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EM480 static and channeling

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  • #16
    Re: EM480 static and channeling

    Originally posted by ACog link=1225755024/0#11 date=1226662489
    *snip*The strange thing however, is, I am still finding the shots seem to blond a bit early. (roughly around the 15 - 20 ml mark when pouring directly in to two separate shot glasses) It still tastes great, and has a nice mouthfeel (though could be thicker/heavier for my liking) and there are no wormholes or gaps beside the puck to suggest channeling.*snip*
    IMO "blonding" can be very relative, its the taste that matters!
    Watching the videos of some of the competitions made me realise that I stop most of my shots because of blonding a good few seconds before the professionals. I kept on wanting to say "STOP" to them but they didnt listen!  

    I tried it like they did it and didnt like the taste--too bitter for me.

    My usual double shot is between 15 and 20 seconds and 15 and 25 ml--depending on the purpose. With more milk I like more bitterness, but I would never do what the Americans seem to espouse--a 60 ml double, and some go as far as 90 ml. :P

    Greg

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    • #17
      Re: EM480 static and channeling

      that is a very short double, super ristretto range.

      For me, I find that around 50ml in 25 secs is the ideal shot for my morning latte (300ml), sometimes a few ml more or a few secs less, but very close to that range. It is afterall whats in the cup set to each persons taste that counts

      Sen

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      • #18
        Re: EM480 static and channeling

        Originally posted by Senator link=1225755024/0#16 date=1226718795
        that is a very short double, super ristretto range.

        For me, I find that around 50ml in 25 secs is the ideal shot for my morning latte (300ml), sometimes a few ml more or a few secs less, but very close to that range. It is afterall whats in the cup set to each persons taste that counts

        Sen
        Absolutely. That is why the rules need to be taken lightly.

        One reason I like my ristretto short, even with milk, is that I have a low tolerance for milk and a 300ml latte would push me over the edge. My usual latte is a total of 100ml--including the doppio ristretto!

        Greg

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        • #19
          Re: EM480 static and channeling

          I personally prefer ristretto over espresso. if Im buying a coffee in the afternoon from a reputable cafe, will often order a ristretto straight up.

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          • #20
            Re: EM480 static and channeling

            Ive been having really mixed results with my sunbeam grinder and EM6910... in my other thread, I mentioned Im griding on 7 or 8, which is considered really fine.. any coarser and I end up with a running-tap like extraction registering bugger all on the top pullometer on the front of the machine.

            This morning I tried a combination of two dosing techniques Ive been using and it worked well.. I also tamped a little lighter as suggested by AM above.

            dose, knock on bench to settle, very light tamp, dose, knock, light tamp, dose, final tamp not too hard, no polish, lock and load.

            This mornings pull was better than usual, considering Im using stale stuff from the local italian supermarket (Mago Coffee in big brass wall mounted containers which they swear is refilled almost weekly from the supplier). I managed between the sweet spot on the totally sik pullometer. Not quite there.

            I can say that this combination of knocking my basket to let the grind settle, then gently tamping/flattening to allow more grind has worked wonders compared to just knocking, or just gentle tamping. Maybe better grind distribution in the basket.

            The puck came out indented by the shower, in one lump and broke nicely in half.

            Im not going to bother trying to perfect my dose and pull until my fresh beans arrive, I almost feel like Im wasting my time! Oh well, practice I spose! Unfortunately I firmly believe that practicing with stale beans just isnt going to help me in the future.

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            • #21
              Re: EM480 static and channeling

              Hi James,

              Ive been getting quite good results for a few weeks now, since I started this thread.

              I had a 1kg bag of stale beans which act quite differently compared to the fresh stuff but was still worthwhile for practising my dose and tamping. I didnt consider it a waste of time. in fact, I had to use those beans up somehow.

              I only do two doses with a knock on the bench and light tamp in between now. Ive also found that I dont need to use the WDT as I did before. Perhaps thats the weather...Im not sure.

              Just remember, only change one variable at a time.

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              • #22
                Re: EM480 static and channeling

                Nice!

                My shipment from beanbay just arrived, I ended up with Decaf Mocha Java, Peru Grace Villa Estate, PNG Wahgi AA, and Sulawesi Rante Kapua Torajah. As my wife doesnt really drink coffee, I opened the DECAF mocha Java first. Grinded a couple of steps higher (to 10) on my sunbeam than with my stale beans and dosed.. The extraction was too fast, so either I still need grind at around 8, or my dose technique sucks... Still tasted really nice!

