nickhanks Senior Member Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Washington, DC Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Aug 25, 2007, 7:17pm Subject: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
Maybe I should have just gone for the Silvia, but the Barista is on sale and most average users seem to like it. The pressurized Rapporto PF on the Barista is a little odd which I might not mind so much except that coffee grounds left over after the pull are just a sloppy mess of water and grounds unlike my previous machine where they were a solid moist puck that I could knock into the trash.
Has anyone experienced this with this machine? Is it possible my grind is too fine? I tried to call the helpline, but gave up after 13 minutes on hold. I will try again.
katthree3 Senior Member Joined: 1 Mar 2003 Posts: 41 Location: illinois Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: expobar pulsar Grinder: Astra
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 2:24pm Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
Hi it is because the barista has a pressurzied portafilter. To solve this you can buy a unpressurized one from saeco. I have the same machine and bought a unpressurized filter on the buy sell forum. You might post that you are looking for one. Once I dumped the portafilter my coffee improved considerably. Kat
Treshell Senior Member Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 55 Location: Wyoming
Espresso: Ms Carmen ASTRA GA... Grinder: OBEL-BregantEB, TrampTravel Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Aero, Technivorm, Melitta... Roaster: Behmor, Friend's Diedrich
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 2:42pm Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
But if the machine comes with a pressurzied portafilter doesn't it require that to work right? Just wondering because the one I take when traveling is a Spidem with a pressurzied portafilter. Would love to toss the portafilter! treshell
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 2:51pm Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
Hi Treshell,
Welcome to the Coffeegeek forums! {:-)
No it doesn't need the pressurized one to work properly. A pressurized portafilter is designed to be used with any old type or condition of stale coffee & any type of grind, regardless of the users input or experience.
You're much better off with an un-pressurized portafilter just like a true barista.
katthree3 Senior Member Joined: 1 Mar 2003 Posts: 41 Location: illinois Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: expobar pulsar Grinder: Astra
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 2:52pm Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
The pressurized system is designed to give you crema whether or not your grind and tamp is good or not and no matter the beans you use. The manufacturer makes it so the person using the machine could make a good looking espresso no matter what they do. When I dumped the pressurzied I learned to grind and tamp. The Barista is not a bad machine I have had this one for 7 years and never even had a gasket go. I did complain to strabucks because the other problem with that pressurized thing is they are uncleanable. Mine I took apart after a few years and the stuff in there was disgusting. They sent me a new one but I moved on to the unpressuized one. I just made a cappachino with redline espresso from Metropolus ...... just wonderful Kat
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 3:24pm Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
You'll find many have purchased non-pressurized portafilters, from the likes of espressoparts.com (where my Saeco dealer sent me as they can't or won't get them in stock, unlike other locations).
Or you can do the job yourself with a holesaw and a dremel. This is a battle worn 7 year old or so portafilter on mine.
chilifries Senior Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 103 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Expobar Brewtus Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Posted Mon Sep 24, 2007, 11:04pm Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
cbowers Said:
You'll find many have purchased non-pressurized portafilters, from the likes of espressoparts.com (where my Saeco dealer sent me as they can't or won't get them in stock, unlike other locations).
Or you can do the job yourself with a holesaw and a dremel. This is a battle worn 7 year old or so portafilter on mine.
That looks very nice! What size hole saw did you use? Was cutting into the plastic easier / harder than expected? How is it working out for you? I've heard some people mention that the shots occasionally "stick" to the plastic sides because they weren't able to cut out far enough.
Posted Tue Sep 25, 2007, 9:42am Subject: Re: Starbucks Barista Rapporto PF and the wet and sloppy puck
chilifries Said:
That looks very nice! What size hole saw did you use? Was cutting into the plastic easier / harder than expected? How is it working out for you? I've heard some people mention that the shots occasionally "stick" to the plastic sides because they weren't able to cut out far enough.
I hadn't realized this had become a popular mod. Is there another thread on this you can point me to?
I used a 1 3/4 or 44mm hole saw. But you'd just use the closest fit to the inside diameter of your portafilter. It was about what I expected in terms of modding. The plastic was trivial, it's the brass that takes time. I started from the inside, down, and it only took about 5 minutes.
As for the occasional shots sticking to the sides, I have struggled with that a little, tried some modifications which in the end didn't help enough to be worthwhile. But yes the screws dictate the maximum diameter of the opening. It'd be better to start with a non-pressurized portafilter, but I haven't seen one that didn't also have some bottom mounting component of the handle.
In the end, I don't generally find it an issue because all bottomless portafilters by their nature, expose poor grind and tamping. Tighten those up and you'll always get a good center stream. Granted I tend more to the ristretto side, and a modest stream rather than a high flow rate.
However the first pull with a new blend, always runs the risk going wide before you have it dialed in, and it streams out the screw holes. So the first shot I pull into wide cap mug.
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