alterview Senior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: Eugene Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013, 9:55pm Subject: Re: oh boy, down the rabbit hole I go!
Machine came today! Looks to be in better shape than I was thinking. It isn't leaking that I can tell. It is a 4 pole unit, no pstat but has what looks like a fuse bolted to the center of the boiler plate. The base is not magnetic (the lever and group bolts are the only magnetic parts). There are a couple of areas where the polymer coating is worn off or has delaminated and has discoloration underneath (black, pink and red). I tried to polish one spot with Flitz that is missing the polymer coating but it remains reddish pink.
I am guessing 1987-1989 era. I tried popping the shower screen out but was having a troubles (tried pushing the piston down to pop it free after removing the lever pin and piston top nut and bolt).
First shot with 15g was too much. It hit the dispersion screen. Cleaned off and re-tamped but it ended up choking the shot and barely pulled. Second shot at 13g and courser grind was a better fit fine but a bit mushy on the pull.
I am limping along with a Hario Slim until the Pharos arrives (delayed due to build time). Tomorrow I will clean some more and descale and try a few more shots! Hopefully I can meet up with Stefano in the next few days and pick up a few parts.
All in all, I am quite pleased and really looking forward to fine tuning. First two shots were not bad at all; much better than my old Krupps. I am using freshly roasted beans from what I think is the best local roaster in town.
Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013, 11:25am Subject: Re: oh boy, down the rabbit hole I go!
Glad to hear you're up and running. I spent last week at the wrong plant to try again on my heating element. I'll be at the other plant all this week so keeping my fingers crossed. Just curious what is the Eugene roaster you're trying?
alterview Senior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: Eugene Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013, 12:21pm Subject: Re: oh boy, down the rabbit hole I go!
Pulled a couple shots this morning. Getting better. The Hario Slim is definitely a weak point right now. 12g, light tamp (pill bottle- have to wait on a tamper) and a fine grind works pretty well. Descaled and wiped down the machine looks pretty good. Still am wanting to pull things apart but am waiting until I have new gaskets in hand. The steam valve body needs to be straightened out too. Still not too sure how I will handle the black/pink/red under the polymer coating around the front base. Only a 1/4" or so shows with the base on (still bugs me a bit). Hopefully I can meet up with Stefano tomorrow for some part and hopefully a little guidance.
Ron-
Wondering Goat. Great little shop in the Whiteaker area. Best espresso I have had in Eugene. They get in a nice selection and roast on the lighter side. Last week I was using Worka in my Aeropress. Bright and fruity; one of the most unusual coffees I have had. The shop is uniquely Eugene, part yuppie, part hipster, part hippy and part almost seedy. Personally I could careless about anything other than the coffee.
Sorry you are having troubles fixing your element.
alterview Senior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: Eugene Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 9:48pm Subject: Re: oh boy, down the rabbit hole I go!
Tear down and cleaning wasn't difficult at all. Used Citristrip to remove the bottom ~1/2" of polymer clear coat to get at the tarnish and rust. Cleaned up quite well. Left a faint line between the coated and the new non-coated area. Still need to put a couple coats on to protect it. Picked up parts from Stenfano and Kathleen (many thanks) and put it right again. Most of the seals were in pretty good shape with only the boil to group one being melted and unusable.
2 shots with it back together... fantastic! Not perfection in a cup but heavenly none the less. My new grinder has been shipped and should be here in a couple days. That should help out too.
alterview Senior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: Eugene Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Mar 7, 2013, 7:31pm Subject: Re: oh boy, down the rabbit hole I go!
Pharos arrived today along with a couple Inker cups. Second shot ended up being fairly dialed in (to my inexperienced palate). Very pleased with the grinder so far. It is a little unwieldy but I am sure I will figure out how to better handle it. 12g, light tamp with fairly fine grind. 1.5oz shot after ~32s.
frankward Senior Member Joined: 9 Feb 2013 Posts: 22 Location: Massachusetts Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Proffesional Gold Grinder: Mazer Mini Drip: Hario Roaster: Wearever popper
Posted Wed Mar 20, 2013, 11:50am Subject: Re: oh boy, down the rabbit hole I go!
Congratulations on getting a Pharos. I was on OE's waiting list beginning in December and they never confirmed that one was available. I guess I wasn't emailing them enough. I finally bought a Mazzer Mini so I have no complaints. BTW, I had my La Pavoni over a year before I started getting great espresso on a daily basis. I am a slow learner, though.
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