MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,462 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 6:51pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
welone Said:
A must for anyone standing at the edge of the infamous 'rabbit hole'. definitely saves a huge read-up when starting!
Concerning the important details of the machine, I would add the absolute boiler size for the lower end single boiler machines. My gaggia classic (with a 3.5 oz boiler) drops 8 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit during a double shot which is quite a different compared to a Rancilio Silvia (12 oz boiler) for which only a gew degrees (less than 5 degF) are reported. I'm well aware that the imperative of rock stable intrashot stability is a controversial topic - but nevertheless I've never seen someone advocating for a drop of 10 degrees Fahrenheit during an extraction. On the other hand there are also advantages to small boilers, especially when coupled with a powerful heating element. It's a good option for people who want to have minimum initial heat up time and a quick cool down from steaming to brewing temperature. Furthermore there also appeared a machine with a steaming microswitch which greatly improves the ease and durability of streaming with small boilers (it automatically turns on the heating elements the moment the steam valve is being opened).
You should have seen the content chopped from this Guide!
The thing is, by the time I hit 10,000 words, I knew some stuff had to go. By the time I was up to 12,000 words, I was begging Cindy to gut parts of it! And still, the entire guide clocks in somewhere around 16.500 words.
I had some details in the semi auto pages about how to tweak and get the most out of the most popular machines, like the gaggias and silvias and so on, including some tips on how to temp surf the silvia, using the steam switch to stabilize the temperature more, etc, but ultimately, pulled it all out. Maybe I can get someone who has more current experience with a Silvia than I have to write the ultimate "how to" on using the Silvia, and we'll put that up as its own article.
But I'm glad you wrote the above - that's what I was hoping for in the thread for this guide - people writing their own contributions to make this resource as good as possible.
I've been called worse! :-O Just in case someone thinks I'm making this up, and while I don't make 'em often, made one this morning. Milk texture wasn't the best and no comments on mach art or uh, lack there of, but it tasted good! (and to make matters worse using skim milk 'cuz SO says so)
For scale, that demi is one Dr. John passed out at his booth NASCORE '02, 4oz filled to the very rim.
FWIW using 2 hole restrictor tip like GP2 but the brushed SS one from EPNW. Bric's boiler 1.1-1.2bar swing inc. overshoot. (Have tight 0.05bar heater toggle Barksdale pstat)
Posted Fri May 4, 2007, 9:59am Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
Very nice Mike! {:-D
I have a Malabar Gold glass I got personally too from Dr. John @ the Atlantic City Coffeefest on Sat June 8th 2002 & that same style & size ss cream pitcher from 1st-line in 2001. {;-)
mcKoffee Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2001 Posts: 854 Location: Vancouver WA USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: VBM DD, Bricoletta, Audrey,... Grinder: Major,SJ, Rocky,... Vac Pot: Gold Royal Balance Drip: When it rains...Aero,... Roaster: USRC3k,CCR HT, Behmor, Cafe...
Posted Fri May 4, 2007, 10:55am Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
CraigA Said:
Verynice Mike! {:-D
I have a Malabar Gold glass I got personally too from Dr. John @ the Atlantic City Coffeefest on Sat June 8th 2002 & that same style & size ss cream pitcher from 1st-line in 2001. {;-)
Cool, yours is more vintage than mine, Nov. '02 IRRC. And yours still pristine. The paint had partially chipped off one of the two I was able to snag so finished the job and had them "etch printed" along with the other clear glass demi's I had made for the Sweet Maria's home roaster's List Pacifc Nortwest Gathering III in '05.
Have you tried steaming just enough milk for one machiatto yet!? :-) It's an interesting challenge!
Just curious, how were your results? Don't think boiler temp/pressure would make too much difference in being able to pull it off if you played the steam via the valve. (Which was how this Article Feedback thread got quasy hi-jacked:-0)
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,462 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Fri May 4, 2007, 12:28pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
mcKoffee Said:
Just curious, how were your results? Don't think boiler temp/pressure would make too much difference in being able to pull it off if you played the steam via the valve. (Which was how this Article Feedback thread got quasy hi-jacked:-0)
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.
![mcKoffee: Mach1.jpg](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/31770/Mach1.jpg", 403, 302, "mcKoffee: Mach1.jpg");)
![mcKoffee: Mach2.jpg](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/31771/Mach2.jpg", 358, 268, "mcKoffee: Mach2.jpg");)
![mcKoffee: Mach3.jpg](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/31772/Mach3.jpg", 342, 255, "mcKoffee: Mach3.jpg");)
![CraigA: Pict0243.jpg](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/31775/Pict0243.jpg", 352, 288, "CraigA: Pict0243.jpg");)
= No New Posts since last visit 