andrewsho Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Pleasanton Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 8:38am Subject: Hacking a Miele Built-In Coffee Maker - CVA 4066 - To Make Better Coffee?
A relative splurged on a Miele Built-In system (CVA 4066 I think) for their new house. I was surprised at how weak the coffee was for such a deluxe machine, even at the strongest settings. Does anyone have any tips, links, etc on how to hack the machine to make stronger coffee? Even though the house is great, I am not sure I can visit if the coffee does not meet even my low standards.
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 8:58am Subject: Re: Hacking a Miele Built-In Coffee Maker - CVA 4066 - To Make Better Coffee?
That's kind of petty to deny them the pleasure of your company just because they don't make good coffee. But you could...
1) Ask your host to make it strong or offer to make it yourself. My aunt always asks me if I want strong coffee. If I'm with my mom, I'll just ask for regular strength so she can have some too.
or
2) Add more coffee.
or
3) Grind finer. They don't have a grinder? Give them a housewarming gift.
and
4) Bring your own coffee beans & grinder for your visits.
andrewsho Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Pleasanton Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 1:25pm Subject: Re: Hacking a Miele Built-In Coffee Maker - CVA 4066 - To Make Better Coffee?
Thanks for the help Wabbit!
As mentioned, the machine, even when it's set at its strongest, does not make strong coffee. It's automated so simply adding more coffee doesn't do anything. There may be something to grinding it finer, but then you would have to pre-grind the coffee which would defeat the purpose of having an automatic grinder in the machine.
I am thinking there must be a way to fake the machine out into adding less water or more coffee, but there is no clear way to do this.
cappuccinoboy Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Posts: 793 Location: MILANO Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Milano pod, Milano fully... Grinder: grind on demand
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 10:24am Subject: Re: Hacking a Miele Built-In Coffee Maker - CVA 4066 - To Make Better Coffee?
wabbitt Said:
That's kind of petty to deny them the pleasure of your company just because they don't make good coffee. But you could...
1) Ask your host to make it strong or offer to make it yourself. My aunt always asks me if I want strong coffee. If I'm with my mom, I'll just ask for regular strength so she can have some too.
or
2) Add more coffee.
or
3) Grind finer. They don't have a grinder? Give them a housewarming gift.
and
4) Bring your own coffee beans & grinder for your visits.
You really mean good trying to be helpfull, but you should be aware that Miele is a superauto Saeco in Miele body : only your advice n. 3 applies (the machine has a built in grinder) to try and better the cup, although it should be possible to slightly increase quantity of ground coffee in later Saecos...... , but coffeegeeks completely disregard superautos...except for convenience.... Ciao, Pietro
SStones Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2012 Posts: 235 Location: Canada Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Giga 5, ECM Giotto, Rocket... Grinder: Anfim Milano-Best Vac Pot: No :( Drip: Some $30 thing from Walmart Roaster: I buy pre-roasted.
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012, 3:24pm Subject: Re: Hacking a Miele Built-In Coffee Maker - CVA 4066 - To Make Better Coffee?
Try setting the grinder coarser. The further the blades are apart, the more beans the superautomatic grinders will consume. And, for the most part, clean the grinder. The most common cause of "Weak Brew" in superautomatics is the grinder burrs are coated with and/or the grounds chute is restricted with hardening coffee-tar. Does the user's manual for that machine offer a suggestion as to how thick the pucks should be in the used-grounds-tray when done? If they're not as thick as they should be, the grinder isn't supplying enough coffee. If it is just a matter of the machine's strongest setting being insignificantly weak, try brewing a double into a single shot glass and stopping the machine (Or just taking your glass away) after the first ounce and a half in in the glass. Superautomatics will always try to supply the maximum amount of grounds to the brew unit when brewing a double. The first 1.5 ounces will be much stronger than the remainder of the dispensed coffee. Maybe swap glasses after your espresso is poured and let a weak-coffee lover enjoy the following dispensed murk. Or take a decent disposable $200 espresso brewer and grinder pair with you when you visit and get them interested in better espresso.
SStones Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2012 Posts: 235 Location: Canada Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Giga 5, ECM Giotto, Rocket... Grinder: Anfim Milano-Best Vac Pot: No :( Drip: Some $30 thing from Walmart Roaster: I buy pre-roasted.
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012, 3:32pm Subject: Re: Hacking a Miele Built-In Coffee Maker - CVA 4066 - To Make Better Coffee?
I see, after exploring the interwebs further, that that machine has a very small brew-unit with a 1-scoop maximum. You won't get any shot with decent strength if it tries to serve more than 1.5 ounces of water through it per serving. Brew Unit Filler Lid shown here with the warning label. If you want a good double shot, brew two singles back to back into the same cup.
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