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Coffeesnobs,
My Isomac Tea 2 has served me well since 2007, but recently started having issues with the brew bressure. I was hoping you might be able to give me some advice.
Here are some observations and facts that might throw light on the problem
The machine has recently been subject to a fair amount of maintenance, including thorough descaling, group head cleaning with changes of springs and sealings, cleaning of valves, and a change of pressostat. I can’t help wondering whether the descaling (and the scale fragments it may have loosened or corrosion it may have caused) can have triggered the problem
I’ve been considering a range of scenarios, including issues with the pump, the solenoid valve, the bypass valve before it, or any other valve in the circuit – but frankly I feel I’m guessing at possible sources of the problem rather than “debugging” the machine in any systematic manner.
Any advice on appropriate steps and actions would be highly appreciated.
My Isomac Tea 2 has served me well since 2007, but recently started having issues with the brew bressure. I was hoping you might be able to give me some advice.
Here are some observations and facts that might throw light on the problem
- When drawing an espresso I get brew pressure of about 6 bar. With the blind filter the pressure will climb to about 8 bars. The pressure starts low, and will climb after a few seconds.
- The boiler pressure is quite high at 1.8 bars, as I’ve raised pressure to see whether this might resolve the problem.
- After turning off the pump, the pressure reader strangely stays at the highest pressure achieved until the pump is turned on again.
- Water flow is abnormally low at about 275ml/minute. Lots of water is flowing back to the tank via the return hose both then the boiler is filling and when pulling a shot, but not enough to explain the low flow.
The machine has recently been subject to a fair amount of maintenance, including thorough descaling, group head cleaning with changes of springs and sealings, cleaning of valves, and a change of pressostat. I can’t help wondering whether the descaling (and the scale fragments it may have loosened or corrosion it may have caused) can have triggered the problem
I’ve been considering a range of scenarios, including issues with the pump, the solenoid valve, the bypass valve before it, or any other valve in the circuit – but frankly I feel I’m guessing at possible sources of the problem rather than “debugging” the machine in any systematic manner.
Any advice on appropriate steps and actions would be highly appreciated.