Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

right, its getting time to mod the Gaggia :D

Whose got a PID fitted? Any recommendations? - i'm tempted to go all out and get the Auber kit with pre-infusion....

Should also try the OPV mod to reduce the pressure when I have a moment

"You first have to identify the OPV which is attached to the inlet of the boiler. The pump feeds directly into it. There is a pipe that comes off the top and feeds back into the reservoir. That return pipe (silicone rubber) is attached to a hexagonal nut that you must remove to reveal the OPV adjustment. Then you'll need an allen key (either 3 or 4 mm) to adjust the OPV setting. I used a 270 degree turn anti-clockwise. That lessens the spring tension. I didn't have a pressure gauge at the time, so I used a blind filter basket and calibrated the OPV setting using the return flow rate when the pump is on. It should be about 100 ml in 30 sec. You can check the ULKA site for their pump specs, the flow rate vs pressure curves are there. After you get it about right, you can tweak it until you get what you want."
 
Siliconslave said:
I hate to sound like a fanboy but honestly try Squaremiles RedBrick as well...
Click to expand...

I bought some of the RedBrick to try and so far I haven't been able to get it quite right. I think my grind is ok and I am using 14-16g then getting 2oz shot in around 25secs but all my shots so far are a bit sour.

Any tips or advice for sour shots?

Thanks.
 
paul_31 said:
I bought some of the RedBrick to try and so far I haven't been able to get it quite right. I think my grind is ok and I am using 14-16g then getting 2oz shot in around 25secs but all my shots so far are a bit sour.

Any tips or advice for sour shots?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I've only got an Aeropress but I've found that Red Brick doesn't do "strong" very well so I reverted to the standard 150ml water (topped up with another 150ml in the cup), 20g beans and 1 minute brew time. It makes a nice cup this way. How this translates to a proper expresso machine I don't know!
 
Hi,

I sell coffee machines / grinders / products etc. and am able to give some sound advice in terms of brands and products.

Two makes which are commonly overlooked in the United Kingdom are La Pavoni and Ascaso. The former of which has a beautiful hand-lever system espresso machine, which is more or less unbreakable since it only has a few moving parts.
 
Got some vouchers from work as a thank you for doing a ridiculous amount of hours yesterday so did the only logical thing and bought myself a Gaggia Classic.

Grinder wise I only have a porlex grinder, which is set fairly fine for my Chemex. I am guessing this needs to be tightened a bit more for espresso but is it a case of as tight as it goes or still a few turns out? I know it's a bit trial and error but any pointers much appreciated.

I have never done proper espresso before (always used pre-ground in the old machine I had a few years back) so thinking I might try some of the has bean blends to start with. Any recommendations?
 
ive been playing with my porlex grinder and for espresso i tighten it up as much as it will go and then 3 clicks makes it perfect for my machine and is as damn close to the same size grind as pre ground beans as i reckon u can get someine might come along and say different but as tight as it will go clogs my machine 2 clicks it drips out
 
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Landy said:
ive been playing with my porlex grinder and for espresso i tighten it up as much as it will go and then 3 clicks makes it perfect for my machine and is as damn close to the same size grind as pre ground beans as i reckon u can get someine might come along and say different but as tight as it will go clogs my machine 2 clicks it drips out
Click to expand...

Cheers, will give that a go.
 
Siliconslave said:
right, its getting time to mod the Gaggia :D

Whose got a PID fitted? Any recommendations? - i'm tempted to go all out and get the Auber kit with pre-infusion....

Should also try the OPV mod to reduce the pressure when I have a moment
Click to expand...

Yes, I've had an Auber PID fitted for several years now. Works great, very nice to be able to adjust the brew temp with the press of a button. Pretty easy to fit, works perfectly.

Also adjusted the OPV using the water debit method - is this what you mean by a mod?
 
With the Porlex, if you tighten it to the max then you're looking at more of a Turkish grind rather than an Espresso one, and as Landy pointed out, that will choke the machine. The Porlex grinder in incredible. It grinds as well as my £240 Rocky to be honest, albeit a great deal more effort is required :p .

