[GPGT] Making Coffee with the SMEG Bean-To-Coffee Automatic Coffee Machine BCC12 – My Short Review

[Apparatus]

Drinking my self-brewed coffee and eating my self-baked bread

 

[menthol28]

But I already set to the 2nd last fine setting. OK I'll try setting to the last setting the next time when making an expresso and see how

If your coffee tastes watery, sour, or weak, it's likely because the coffee grounds are too coarse. This means the water is passing through the grounds too quickly, not extracting enough flavor. To fix this, you should grind your coffee finer.
Here's why a coarse grind leads to a weak brew:
Reduced Flavor Extraction:
Coarse grounds have less surface area for water to interact with, resulting in less flavor extraction.
Faster Flow Rate:
Water moves through coarse grounds quickly, not allowing for proper extraction of the coffee's flavors.
Under-Extraction:
The coffee is not fully extracted, leading to a weak, sour, and watery taste.
How to fix it:
Adjust Grind Size: Use a burr grinder to achieve a finer, more uniform grind.
Try Different Brewing Methods: Some brewing methods (like French press) are designed for coarser grinds, while others (like espresso) require finer grinds.

 

[menthol28]

This machine need to experiment to find sweet spot … too fine the ground coffee scatter all over the place instead of going into the brewgroup … too coarse you get wet puck.

Unfortunately it seems different brand different roast also got different sweet spot … Starbucks beans I set to finest I don’t have any problems, this batch of Zero beans I never change the settings but I open up the side door see inside, my ground coffee all over the place.

Different beans will need different grind setting, best is to test or feel the coffee powder with new brand of beans

 

[Apparatus]

If your coffee tastes watery, sour, or weak, it's likely because the coffee grounds are too coarse. This means the water is passing through the grounds too quickly, not extracting enough flavor. To fix this, you should grind your coffee finer.
Here's why a coarse grind leads to a weak brew:
Reduced Flavor Extraction:
Coarse grounds have less surface area for water to interact with, resulting in less flavor extraction.
Faster Flow Rate:
Water moves through coarse grounds quickly, not allowing for proper extraction of the coffee's flavors.
Under-Extraction:
The coffee is not fully extracted, leading to a weak, sour, and watery taste.
How to fix it:
Adjust Grind Size: Use a burr grinder to achieve a finer, more uniform grind.
Try Different Brewing Methods: Some brewing methods (like French press) are designed for coarser grinds, while others (like espresso) require finer grinds.

I have set to the 2nd last fine setting using the built-in grinder. My SMEG coffee machine is basically an expresso machine. I'm using medium roast low-acid beans. Maybe that accounts for it

 

[Apparatus]

Different beans will need different grind setting, best is to test or feel the coffee powder with new brand of beans

My beans just arrived today from iHerb. I think it came from Korea

 

[trenzterra]

I guess a full automatic is easier to use... but can dial more stuff in using a dedica + bottomless porta or a bambino plus, paired with df54 or df64 grinder imo

 

[elimmel]

all these recent coffee machine threads make me itchy to get a breville oracle jet...
currently using a nespresso lattissima touch... hai... the urge...

 

[menthol28]

I have set to the 2nd last fine setting using the built-in grinder. My SMEG coffee machine is basically an expresso machine

Usually such burr grinders aren't really that fine, I've used breville built in grinder, delonghi espresso grinder but their finest really world apart from those 64mm flat burr grinders

 

[menthol28]

all these recent coffee machine threads make me itchy to get a breville oracle jet...
currently using a nespresso lattissima touch... hai... the urge...

I did the jump from Nespresso to 1 yr plus ago, getting better quality espresso and having more fun learning about grinders and etc but pocket also burn a hole

 

[Apparatus]

Usually such burr grinders aren't really that fine, I've used breville built in grinder, delonghi espresso grinder but their finest really world apart from those 64mm flat burr grinders

I'll try to use the finest setting the next time when I make an expresso. I believe my medium roast acid-free beans affects the flavor

 

[testerjp]

all these recent coffee machine threads make me itchy to get a breville oracle jet...
currently using a nespresso lattissima touch... hai... the urge...

Your Nespresso only gives you 5g of coffee, $1.

I make one using double shot use 18g. 40c.

Very easy one, maid my 90 yo, 9 yo also can do it. And I'm talking about those professional ones, not all in one.

 

[testerjp]

I'll try to use the finest setting the next time when I make an expresso. I believe my medium roast acid-free beans affects the flavor

All in one are not designed to run too fine, it has no exhaust for over pressure

Even at it is at at finest, it is still be very coarse by professional standard.

If I'm you, I will pack the maximum dose and finest setting.

 

[elimmel]

Your Nespresso only gives you 5g of coffee, $1.

I make one using double shot use 18g. 40c.

Very easy one, maid my 90 yo, 9 yo also can do it. And I'm talking about those professional ones, not all in one.

you guys driving me towards the dark..er side....

 

[testerjp]

Sibeh kan chiong. Making my 1st cup of one-shot espresso




Taste not sour nor bitter. Maybe because of the coffee beans

Now no need to go SB or other coffee outlets to drink liao. Coffee shop also no need to go ah. Imagine the money I can save.

It's not sour because you under extract.
Look at that shot, it looks like almost 80ml.
The astringent from the overextraction bury everything. It should still taste better than a Nespresso though.

For double, I at max 50ml, normally 30 to 40ml depending on roast level.

 

[Apparatus]

It's not sour because you under extract.
Look at that shot, it looks like almost 80ml.
The astringent from the overextraction bury everything. It should still taste better than a Nespresso though.

For double, I at max 50ml, normally 30 to 40ml depending on roast level.

No. I measure and its 30ml. The cup is small that's why you see it looks like 80ml

 

[testerjp]

you guys driving me towards the dark..er side....

Better switch.

Nespresso is using pressurised hot water in a lacquered aluminium capsule. Coffee is acidic.

Alot of aluminum and micro plastic likely leach out in that corrosive environment.

 

[menthol28]

I'll try to use the finest setting the next time when I make an expresso. I believe my medium roast acid-free beans affects the flavor

It's definitely not the beans, only when I got a 64mm flat burr then I found out that the size of the grinding can affect a lot in the taste of the same batch of coffee beans, it's really a world of difference. Previously when I was just using normal grinders set to the finest, coffee was with creama, slightly sour and bitter typical dark roast taste. Aft using better grinder, same beans now got fruity taste and almost not sour and the bitter got more dimension

 

[testerjp]

No. I measure and its 30ml. The cup is small that's why you see it looks like 80ml

I find it hard to believe, I have a similar espresso cup. Unless you poured the espresso into water.

The second pic, you can see the crema already blonded.

 

[Apparatus]

It's definitely not the beans, only when I got a 64mm flat burr then I found out that the size of the grinding can affect a lot in the taste of the same batch of coffee beans, it's really a world of difference. Previously when I was just using normal grinders set to the finest, coffee was with creama, slightly sour and bitter typical dark roast taste. Aft using better grinder, same beans now got fruity taste and almost not sour and the bitter got more dimension

The SMEG machine cannot use ground only whole beans

 

[menthol28]

The SMEG machine cannot use ground only whole beans

Oh yah... Forgotten you got the semi auto, but for $1000 I rather get a breville