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I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

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kocheez75
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Joined: 6 Jan 2008
Posts: 7
Location: Seattle
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Sun Jan 13, 2008, 12:16am Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

I guess my question is, did you remove the brown disc with the orange gasket?

KillerQ
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Jan 2008
Posts: 145
Location: Madison, WI
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Saeco Barista
Grinder: Capresso Infinity 565
Drip: Manual Cone Drip

Posted Sun Jan 13, 2008, 12:22am Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

Hey guys, Yea, I removed the disc -- I wanted the outlet hole to be 'normal size.' I simply pushed the disc up from underneath while wiggling it at the same time.... Ok -- here's a page with pictures that someone else took. Just follow these steps up until the putty knife comes in to play: http://www.voiceofthehive.com/Coffee/Coffee.htm Hope this helps... Matt!

wideasleep1
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Posts: 1,399
Location: San Francisco,Ca
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Espresso: VBMDoubleDomo
Grinder: Mahlkoenig K30 Vario
Vac Pot: nope
Drip: Bodum Press
Roaster: IR1 and 2,SC/TO,Behmor

Posted Sun Jan 13, 2008, 12:55am Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

That pic (below Under Pressure) clearly shows the plunger, spring and hinge. Where the plunger fits in the discharge hole, you can clearly see one of the molded clips that grasp the interior brown, gasketed disc. Instead of prying upwards on the white apparatus (possible breakage), simply swinging the hinge plunger out of the way and pressing downwards with the phillips screwdriver will drive the interior brown disc detaching the white apparatus, that's all that's holding it on after removing the plastic housing. IOW's, the interior and exterior plastic are clipped to one another. Once free, remove and store the apparatus, then remove the brown disc, reassemble lower shroud, install basket. Viola.

kocheez75
Senior Member

Joined: 6 Jan 2008
Posts: 7
Location: Seattle
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Sun Jan 13, 2008, 3:58am Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

Is there any leaking or flooding of the pour spout when using it without the gasket disc and spring apparatus thing? My only concern would be that the chamber with the spout might not let out fast enough, or is this not a problem? I'm currently using just the completely stripped portafilter without the handle (just using the handle to install and remove), but would like to add it back on simply for aesthetic reasons :)

KillerQ
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Jan 2008
Posts: 145
Location: Madison, WI
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Saeco Barista
Grinder: Capresso Infinity 565
Drip: Manual Cone Drip

Posted Sun Jan 13, 2008, 9:34am
Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

kocheez75 Said:

Is there any leaking or flooding of the pour spout when using it without the gasket disc and spring apparatus thing? My only concern would be that the chamber with the spout might not let out fast enough, or is this not a problem? I'm currently using just the completely stripped portafilter without the handle (just using the handle to install and remove), but would like to add it back on simply for aesthetic reasons :)

Posted January 13, 2008 link

Hey,

Your PF is back to a 'traditional style' There would be no more leaking or flooding than with using a traditional PF - since the design is the same any 'traditional' PF after removing the gasket. Below is a pic of a traditional, unaltered PF that would come with most any machine.

Hope that makes sense,

Matt!

(Click for larger image)

tsenfw
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 72
Location: CT
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Sold my Silvia
Grinder: Handgrinder
Vac Pot: none
Drip: Melitta Pour Over
Roaster: none

Posted Tue Jan 22, 2008, 7:00pm Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

hmm my barista is coming in the mail soon, I'll have to do this.

LatteChic
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 5
Location: OK
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Barista
Grinder: Barista Burr

