katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 12:44pm Subject: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
I have my machine (Alex 2) and Grinder (Vario) since March. I finally plumbed my machine, we love coffee it makes all is well.
Problem.. We have white countertops. Vario when I grind into portafilter likes to spray some coffee around making nice mess around. I also have to "knock" portafilter in other part of kitchen where butcher block is (to not scratch countertop). Also, after tamping there is coffee around on portafilter that I like to blow off.
Is there special mat or tips/tricks I can use to make whole process more organized and less messy?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,314 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 1:57pm Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
1.Take a yogurt cup and make you a funnel from it to help contain your grinds. Nail polish remover will clean off the letters. See photo of my set up on a vario w.
2.Get a tamping mat.
(Click for larger image)
Coffeenoobie
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johnboddie Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2008 Posts: 147 Location: Virginia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Mini Classic,... Grinder: Rocky, KitchenAid Pro Drip: Cuisinart (non-grinding)
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 4:03pm Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
A mouse pad works well as a tamping mat, but you'll still get stray grounds on the counter and occasional drips when disengaging the portafilter. Note that these stray wits will be on the machines as well as the countertop (and maybe the floor).
The best thing to address this is a roll of paper towels and a bottle of Simple Green spray. Although bar towels may appear to be a more attractive option, The coffee stains will be a b**ch to get out, even with bleach.
Discipline yourself to stay on top of the mess. I typically do a quick clean after four or five shots, and definitely before I power off.
Don't forget to rinse the mouse pad on a daily basis.
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 Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:32am Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
Grounds will get out but with the use of a tray or a towel under the grinder, they will stay kind of under control. DO NOT KNOCK THE PF. All you are going to do is crack the puck and cause channeling. Also, don't worry about a few grounds on top of the puck, they will not hurt anything. I use a 1 inch paint brush to clean the PF into the knock box before locking.
Some crumbs of coffee are going to get away from you anyway so do your best then clean the counter after making your coffee,
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:55am Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
calblacksmith Said:
DO NOT KNOCK THE PF. All you are going to do is crack the puck and cause channeling. Also, don't worry about a few grounds on top of the puck, they will not hurt anything. I use a 1 inch paint brush to clean the PF into the knock box before locking.
I learned this trick from some video I watched. After tamping there is some grounds left inside basket on a walls (they get on machine). So, one knock after tamping get this stuff off. Then I tamp second time. I didn't notice any adverse effect on shot I get if I do tamping twice.
Already ordered mat from amazon. It is 13x10, should be about right to put grinder on and it has rubber area for tamping. Will see.
I stay on top and keep counter clean. It's when I have party at home and people line up for coffee it starts to look like a real mess :)
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:57am Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
Coffeenoobie Said:
Take a yogurt cup and make you a funnel from it to help contain your grinds. Nail polish remover will clean off the letters. See photo of my set up on a vario w.
Looking at your picture I can say that I'm in a better situation. I adjusted portafilter holder so it sits even closer to the top than plastic on your picture. I guess I get some grinds falling off from a portafilter itself.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,714 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 12:08pm Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
katit Said:
I learned this trick from some video I watched. After tamping there is some grounds left inside basket on a walls (they get on machine). So, one knock after tamping get this stuff off. Then I tamp second time. I didn't notice any adverse effect on shot I get if I do tamping twice.
Well, if it works for you...but as Wayne pointed out, the risk is fracturing your puck and subsequent channeling. If the grounds are really "stuck" as you say, to the inside walls of the pf basket (this would be from static electricity), they'll possibly get on the group gasket during the shot, but it's hard to imagine them getting anywhere else "on the machine". The gasket is easily cleaned by either doing a loose fitting backflush for a couple of seconds or brushing it off.
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 1:26pm Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
emradguy Said:
If the grounds are really "stuck" as you say, to the inside walls of the pf basket (this would be from static electricity), they'll possibly get on the group gasket during the shot, but it's hard to imagine them getting anywhere else "on the machine". The gasket is easily cleaned by either doing a loose fitting backflush for a couple of seconds or brushing it off.
Yes, this is what I mean, stuck to the group head. I'm too lazy to brush, but thanks a lot for other way to do it. I did just a flush and it didn't help with coffee stuck to the sides. Loose fit flush should do it, I didn't figure this out :)
Another question what do you do with portafilter? I use coffee that kind of greesy (I like it a lot) but I have to wipe portafilter after each shot since there is residue. Is that a step I can eliminate somehow?
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,714 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 1:32pm Subject: Re: Stop mess around grinder and coffee machine
Ideally, you should be wiping out the portafilter basket between shots anyways, if not merely to dry it. I rinse mine first by holding it under the group while I do a flush of the screen, then wipe it out with a bar towel before filling it for the next shot.
You should be doing a water backflush after each session (using the blind disc that came with your machine - that's the shallow basket that doesn't have any perforations). If you bring that up to the group, and only minimally engage it, then do your backflush, the water will spill over the sides and wash the gasket. - just wanted to clarify that to make sure we're on the same page. After that I do 2 or 3 water only backflushes (until the water in the blank looks clean). About once a week or so, I do a thorough detergent backflush.
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