Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

I ordered the ‘Dualit’ Mignon. Looks like the specialita model so it’s way cheaper than anywhere else right now.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been using a Gaggia Classic for a decade, about to tinker with it to improve things and I’d like to get the same amount of time from a solid grinder. Reviews say the Eureka models are built well and should last, and it appears to be a different league to my other options in terms of potential performance. Coffee is a small hobby and I probably make 2 espressos per day so the payoff is fine over time. As said, second hand value good too, so I chose this on the same principles I chose the Classic originally and that’s served me great.

I’ll come back with some feedback when it arrives.
 
Cheers, that looks like a really solid & nice looking grinder. Whilst it's almost double the price, I think I could stretch to that, if it's a lot quicker as you say.

I like the transparent container on the Hario Mini Mill, as you can easily see what's coming out. But not much of a deal breaker.

If you get the C2, let us know what it's like?

I got it about a week ago. Not used it a lot but a few times. I can't compare it to the Hario Mini Mill which is probably better than the Hario Skerton tbf, but it's much nicer than the Hario Skerton, worth the extra cost imo.
The build quality is better and the grind seems to be more consistent. The slimmer profile to the Skerton means it's nicer to hold when grinding, and I have medium/large hands. Also the burr adjustment is just turning the mechanism at the bottom, whereas you have to remove the screw/washer at the top of the Skerton and adjust it that way, but because you are turning the shaft when grinding, the screw gets tight and I sometimes have to use pliers to get the top screw undone.
That's just build quality/design alone. The speed of grinding is probably worth it in itself. It takes about 30-40ish seconds for me grind 16g (depending on how coarse/how fast I can be bothered to grind), and it grinds a lot smoother as well; the Skerton would snag as I grind.

The only downsides are that it will only fit about 20g ish depending on roast level, whereas the Skerton could do 60-70g. So if you're doing a batch of cold brew or whatever, you'll have to do it in multiple lots, not a major issue though.
Also the C2 isn't designed for espresso, apparently because the design of the burr, it'll take agesss to grind fine enough for espresso use. But I knew that going in and it's not an issue for me.

I ordered the ‘Dualit’ Mignon. Looks like the specialita model so it’s way cheaper than anywhere else right now.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been using a Gaggia Classic for a decade, about to tinker with it to improve things and I’d like to get the same amount of time from a solid grinder. Reviews say the Eureka models are built well and should last, and it appears to be a different league to my other options in terms of potential performance. Coffee is a small hobby and I probably make 2 espressos per day so the payoff is fine over time. As said, second hand value good too, so I chose this on the same principles I chose the Classic originally and that’s served me great.

I’ll come back with some feedback when it arrives.

I was looking/deciding between the Sage Smart Grinder Pro and Eureka Mignon Specialita a few months ago. My sister has the SGP and for the price (especially when it's on sale, which is fairly often) it's a very decent grinder. Decent enough to get a reasonable grind out of it. She wasn't looking for something to play around with though, and I helped to dial in the grind/time. She just wanted a low fuss way to get a decent espresso at home.
In the end I went with the Eureka Mignon Manuale, because I knew I was going to single dose, so the extra buttons/display and timing function wasn't of too much use for me, also because it's quite a bit cheaper than the Specialita, but I wanted a step up from the SGP, which it is. Build quality is miles better than the SGP, 50mm flat burrs, and most importantly it has stepless adjustment.
A bit later on I bought a £30 single dose hopper and bellow as the grind retention isn't great, with the plus side of it looking better and nicer to use than the plastic hopper that it came with.
 
I ordered the ‘Dualit’ Mignon. Looks like the specialita model so it’s way cheaper than anywhere else right now.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been using a Gaggia Classic for a decade, about to tinker with it to improve things and I’d like to get the same amount of time from a solid grinder. Reviews say the Eureka models are built well and should last, and it appears to be a different league to my other options in terms of potential performance. Coffee is a small hobby and I probably make 2 espressos per day so the payoff is fine over time. As said, second hand value good too, so I chose this on the same principles I chose the Classic originally and that’s served me great.

I’ll come back with some feedback when it arrives.
I have two Mignons (Filtro and Silenzio). They are absolutely bombproof, not a lot to go wrong, just a big slab of metal with a big motor and some burrs inside. Everything in it feels like it's survive the apocalypse!
 