Posted Wed Feb 20, 2008, 4:04pm Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

wideasleep1 Said: and you now have a non-pressurized PF...a good thing if and only if you know how to tamp (and have an appropriate tamper). Posted January 12, 2008 link Let me start by saying I am longtime latte' drinker, and recently broke out my Barista and Barista burr grinder (2003-gently used) and my head is swimming from all the information about machine tweaking and different techniques in order to get a good espresso shot. So far I have disabled the PPF, and use my kids bath scale to check for the 30 pounds of pressure for tamping, I use blank shots to warm the PF and glass before the shot. I buy fresh beans from a local coffee shop and I have my burr grinder set to the lowest grind. My shots (I use one large shot glass) are about 30 seconds for 1.5 ounces of espresso. The shots have crema, but since I'm not familiar with the taste of straight espresso I'm not sure how to taste test them to see if I getting close. I have been using the plastic tamper (yuck) that comes with the machine, until I can determine the best tamper to buy for my machine and me :) I have a ton of questions, but I guess the first one would be: What would be a good weighted tamper for this machine? (I like the idea of the Espro automatic; very expensive though) I realize my grinder is not a preferred one, but it is relatively new and I will consider a "grinder tweak" (http://www.kwilson.fsnet.co.uk/grinder_tweaks.htm) when I feel it is an unavoidable factor. Thanks, LatteChic

"I love being a Stay-at-home Latte-maker; I mean, Home-maker!"

wideasleep1
Senior Member

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2008, 12:45am
Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

LatteChic Said:

Let me start by saying I am longtime latte' drinker, and recently broke out my Barista and Barista burr grinder (2003-gently used) and my head is swimming from all the information about machine tweaking and different techniques in order to get a good espresso shot. So far I have disabled the PPF, and use my kids bath scale to check for the 30 pounds of pressure for tamping, I use blank shots to warm the PF and glass before the shot. I buy fresh beans from a local coffee shop and I have my burr grinder set to the lowest grind. My shots (I use one large shot glass) are about 30 seconds for 1.5 ounces of espresso. The shots have crema, but since I'm not familiar with the taste of straight espresso I'm not sure how to taste test them to see if I getting close.
I have been using the plastic tamper (yuck) that comes with the machine, until I can determine the best tamper to buy for my machine and me :)

I have a ton of questions, but I guess the first one would be:

What would be a good weighted tamper for this machine?
(I like the idea of the Espro automatic; very expensive though)

I realize my grinder is not a preferred one, but it is relatively new and I will consider a "grinder tweak" (http://www.kwilson.fsnet.co.uk/grinder_tweaks.htm) when I feel it is an unavoidable factor.

Thanks,
LatteChic

Posted February 20, 2008 link

I just picked up an awesome tamper (stainless steel) from Vanelli's, but it was for my Sylvia, and is a 58mm version...I recall that they had the smaller ones too so check there (I hope I'm correct in saying it's 53mm, but this is from memory).
https://www.securewebnexus.com/vanelis/home.php?cat=9
The Stainless is very heavy (a 23 ounce weapon), and a pleasure to use!

sultanoswing
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 26
Location: NZ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Wega EPU 'Airy' 1-group...
Grinder: Macap M4

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2008, 3:44am Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

Some thoughts (as someone who de pressurised my Barista PF back in the day): 1) Yep - remove everything including the disc - who cares if you damage the plastic bits while you do it? You won't be going back to PPF, especially since... 2) ...it makes much better shots than the PPF - but does require a half-way decent grinder (I'd enter at the Macap M4 / Mazzer mini level if you can stretch the dosh) 3) LatteChic - grab any reasonable quality metal 53mm tamper as a first step - you'll really appreciate the difference - then start saving for a grinder (see point 2). Your numbers actually sound pretty good - most people's Baristas seem to pour too quickly, but you're about right.

escorpiro
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 23
Location: East Coast USA
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2008, 7:36am Subject: Re: I just de-pressurized my Barista Portafilter -- simple (pic)

LatteChic, I have the Saeco Via Venezia which is a similar machine to the Barista in a few ways. Even though tamping is not discussed in the manual, and is probably not strictly necessary, I tamped anyway, using the back of a stainless steel spoon until I found a reasonably priced solid, 53 mm, stainless steel tamper here: http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.espresso.shtml (click on tampers in the menu displayed.) It was my first time doing business with them, but it won't be the last. Sweet Maria's is a well-known vendor with a very good reputation, so I don't think you'll go wrong with them. If you need something else, order it at the same time to save on shipping. I am totally satisfied with the looks, performance, and solid heavy feel of this tamper. :) Deb (Click for larger image)

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