How will you know what you did to the temperature if blind. You can get an inexpensive digital Polder thermometer at BBB and remove the stainless probe and use the thermistor bead on the boiler and find a way to adjust using a guesstimated offset, or use the digital thermometer and styrofoam cup. The Polder shown is one that has an easily removable thermistor, and $8 - 10.
I used one here and spliced in more length, but you can use it as is, with the stainless probe, or remove it and place the thermistor where you want.
Posted Mon Oct 1, 2012, 12:46pm Subject: Re: I prefer my 15$ moka pot to my 400$ espresso machine (?)
Beans sounds like the biggest problem, followed by temperature. Generally, avoid anything called "Espresso Roast" since that's a pretty reliable indicator of badly roasted very dark beans. Most "Espresso Blends" from good roasters won't be nearly as dark as an "Espresso Roast". On the temperature issue, it's not always easy to tell the difference between too cold and too hot, particularly with bad beans, which is why it's important to try throughout the temperature surfing profile - try starting the same dose and blend just after ready light on, 30s after, 1 min after and as it goes out. (and maybe some more steps in between).
Dosing much more than 18g in the Gaggia basket will give problems with the grounds hitting the shower screen - check for clearance with the nickel test at high doses - a nickel on the surface of the coffee shouldn't be pressed in by the shower screen if you fit and remove the PF. Spritzer shots with the naked PF also suggest that the distribution and tamp isn't that reliable yet.
Posted Mon Oct 1, 2012, 6:24pm Subject: Re: I prefer my 15$ moka pot to my 400$ espresso machine (?)
dyqik Said:
On the temperature issue, it's not always easy to tell the difference between too cold and too hot, particularly with bad beans, which is why it's important to try throughout the temperature surfing profile - try starting the same dose and blend just after ready light on, 30s after, 1 min after and as it goes out. (and maybe some more steps in between).
Dosing much more than 18g in the Gaggia basket will give problems with the grounds hitting the shower screen - check for clearance with the nickel test at high doses - a nickel on the surface of the coffee shouldn't be pressed in by the shower screen if you fit and remove the PF. Spritzer shots with the naked PF also suggest that the distribution and tamp isn't that reliable yet.
Thanks for the Temperature time range. I wondered why I couldn't fit 21g into my double basket. I used a triple basket, which 21g almost filled. The greater mass seems to be helping. The triple basket makes it difficult for me to use the naked portafilter (squirting). At any rate, I now have excellent beans, will pick a mass and hold everything constant except time after the light.
-Brett
Making espresso is not rocket science. Rockets fail less often.
Hayes Valley: roasted 9/28. It is on the list of Geek-approved brands and smells great (not burned). Stored in ceramic carafe w/ silicon seal.
Some of Peets staff understand the importance of time and will tell you which days they get newly roasted beans. Generally, you can get them 2-4 days old if you time it.
-Brett
Making espresso is not rocket science. Rockets fail less often.
Some of Peets staff understand the importance of time and will tell you which days they get newly roasted beans. Generally, you can get them 2-4 days old if you time it.
Posted Tue Oct 2, 2012, 8:41am Subject: Re: I prefer my 15$ moka pot to my 400$ espresso machine (?)
130psi Said:
Thanks for the Temperature time range. I wondered why I couldn't fit 21g into my double basket. I used a triple basket, which 21g almost filled. The greater mass seems to be helping. The triple basket makes it difficult for me to use the naked portafilter (squirting). At any rate, I now have excellent beans, will pick a mass and hold everything constant except time after the light.
The squirting is the sign that distribution in the basket before tamping isn't good enough, or that the grind isn't uniform enough. You need to work on that aspect until you don't get squirting, and use those shots as a guide to the extraction time and grind fineness rather than any that squirt. The point of the naked PF is to allow you to see shots that squirt so you can try and improve the distribution.
Posted Tue Oct 2, 2012, 9:03am Subject: Re: I prefer my 15$ moka pot to my 400$ espresso machine (?)
dyqik Said:
The squirting is the sign that distribution in the basket before tamping isn't good enough, or that the grind isn't uniform enough. You need to work on that aspect until you don't get squirting, and use those shots as a guide to the extraction time and grind fineness rather than any that squirt. The point of the naked PF is to allow you to see shots that squirt so you can try and improve the distribution.
+1 on this. If you (the OP) are getting squirts with your naked PF, that would be a MAJOR reason your shots lack quality. It indicates a flaw in your technique, or a problem with your grinder, or both.
I'll go (with apologies) with the technical problem. First thing, SIMPLIFY. Grind in to the basket so there is a bit of overflow. Tap down lightly once. Try to simply distribute the coffee evenly, and for nor, if you have something with a perfectly straight edge, scrape lightly across the coffee bed/basket to level the coffee. Make sure your tamper is level, and lightly press down. Lift the tamper and clear any stray grind from the top rim and protrusions of your tamper. Then tamp level once more, this time with 20-30lbs of pressure. You should have at most 2-3 mm clearance beneath the rim of your basket. Now do your thing.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,720 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Tue Oct 2, 2012, 9:20am Subject: Re: I prefer my 15$ moka pot to my 400$ espresso machine (?)
If you're deadset on using Peet's coffee, they always ship within a couple of days from roasting on their home delivery orders. Otherwise, as has been said, it's hit or miss in their stores. however, as I said before, every coffee I've tried off the HB "list of our favorites" has been far superior to anything I've ever gotten from Peet's - for espresso.
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