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                • #23
                  Re: EM480 static and channeling

                  Wait until you get it right and then tell us all that the shot you just pulled tasted nice

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                  • #24
                    Re: EM480 static and channeling

                    Well I just pulled another shot, this time the Sulawesi Rante Kupua Toragah (what a mouth load to say).. It extracted at about 11oclock on the wankometer on the front of the EM6910... so still not perfect. I grinded at "10". grind, knock, grind, knock, grind, level with fingers/hand, then TAMP, tap, TAMP. It was dosed up a little high because I felt the resistance in the group handle as I locked it in.

                    It still looks like its extracting too fast, turning from dark to light quite quickly... I cant believe I have to grind even finer!? I took a sip of the shot and it wasnt that pleasant, a tad bitter, so I added milk and drank it. *sigh*

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                    • #25
                      Re: EM480 static and channeling

                      Ignore the numbers on the grinder, they are relevant as your own reference only, go by the shot.

                      11 isnt nearly far enough round, should be hitting between 2 & 3 oclock for optimal pour. For a double (my std) this gives me around 50ml in 25 secs which is the point that it goes watery.

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                      • #26
                        Re: EM480 static and channeling

                        James,

                        If youre feeling resistance when you lock the PF in, its almost certainly over-overdosed. If this happens, I usually take it out to check for a showerhead impression, then on the next shot lower my dosage a little.

                        You may also find if its got too much in there, youll get leaks down the side of the PF as the shot is running.

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                        • #27
                          Re: EM480 static and channeling

                          Originally posted by ACog link=1225755024/20#25 date=1227695441
                          James,

                          If youre feeling resistance when you lock the PF in, its almost certainly over-overdosed. If this happens, I usually take it out to check for a showerhead impression, then on the next shot lower my dosage a little.

                          You may also find if its got too much in there, youll get leaks down the side of the PF as the shot is running.
                          I concur and have to say that OVER DOSING is as bad as Under dosing...

                          In addition if you Over Tamp and / or it is uneven; it will find a fissure and channel.

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                          • #28
                            Re: EM480 static and channeling

                            Well this morning I tried yet another bean (super fresh) Peru Villa... ground at 13 on my grinder for sh1ts and giggles, dosed it, locked it in, removed the basket to look for an impression, it was only just touching the showerhead, maybe still too much dose!?

                            Pulled the shot, it didnt even get past maybe 10oclock on the fullyawesomeshotometer. It extracted way too fast.

                            Having said that, it tasted better than my last shot, much less bitter.

                            I have no doubt its my dosing, Perhaps I need to dose a little less and let the water and grind do the rest. Im pissed I have to wait till the end of NOV to get into the sunbeam coffee school. Speaking of coffee school, should I take MY grinder with me, to assure myself that Im not going insane? (so I can have a pro check it all out?)

                            This morning I went with the scotty dose technique.. grind into basket, knock on bench, grind, knock, grind, sweep with finger to top of basket, TAMP, tap, TAMP, lock in. I suspect I swept too close to the top of the basket.

                            One of you super awesome sunbeam owners do a video of your dose and shot for me. hah

                            Maybe Ill do one and post it so you can all tell me what Im doing wrong.

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                            • #29
                              Re: EM480 static and channeling

                              James,

                              It might take a lot of beans, but I would keep your routine the same, and adjust one notch finer each time until you reach what you would consider a good shot. Probably should be something like 12-2 o clock on the fullyawesomeshotometer and around 25 mls in 25 seconds.

                              Theres a bunch of videos on youtube. Do a search for em6910 or em 6910.

                              I did some videos the other day for my own reference, but they dont really show my technique; just the shot itself.

                              If I can get the time, Ill try and do a few more vids showing my technique for you.

                              oh, and I would try and stick with the one bean for now. changing from one SO or blend to another is going to change the game slightly. Just another variable to watch out for.

                              Speaking of variables, I had some dud shots yesterday and couldnt work out why. Turns out the wife had the evaporative cooling on yesterday, which Im sure was causing the clumping in my ground beans. So many variables to watch out for.

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                              • #30
                                Re: EM480 static and channeling

                                Thanks, Ill stick with the peru beans I tried this morning when I get home instead of opening my next bag up.. Cant wait to actually have my first espresso instead of putting milk in all these failures! haha

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