DeanOK Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 179 Location: OK Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 11:02am Subject: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
The machine came today, but have not had much time to play with it. I cleaned it up good and ran a lot of water thought it and ran the steamer a lot to get it all cleaned up.
My first shot was set to 25 seconds on the timer and I used 18 grams of coffee and the large portafilter basket (double I guess) . Grinder (vario-w) was set to course 2 @ H and the shot was very long... more than 5 ounces. I poured that one down the drain without even trying it.
Set the grinder finer on the second attempt, still very long ...probably around 4oz. I can only describe the taste as bitter. There was quite a bit of crema. I don't like espresso straight, so I only sipped a bit of it before tossing it.
Third attempt, I had the grinder set to course setting of 1 @ H. This is a pretty fine I changed the shot timer to 20 seconds, not because I thought that was optimum, but I was hoping to get something drinkable. The 20 second shot yielded about 2.5 to 3 ounces with quite a bit of crema. I am assuming that this is still too long. Taste was much improved over the previous shot. I don't know how to describe the taste other than there was definitely more variety to the flavor (hey, everyone already knows I am not a connoisseur). I made a latte with it. It wasn't the worst I have had nor the best... just drinkable would be my description.
I assume I need to go finer, but there is not much left on the grinder as far as finer adjustment is concerned. I assumed that the grinder is adjusted properly from the factory, but I did not check it. I assume this grinder should be capable of choking the machine.
Any suggestions? My assumptions are that I need to be around 16 to 18 grams of coffee and expecting a shot time of around 28 seconds or so when I get closer to the correct extraction. Are these assumptions correct? If the assumptions are correct, I assume I need to go to a finer grind.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 12:04pm Subject: Re: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
Dean, worry more about taste; worry less about time.
First of all, the deciding factor as to when to stop a shot is most often on "blonding." Secondly, why are you pulling 4-5 ounce shots to begin with when an "espresso doppio normale" (a normal double shot) is 2 ounces?
OK, so-called "standard" guidelines -- in other words, a good place to start -- is two ounces in 20-25 seconds, using between 14 (Italian standard) and 18 (seemingly American "third wave" standard) grams per double.
DeanOK Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 179 Location: OK Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 12:56pm Subject: Re: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
The reason I am trying for the "textbook" extraction time is to give me a starting place. It's been years since I made espresso in a semi, and in those days I found my niche that I liked, but I have no clue if it was textbook or not. I know that back then I got about a 2oz shot, that it had a lot of crema and that is about all I remember. I am not even sure that I ever knew how long the extraction time was.
I adjusted my grind and made another latte. This one was less than 2 oz at 27 seconds (about 1.75 ounces). It tastes pretty good, but still not what I am going for. I am not sure, it may even be the coffee I am using. It is fresh. I have 4 different roasts here now that are all less than 10 days old, so I will see how much difference the roast makes.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 12:59pm Subject: Re: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
Do me a favor . . . just for one shot, throw away your stopwatch. Who gives a $#|+ what time it takes? Stop the shot on blonding, and see how it tastes.
If you have any doubts as to what "blonding" is, or how to spot it, check out this video.
DeanOK Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 179 Location: OK Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 1:15pm Subject: Re: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
JasonBrandtLewis Said:
Do me a favor . . . just for one shot, throw away your stopwatch. Who gives a $#|+ what time it takes? Stop the shot on blonding, and see how it tastes.
If you have any doubts as to what "blonding" is, or how to spot it, check out this video.
Thank you! Well, I watched that video and I was thinking around D or E. Then I found this page that had a quiz about the same video, and I guess I was wrong (like many others). Video Quiz about blonding
I do have a bottomless portafilter, so I could do that same test.
I am almost as fine as it will go now... I am at 1E. I did not calibrate the grinder. I assumed that since it was brand new, it wouldn't need to be calibrated. I have a feeling that as fine as it would go would come close to choking the machine though. The 1.75 second shot was at 1D.
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 2:14pm Subject: Re: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
There's a calibration screw on the bottom of the Vario, and a tool included with the grinder for this purpose. They may well need calibrating from the factory, and instructions from Baratza are here.
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 566 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2012, 2:30pm Subject: Re: Need advice on dialing in new CC1
Like above may need to calibrate, but what beans are you using/how fresh? And do you think your tamping tight?
Also don't bother with the shot timer on it right now, put it up higher and go by looking at it to stop yourself. Think mine are set to 70 seconds but I pull shots around 25-30 seconds from 1st drip, which usually is around 40 seconds for me on the screen since 1st drips start around 8-10 seconds and I have pre infusion set to 2 seconds and I think dwell time at 3 or 4 seconds.
Edit - I mention tamping b/c 18g I found to be about the limit for the double basket, make a basket and place a nickel on the grounds and twist in and then pull out to check if the nickel imprinted. If so you may be disturbing the puck before extracting.
Right now I have Blue Bottle, Redbird, Elemental and Velton's (came with the machine) beans in the house. The oldest is about 2 weeks old.
It will be tonight before I try another latte.... I don't want to overload my taste buds... I do that when I am smoking meat.... get so close to the problem and then can't taste the solution (does that make sense?) because I have desensitized my taste buds.
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