emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,710 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 8:40am Subject: Re: Critique My Espresso Pull
calblacksmith Said:
I do not twist at all, at any time in my shot prep. I do however, level the grounds in the basket and I tend to do a slightly concave (lower in the center) "leveling" of the grounds in the basket.
I avoid anything that can possibly affect the puck after tamping, no tapping no twisting, nothing messes with the puck after it is compressed. This works well for me and like always, YMMV!
This is essentially what I do as well, but I've always aimed for "level", rather than trying to create a slight concavity. I do occasionally get donut shots (though not bad enough for the sink). After reading Mark Prince's article (link posted in another thread recently) about VST baskets, I think I am going to try the slight concavity approach (since I use LM Strada baskets).
However, I too would like to see Jon's proposed "how I do it" video.
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 9:23am Subject: Re: Critique My Espresso Pull
So in all fairness my tamper is a RB C-Flat so it puts a slight concave in the puck by default.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,710 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 9:56am Subject: Re: Critique My Espresso Pull
yeah, that raises another question though...if you distribute level then used a curved base to tamp, does it compress the center more, or drive grounds towards the perimeter, or both?
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 12:01pm Subject: Re: Critique My Espresso Pull
emradguy Said:
yeah, that raises another question though...if you distribute level then used a curved base to tamp, does it compress the center more, or drive grounds towards the perimeter, or both?
For my part it is exactly both - but you can have to much of a good thing hence my choice to go with a C-Flat vs a big convex.
IMO:
it gives you a nice flat puck for the majority of the service area in the basket.
the slightly relieved edges allow for just a small amount to "be driven" towards the parameter which seals the edge.
I can't offer an absolute, heck i can't even say if that is Reg's spiel but i can't even reember they last time I suspected I had an edge channeling issue. You would be hard pressed to get me to switch tamper bases or baskets at this point. I would like to try the shorty handle from RB, maybe for Christmas.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,710 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 1:02pm Subject: Re: Critique My Espresso Pull
yeah, I was using a c-flat as well, for a long time...and funny coincidence, I once wanted to try one of his short handles. I bought my father-in-law an anodized aluminum handle with a custom delron and a c-flat copper base for his b-day about a year and a half ago, and that was our "go to" until I got my own laser etched powder coat from Reg this past spring...but I got this one with a euro curve stainless base. well, long ago I was using a bubinga handle with a flat stainless base interchangeably with another that had a euro curve, but those both had the Rancilio delron, and well...I don't have a Silvia anymore, so I gifted one out to my best friend when he bought my first Silvia off me, and the other to my brother-in-law when I gave him my second Silvia. Maybe I'll order myself another c-flat base?
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 2:13pm Subject: Re: Critique My Espresso Pull
So i have a bubinga handle :) but since we don't totally drift away completely. I don't care for the c-flat in a regular basket which has a little taper to it. I think the taper in a standard basket and the c-flat do the same thing and together they are to much for me. I do prefer it with the straight walls of the VST.
Now that maybe that has no bases in fact or physics. VooDoo or science i am "digging what I am laying down" right now and don't want to change it.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
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