peteinthelight Senior Member Joined: 4 Aug 2012 Posts: 7 Location: Newcastle Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Aug 5, 2012, 12:03am Subject: Sunbeam cafe series, getting the right espresso
Hey all,
I'm using a friend's home unit, a Sunbeam cafe series, and I'm just starting out baristing. If you have the patience to read and respond, God bless.
I've been reading up on what to look for in general for a good espresso pour.. grind density, tamper pressure, time to pour and machine pressure reading (ultimately a good crema). I've read between 20 and 30 seconds is a good pour time, which I achieve with about the 6 setting on my sunbeam grinder (ranges 1 to 24). However, with a decent tamping the pressure is hitting the danger zone, I can lower the tamp pressure but the puck seems too loose. If I up the grind to around 8 with a decent tamp the pressure reading's fine but it comes through in about 15 seconds. The crema doesn't seem to differ too much.
Just wondering if anyone has some advice on what to look for. Thanks ;)
FrankyD Senior Member Joined: 27 Jul 2012 Posts: 58 Location: Davis, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Starbucks Barista Grinder: Baratza Preciso/Kyocera... Drip: Bodum French Press Roaster: WB Poppery I
Posted Sun Aug 5, 2012, 4:59pm Subject: Re: Sunbeam cafe series, getting the right espresso
The one flaw I see with the gauge is (if talking about the EM7000), it doesn't exactly tell you anything descriptive. What's the "danger zone" calibrated at?
It looks like a good product, though.
I tamp to about 30lbs of force, or a little less than 14kg. The one thing you should do that I've done in the past is keep certain variables constant, ie change the grind type, keep constant tamp force, etc.
With the grind that I have set right now, it pours espresso in about 25-27 seconds, at 30lbs of tamp. At 40lbs it chokes the machine.
peteinthelight Senior Member Joined: 4 Aug 2012 Posts: 7 Location: Newcastle Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Aug 5, 2012, 9:58pm Subject: Re: Sunbeam cafe series, getting the right espresso
I think the grinder is a Sunbeam EMO450, and the machine Sunbeam Cafe Series 6910.. unable to find what the danger zone is calibrated at. I think I may just have to ease off on my tamping a little.. still going past the "optimum" pressure zone but results seem to be acceptable.
FrankyD Senior Member Joined: 27 Jul 2012 Posts: 58 Location: Davis, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Starbucks Barista Grinder: Baratza Preciso/Kyocera... Drip: Bodum French Press Roaster: WB Poppery I
Posted Sun Aug 5, 2012, 10:09pm Subject: Re: Sunbeam cafe series, getting the right espresso
Yeah, if it works for you, I'd probably tamp a little less if you've got the right grind size, or if you can, try 1 step finer, lighter tamp. I've had acceptable espresso at around the 20-25s range.
Most importantly, if it tastes fine for you, just stick with it, in my opinion. Don't worry too much about the logistics and the need to hit the right mark.
Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012, 6:05am Subject: Re: Sunbeam cafe series, getting the right espresso
1 - ignore the pressure gauge. 2 - pay attention to the taste of the coffee 3 - ignore tamping pressure. Just smash the coffee hard. Anything from 12kg to 25kg should yield about the same results, unless you have other problems going on. 4 - On my website www.EspressoMyEspresso.com, check out this article: 12 - EASY GUIDE TO BETTER ESPRESSO AT HOME
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