CRUZMISL Senior Member Joined: 21 Dec 2003 Posts: 113 Location: Ontario Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Jul 8, 2004, 8:41am Subject: My portafilter pressure gauge is acting up....
I wanted to adjust my pump presure using a PF with a guage attached. The guage works but I get leakage around the group. I tried tightening it, replacing the group head gasket and also swapping PF's. It doesn't leak a drop when making espresso or when backflushing. Anyway, in desparation I filled the PF with coffee and ran it and low and behold it sealed tight. Is this OK? Will it affect my measurements?
Posted Thu Jul 8, 2004, 9:33am Subject: Re: My portafilter pressure gauge is acting up....
CRUZMISL Said:
I wanted to adjust my pump presure using a PF with a guage attached. The guage works but I get leakage around the group. I tried tightening it, replacing the group head gasket and also swapping PF's. It doesn't leak a drop when making espresso or when backflushing. Anyway, in desparation I filled the PF with coffee and ran it and low and behold it sealed tight. Is this OK? Will it affect my measurements?
I don't know all the answers here since I've never used a portafilter pressure guage.... ...however you don't mention the basket. Normally it's the basket rim that presses up against the grouphead gasket for a seal. Also a number of factors affect the integrity of the seal. The space between the bottom of the basket and the innner bottom surface of the portafilter is normally at atmospheric pressure - not 9atmospheres. When you are doing a pressure test, if you don't remove the basket, the point of contact between the basket and the top rim of the portafilter will not be gasketed which is not good because now that space is at 9atmospheres and needs a rubber seal, not a metal-to-metal seal. However if you do remove the basket, it's the top rim of the portafilter that contacts the grophead gasket - this implies a different seal from normal case where the basket rim is contacting the rubber. Also, if the machine is heated up fully the rubber will be more pliable and soft and will seal better whereas if it's cold it can leak simply because it's harder. Also, grains of coffee lodged on the rubber at the point of contact can destroy the seal. It's important to keep it clean at all times.
Just out of curiosity, where did you get your PF guage and hose (and how much was it)? Did it come with instructions?
CRUZMISL Senior Member Joined: 21 Dec 2003 Posts: 113 Location: Ontario Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Jul 8, 2004, 10:38am Subject: Re: My portafilter pressure gauge is acting up....
I am using the standard PF insert that I use to brew coffee. My machine is always on so a cold seal isn't an issue. Lastly, my machine is so clean my mother would be proud. I got the guage with my machine a long time ago and no instructions. I just turn on the pump, let water flow to allow the pump to reach full pressure and close off the petcock and watch the guage rise. I'll snap a pic tonight when I get home so you can see it.
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