AutoItKing Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Austin Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Aug 21, 2012, 6:04pm Subject: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
I have a Mr. Coffee ECMP50 I'd like to depressurize. Does anybody know if there's a drop in replacement basket I can purchase, or do I have to do it the hard way with my trusty Dremel? Also, can the perforated bottom handle the pressure? It seems kinda of thin... And don't worry, I roast my own SM coffee and have a good grinder. I know how to make good coffee! I just don't have a huge budget :(
AutoItKing Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Austin Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Aug 28, 2012, 6:53pm Subject: Re: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
Well thanks for all the help...
I ended up just grinding the bottom off my single shot basket. The bottom is the same thickness steel as the rest of the basket. Used a Baratza Maestro Plus grinder set on the finest setting. It produces a fairly fine grind that clumps like no tomorrow. Tried a single shot using some beans I've had for a while... don't hate! Their my cheap-o, milk drink beans. Pour was a little fast (10seconds for a single shot) and crema was almost non-existent. The resulting shot was very bitter. About the same as a decent local cafe.
Now I don't know what it is at this point because I usually use these beans for milk drinks (lattes and mochas) so I don't really taste the coffee, just the multitude of milk. I just figured I'd spare my home roasted beans for when I know this works. It could very well just be the beans (fingers crossed) and not my technique.
And since I'm an electrical engineer, I may try to open up the machine to see if I can get the temperature control a little more precise. And I also would like to be able to control the brew cycle. It likes to do it's own cool down cycles and stuff.
Thoughts? (Not holding my breath, nobody responded up until this point)
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Tue Aug 28, 2012, 8:05pm Subject: Re: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
I am assuming that you have done some searching and reading to know about depressurizing your PortaFilter. I looked up your machine as it is not one that I know. I do not see it mentioned commonly on CG; that may acccount for the lack of response. If I got it correctly, fairly standard 15 bar vib pump, and thermoblock instead of a boiler.
Once the PF is depressurized grind and coffee freshness seem to get more important. Your flow of 10 seconds is too fast. Many, perhaps most, of the machines regularly used by CG members are adjusted down to 9 bar pressure, and that seems to help with flow and grind tolerance. Not sure that the grinder will grind fine enough without some mod or adjustment. You can find threads on your grinder here in CG, and the feelng about its ability to grind espresso. A good bit of general espresso info is covered in the site below.
AutoItKing Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Austin Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Aug 28, 2012, 8:48pm Subject: Re: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
The pump is a 15 bar, ~40W Ulka. Plenty of pressure there. If I understand it correctly, pressure is ultimately determined by the grind and tamp. 8-9 bar being the "Goldilocks" figure.
I have already modded my Maestro to go stupid fine. I might need to adjust it further though... might not be fine enough? O.o
I'll be ripping the machine apart in the next week and installing some switches to control the pump and heating element. As well as a temperature gauge. Then I'll be adjusting the resistors on the circuit board to try and up the temperature some. At some point I may program my own PID...
I'm just going to try everything... how bout that? :P
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Tue Aug 28, 2012, 8:57pm Subject: Re: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
Many machines have a valve or pressure relief that can limit to 9 bar when adjusted.
Grinding fine enough or too fine is not the end all, it is enough steps or stepless to microadjust to fit different coffees, different roasts, etc. 10 seconds for a brew is not near long enough, or not fine enough. Grind finer, up dose even to double... Temperature is not necessarily the problem unless you have measured it. Control grind and dose as flow is not near correct.
Try to change one thing and measure results so that you know what works. Mods are fun and make many machines better.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Tue Aug 28, 2012, 9:20pm Subject: Re: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
A slightly different pump on the site below, but 15 bar vib and look at flow rate. The flow at 9 bar has to go somewhere and the OPV valve sends it back to the tank. Not just a tamp, grind, pressure problem, but flow.
AndyPanda here on CG has some threads where he discusses changing pump flow and pressure with a dimmer, or resistors. Search pump dimmer, and start here
Now, is that remark really necessary? Do you really think that someone purposefully withheld information? Or, do you think it is possible that no one had any valid advice?
-Scott Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven. ~Jessi Lane Adams
AutoItKing Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Austin Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Aug 29, 2012, 10:53pm Subject: Re: Depressurizing Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Basket?
sweaner Said:
Now, is that remark really necessary? Do you really think that someone purposefully withheld information? Or, do you think it is possible that no one had any valid advice?
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