Tell me about it! I was feeling so clever that I thought to buy a new sock, but Helen ended up getting the better one in the end ;-) . The day was full of pleasant surprises. The steam lever is crazy amazing, Frank. I can't believe what I've been missing.
Here's a weird issue I ran into today: after being idle for about 9 hours, my group head was cool enough to touch for several seconds. The shots ended up fairly normal after my routine, but I'm still puzzled by this. Now the group is once more too hot to touch. Is this normal?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,320 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 10:36am Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
I think a too cool head meant it needed a flush and most people should not be able to touch 200 metal in comfort. Yes, for a minute there I thought I was going to have to knit my boiler a sweater.... I had the yarn and needles in the car.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,320 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 11:01am Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
I just pulled the largest naked filter cone that I have ever done. It looked like the cones I have seen on lever espresso porn shots. I don't know if it was a fluke but it was really pretty and the coffee tastes great.
This pull I recorded was not as good as the one before it but you can see the short water dance and the large (for me) cone I got. Disregard the sprites at the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71JoPxbBtLA
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 1:41pm Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
Is there something wrong with the hydraulic diagram on the photobucket link? As far as I can see, the two way solenoid valve has been drawn on the pipe to fill the boiler only, and the one way valve in the thermosiphon loop is between the heat exchanger and the pump. At the moment, it looks like the pump can only fill the boiler.
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 Wed Feb 13, 2013, 1:59pm Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
Helen, now we can watch each other's videos because our machines are functionally identical. Wow that's a short flush! I just checked--that "2" mark on my handle carafe is actually four ounces! I've been flushing a cup the whole time up to now! *expletive deleted*
Well. So your shot looks gorgeous, but I gotta say it's a really fast pull (15s). If it tasted good, that's all that matters though. What beans were you using?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,320 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 2:04pm Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
I have never gotten cones that large before. I would love to know what we did that would have improved the cones that much...... hard for me to guess we did so much to the machine.
According to my timer it was 8 seconds short of my 27 sec target. So instead of 24 second the one before it was. (the one an hour before was 3 seconds short so I did not move the grinder)
I was flushing 4-6 oz before so I am not surprised at your 8 oz flush. You saw my water dance. I barely have enough to warm my cup now!
Blue jag from redbird. 18 g I aim for 25-27 second pull but the cone collapsed so I stopped it.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,320 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 2:06pm Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
That diagram is from NS I just added English words to it with help from Stephano's espresso repair of Eugene. He is Italian and repairs machines so I felt his translations would be more accurate than anyone else I would ask.
The "new insulation" shot shows the 2 way and where the hoses go from it. And a close up of the bottom of it right next to it. The drawing may be flawed.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
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 Wed Feb 13, 2013, 3:26pm Subject: Re: Presenting the Ultimate Oscar Video
Helen, I would LOVE a detailed explanation of the water dance. I'm still mystified by it. I had a really awful session this morning. I tried some fresh roasted beans I picked up from a new supplier and they just gushed all over the place, making a huge mess. I went back to my favorite Kona blend, which was fine yesterday and it made an even bigger mess, on the same grind setting, etc. I think the bad beans might have thrown off my grinder?
Each shot after that was messy and sloppy and weak. I tried flushing less, but the shots seem really hot. Is it too high of a temperature that causes coffee to shoot through the filter? On the bad Kona shot, you could literally see coffee sputtering and hissing against the bottom of the basket! Here's my routine:
1) Grind and Tamp 2) Chill and Fill my Milk Pitcher 3) Steam Milk 4) 2-4oz Flush 5) Pull the Shot, while trying to swirl the milk pitcher in the other hand 6) Pour latte
So am I doing things in a bad order here? I can never seem to understand in which order I should do stuff. I know steaming the milk before pulling the shot gives you a thicker crema to work with, but is it bad for shot quality?
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 