Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

DJ85 · 25 Dec 2021 at 21:38

Looking for a 58mm dosing cup, any recommendations where to get accessories from

Raymond Lin · 25 Dec 2021 at 21:44

David Flett said:
Looking for a 58mm dosing cup, any recommendations where to get accessories from

https://nichespares.com/collections/niche-zero-accessories/products/niche-grind-cup

https://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/acaia-dosing-cup-s

DJ85 · 25 Dec 2021 at 21:45

Thanks @Raymond Lin

alexakasloth · 27 Dec 2021 at 17:57

I'm diving in with some entry level stuff - a Dualit espressivo and a Delonghi KG79. Any tips for a good brew with this kit?

[edit] Seen the mentions about modifying the KG79 to get finer grounds, will have to crack it apart and do that!

richyfingers · 1 Jan 2022 at 15:04

So instead of going down the black hole of making espresso at home I decided to invest in a filter machine. Picked up a Melitta Epour and a Wilfa Uniform+ grinder. Working my way though a selection of beans from Rave, very happy so far. The Seasonal organic blend is delicious!

Participant · 3 Jan 2022 at 07:49

richyfingers said:
So instead of going down the black hole of making espresso at home I decided to invest in a filter machine. Picked up a Melitta Epour and a Wilfa Uniform+ grinder. Working my way though a selection of beans from Rave, very happy so far. The Seasonal organic blend is delicious!

Filter coffee is great. I love that stuff as well as the stove pot coffee. If I didn't want to make lattes I would have stayed with a filter machine.

alexakasloth · 3 Jan 2022 at 09:38

I'm really enjoying this machine and grinder. The grinder already puts out a fine enough grind for espresso (may have already been modified?), going to head to the coffee shop on our small high street tomorrow as they roast and sell their own beans. My wife was enjoying using the steamer function for some hot chocolate last night. Great bit of kit.

One More Solo · 5 Jan 2022 at 12:33

Just picked up those bits from Etsy for my Gaggia - thanks for sharing @Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2022 at 13:18

One More Solo said:
Just picked up those bits from Etsy for my Gaggia - thanks for sharing @Raymond Lin

The WDT has transformed my espresso, the consistency has gone through the roof.

heeeed · 5 Jan 2022 at 15:00

Raymond Lin said:
The WDT has transformed my espresso, the consistency has gone through the roof.

try again with your naked portafilter and you might find less spitting if distribution is much better now

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2022 at 17:07

heeeed said:
try again with your naked portafilter and you might find less spitting if distribution is much better now

I placed down a kitchen towel to test. It's 100x better, a few dots rather than sprays but still there.

jpaul · 5 Jan 2022 at 21:58

ok - that's cool, they are acupuncture needles - never seen one - thinner/better than DIY options like paper clips/bent pins etc.

Raymond Lin said:
Treated myself a Christmas present or 2.

Alex_L · 6 Jan 2022 at 14:29

Raymond Lin said:
I placed down a kitchen towel to test. It's 100x better, a few dots rather than sprays but still there.

WDT definitely makes the naked portafilter less messy to use. After a year of WDT I find I still get similar small amounts of random spritzing like that fairly often. I think the internet makes you think it’s possible to avoid any spritzing but I think it’s almost impossible to eliminate regardless of how good your puck prep is. (Or I’m still a bad barista)

Raymond Lin · 6 Jan 2022 at 16:38

Alex_L said:
WDT definitely makes the naked portafilter less messy to use. After a year of WDT I find I still get similar small amounts of random spritzing like that fairly often. I think the internet makes you think it’s possible to avoid any spritzing but I think it’s almost impossible to eliminate regardless of how good your puck prep is. (Or I’m still a bad barista)

I think I’ll stick with my single sprout, I know for definite that WDT is making the difference and the sprout is saving me from the mess.

olv · 7 Jan 2022 at 10:54

Are you both using precision baskets?

I only use my bottomless PF, mostly for ease of tamping, cleaning, more clearance for cups and rarely have any significant spritzing (I've got white counters too so would definitely see). I don't use a WDT either, I'll stir the grounds in the Niche cup before transferring, levelling (manually, not a tool) and tamping. Surprised, especially with your Niche that you still get a lot of it.

Raymond Lin · 7 Jan 2022 at 10:58

olv said:
Are you both using precision baskets?

I only use my bottomless PF, mostly for ease of tamping, cleaning, more clearance for cups and rarely have any significant spritzing (I've got white counters too so would definitely see). I don't use a WDT either, I'll stir the grounds in the Niche cup before transferring, levelling (manually, not a tool) and tamping. Surprised, especially with your Niche that you still get a lot of it.

VST basket.

The problem isn't so much about the lumps. I put the dosing cup into the portafilter then shake it like a cocktail, well, not that extreme. But when I remove it, you get.

1 - a ring of clearance on the edge - that's a massive channel
2 - often one side has more ground than the other side

So I would level it with my hand or tap it down. This "tapping" i find is problematic. If I tap it from the side, the forces, just pure physics, pushes the grounds sideways, meaning now one side has more grounds and one edge has a massive clearance on the edge.

So I tap it from underneath? Which is impossible to do that with a single sprout, literally impossible. I know I could with the naked portafilter but i only use it to test how the shots are coming out, I really dislike using it daily. It's good for visuals but not practical for the potential messy reason.

I don't like the double sprout because some cups I have are too narrow for it.

The WDT allows EVEN distribution above everything else. This is even without using the distributor, which I also have and use.

PS I think you should try using a white kitchen towel. I have a white counter too but the white towel shows it up more.

olv · 7 Jan 2022 at 11:52

Fair enough! The main thing is just having a workflow that suits and results that satisfy

Raymond Lin · 7 Jan 2022 at 13:57

olv said:
Fair enough! The main thing is just having a workflow that suits and results that satisfy

Yeah, if you can do it without, that's good. I tried it without for Yearsssssssssss, when i got the Niche it improved the consistency but this improved it even more. You have also notice that I didn't use any adjective in trying to quantify it by taste but only objective and real world measurements in the timing from a stop watch.

jpaul · 7 Jan 2022 at 14:18

olv said:
I only use my bottomless PF, mostly for ease of tamping, cleaning, more clearance for cups and rarely have any significant spritzing (I've got white counters too so would definitely see). I don't use a WDT either, I'll stir the grounds in the Niche cup before transferring, levelling (manually, not a tool) and tamping. Surprised, especially with your Niche that you still get a lot of it.

some of the Niche reviews have comments about static giving clumping which could be disippated by stiriing, a WDT could accomplish same task, albeit wdt handle looks insulated.

I've never had anything other than a dosing rancilio rocky, which happens to have a metal grind container, which I think/theorize may helps avoid static/clumps.

TheBrooder · 8 Jan 2022 at 09:06

Could you point me in the direction of a budget electric grinder for filter, moka pot, v60/aeropress (not decided which yet) and French press? I currently use the Hario hand grinder when I can be bothered but often reach for the pre-ground coffee early in the morning...

I've been watching James Hoffman quite a bit and recently saw his £50 burr grinders video which led me to deleting my shortlist!

What's the minimum you'd spend on a grinder that won't be making espresso?