(GPGT)Espresso machine hoot

[derazor]

I also want to know....

@derazor
Your friend who sold you the Silvia did he do any descaling b4?

Got because he got descaling powder, he will pass me next week

 

[kenshinz]

If in SG and using filtered water, how long before you need to descale?
Say you pull once a day during weekdays and twice during weekends.

Meaning : 10 shots per week. 40 shots a month

Can check out this silivia descaling guide from Seattle Coffee Gear:

Videos | Maintenance - Rancilio Silvia | Seattle Coffee Gear

SCG recommends every 1-3 months depending on water hardness. Some sites I read recommend every 300 cups or so (not machine specific), which in your case could be as about every 6 months (about 240 cups). Anyway I believe Singapore water is considered to be softer than US? So a good gauge would probably be in the 3-6 months region.

 

[calbay]

For Singapore, the water is soft.
Once every 500 cups or once a year, whichever first.

Unless you are using mineral water.

What's more important is to reduce the coffee oil and build ups here. Thus it's important to flush first before you switch your machine off.

 

[patryn33]

USA depends from places. I descale like every 6 mths here in the states and I drink in avg 14 cups a week. Oh I also filter my water

 

[chikyblink]

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Thanks for sharing. I agree about taking notes when doing tasting. I do that for whisky tastings as well. Good to keep a tasting/nosing note book to compare past tastings when revisiting the same coffee and to see how ones palate develops in time.

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

The Hg One is here!

[URL=http://imgur.com/ead3EnA] [/URL]

Laser etched markings

[/IMG]

With portafilter holder

[/IMG]

1st few shots were awful even after dialing in. Massive channeling despite all the distribution done.

So I seasoned the burrs with 500g of cheap coffee and wala! the pours seen from the bottomless portafilter flowed perfectly! I didn't believe in seasoning but its really necessary for this grinder.

My poor broken plastic v60 lifespan extended with superglue but due for retirement tomorrow. sob sob...

[/IMG]

 

[tHeGeNeZ]

The Hg One is here!

[URL=http://imgur.com/ead3EnA] [/URL]

Laser etched markings

[/IMG]

With portafilter holder

[/IMG]

1st few shots were awful even after dialing in. Massive channeling despite all the distribution done.

So I seasoned the burrs with 500g of cheap coffee and wala! the pours seen from the bottomless portafilter flowed perfectly! I didn't believe in seasoning but its really necessary for this grinder.

My poor broken plastic v60 lifespan extended with superglue but due for retirement tomorrow. sob sob...

[/IMG]

Hey Lazy Tiger!

I have been contemplating on getting a set of HG One for awhile now, may i know which set of burrs did you get?

I am considering on getting the Mazzer with TiN coating after combing through many discussion posts on many coffee forums

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Hey Lazy Tiger!

I have been contemplating on getting a set of HG One for awhile now, may i know which set of burrs did you get?

I am considering on getting the Mazzer with TiN coating after combing through many discussion posts on many coffee forums

i got the aftermarket TiN one based on the comparison on HG one website. I think its from some other italian burr maker. But i think if wanna be safe then just get the mazzer one...good reputation.

THe grinder after seasoning is fantastic. I just need to redistribute the grounds in the filter basket with finger (because the grounds are very fluffy) and tamp. No need for WDT or stirring etc. The beading and pours on from a bottomless comes perfectly.

Tastewise I can't tell any difference between the flat burr compak k3 and this.

No grind retention too. so my workflow is very simple now.

actually i dismantled the whole thing just for fun and its seems very well made. easy to do repairs. just need to be careful when realighting the burr sets after dismantling.

 

[chikyblink]

Congrats!
Did you grind as fast as you can or as slow as you can?
Any static problems?

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Congrats!
Did you grind as fast as you can or as slow as you can?
Any static problems?

i grind slowly. The resistance is more after seasoning but less turns needed. THere is definately some static with the funnel. After grinding i just unmount the funnel and tap to to the blind tumbler to dislodge the grounds.

I don't grind straight because the grind is very fluffy and will create a big mountain in the filter basket. THe blind tumbler works very well.


Now I'm left with 3 x 500gms bags of giant brand coffee. Dunno what to do with it. May i try seasoning it more this weekend but unlikely i'll see a difference.

Very happy with the results now after seasoning.

 

[derazor]

500gm to season it ?

 

[flameignite]

i grind slowly. The resistance is more after seasoning but less turns needed. THere is definately some static with the funnel. After grinding i just unmount the funnel and tap to to the blind tumbler to dislodge the grounds.

I don't grind straight because the grind is very fluffy and will create a big mountain in the filter basket. THe blind tumbler works very well.


Now I'm left with 3 x 500gms bags of giant brand coffee. Dunno what to do with it. May i try seasoning it more this weekend but unlikely i'll see a difference.