I have no experience with that model, but I had the Barista Express which I really enjoyed using. I now have an Oracle Touch which is more suited to the way I now have to make coffee (usually with one hand whilst holding a baby)

If you dont mind a refurb model with maybe a scratch or dent - check out idoo direct on ebay, they sell them at a VERY low price (I paid £825 for the oracle touch for example)
 
The 'Dualit' Mignon Specialita arrived but since it was a bit of an indulgence I'm putting it away for Christmas, something to look forward to! Box is surprisingly small but heavy...a good sign.

Thanks for sharing the deal DarkShadow.
 
As Shoosh shared, can be had circa £300 from idoo and for that amount - it's definitely worth it.

The 'Dualit' Mignon Specialita arrived but since it was a bit of an indulgence I'm putting it away for Christmas, something to look forward to! Box is surprisingly small but heavy...a good sign.

Thanks for sharing the deal DarkShadow.

You're welcome. I recommend opening it now to make sure it works as expected.
I have two Mignons (Filtro and Silenzio). They are absolutely bombproof, not a lot to go wrong, just a big slab of metal with a big motor and some burrs inside. Everything in it feels like it's survive the apocalypse!
Agreed. Only real failure points are the switches and touch screen which can both be replaced.
 
So I did check over the Dualit Mignon before the 14-day policy expired and I can confirm it is indeed a Eureka Mignon Specialita. It even has the Specialita sticker on the bottom still. It looks like the sides, which are polished stainless steel have had 'Dualit' cut out of them (I guess by water jet). It looks like that was done after the product was made since the sides seem to have been off before but very hard to tell. There is also what appears to be the Eureka sticker missing from the back, probably to not distract from the re-branding. As far as I can tell, that's as far as the changes go. There is even the original Eureka manual in the box.

I've only done one test grind on it and then put it away for Christmas, but I can say it is indeed built like an absolute tank. Also, the finish and screen and overall look make it appear fantastic on the side next to the classic. It really is a nice looking machine and also much smaller than you'd think too. It's extremely quiet compared to my Krups grinder; way quieter than even the espresso machine itself I think. The quality of the grind is unbelievable, it immediately doubled the extraction time on my Gaggia Classic with nothing else changed, so I definitely have some dialling in to do once I've finished the 9 bar mod. The coffee was still quite bitter as it wasn't dialled in but I did get way more complexity than I've ever even got close to before, from the same beans. Really amazing stuff. Can't wait to get it properly set up.

Only slight downsides I noticed were that the hopper is made from fairly cheap feeling plastic, so it's quite jarring versus the rest of the machine. I'm sure that can probably be sorted later. Then also the machine is still a little bit messy to grind with, but maybe one of those cones/funnels for the portafilter would help with that. I also noticed that some fines were coming through the portafilter basket, not exactly sure why yet but something I will look into further. I'm using the Gaggia double shot unpressurised basket, which may be the reason why. Once I reduce the machine pressure I guess that could go away or I'll look at a better basket.

I suppose I'll probably come back with a more detailed perspective early in the new year but overall I'm massively impressed already. Guys, if you have an espresso machine like the Gaggia Classic, you probably should spend about the same or similar on a grinder as it makes a huge difference! I can clearly see now my Krups grinder was never going to get good results from the Classic (hence me mostly using Aeropress, Moka pot and French press more than the Classic since I've had it).

Next steps for me are:
- Descale and clean the Gaggia Classic (I am using Citric acid in low concentration and also puly caff with a blank basket to back-flush)
- Finish polishing the Gaggia Classic (it was looking a bit sad and tarnished - careful application of autosol is bringing it back as good as new)
- Replace all o-rings and seals and upgrade group head seal to silicone
- Calibrate to 9 bar dynamic pressure (I've bought a gauge to do this)
- Setup and dial in the Eureka Mignon, aiming for 1:2 ratio at a 25sec pour (please share if you think different)

Then see how that goes. I think it should be a huge improvement from where I am with espresso now. Obviously the rabbit hole goes deeper, I may have to look at a different basket, possibly even a bottomless portafilter to see what is going on with the shots better, probably need a new tamper since the one I have is 51mm instead of 58mm and then maybe modify or replace the steam wand, which is not a great design as standard on my Classic (2012 machine).
 
