(GPGT)Espresso machine hoot

[Lazy_Tiger]

Steaming? Is it impt if i dun froth milk? I drink black

if you drink black then good for you, requirements are simpler. you may be very happy with a single boiler system. but i think its still good to have a pid installed to maintain a stable temps so that your shots are consistent and you don't have to temperature surf and all that nonsense. a hx actually makes temp control more tricky, you need to flush water out of your hx and temp is controlled by how much you flush before pulling the shot. problem is single boiler pid machines are rare here. small market. silvia with aftermarket pids are one option. crossland cc1 is using a pid too. i would have bought a single boiler pid with preinfusion if there was one available in the market. instead i had no choice and bought a double boiler with pid.

or.... you could go totally old school and use an manual lever with an open boiler system. strietman es3 is a great example of this. Temp control is not using a pid but results are highly repeatable due to using an open boiler system. open boiler system cannot steam but temps are more stable that non-pid closed boilers and its easier to get shot to shot consistency. arrarex caravel is another option but only available in the 2nd hand market.


yes the thermoblocks i used is not good with steaming.

how do thermoblocks produce steam? the thermoblock is heated to a temp above the normal brewing temp. the pump will pulse drops of water to the superheated thermoblock to produce the steam. you will hear a "tock" "tock" sound as the pump pulses water on the thermoblock. this is unlike a boiler system which users the pressurised hot air in the partially filled boiler to give dry steam. the crossland cc uses a hybrid of a boiler and a thermoblock to produce the steam. only the boiler is used for for brewing coffee.

 

[Rprime]

I went for a double boiler with PID too. Dedicated coffee boiler also helps when you are tweaking temperature esp for those who like brighter coffees like me. HX temperature tweaks will affect the boiler psi which in turns affects steaming performance.

try to get something that will serve you in the long run, I went cheap with a saeco long time ago before getting a Jura automatic and finally realising there is no short cut if you want performance especially in both steaming and brewing. Don't know why I got the Jura instead of the Silvia then lol.. Recently I recommended my friend on the Silvia to prevent the same mistake as I did.
Thermoblock needs auto frother typically. I tried modifying my Jura for single hole. It's just not powerful enough

 

[patryn33]

no pcbs for manual levers. fuses, switches and light bulbs. just unplug and replace.. wala

Sounds so easy, but my mechanical atmos cannot find qualified ppl to fix. PC electronic change broken hdd, etc just unplug and replace. Hehehe...

It's really about design for ease of repairs

 

[Corsabrin]

if you drink black then good for you, requirements are simpler. you may be very happy with a single boiler system. but i think its still good to have a pid installed to maintain a stable temps so that your shots are consistent and you don't have to temperature surf and all that nonsense. a hx actually makes temp control more tricky, you need to flush water out of your hx and temp is controlled by how much you flush before pulling the shot. problem is single boiler pid machines are rare here. small market. silvia with aftermarket pids are one option. crossland cc1 is using a pid too. i would have bought a single boiler pid with preinfusion if there was one available in the market. instead i had no choice and bought a double boiler with pid.

or.... you could go totally old school and use an manual lever with an open boiler system. strietman es3 is a great example of this. Temp control is not using a pid but results are highly repeatable due to using an open boiler system. open boiler system cannot steam but temps are more stable that non-pid closed boilers and its easier to get shot to shot consistency. arrarex caravel is another option but only available in the 2nd hand market.


yes the thermoblocks i used is not good with steaming.

how do thermoblocks produce steam? the thermoblock is heated to a temp above the normal brewing temp. the pump will pulse drops of water to the superheated thermoblock to produce the steam. you will hear a "tock" "tock" sound as the pump pulses water on the thermoblock. this is unlike a boiler system which users the pressurised hot air in the partially filled boiler to give dry steam. the crossland cc uses a hybrid of a boiler and a thermoblock to produce the steam. only the boiler is used for for brewing coffee.

thanks mr Tiger. that was insightful ! especially regarding the thermoblock

 

[IntelFlash]

No one really service a electronic part, cheaper to buy that pcb and replace

Electronics are probably just plug and go, so should be easy.