Very happy with the results now after seasoning.

Definitely a worthwhile purchase. More fluffy and even grinds.

Now I just need to upgrade my machine.
I am still torn between a rocket R58/ vbm /
ECM Heidelberg Technika IV Profi WT-WC Espresso Machine Stainless Steel

So bending towards ECM Heidelberg Technika IV Profi WT-WC Espresso Machine Stainless Steel. Anyone use this before?

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

500gm to season it ?

Yep 500 gm and about another 100gm when I was doing the first several or so test shots.

Really a big improvement to the pours and channeling. I thought I bought a lemon when I did the first few shots.

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Definitely a worthwhile purchase. More fluffy and even grinds.

Now I just need to upgrade my machine.
I am still torn between a rocket R58/ vbm /
ECM Heidelberg Technika IV Profi WT-WC Espresso Machine Stainless Steel

So bending towards ECM Heidelberg Technika IV Profi WT-WC Espresso Machine Stainless Steel. Anyone use this before?

Why not an expobar brewtus too? Not much choice here in sg.

ECM would be very similar too but I think warranty support is important.

 

[chikyblink]

i grind slowly. The resistance is more after seasoning but less turns needed. THere is definately some static with the funnel. After grinding i just unmount the funnel and tap to to the blind tumbler to dislodge the grounds.

I don't grind straight because the grind is very fluffy and will create a big mountain in the filter basket. THe blind tumbler works very well.


Now I'm left with 3 x 500gms bags of giant brand coffee. Dunno what to do with it. May i try seasoning it more this weekend but unlikely i'll see a difference.

Very happy with the results now after seasoning.

After transferring the grounds to your portafilter, you just use your fingers to distribute then nutating tamp right? No WDT needed?
I find if I don't WDT, confirm channelling.

 

[flameignite]

Why not an expobar brewtus too? Not much choice here in sg.

ECM would be very similar too but I think warranty support is important.

True on the limited choice.
Was thinking of bringing in la spaziale S1 Mini Vivaldi, but gave up.

The choices are distributed in singapore, which is why I limit the choices to these machine.but Juz hoping there is an ECM user here to share their thoughts

 

[calbay]

True on the limited choice.
Was thinking of bringing in la spaziale S1 Mini Vivaldi, but gave up.

The choices are distributed in singapore, which is why I limit the choices to these machine.but Juz hoping there is an ECM user here to share their thoughts

It was exposed that ECM DE machines were actually manufactured by Bezzera ( http://www.bezzera.it/ )
The designs and internal structure are entirely the same with the same spare part lists.
The partnership may had ended, but the architecture is still fundamentally from Bezzera. Particularly their best selling line Technika and Mechanika.

I will rather get Bezzera straight since it's available with local support here. ( Fine Coffee Company | Bringing the best since 2007 (Malaysia/Singapore) )

Since you like ECM Technika

Consider Bezzera Mitica

ECM DE is not considered a long established company, i think just 10 years, and it started out mostly on re-badging from other brands.
Bezzera is 100 over years and yet cost cheaper, so it's a no brainer thing.

Else like Lazy Tiger mentioned.
Expobar Brewtus will work too, if you want a double boiler.
The heat exchanger version is just S$1xxx and it performs as well.

You can buy almost 2 Brewtus HX with one ECM.DE which does the same thing.

I see more Germans owning Bezzera, Quickmill, or Brewtus than ECM. In the first place, the original ECM Italy company wasn't doing good and had gone backrupt, now taken over by La Pavoni iirc.


Edited:

http://www.home-barista.com/espress...nika-made-in-heidelberg-germany-t6538-10.html

Baut Ecm noch unter anderem Namen? Lieber Ecm, Bezzera oder doch was anderes? - Seite 3

Manufaktur ECM in Mailand, Italien-Besuchsbericht

More information can be found from the Germans

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

After transferring the grounds to your portafilter, you just use your fingers to distribute then nutating tamp right? No WDT needed?
I find if I don't WDT, confirm channelling.

No WDT needed so far. Finger distribute because the centre is higher. Then straight down tamp. The pour is even and the taste is good. No harsh bitterness that comes with channeling.

But then again it could be the beans I'm using. Could be some beans are more prone to channeling. The squaremile beans especially will swell up considerably during extraction and the pours are very even. I'm currently using nylon.

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

True on the limited choice.
Was thinking of bringing in la spaziale S1 Mini Vivaldi, but gave up.

The choices are distributed in singapore, which is why I limit the choices to these machine.but Juz hoping there is an ECM user here to share their thoughts

The mini Vivaldi looks interesting. At least it's not another e-61 clone. Singapore has no breville. Seems good value for money too.