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Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

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Discussions > Coffee > Machines > Bunn Trifecta MB...

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BillH
Senior Member

Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 34
Location: Buffalo, NY
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Spidem Divina DLX Super Auto
Grinder: Breville Smart Grinder
Vac Pot: PITA
Drip: Bunn Trifecta MB, Krups Moka...
Roaster: 'Elaine' Custom Diedrich...

Posted Wed Feb 6, 2013, 5:07am
Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

redkiosk Said:

Actually, I don't think it has to do with the latch handle, for that stays put during the press-out. The shower head itself, seems to be spring-loaded a bit and during the press-out, just the shower heads tilts and lifts up. More so next to the brew chamber handle than next to the body of the brewer. During the press-out, I can take a flashlight and shine it in the space above the brew chamber's lip and see just the shower head slowing lifting, exposing the fins of the seal, one by one, until I hear a "pffft" and the press-out stops. Maybe the spring is fatigued and can no longer keep the shower head within the chamber under pressure. Only seems to happen with 12 oz cups, but that's all I ever brew, so is it is an issue. I'm sure Bunn will make everything well again. And since I'm in Illinois, I'm keeping my finger's crossed that my Trifecta's return from the mothership will be by Friday. I will update here on what they found. Take care!

Jim

Posted February 5, 2013 link

Funny that one of the two brew chambers I have does this on occasion. Never with the second one though.

Never did the flashlight thing though yet.

redkiosk
Senior Member

Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 161
Location: Chicago Metro Area
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Illy Francis-Francis X1
Grinder: Baratza Preciso w/ Esatto...
Vac Pot: Someday, very intriguing
Drip: Bunn Trifecta MB
Roaster: A sure path to divorce!

Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 4:27pm Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

Just had a homecoming party for my Trifecta today and brewed up 12 oz. of Tonx Bolivian Juana Mamani Caranavi for everyone. Well, just me, the UPS driver couldn't wait :-). Update to what they found was wrong with my Trifecta MB… ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I had a great conversation on Tuesday, with Amanda and Fred, Bunn's Trifecta engineer. They put it through all their testing procedures and it was operating exactly as it should. They even could tell me exactly how many brews were done, in my case, just under 1,200. My area of concern with the brew chamber not being able to hold the pressure at press-out was explained in great detail. They place a pressure gauge within the brew chamber and increase air pressure until the shower head seal leaks. Pressure within the brew chamber cannot be more than 4.5 psi for it to be UL approved. It is designed with enough play (spring) in the shower head, so if it goes over that pressure, the shower head will tilt/lift, expose the seal and leak out the air. Mine leaked at 4.5 psi, so no problem there. We discussed what could be the problem, since it only happens with 12 oz brews, and came up with the obvious answer… size of the coffee grind. The grind size that I was using, must have been right on the edge of what is acceptable to keep the brew chamber from leaking with 12 oz brews. Depending on what coffee bean I was grinding, it's density, it's age past roasting, CO2 released or if I up-dosed slightly, it may have increased the pressure within the brew chamber, just enough to go over the "safety" threshold of 4.5 psi, resulting in the blow-by leak. My Baratza Preciso grind size stays pretty much fixed within the #25-26, F-G range, and I have not NOTICED that my grind size has gotten any smaller. I usually look at the grinds, checking for blatant inconsistent sizes, before dumping them into the chamber, but not specifically the size. I do clean my grinder a lot (removing the top burr, vacuuming, etc) usually whenever I switch coffee, which is every 12 oz -1 lb. Really can't see how that would change the grind setting as long as I returned it to my usual setting. Maybe my grinder's calibration screw was a little loose and the grind size decreased without me noticing it. I decided to pull apart the Preciso, set the calibration screw at the "fine side (right side) of the coarse adjustment slot" (There's a coarse slot, middle-range slot and a fine slot, with a range of adjustment within each slot), so I would have a solid reference point for future calibration checks. Amanda and Fred sent me a reference sample of the grind size they recommend (probably ground on their G2 and it looked VERY consistent) for me to match on my Preciso. Use a 10x printer's loupe, I matched the size (now a #22F on my Preciso) and brewed up a 12 oz cup with no problem. Not the slightest lift of the shower head with the new grind size. I'm a happy camper and so will be the wife tomorrow morning. For those wondering, the whole experience with Bunn was seamless. Amanda sent me a UPS prepaid label, so all I had to do was drop if off at the UPS Store. They worked on it the next day and then called me to discuss what they found, answered my many questions and suggested solutions to the problem. Even though it didn't need them, they replaced some of the seals, buttoned it up and got it out the next day. So, for me, only 3.5 days without the Trifecta. Not bad at all. Take care! Jim

The pathologically precise are annoying, but right!

nachoslibres
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Dec 2012
Posts: 22
Location: Tyler, Texas
Expertise: I love coffee

Grinder: Baratza Vario-W
Drip: Bunn trifecta MB

Posted Fri Feb 8, 2013, 12:54am
Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

redkiosk Said:

Amanda and Fred sent me a reference sample of the grind size they recommend (probably ground on their G2 and it looked VERY consistent) for me to match on my Preciso. Use a 10x printer's loupe, I matched the size (now a #22F on my Preciso) and brewed up a 12 oz cup with no problem. Not the slightest lift of the shower head with the new grind size. I'm a happy camper and so will be the wife tomorrow morning.