So I did check over the Dualit Mignon before the 14-day policy expired and I can confirm it is indeed a Eureka Mignon Specialita. It even has the Specialita sticker on the bottom still. It looks like the sides, which are polished stainless steel have had 'Dualit' cut out of them (I guess by water jet). It looks like that was done after the product was made since the sides seem to have been off before but very hard to tell. There is also what appears to be the Eureka sticker missing from the back, probably to not distract from the re-branding. As far as I can tell, that's as far as the changes go. There is even the original Eureka manual in the box.

I've only done one test grind on it and then put it away for Christmas, but I can say it is indeed built like an absolute tank. Also, the finish and screen and overall look make it appear fantastic on the side next to the classic. It really is a nice looking machine and also much smaller than you'd think too. It's extremely quiet compared to my Krups grinder; way quieter than even the espresso machine itself I think. The quality of the grind is unbelievable, it immediately doubled the extraction time on my Gaggia Classic with nothing else changed, so I definitely have some dialling in to do once I've finished the 9 bar mod. The coffee was still quite bitter as it wasn't dialled in but I did get way more complexity than I've ever even got close to before, from the same beans. Really amazing stuff. Can't wait to get it properly set up.

Only slight downsides I noticed were that the hopper is made from fairly cheap feeling plastic, so it's quite jarring versus the rest of the machine. I'm sure that can probably be sorted later. Then also the machine is still a little bit messy to grind with, but maybe one of those cones/funnels for the portafilter would help with that. I also noticed that some fines were coming through the portafilter basket, not exactly sure why yet but something I will look into further. I'm using the Gaggia double shot unpressurised basket, which may be the reason why. Once I reduce the machine pressure I guess that could go away or I'll look at a better basket.

I suppose I'll probably come back with a more detailed perspective early in the new year but overall I'm massively impressed already. Guys, if you have an espresso machine like the Gaggia Classic, you probably should spend about the same or similar on a grinder as it makes a huge difference! I can clearly see now my Krups grinder was never going to get good results from the Classic (hence me mostly using Aeropress, Moka pot and French press more than the Classic since I've had it).

Next steps for me are:
- Descale and clean the Gaggia Classic (I am using Citric acid in low concentration and also puly caff with a blank basket to back-flush)
- Finish polishing the Gaggia Classic (it was looking a bit sad and tarnished - careful application of autosol is bringing it back as good as new)
- Replace all o-rings and seals and upgrade group head seal to silicone
- Calibrate to 9 bar dynamic pressure (I've bought a gauge to do this)
- Setup and dial in the Eureka Mignon, aiming for 1:2 ratio at a 25sec pour (please share if you think different)

Then see how that goes. I think it should be a huge improvement from where I am with espresso now. Obviously the rabbit hole goes deeper, I may have to look at a different basket, possibly even a bottomless portafilter to see what is going on with the shots better, probably need a new tamper since the one I have is 51mm instead of 58mm and then maybe modify or replace the steam wand, which is not a great design as standard on my Classic (2012 machine).

What era of the Classic do you have and do you have a link to that gauge? I got mine in like 2007 or 2008 so one of the earlier ones and that apparently has a thing I can turn inside to adjust the pressure as opposed to replacing the spring?
 
What era of the Classic do you have and do you have a link to that gauge? I got mine in like 2007 or 2008 so one of the earlier ones and that apparently has a thing I can turn inside to adjust the pressure as opposed to replacing the spring?

Mine is 2012 so probably the same as yours. I think anything pre-2015 uses the adjustable OPV so you can tune as you like. 2015 or after I think it's a case of changing a spring.

I got my gauge from the Rainforest but I haven't tried it yet so I can't vouch for whether it's good with the machine or not. Shades of Coffee also do one for a reasonable price as well, I'd probably recommend that as it's most likely to play nice with the Classic.

