frog Senior Member Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Hong Kong Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 10:05am Subject: Oscar espresso pull
Hi all,
I am a newbie here. I just started playing with an 2nd hand NS oscar. However, I find that the time for the first drop of coffee is rather long (>10 s). But after that, it seems normal. I don't think I tamp too hard.
I recorded my espresso pull with a double shot basket and bottomless portafilter. http://youtu.be/L4_ZTYRyXWs
Is there any potential problem with my machine? P.S. It is really super-noisy during the brew.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,317 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 12:14pm Subject: Re: Oscar espresso pull
Oscars are noisy. Check other youtube videos and you will see what I mean. However, I did hear a rattle that makes me wonder what you have on top or maybe the pump is not seated well. Do the water into the cup to warm it and empty the tray less. I warm my shot glass and my cup with the water from the group head before the pull. It seems like your pull blonded fast. It did take 10 seconds to show coffee and mine only takes about 5 seconds. Your pump might need replacing, they are pretty cheap and easy to do. It would help if you pulled into a clear marked shot glass so I can see what it looks like in the cup.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,674 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 Wed Nov 21, 2012, 6:57am Subject: Re: Oscar espresso pull
I agree with Helen, it seems to take a little long to start extracting, I didn't hear the pump get to full pressure until just before the extraction started.
What grinder do you have? The grinder is more important than the espresso machine. The Oscar is a solid machine and it should serve you well. Tamping is the least important part of the whole process as it is the grind that sets the pace for your extraction. The better your grind, in general, the better the extraction.
The age of your beans is very important also, old stale beans will never make great coffee, old is about two weeks from the day they were roasted regardless of how they were packaged for sale. That is not to say they are undrinkable after that, but you have missed the window of the beans to be able to be used at their peak.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
faaparasite Senior Member Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 288 Location: Dallas Metroplex Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bezzera BZ99 Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Technivorm
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012, 7:23am Subject: Re: Oscar espresso pull
What you are describing sounds perfectly normal. Machines with vibe pumps are loud. That's just the way it is.
My shots take about 8-9 seconds between pump start and first drip, so your experience sounds fine. It really boils down to how much volume you want. I like a double that is just shy of 2 oz at 25 seconds from pump start. If you want more volume, like say a 2.5-3oz double, then first drip is going to start sooner by virtue of grinding coarser.
frog Senior Member Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Hong Kong Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012, 10:11am Subject: Re: Oscar espresso pull
Thanks all.
My beans are roasted last month and keep it in the fridge. So, they are fresh. Maybe I try to have a coarser grind or replace the pump.
But I also find that the stream power decreased a lot after I forth a single cup of milk with 300ml milk pitcher. The stream tip has been replaced with a single hole one instead of 4 holes. Any idea? Is it related to the pstat?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,317 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012, 12:38pm Subject: Re: Oscar espresso pull
BIG DON'T here : Don't keep the beans in the fridge. Freeze part of them when you get them and pull out a few hours before use so they warm up before opening.
Do use beans that have never been frozen in 2 weeks or so. A month old beans will make less or no creama.
The slow dripping to start with would have nothing to do with the Pstat that is all pump. The Pstat could have an issue but it is not related to what I saw in the pull. Go back to the stock tip and see if it is not a lot better.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
I don't have a double shot glass. I just find a glass container as the cup (marked 30 and 60cc line). I found that the some coffee actually comes out at the edge of the filter (start from 13th second). However, the pull suddenly comes out quickly at 2xth second. Is that normal?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,317 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Thu Nov 22, 2012, 12:09pm Subject: Re: Oscar espresso pull
I saw the sprite that is just tamping flaw. (13 seconds) What really struck me is it took almost 22 seconds for coffee to come then it was done by 37 seconds. I really think your pump is not doing it's job because I think the grind must be too coarse but the pump just can't get enough pressure to push it through. You need to get a replacement pump.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 