Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Sun Feb 3, 2013, 8:17pm Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
A grinder needs to be dialed in for the particular machine with extreme precision, for one. Grocery store grinders are often out of calibration and cannot grind fine enough, even though they say "Turkish." But the biggest reason of all is that ground coffee goes stale after fifteen minutes. You need to grind immediataly before your shot.
The leak is worrisome, but probably fixable. I could continue to observe it and listen for any sounds during brewing and when heating up. Does the machine stay on all day? When you turn it on, do you crack the steam knob slightly a few minutes after turning it on?
Smclaughlin Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Posts: 21 Location: United states tampa Fl Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Nuova simonelli... Roaster: Naviera coffee mills tampa...
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 6:31am Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
Yes I do crack the steam open after 10 of heating and the water issue is concerning since I dont know were its coming from ...you think it could be that its because I leave the water tank with water after I shut the machine off and the water is left to flow through
This morning I checked the counter and everything was dry but when I took the drip tray off the re was water in the side pockets that are hollow..
Anyway im gonna take the shell off today for more obsevation.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,323 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 11:37am Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
I am not sure what the hollows you are talking about, can you take a photo of the area you mean? The only thing in the drip tray I can think of is it could be the steam wand dripping. Put something under the steam wand and see if it catches any drips. Other than letting it get too full I can't think of what would cause water from the drip tray area.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
There are a finite number of places that your machine could be leaking. The easiest thing to do is, as you suggest, take off the outer casing, power it up and watch for leaks. It's that simple. Turn on the steam switch too as it will increase the static pressure in the boiler and pretty quickly show you any leaks. The usual places to look are the water supply line from the pump to the boiler (or PSTAT or wherever it goes on your machine), plus all boiler connections: steam valve, PSTAT/OPV, group head (between group head and boiler), 3-way solenoid. It's very common to have to replace seals on these machines. My Gaggia is built very well, with the exception of all the silly o-rings it uses in compression applications... they are guaranteed to fail at some point. Good luck.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 1:19pm Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
Helen, he means the little channels on the outer edges of the lower case when you take the drip tray off. There's a flat area where the drip tray sits, and then on either side there's those high walled grooves that are a total pain to clean out. It basically is where water settles if there's a general leak inside the case.
SMC, take off your top case and maybe snap some photos with your phone so we can get a better idea of what's going on.
Smclaughlin Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Posts: 21 Location: United states tampa Fl Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Nuova simonelli... Roaster: Naviera coffee mills tampa...
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 8:37pm Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
C:\Users\ajjohnso\Desktop\2013-02-04_20.47.02.jpg
the droplets are coming from this back right corner. im trying to upload pics but its kind of frustrating also i have been pressed for time,cracking the steam wand while observing will be agood idea . maybe im a expecting too much but the shots also seem alittle watery.
Smclaughlin Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Posts: 21 Location: United states tampa Fl Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Nuova simonelli... Roaster: Naviera coffee mills tampa...
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 8:58pm Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
hi markarian have you ever had any issues with seemingly watery espresso from the oscar. i just got the hario mini and still playing with the grind adjustments on one i choked the machine just to start from the beginning and on another it came out pretty good with nice crema. maybe i should tamp light with quite a fine a grind.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2013, 11:37pm Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
You're going to find you need to do a lot of experimentation with your grind and tamp in order to get it just right. And once you get it just right, your beans will suddenly be too old. It's a never-ending dance of finesse, fussing, and yelling other words that begin with the letter F. What kind of tamper are you using? Are you using the stock Nuova Simonelli baskets?
As to your photo I can't see a damn thing, unfortunately.
Smclaughlin Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Posts: 21 Location: United states tampa Fl Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Nuova simonelli... Roaster: Naviera coffee mills tampa...
Posted Wed Feb 6, 2013, 6:27am Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
Yes mark I have the stock oscar baskets should I get different ones? As far as the leak I was trying to show a picture of the back right corner which is droplets come out of.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,323 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Feb 6, 2013, 11:39am Subject: Re: Whats the easiest way to opv?
I hate the stock oscar baskets as soon as possible I got VST baskets. I have 3 and still need the 20 gram one. I have 2 extras I need to sell to pay for the 20 gram.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
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