ryandunlap Senior Member Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 104 Location: Syracuse, NY
Posted Thu Jan 19, 2012, 8:46am Subject: Re: Talk me out of going FROM a dual-boiler TO a heat exchanger (the Elektra T1)
Hi all.
I pulled the trigger on the Duetto and another vario (I didn't get the Vario-W as Mary from Chris's coffee suggested there were some issues with static grinding into the container this time of year---I'm in the north east now.)
I'm going to spend the next couple months working on technique and spending some money on mail-order beans (rather than buying from a small local roaster) and also try and find some extra-fat milk. If in a few months I'm still not satisfied, I'll look to dump either the grinder or the machine and upgrade to the GS/3 or something in that league.
Thanks all for you help. I'll be around with more questions soon regarding technique!
Posted Tue Jan 24, 2012, 3:23pm Subject: Re: Talk me out of going FROM a dual-boiler TO a heat exchanger (the Elektra T1)
Ryan, To get a faster and less bumpy start, find an experienced snob (and better, one who owns the same machine) who lives in the area and invite them over. it is amazing how, once you are close, how a little adjustment and another palate thee to taste the coffee, can help moves things along. An experienced person can easily taste a one degree change or a small grinder correction, and those little changes can really change things. Oh, heck. Just send me the round-trip ticket and I can be there in about three weeks... Uhh.. first class, of course! ;-)
Here's where I'm at so far. (Pretty much the same place I was before I sold my first Duetto.) I'm using the four-hole steam tip and it's great in that it steams fast, but man it allows no room for error.
Intrepid510 Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 303 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012, 12:27pm Subject: Re: Talk me out of going FROM a dual-boiler TO a heat exchanger (the Elektra T1)
It is a good long drive, but since you are considering dropping 3.5k why not make an appointment to see Chris Coffee's show room in Albany? That is if you do live Syracuse.
ryandunlap Senior Member Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 104 Location: Syracuse, NY
Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012, 12:46pm Subject: Re: Talk me out of going FROM a dual-boiler TO a heat exchanger (the Elektra T1)
Intrepid510 Said:
It is a good long drive, but since you are considering dropping 3.5k why not make an appointment to see Chris Coffee's show room in Albany? That is if you do live Syracuse.
Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012, 1:10pm Subject: Re: Talk me out of going FROM a dual-boiler TO a heat exchanger (the Elektra T1)
Check this excellent lesson by Scott Rao: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAvYoymUbM I have some beginners' tips here: http://www.frcndigital.com/coffee/HowToLatteArt.html
Also, the quality of the milk is very important. If it isn't working try some other milk. With better machines (like you have) don't force the milk to do what you think it should.
I want to either make or buy a single-hole tip for my DD. I do not like the two-hole tip all that much. I got use to the one-hole on Silvia, so maybe it's just old dogs and new tricks. Here is one I did. I am not really very good at latte art, and this was using soymilk which makes things a bit more difficult:
dman777 Senior Member Joined: 26 Dec 2011 Posts: 236 Location: austin Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Silvia- No PID Grinder: Compak k3 touch Drip: french press
Posted Sat Jan 28, 2012, 8:36am Subject: Re: Talk me out of going FROM a dual-boiler TO a heat exchanger (the Elektra T1)
well, the micro foam will come in time from practice. how are your shots coming along? are you able to pull consistent perfect shots? reason why i am asking is because these machines are supposed to make it easy, so i was curious if it's easy enough to where have you are having consistent perfect shots.
I want to either make or buy a single-hole tip for my DD. I do not like the two-hole tip all that much. I got use to the one-hole on Silvia, so maybe it's just old dogs and new tricks.
When I went from a three-hole tip on my Pavoni Europicola to a one-hole tip on my Gaggia, I had a heck of a time adjusting . . . but adjust I did, and things were fine. My second Gaggia had that silly panarello, and I hated it, so I took it off, adjusted and it was (relatively) fine. Adjusting from Gaggia's one-hope tip to the two-hole tip of my La Val was easy! To the four-hole tip of my Elektra? Damn, it was fast, but I finally got it the hang of it, and I love it.
My problem now is the two-hole tip of the La Val, which I moved to the office. a) I find it slow; b) I can't get the same quality micro foam I on the La Val that I do on the Elektra.
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