I have not ground for Espresso for a while but the 2 clicks Landy suggested sounds like a great starting point :)
 
mnemonix said:
Yes, I've had an Auber PID fitted for several years now. Works great, very nice to be able to adjust the brew temp with the press of a button. Pretty easy to fit, works perfectly.

Also adjusted the OPV using the water debit method - is this what you mean by a mod?
Click to expand...

I've ordered a Auber PID from the US so will see how it goes, it does look relatively easy to fit and will adjust the OPV at the same time - can't wait to get it now :)
 
Cool. It's a bit fiddly but just follow the instructions.

Fitting the PID and adjusting the OPV made a big difference to the consistency of my espresso production and also enables you to tune out problems like sourness or bitterness with a quick temperature change. There are limits, you can see how the boiler temp drops during the course of a shot, but the thermal mass of the grouphead minimises the effect of this at the coffee. I didn't bother with preinfusion so I'll be interested to hear how that works for you, but the Gaggia has its limits and beyond this I'd be looking at a new machine like a NS Oscar or La Spaziale Vivaldi (not a fan of the shiny chrome E61 machines myself).
 
OPV is well worth doing. Not complicated at all either. Seem to recall that it took about 15 minutes to do all in. Was definitely easier to do when the machine was hot too, but watch for the hot bits. ;)

I was going to do the portafilter pressure guage mod, but I couldn't be bothered in the end. I'll probably get the bits and do it one day to see how far out I am. :D
 
Just reading through the thread. Visited Hasbean and bought porlex grinder, scales, Aeropress and two types of bean. The Jailbreak and Breakfast Bomb espresso blends.
I have just been using a french press with ground coffee from sainsbury's that I have been keeping in the freezer.
So I hope I will be suitably impressed.
 
dpbadger, no need to keep Coffee in the fridge/freezer, it does nothing for it :)

Try the jailbreak first (it's good for filter methods too i.e. your Aeropress). I'm not a fan of Breakfast Bomb myself, so don't judge Hasbean's Coffee on the strength of that alone :)

Try the Hasbean Aeropress inverted method if you haven't already.
 
Good stuff :) . The best Coffee I have had has been from an Aeropress and a Clever Brewer. Machines are great fun but these methods are cheap, simple, quick, easy to clean up, and the Coffee is so good. I love my Porlex.

Freshly roasted, freshly ground Coffee will knock your socks off once you get to grips with brewing it. Ask for advice if you need. The biggest variable really with the Aeropress inverted method is your grind, and that's easily sorted.

I have ordered some Fazenda Cochoiera (old favourite of mine), Dot Com filter blend and Bolivia Finca Loayza. I can't wait for that lot to arrive :D
 
I bought a porlex grinder last week still waiting for it to arrive though unfortunately. I got some Ethiopia Konga Peaberry Natural at the same time which has arrived and can't say I am to keen on it. I got some from small batch coffee last time that was quite nice but went with hasbean this time. May have to order something else as I am not feeling this one, I may wait until my grinder arrives and see if that makes a difference at all but brewing in the same manner I did with my last one it isn't as nice.

I have been considering ordering an aeropess as well I may hang on another week and get one, I have a week off work soon so gives me time to brew enough and practice :p
 
Well despite all the rave reviews for Hasbean on this thread, I have to say that I haven't been very impressed with any of their espresso blends and a couple of other lots I have ordered from there. I think this is possibly because they roast too light for my personal taste. I much prefer beans from Hands On or Coffeebeanshopltd. Im currently waiting patiently for my latest Coffeebeanshop pruchases to finish degassing as they were only roasted on Thursday, got 500g of their utterly brilliant Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, 250g of the Mocha Guatamala espresso blend and 250g of the Indian Tiger Stripe espresso blend. At least I have the remnants of some hands on Lusty Glaze and Black Chough to see me through
 
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