Brewboy19 Senior Member Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Krups Grinder: Black and decker lol Drip: Krups Roaster: Behmoar
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 12:47pm Subject: Espresso shot getting no crema
Hey total newb here. I got a Krups combo espresso coffe maker for Xmas as I was becoming more into coffee. Problem is I have found this machine is pretty much junk. The espresso always taste burnt and has no crema. I have been looking on the forums and reading all I could before asking but I'm getting a little confused and overwhelmed.
I have Starbucks espresso grounds. I bought them thinking they would be the right grind etc... But they seem way too coarse but again I'm not sure as I am a newb.
I know that no bagged coffee is going to be fresh now anyways, but I bought this before I knew anything about coffee.
I now have a behmoar roasting machine and plan to roast and grind my coffee.
I guess the question I have is what is causing the machine to have no crema? Is it the machine, the grind, or both?
Am I doing it wrong? When I watch videos etc... They fill the filter full, and my manual says that one filt basket makes 4 or 2 shots and has markings on the inside but on videos a full basket makes 1 shot or 2 at the most.
I'm guessing I need to ditch this piece of junk machine and spend on a real one.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,372 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 1:29pm Subject: Re: Espresso shot getting no crema
The Krups he is using could be steam machine. If you have a pump driven espresso machine you can get espresso, if it is a steam toy nothing you will do can make espresso. This is not your model but this is the same technology as the krups I am pretty sure you have. These people are trying to sell it and they can't make it make espresso. They call it "stove top"
Brewboy19 Senior Member Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Krups Grinder: Black and decker lol Drip: Krups Roaster: Behmoar
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 1:39pm Subject: Re: Espresso shot getting no crema
I think it is steam. You put the water in the top screw on the cap and it builds up pressure then comes through the grounds. This would explain why when I tried to time my shots they were so far off lol. I wish I had found this forum sooner.. Thanks for the advice.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,372 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 2:39pm Subject: Re: Espresso shot getting no crema
Welcome to the steam toy club. Look at the video to be sure but from what you said you have a steam toy. I still have my $20 steam toy, I bought a $14 tamper for it and $200 grinder. I even spent $7 to replace the missing frother to see if that would help the steaming. I use the tamper for smashing garlic, it would have cost too much to ship back to get my money back. (I would have gotten back about half so I kept it.)
If I had seen that video first I would not have spent the money on it and saved myself ~$300 that I could have put towards what I ended up buying after.
Anyway, if you just want to start down this rabbit hole, get yourself a good grinder (they start at about 350) and then check craigslist for old starbucks and other pump driven machines people have for sale cheap (like under 100) Some times you can get insane deals like used commercial grinders for $75 etc but I can't ever seem to find those deals. And for goodness sake get some better and fresher beans.
And have fun. Good luck.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Brewboy19 Senior Member Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Krups Grinder: Black and decker lol Drip: Krups Roaster: Behmoar
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 5:16pm Subject: Re: Espresso shot getting no crema
That's the same machine just add the regular drip coffee pot next too it. Very sad for me. Taste bad, looks bad. The drip side doesn't taste very good either. I got better results with a cheap single cup drip machine.
Thanks again.
Definitely going to buy a real espresso machine now.
Brewboy19 Senior Member Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Krups Grinder: Black and decker lol Drip: Krups Roaster: Behmoar
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 6:28pm Subject: Re: Espresso shot getting no crema
I don't want to spend more than I have too. I'm just getting into this and I don't want to (not that I think I will) end up buying something that I end up just using as a paperweight.
As far as grinders I want to go with a hand grinder if possible, I like the idea of hands on and hand ground. I'm sort of an old school classic kinda guy.
I've been looking at some old zass. Hand grinders but I was worried and didn't know for that matter if they were capable of grinding that fine of a grind for espresso.
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 7:52pm Subject: Re: Espresso shot getting no crema
HAND GRINDER: Orphan Espresso Pharos Does it HAVE to be espresso? - NO = Espro Press - YES ESPRESSO ONLY: Mypressi Twist maybe? TRADITIONAL ESPRESSO MACHINE: Check into Gaggia machines Or, to go the entire "hands-on" route, check into lever machines
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