Jim

Posted February 7, 2013 link

Anyway you can post a pic of your correct grind? I know the trifecta can accept a wide range of grinds but I just got my Vario-W today and think even at the coarsest setting it may still be a little fine. Of course my last grinder sucked so my perception may be off.

redkiosk
Senior Member

Posted Fri Feb 8, 2013, 4:33am Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

nachoslibres Said: Anyway you can post a pic of your correct grind? Posted February 8, 2013 link Nacholibres, Just got up will but do so in a few hours. I even use the reference sample that Amanda and Fred sent me. Your Vaio-W should handle the grind size with no problem, but if needed, it can be calibrated for a coarser setting. Take care! Jim

The pathologically precise are annoying, but right!

redkiosk
Senior Member

Posted Fri Feb 8, 2013, 11:13am Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

nacholibres, Here ya' go, email me at my forum-listed email address and I can send you a much larger image. Take care! Jim (Click for larger image)

The pathologically precise are annoying, but right!

nachoslibres
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Dec 2012
Posts: 22
Location: Tyler, Texas
Expertise: I love coffee

Grinder: Baratza Vario-W
Drip: Bunn trifecta MB

Posted Fri Feb 8, 2013, 9:19pm
Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

redkiosk Said:

nacholibres,

Here ya' go, email me at my forum-listed email address and I can send you a much larger image. Take care!

Jim

Posted February 8, 2013 link

I think that's about what I get when I put the macro on the coarsest setting and the micro in the middle. It seems like I get a little choking from the Trifecta when it is pressing out the coffee (before with my crappy grinder it would be a steady stream - you can tell the stream from the Vario chokes just a little - not stops - but isn't a straight steady stream).

Socalsteve
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Mar 2011
Posts: 25
Location: Los Angeles
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Alex Duetto II
Grinder: Versalab M3, Baratza Vario-W...
Drip: Bunn Trifecta MB

Posted Fri Feb 8, 2013, 11:55pm
Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

nachoslibres Said:

Posted February 8, 2013 link

Do you have the steel Ditting burrs for your Vario? Supposedly they cure the "fines" issues...They are on back order from Baratza...can't wait to get mine when they come back in stock...

nachoslibres
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Dec 2012
Posts: 22
Location: Tyler, Texas
Expertise: I love coffee

Grinder: Baratza Vario-W
Drip: Bunn trifecta MB

Posted Sat Feb 9, 2013, 5:58am
Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

Socalsteve Said:

Do you have the steel Ditting burrs for your Vario? Supposedly they cure the "fines" issues...They are on back order from Baratza...can't wait to get mine when they come back in stock...

Posted February 8, 2013 link

Not yet. When I pulled the trigger on this grinder I just wanted it quick and then thought maybe the ceramic burrs would be good for when I do make the jump to espresso (which is a long ways off). It seems now that it will be easier if once I make the jump I just buy a cheaper (but good) grinder (so likely a lower model Baratza) for my trifecta/french press and then use the Vario for espresso.

But, since that is a ways off (I'm thinking probably 2 years for me to save up for exactly what I want) I do plan on getting the steel burrs. I am very impressed with this grinder but like you said - I did see a decent amount of dust/fines and that is probably what is affecting the stream when the coffee is pushed out. Let us know how the metal burrs go - I don't plan on buying my set for another month or two.

DanH
Senior Member

Joined: 3 May 2011
Posts: 129
Location: Bay Area, CA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: GS/3
Grinder: K10 Fresh
Drip: Trifecta MB
Roaster: Quest M3

Posted Sat Feb 9, 2013, 8:32am
Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

DanH Said:

I spoke to Amanda and she's going to send me a replacement reservoir and strainer. I'm inclined to think it's not the reservoir, but it could be that the strainer is too fine or damaged in some way as to overly restrict water flow.

Posted December 5, 2012 link

I owe the group an update. I was having a problem where my reservoir would sometimes not fully empty. Amanda sent me a new reservoir just before Christmas and I haven't had the problem since. Since I use my Trifecta every day I'm going to commit and say the problem is solved. THis is not to say I'm not baffled as to why a new reservoir did the trick, but I'll take it!

redkiosk
Senior Member

Posted Sat Feb 9, 2013, 9:27am Subject: Re: Bunn Trifecta MB Owner's Thread

Glad the new reservoir did the trick. I'm willing to bet it was the holes in the strainer. Further update on my Trifecta. Since receiving mine back from Bunn, I've noticed that the latch/shower head operates more like when it was new (somewhat tighter engagement). Amanda confirmed that Fred did do the shower head alignment procedure they perform on the Trifecta assembly line. She said they just wanted to make sure everything was working perfectly before sending it back. Once again, great customer service from Bunn. Take care! Jim

The pathologically precise are annoying, but right!

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