you dont need to be full since if you over fill the filter basket the grounds dont have space to expand.if you put your tamped espresso into the machine then remove it and see the dispersion screen imprint or see fresh grinds on the screen then you have the basket too full..
I've been having the same problem with two-cup replacement basket. I usually weigh out 18grams of coffee, but this doesn't fill the basket high enough to allow me to smooth out the top. It seems to me that this is a cause for the uneven extractions and channeling that I'm seeing. Also I've never been able to get a nice solid puck after the extraction. I was wondering if you've found a way around this and if you think the one-cup basket might be a better way to go?
Hello Ryan, and welcome to coffeegeek! Ya know, I don't remember what it is exactly that I fixed the problem, but I no longer have the issue. I also use 18g, and there is a good-sized gap between the dispersion plate and the top of the puck. I was asking around about it, and the general consensus was the distance between puck and group head dosen't matter, and I seem to recall at least one person saying it was detrimental to the shot to have the puck fully fill that space after pre-infusion.
I'll give you the same advice calblacksmith gave me, keep measuring 18g and tamping consistently but grind fine enough to choke the machine then back off until you get about 2 oz in ~28 seconds.
I don't see a grinder on your profile, so I'll ask the classic question: What grinder are you using and how fresh is the coffee? Also, are you using the stock pressurized portafilter?
I hope this helps!
Cheers, ~Nick
There's a big difference between drinking coffee to wake up and waking up to drink coffee.
I'm currently using the Hario mini hand grinder and the delonghi two-cup filter basket that you recommended in earlier posts. I don't use anything that's been roasted for more than two weeks so fresh coffee shouldn't be the issue.
I'm pretty sure I've gotten the grind settings right. My main concern is that I can't get an even extraction.
There were a couple of things that caused the mud problem. For me, beginning the extraction with steaming water caused this (how insolent I was!), and skipping pre-infusion occasionally caused this. Having the grind set fine with a light tamp caused this, as did having a courser grind, regardless of tamp pressure. Due to the lack of a three-way solenoid valve, the puck will nearly always have water above it after an extraction; the difference is it isn't totally mixed with the grounds.
I'm sorry that I missed the point of your first question regarding the channeling and evenness of the shot. For some reason I read it a different way and probably gave an answer to a question you didn't have :D Hopefully I can say something useful this time.
For me, the 18g fills the basket up all the way. Perhaps an electric grinder "fluffs" it more? I usually brush a minimal amount off when distributing the grounds, but I sort of take a bit out of the center to form a bowl. The only major channeling I had gotten was between the puck and the walls of the basket, so having a bit more grounds around the edge helps. I'm not sure if that really answers the question, but it is worth a try.
Perhaps adding a little more coffee might help? The slightly up-dosed shot could be worth having a proper distribution of grounds...
Hope this helps!
Cheers, ~Nick
There's a big difference between drinking coffee to wake up and waking up to drink coffee.
Bionerd Senior Member Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Posts: 5 Location: Ames, IA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: EC155 Grinder: Hario mini
Posted Sun Oct 9, 2011, 2:08pm Subject: Re: DeLonghi EC155 Modification Guide & Ideas
I'll try up-dosing it a little bit. I just got a different blend of espresso beans and it seems like it's filling up the basket a little more then the previous one. Perhaps these beans are lighter and so I get more volume out of the same weight? I also seem to have less of a channeling issue now.
You mentioned pre-infusion. I was wondering how you go about doing this?
Posted Sun Oct 9, 2011, 8:19pm Subject: Re: DeLonghi EC155 Modification Guide & Ideas
Alexander, I'd hope so for the extra $810 it cost you.
Anyway, Ryan, pre-infusion is simply running the pump a bit then turning it off to saturate the puck and let it expand a bit. I use that term not quite as it should be, for a number of reasons, but that's fine for now :D I usually do it by attaching the portafilter, turning the pump on for two seconds then off for two seconds. I repeat that once or twice more then leave the pump on like normal.
I'm not sure about the science behind it, but it makes a noticeable difference in the shot quality.
Cheers, ~Nick
There's a big difference between drinking coffee to wake up and waking up to drink coffee.
Actually, $710 more. But I guess, that what those machines with PID and manometer cost. Before I switched to Silvano, I got better results with my EC155 when I grinned finer and timed from the first drop.
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.
= No New Posts since last visit 