K3 touch automatic mode - it's not bad

[barri]

Just wanted to share my experimenting. I have owned a K3 for 3 years and have never used the automatic mode. So on this lazy saturday morning I tried it out. Pushed the lever in for a single, which is mainly what I make and then weighed it to be 8gms. Did this 3 times and it was consistent. Turned the knob up a bit and then it weighed 10gms. Once again repeated 3 times with good consistency. Each time I made sure I got rid of any residual grinds from the chute. Making singles is considered difficult but I have a good but arduous routine including dosing, collapsing twice and levelling (removing - NSEW) using Scott Callaghan dosing tools (28 to 30) then tamping.

Now here's the best bit. I often watch youtube videos where all they do is dose and tamp and get great shots. So I did exactly that. Made the ground finer and pressed the lever for a single (now roughly 10gms) lightly shaking the group handle as it dosed. Tamped and then watched a great shot. I couldn't believe it. Repeated 3 times with the same result. So after all these years I now have a simpler but effective technique for making good singles. Maybe all those wild dosing and levelling techniques I see on youtube are overrated. eg chicago chops, using funnels, WDT, stockfleths etc. I'll try doubles tomorrow.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from other users who use the automatic mode on a regular basis. BTW I'm using a VBM Jnr

[DesigningByCoffee]

Hi Barri
I don't use a K3, but agree about the technique. Used to use a dose/tap/dose/tap, nsew, level & tamp.
Now have a grind-on-demand grinder too. Fill while tapping the sides slightly to get an even basket until slightly over full. Tamp.
Easy

Happy brewing!
Matt

[chokkidog]

+1 to the above.

To paraphrase: 'Fill....basket...tap..the.. side...tamp.....easy' :-D

( Robur-e )

[barri]

chokkidog, do you use an automatic or timer mode on your grinders like i have just discovered?

[chokkidog]

The Robur-e for electronic uses a digital timer. Increments of 5/100ths of a second.

[TC]

Yeppers- they do work reasonably well with a little playing. The main issue with a K3T is that the timer assumes that a single is 1/2 a double- which it isn't... At least the new version timer on the current K3T is now accessible and therefore of some use.

Chokki. I think you will find your Robur-E has 5/10 (0.05 sec) increments

[barri]

Yes Chris. I did some more experimenting and rotated the knob the whole way and it delivered a 14gm single and a 28gm double. These are big numbers. I adjusted the single down to 10gms and this produces great shots.

[DesigningByCoffee]

Chokki. I think you will find your Robur-E has 5/10 (0.05 sec) increments

5/10 … wouldn't that be 1/2 second? That would certainly make dialing in the Robur times difficult!

I believe my Robur is 5/100ths too (3.25, 3.30, 3.35 etc)

I tend to set the single dose button (you can program it however you want) for a 18g double basket, and double dose button for the 21g triple. But leave it a little under dosed - then top up manually. You can't stop once it gets up a full head of steam!

[TC]

Whoops- crappy math

0.05 second increments (which is what we all have) 5/100th or 50/1000th increments- for the pedantic :P

[chokkidog]

No worries Chris. ;-)

[barri]

Are others finding the automatic setting on a K3 touch consistent?

[stephen28]

I find it near impossible to use as far too much coffee ends up on the bench, not the portafilter. I just use the GOD function instead. Maybe it's my technique? My machine is a Rocket Giotto v2.

[barri]

I don't have that problem. Just a single push of the lever and jiggle the group handle so that the grinds are distributed fairly evenly. No mess at all. After you start the automatic grinding you need to push the basket towards the back of the grinder so that all grinds end up in the basket. I purge the grinder before each new cup to ensure consistency.

[stephen28]

Thanks I'll give it a go.