Quick google finds a guide that I think is relevant for our machines: https://www.coffeeforums.co.uk/threads/adjusting-the-opv-over-pressure-valve-gaggia-classic.64357/
 
Next steps for me are:
- Descale and clean the Gaggia Classic (I am using Citric acid in low concentration and also puly caff with a blank basket to back-flush)
- Finish polishing the Gaggia Classic (it was looking a bit sad and tarnished - careful application of autosol is bringing it back as good as new)
- Replace all o-rings and seals and upgrade group head seal to silicone
- Calibrate to 9 bar dynamic pressure (I've bought a gauge to do this)
- Setup and dial in the Eureka Mignon, aiming for 1:2 ratio at a 25sec pour (please share if you think different)
eureka nice - I always religiously replace covers on the grind hopper, only time I chipped it was when I caught it with cover off.

although I use citric - I'm ambivalent on the salmon pink it leaves on brass internals, I keep forgetting to put backflush whilst de-scaling
yes - whose pressure gauge did you get ? still can't get spout of my pf (thread lock, despite vice use and heat) you have an adjustable OPV, though ? I don't so just cleaned mine

I'd like a gauge, since after clean I still have a slow extract - I don't know if OPV is opening too soon, or the grind is too fine, and in recollection think I maybe grinding finer than silvia I had before.

ordered a 600ml steaming jug for xmas kitchencraft, and some peruvian cocoa
 
Mine is 2012 so probably the same as yours. I think anything pre-2015 uses the adjustable OPV so you can tune as you like. 2015 or after I think it's a case of changing a spring.

I got my gauge from the Rainforest but I haven't tried it yet so I can't vouch for whether it's good with the machine or not. Shades of Coffee also do one for a reasonable price as well, I'd probably recommend that as it's most likely to play nice with the Classic.

Quick google finds a guide that I think is relevant for our machines: https://www.coffeeforums.co.uk/threads/adjusting-the-opv-over-pressure-valve-gaggia-classic.64357/

Let us know how you get on with the valve adjustments, and what tools you need. I read it and can't see how me just remoe the pipe...does it just pull and slip off?
 
although I use citric - I'm ambivalent on the salmon pink it leaves on brass internals, I keep forgetting to put backflush whilst de-scaling
yes - whose pressure gauge did you get ? still can't get spout of my pf (thread lock, despite vice use and heat) you have an adjustable OPV, though ? I don't so just cleaned mine

I just got one from the Rainforest, as above, I'd recommend the Shades of Coffee one probably instead but can't vouch for either yet. Not tried to remove the spout yet either, will be a fight as I'm pretty sure it also has thread lock on it.

Yes, I have the adjustable OPV.

Let us know how you get on with the valve adjustments, and what tools you need. I read it and can't see how me just remoe the pipe...does it just pull and slip off?

Sure, will do. I think it's a 17mm socket that can reach the OPV cap, then a 5mm allen key or hex bit for the actual adjustment itself. The pipe appears to be a push fit, so probably just pulls off the nipple on the cap and pushes back on. I think that's maybe just to drain, it's not under great pressure there so push fit I imagine is ok.
 
Super interesting machine just popped up on my YouTube feed. It lacks a steam wand but the way it heats up water and pull a shot is super clever. Not cheap though, $1500 to start with on Kickstarter from March.

 
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ok, that is really interesting - on first look it looks very pretty (although a fingerprint magnet in its current state), incredibly thin but thats because it doesn't have a water tank.

Its very expensive for what is essentially a lever machine without any boiler or steam capabilities, but its a good way to create a relatively simple machine from a hardware point of view while concentrating on pressure control and temperature stability.

While theres no way i'm backing a coffee machine on kickstarter it is a fascinating approach, I wonder what it'll end up retailing for (if it gets that far)
 
I have just been given one of these from work. :eek:

Am I in the right thread? Never used one before..need to start researching. Scary! :o
Nice gift - technically i guess it produces something like espresso but if it weren't the season of good will to all you'd be chased out of here with pitch forks ;)

Once you've finished the nespresso pods I'd take a look at the specialty alternatives you can get:
https://www.origincoffee.co.uk/products/coffee-pod-subscription?variant=40055650943049
 
My mate said I need to use filtered water as well?

Any other basic tips?
Check if you can adjust the temperature if needed in case it runs too hot or cold at stock.

Also, play about with how much water is pushed through the pod so you can optimise your shots.
 
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