a challenge if you just want a coffee first thing in the morning and dont have time to throw out 3 shots before rushing off to work.  

            I suggest you start with a dose of 12 or 18 grams (depending on which portafilter youre using) and fiddle with your grind till you get a 30-40 second pour.  Ive found the 40-second pours are not detrimental to the taste, as long as the coffee flows, not drips.  If it drips, throw it out and start again, because it will taste burnt as hell.

            Hope this helps.  All the best with your new set-up.

            Oh, and kudos to Attilio, who has been very approachable, helpful and not at all stand-off-ish, despite my continual dumb questions  ;D

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Unico Splendor queries

              That should help a lot, thanks very much.

              I notice my model is tweaked to sit on about 1.2bar. I thought I read somewhere that purging some hot water such that the pressure is reduces closer to 0.9 to 1.0 bar is preferable so it doesnt burn the coffee. Does this ring true, or is it normal just to attach the portafiller to group head and start on the peak of 1.2 bar?


              Originally posted by splashalot link=1227826268/0#5 date=1227829659
              Hi Lucifuge.

              Im using cosmorexs blue blend (yum!) in my splendor, but my grinder is a Macap M4.

              Im sure Ill get howled down by some people here, but the only way Ive been able to get consistent pours is to weigh the beans prior to grinding.  Ive tried dosing by ground volume but the results have been wildly inconsistent.  Weighing the beans is the only way I can achieve some semblence of conistency with my set-up.

              For the Splendors single portafilter I use 12 grams - that gives me approx. 30 mls in 30-40 seconds (including pre-infusion).   13 grams will result in a either fractured puck and gushing pour, or a choked pour.  Less than 12 can be a bit weak in taste for my palette.

              For the double portafilter I weigh 18-19 grams grams and get a similar pour, both volume and timewise, for 2 cups.  

              At these volumes my pucks are dry, not sloppy.

              Ive found my Splendor to be very fussy on grind - small adjustments (ie. 1/4 of a turn of the Macaps micro-adjustment) can have large effect on the pour.  1 full turn can be the difference between a 10-second gusher or a complete choke!  I dont know if other HX machines are similarly fussy, but it can be a challenge if you just want a coffee first thing in the morning and dont have time to throw out 3 shots before rushing off to work.  

              I suggest you start with a dose of 12 or 18 grams (depending on which portafilter youre using) and fiddle with your grind till you get a 30-40 second pour.  Ive found the 40-second pours are not detrimental to the taste, as long as the coffee flows, not drips.  If it drips, throw it out and start again, because it will taste burnt as hell.

              Hope this helps.  All the best with your new set-up.

              Oh, and kudos to Attilio, who has been very approachable, helpful and not at all stand-off-ish, despite my continual dumb questions  ;D

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Unico Splendor queries

                splashalot - 12 gms for a single made HUGE headway, i just tested. It actually worked fairly well for both settings 9 and 10 on the Rocky. I think at this point its just a question of preference in the shot. Thanks heaps.

                Im actually wondering now if my tamper is wrong sized!? It leaves a 1mm or 2mm gap allowing coffee grinds to be smeared on the surface of the upper portafiller chamber when I tamp downwards. Should a correct fitting tamp not allow this? maybe its a 57mm and i need a 58mm.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Unico Splendor queries

                  Youre welcome - good to know youre making headway

                  My tamper also is too small - I have a 58mm, but it is too small by .5mm in the single basket and 1mm. in the double basket. My next purchase will be a tamper fitted to my baskets, as soon as I can bring myself to part with them for a week or so .

                  From memory my Splendor cycles between .9 and 1.1bar - Ill check tonight when I get home. I try to start the shot at the top of the cycle, as I read the lower the temperature the more sour the shot. I cant say it makes any difference, though, as during the pour the machine will cycle up and down between .9 and 1.1bar.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Unico Splendor queries

                    Originally posted by splashalot link=1227826268/0#8 date=1227846184
                    From memory my Splendor cycles between .9 and 1.1bar - Ill check tonight when I get home.  I try to start the shot at the top of the cycle, as I read the lower the temperature the more sour the shot.   I cant say it makes any difference, though, as during the pour  the machine will cycle up and down between .9 and 1.1bar.
                    That shouldnt make any difference to the shot temp. The boiler may cycle between .9 and 1.1 bar but I think you will find the grouphead will be at a fairly constant temp. If you want to alter the brew temp, change the size of your cooling flush instead.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Unico Splendor queries

                      OK, espresso aside, I now want to ask about frothing milk with this machine.

                      1. With the steam wand trying to milk Im caught between two extremes. On one hand, if the steam wand is say partially open allowing a slower rate of steam, it screams very loudly whether just under the milk level or lower down; it just doesnt sound right. However, with the wand open effectively on full, the frothing process occurs way too fast and I end up with simply hot milk, no microfoam.

                      2. A more general question; how do you initiate milk to swirl ? I cant seem to hold the jug at correct position/angle and also in conjunction with steam wand?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Unico Splendor queries

                        Youll never get the valve partially open to the same point every time.
                        Variables are to be avoided.
                        Always open the valve fully and learn to steam your milk like that.

                        Practise with water.
                        Youll be able to see some of whats happening below the surface.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Unico Splendor queries

                          Excellent idea, I will try.

                          Originally posted by Thundergod link=1227826268/0#11 date=1227857543
                          Youll never get the valve partially open to the same point every time.
                          Variables are to be avoided.
                          Always open the valve fully and learn to steam your milk like that.

                          Practise with water.
                          Youll be able to see some of whats happening below the surface.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Unico Splendor queries

                            Originally posted by lucifuge link=1227826268/0#10 date=1227856865
                            OK, espresso aside,  I now want to ask about frothing milk with this machine.

                            1. With the steam wand trying to milk Im caught between two extremes. On one hand, if the steam wand is say partially open allowing a slower rate of steam, it screams very loudly whether just under the milk level or lower down; it just doesnt sound right. However, with the wand open effectively on full, the frothing process occurs way too fast and I end up with simply hot milk, no microfoam.

                            2. A more general question; how do you initiate milk to swirl ? I cant seem to hold the jug at correct position/angle and also in conjunction with steam wand?
                            1. I find it easiest if the jug is ~half full with milk.  I also find it quite tricky to get microfoam with a small quantity of milk.  If youre making only 1 cap at a time, perhaps you will need a smaller jug?

                            2. Insert tip of steam wand just below the surface (kind of half-in, half-out).  In this position the milk will make a "tearing paper" sound.   If the tip is too far out of the milk you will get big sudsy bubbles.  Too far in the milk and the jug will scream and you wont get foam at all - its a very fine line.  I find I get the best swirl if the tip of the wand is angled (~25 degrees) where it enters the milk, rather than straight down.  I also insert the wand quite close to the edge of the jug, which seems to help establish a swirl.  There are probably a number of ways to achieve microfoam, but this is what works for me - after lots of trial and error.  

                            Good luck.
                             

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Unico Splendor queries

                              Hi Luci
                              OK, espresso aside, I now want to ask about frothing milk with this machine.
                              Got to this CS link and see this method on post # 1

                              http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1220959662

                              KK

                              Comment

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