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Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

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  • Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

    Hello all. I am new to the big league, having been given a Giotto Rocket for Christmas along with Rancilo Rocky grinder. The pour seems to be quite quick (about 4-5 seconds of viscous flow, then gets watery quickly). Although the crema is OK, I am having to stop the pour after 15 seconds or so to stop it getting very wishy washy. To get anything like a good crema and thin trickle flow I have had to get my grind setting down to only two or three notches above zero on the Rocky. Can this really be right, or am I doing something else that is leading the flow to be too fast? I’ve giving a firm tamp and filling the holder to about as high as it will go without being a struggle to twist into place. Any advice much appreciated.

  • #2
    Re: Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

    Originally posted by 4C45444019181818280 link=1262992356/0#0 date=1262992356
    Hello all.  I am new to the big league, having been given a Giotto Rocket for Christmas along with Rancilo Rocky grinder.  The pour seems to be quite quick (about 4-5 seconds of viscous flow, then gets watery quickly).  Although the crema is OK, I am having to stop the pour after 15 seconds or so to stop it getting very wishy washy.  To get anything like a good crema and thin trickle flow I have had to get my grind setting down to only two or three notches above zero on the Rocky.  Can this really be right, or am I doing something else that is leading the flow to be too fast?  I’ve giving a firm tamp and filling the holder to about as high as it will go without being a struggle to twist into place.  Any advice much appreciated.  
    Hi dmlh and welcome,

    Sounds to me like a combination of stale beans, no grinder, poor technique or a combination of all three.

    Tell us more :-?

    2mcm

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    • #3
      Re: Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

      Hi dmlh and welcome to CS - you will find lots of useful info here.  I too received a GPP for Christmas and have been practicing everyday and still running on a caffeine high  

      I find there is such a lot of emphasis placed on leveling off, tamping etc etc however I now just dose to a mound slightly above the basket ridge, tap the group handle on the rubber mat and then tamp down with 30 pound pressure - thats it, no leveling off, no fiddling around which I was doing. If the pours are a little off I do adjust the tamp pressure on the next shots rather than adjust the grind. I have a naked group handle so I can see if any channeling is happening and I get consistent shots each time.

      How old are your beans ?  I am only using fresh beans (2-3 weeks old) and they work perfectly with my shots ranging around 25 secs.  If you are using supermarket beans or old beans then you will get the results you are describing.  I did have some old beans and had to wind the grinder right down and then I got thin watery black pours with little crema.  The bean freshness really makes a big difference.  If you have fresh beans then it sounds like the grind is not fine enough or your tamp is not firm enough.  I am not familiar with the grind numbers on the Rocky so cant comment whether the number is correct or not.

      Are you using the single or double basket ?  I use the double as it is much easier.

      Dex

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      • #4
        Re: Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

        is your zero really zero on the grinder
        are your beans fresh? what brand and where did you get them?......

        try this
        UNPLUG GRINDER (to ensure it does not come on)
        take out the top burrs carrier and give it a quick clean to ensure nothing is between burrs etc
        wind it back in and right down and see where zero is (where the burrs touch)
        this might mean zero is below "zero" on the gauge. (quite common)

        wind up to say "5" above "real" zero plug back in and grind a shot a see what happens

        good luck



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        • #5
          Re: Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

          Welcome "dmlh1000"...... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

          Just to make sure youre getting the basics right, visit this very helpful site.... http://www.espressocompany.com.au/how-to.htm and then do your best to adapt what is being shown for your particular setup. Even though the machinery is different, the principles behind the technique are the same.

          All the best and have fun..... ;D

          Mal.

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          • #6
            Re: Should I really need to be grinding this fine?

            I have found with my GPP that if I under dose I get the symptoms you are experiencing, of course that is assuming that everything else is correct, fresh beans, tamp pressure, grind fineness, etc

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