But i read before that there should be an heating element, thermostat and pressure regulators in the boiler and regulating valves in any espresso machine that maybe more challenging to replace for the average guys.

IMO it's better to let service centers do it.

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Sounds so easy, but my mechanical atmos cannot find qualified ppl to fix. PC electronic change broken hdd, etc just unplug and replace. Hehehe...

It's really about design for ease of repairs

haha you are right. the atmos is a work of art, not easy to service something to delicate and complex.

 

[broadica]

Buying from Elektros

hi everyone.

anyone have experience buying espresso machine from elektros.it website and ship to SG?
like to know if its reliable... would it be sound buying a e61 machine there rather than one locally? main objective is savings.

 

[testerjp]

You need long term technical support in Singapore.

You buy cheap, you sell also cheap in future when people know it's an overseas set.

 

[darford87]

Hi guys. Im looking at the Breville BES870XL. Look good with in built grinder but its not available in singapore. Any idea if buying on amazon via vpost is reliable or recommended?

 

[wusong0901]

Buying US appliances from Amazon, pls bear in mind they are 110v. You will need a converter to use in Singapore. For a 1200w espresso machine, the converter will definitely not cheap (several hundreds bucks).
Why dont you buy from AU where the Breville coming from? I remember seeing a group buy for this model before, just cant recall where I saw it haha

 

[wusong0901]

Suggest that you stick to the reliable, durable and easy (HX) heat exchanger semi professional class machines.
Even if it blows your budget.

PID can help in consistency and let you have a little control but that does not mean it will give you a better espresso.
HX machines seems to make a more lively and brighter espresso due to its inherent behavior.
...

Thanks for the very comprehensive answer.
I am in the market for a HX right now, preferably an used one as it fits my budget better. And as you said, a pro-consumer HX machine will not break down easily, so I guess buying a 2-3 years used machine wouldnt be too risky

 

[tyrtok]

got myself a Sanremo Treviso LX. glad to join the club!

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

got myself a Sanremo Treviso LX. glad to join the club!

COngrats on your new machine! This is the first time i've heard of this brand and it seems not bad! Where did you buy it from? Seems to be a hx machine?

 

[tyrtok]

COngrats on your new machine! This is the first time i've heard of this brand and it seems not bad! Where did you buy it from? Seems to be a hx machine?

yep it is a HX machine. got it used locally.
pretty new user to this. waiting for my tamper to arrive to test the shot.

 

[testerjp]

Think the demand for used semi professional machines remain very high

 

[Rprime]

Indeed, spending multiple thousands on espresso machine + grinder was unfathomable a few years ago for me haha

 

[patryn33]

yep it is a HX machine. got it used locally.
pretty new user to this. waiting for my tamper to arrive to test the shot.

Good find! Congrats!
New ones cost like Aud$2700! Expensive little thing

 

[tyrtok]

Good find! Congrats!
New ones cost like Aud$2700! Expensive little thing

indeed. my deal is really good since it includes a grinder as well.
still waiting for my tamper before i can pull a nice shot.

question: how fine is an espresso grind?

 

[patryn33]

indeed. my deal is really good since it includes a grinder as well.
still waiting for my tamper before i can pull a nice shot.

question: how fine is an espresso grind?

google can tell U alot on size, but the right grind size changes over time.
U will pulling alot of shot to find the right grind size.

 

[Rprime]

indeed. my deal is really good since it includes a grinder as well.
still waiting for my tamper before i can pull a nice shot.

question: how fine is an espresso grind?

as it would be hard to tell from internet pictures.. id like to say the following:
as a general rule, grind from course setting and slowly move towards fine setting until the grounds starts to clump - it would be about right at that setting.
just adjust accordingly from there to get your timing.