gregbera Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Posts: 4 Location: New York Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Jun 13, 2012, 1:16pm Subject: Rancilio problem
The machine is new. It is Machine is not dispensing coffee. If the portafilter is empty, hot water comes thru. But once it is filled with coffee nothing comes for several seconds, then all I get are a few slow drips. Steam wand seems to be working fine. Grinder is Vario. Thank you for help.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,194 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Wed Jun 13, 2012, 1:24pm Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
Welcome to CG. The Vario is capable of grinding fine enough to choke Silvia. Try a bit coarser grind. If no luck there, time the water out of the blank PF for say 10 seconds, or more, and then measure the amount of water. That gives an unloaded flow rate, likely normal, but a place to start.
gregbera Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Posts: 4 Location: New York Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 5:27am Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
We got 95mL of clear water in 10 seconds. Secondly I set the coffee grinder to the most coarse setting. Afterwards I attempted to make espresso without the creamer and only 25 mL came out this time.
tracerbullet Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Saint Paul Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 6:32am Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
95ml (a little over 3 oz) sounds like decent flow in that time frame. Espresso machines have strong pumps but not particularly high flow pumps, as it's not needed. I haven't timed the flow of flow in my own machine (Gaggia) but in lots of playing around and modifying it and letting water run, that feels like about what I'd get.
25ml is a little less than an ounce, but at least you're on to something with the grind change. How long did it take to get that amount?
One other variable for you is your tamp pressure - it's not a huge one but it's there. Are you mashing the bejeezus out of it or barely touching it? See if your flow rate changes if you just barely touch it.
Also, even on the coursest setting, the grind may still be too fine. Look around here and you'll see people trying to... calibrate may be the right word... their Baratza branded grinders. I cant' say which ones and don't want to imply they all have problems, but as a non-owner it feels like I see that name a lot here with owners solving problems with them. Have a look and maybe one of the threads will apply to you as well?
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,194 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 9:19am Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
gregbera Said:
We got 95mL of clear water in 10 seconds. Secondly I set the coffee grinder to the most coarse setting. Afterwards I attempted to make espresso without the creamer and only 25 mL came out this time.
That is 95 x 6 = 570 ml/min. Here is a chart for flow rate of the pump that I think you have. No pressure flow should be about 600, you seem in that range.
gregbera Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Posts: 4 Location: New York Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Fri Jun 15, 2012, 7:03am Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
I tried changing my grinder settings but i did not feel a difference. All the coffee grinds were slightly courser than flour. When i tried the coarsest setting on my grinder and changed the setting from espresso to filter i got slightly better result. However when i just let the water run the water just trickles out without any pressure or stream of water. Maybe the problem is with the pressure and not the grinds.
tracerbullet Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Saint Paul Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Jun 15, 2012, 7:53am Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
That's all it will do is trickle out. As I mentioned it's a strong pump that can build a lot of pressure but it's a fairly low flow rate. Take the water from that little tube and run it through the boiler and everything else, then spread it out across a rather large (in relative terms) shower screen, and it's going to trickle out.
It is of course possible that your flow is still too low, but if you're expecting it to come pouring out like a fire hydrant you're expecting the wrong thing. And as mentioned already your flow rate that you measured is in fact about right per the specs of the pump.
That you changed the grinder settings and didn't see a difference in the grinds also tells you that's the route to look for problems.
gregbera Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Posts: 4 Location: New York Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Fri Jun 15, 2012, 8:57am Subject: Re: Rancilio problem
Thank you for all your help. We tried many experiments to calibrate the grinder to receive different grains. After finding the balance between the grains the coffee seems to come out now at a much faster pace (even though it may be too fast now) but it comes out with a nice thick cream.
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