Joel_B Senior Member Joined: 9 Oct 2007 Posts: 1,823 Location: Pacific NW Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astra Mega II Grinder: Mazzer SJ, Virtuoso Vac Pot: Yama 5 cup Drip: nope, french press Roaster: Behmor, WP, BBQ drum
Posted Wed Apr 4, 2012, 8:08pm Subject: Re: How does an HX work?
JD, when I got my Astra, I did a lot more than 5 backflushes lol! It may seem tedious, but it's the right process. And not just for the taste of the espresso, but if theres that much goo, you'll want it cleaned out for the well being of your 3way solenoid. Looks like you've put a lot of work into this project already, but keep up the good work! keep at it knowing the carrot is there for good espresso at the end ;-)
JDHarding Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 1,099 Location: WA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Steel Pro PID Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MDX,... Vac Pot: None Drip: Hario v60 Roaster: Behmor, Fresh Roast
Posted Wed Apr 4, 2012, 9:31pm Subject: Re: How does an HX work?
Joel_B Said:
JD, when I got my Astra, I did a lot more than 5 backflushes lol! It may seem tedious, but it's the right process. And not just for the taste of the espresso, but if theres that much goo, you'll want it cleaned out for the well being of your 3way solenoid. Looks like you've put a lot of work into this project already, but keep up the good work! keep at it knowing the carrot is there for good espresso at the end ;-)
JDHarding Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 1,099 Location: WA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Steel Pro PID Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MDX,... Vac Pot: None Drip: Hario v60 Roaster: Behmor, Fresh Roast
Posted Thu Apr 5, 2012, 3:21pm Subject: Re: How does an HX work?
Another backflush and it's looking better. Still a bit brown, but I think it'll have to do. I'm tired of backflushing the thing. ;P
It also looks like the double portafilter only takes 14 grams of coffee, which is a lot less than the 20 grams my other machine uses. I really should get a bottomless portafilter, especially if I plan to use this as my new daily machine. I am glad my 4 oz shot glass fits under the PF so I don't have to whip out the small glasses, and it encompasses both spouts. Yay.
I'll eventually pull some shots, but for now I'm just building up the motivation to use the thing. I'm still leary, and it's still leaking around the vaccuum valve. I've tightened the heck out of it, but it still drips and sputters. Sigh.
Since Gaggia does not want backflushes, it sounds like this will go through the system and "flush it forward." I have not used it, but interesting for the occasional cleaning, though you might have a lot of emptying to do as you rinse through.
Posted Thu Apr 5, 2012, 4:42pm Subject: Re: How does an HX work?
JDHarding Said:
Another backflush and it's looking better. Still a bit brown, but I think it'll have to do. I'm tired of backflushing the thing. ;P
It also looks like the double portafilter only takes 14 grams of coffee, which is a lot less than the 20 grams my other machine uses. I really should get a bottomless portafilter, especially if I plan to use this as my new daily machine. I am glad my 4 oz shot glass fits under the PF so I don't have to whip out the small glasses, and it encompasses both spouts. Yay.
I'll eventually pull some shots, but for now I'm just building up the motivation to use the thing. I'm still leary, and it's still leaking around the vaccuum valve. I've tightened the heck out of it, but it still drips and sputters. Sigh.
JDHarding Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 1,099 Location: WA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Steel Pro PID Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MDX,... Vac Pot: None Drip: Hario v60 Roaster: Behmor, Fresh Roast
Posted Thu Apr 5, 2012, 5:09pm Subject: Re: How does an HX work?
Okay, I moved the old espresso machine out, and moved the new one in. It's now sitting proudly with my giant grinder. A pair of Nuova Simonelli twins they are. So now I'm waiting for it to heat up, probably 30 mins. Is it normal for the pstat to repeatedly click off and on? As for the vaccuum valve, it's still leaky and dripping randomnly throughout this process.
30 minutes later:
So I pulled several shots, and found out this will only hold 10 grams of coffee before hitting the dispersion screen. So I kept grinding finer and finer, found a good grind, pulled a shot with it, and it flowed real nicely at first, then the machine did something weird, I heard a "kick" of the pump, and it ruined the shot by shooting a ton of water and steam through the puck all at once. A bunch of steam and coffee also shot out the exit pipe. I don't know if this was channeling, or perhaps there was steam hiding inside there and shot through the grouphead. I don't know what to say to this one. Seems like if I don't flush the machine, that trapped steam causes problems.
This is supposed to be a better machine? If it is, I don't see it. I can't even pull a simple shot with it.
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