tijolima Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Mayotown, MN Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky
Posted Sun Jan 20, 2013, 2:10pm Subject: newbie buys an Oscar
I've been lurking here for the last few weeks since our trusty 15 year old Krups died. Wanting to make an upgrade to better equipment, technique, etc. I've purchased a Rancilio Rocky and NS Oscar for $625 and hope what I think was a good deal stays that way. The Oscar was in a plastic surgeon's office for client use and was apparently used very little, it is 6 years old, and has the Saria p-stat (I have taken a look under the hood). It has now been out of service for about a year and I am looking for tips necessary to get it back into my service. It is the direct connect version and I can hear water sloshing around in the boiler. The water plumbed to it had been softened but not filtered. Do I need to drain the boiler or clean it in some way before hooking up to my water supply, or can it be flushed in some fashion after my water supply is attached? I have a water softener and will be installing a filter on the line. I will be ordering the ground kit since it was used with pods exclusively. Then the fun begins experimenting with real coffee! I would appreciate any tips or hints. Thanks
tijolima Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Mayotown, MN Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky
Posted Sun Jan 20, 2013, 4:13pm Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
Yes, generally, we have hard water here in this area, that is why I have a softener in my home. The Oscar has had only softened water plumbed to it during its lifetime, although the previous owner did not have an inline filter hooked to it.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Sun Jan 20, 2013, 10:10pm Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
So now we have Newbie and Noobie who both have Oscars. Welcome to the Simonelli funny farm. There's not many of us on here, so we have to stick together.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Mon Jan 21, 2013, 3:25am Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
I'd do some descaling and backflushing before taking the machine into service. If it was used as an office machine for clients, chances are that it wasn't maintained properly.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,669 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Jan 22, 2013, 12:51pm Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
Congrats, you will want to upgrade from the Rocky as soon as you are able, it is OK but much better grinders are out there now, even stepless for less than what Rocky sells for new. Kinda of like the Sylvia, for what they want for the new ones, they are over priced taking into account the performance you get.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Tue Jan 22, 2013, 2:50pm Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
You could probably get away without descaling right away, but you may find it takes a long time to heat up, or is loud heating up. Descaling is inevitable, eventually, and it may be possible a descale is badly needed, or it may be possible that one should be done sometime soon.
I would replace the grouphead gasket, and probably just put a whole new dispersion block/screen to have all brand new grouphead. Backflush thoroughly. Thats about it.
remember the Oscar doesn't have a vaccum breaker, so when you turn it on, open the steam arm and leave it open. Once it comes up to pressure and it starts puttering from the steam arm, you can close it and let it come up to temp.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Tue Jan 22, 2013, 2:51pm Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
I would test/play with Oscar first and plan on descaling very soon I bet he was abused in his other home. And good catch on the steam wand, I should have said that.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
tijolima Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Mayotown, MN Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Rancilio Rocky
Posted Tue Jan 22, 2013, 3:26pm Subject: Re: newbie buys an Oscar
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I just finished ordering some supplies from Chris' and they were very helpful as well. I am switching it to use ground coffee so that kit included the dispersion block and screen and I also ordered a grouphead gasket to replace that as well. I will pick up the in-line filter tonight to I can start on getting it plumbed. Since it is the direct connect version, to get the descaling solution into the machine can I just place the water line in a bucket of the citric acid solution and will it pull this in? Or how else is this done? Thanks for the help folks!
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