JDenver Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 17 Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Aficionado
Posted Sun Oct 27, 2002, 8:53am Subject: Not a bug but a feature.
I loved this line- "Different espresso machine manufacturers may have different guidelines, which entail production of an espresso machine that may not produce hot water within our guideline. Therefore, being outside this guideline would not constitute a defect in the machine, but would constitute a production feature set by the manufacturer to not coincide with the guideline set forth within OUR company."
This is the classic "it's not a bug, it's a FEATURE" cop out well known from the software industry.
Your guidelines are entirely reasonable, some would say even too generous. So if a machine cannot perform in that range, I don't care whether that is the intended design performance of the model or an individual defect - the machine is no good and you should send it back and get another model that does fall within the proper range.
CarolLee Senior Member Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 1 Expertise: Aficionado
Posted Mon Feb 24, 2003, 1:00pm Subject: Great tips!
I never thought to test the temp. & when I did, found it to be only 160 degrees. Also, found that my group gasket needed replacing to keep the pressure constant. After following Jim's tips, I had great hot espresso with rich crema and didn't have to buy a new machine! Thanks!
ezrabean Senior Member Joined: 8 Apr 2003 Posts: 9 Location: Portland Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Astoria Sibilla Grinder: Brevetto Drip: French Press
Posted Wed Apr 9, 2003, 5:48pm Subject: Don't forget to waste the 1st shot
Being in the wholesale coffee business I always remind my friends and customers to please waste that 1st espresso shot. Only after the machine has been turned on for the day or the groups have been washed. You need to coat the espresso groups with the coffee's oil. And please always back flush your espresso machine. The bean deserves that much!
like_it_hot Senior Member Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Netherlands Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia
Posted Thu Oct 27, 2005, 2:30pm Subject: Re: My Espresso is Cold! by Jim Piccinich
Jim,
Thanks for the good tips in the article! Just bought my first Espresso machine. Initially thought of buying a Nespresso machine since it's an easy system but did not like the idea of being stuck to using Nespresso cups... After reading a lot of reviews, also at the coffee geek site I decided to go for a real machine and bought the Rancilio Silvia. I'm using it with ground coffee and servings when I want less hassle.
As a newbie I thought my machine because I couldn't get hot espresso. Warmed up the system and cup with water shots but that still did not produce hot coffee. By starting the shot just after the temperature is reached (light switches off) I get good hot espresso, hot enough to burn your mouth :-)
Addicted already so next is probably getting my own grinder....
jacs Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Location: oz Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu Jan 17, 2008, 8:10pm Subject: Re: My Espresso is Cold! by Jim Piccinich
I know this is a real old thread, but I thought it would be worth noting that the method for measuring the temperature may not work in a thermoblock machine. A thermoblock is designed to produce a certain temperature under a certain amount of back pressure. If you simply measure the temperature of the water coming out of the group head, then there will be more water passing through the thermoblock than it was designed to handle and so the temperature will be down. The only way to do it, is to dose, tamp and put the full pf into the grouphead, while inserting on top of the puck, a pid. Then lock the whole lot in. The pid's wire should be ok as it is pressed up against the seal. There may be a little leak around where the wire passes between seal and pf but not much. Then extract as normal, taking note of the temperature. You may have to do this a few times to get an average. You might waste a few cups of espresso, but at least you should get a reasonably accurate reading without having to resort to any real espensive testing equipment.
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