Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Quick question:

What's the largest Motta milk pitcher size for use with the Classic? I'll be wanting to try out latte art so I'm going for the Europa.

Would like to be able to make enough milk for a large 12oz cappucino. Will the 500ml pitcher do and will the Classic be able to steam enough milk before it runs out of....er....steam?!!
 
Dave, the best approach to start with is to grind to a point where it stalls (ie nothing comes out) and work your way up from there. So if it stalls on 10 and your tamping at the right kind of pressure back off the grind to 11, check the pour and taste and repeat if needed.

The biggest thing to remember is ultimately taste is the real measure. If it tastes good to you that's all that matters.
Taste is controlled by two things, the beans and the pour - if your pour right and your beans aren't to your liking (or are old, ****, not to your tastes) your never going to get a decent drink... but some beans (generally the espresso blends) will be more forgiving :)
 
Siliconslave said:
Dave, the best approach to start with is to grind to a point where it stalls (ie nothing comes out) and work your way up from there. So if it stalls on 10 and your tamping at the right kind of pressure back off the grind to 11, check the pour and taste and repeat if needed.

The biggest thing to remember is ultimately taste is the real measure. If it tastes good to you that's all that matters.
Taste is controlled by two things, the beans and the pour - if your pour right and your beans aren't to your liking (or are old, ****, not to your tastes) your never going to get a decent drink... but some beans (generally the espresso blends) will be more forgiving :)
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This is kind of the approach I am taking I guess but in reverse (if that makes any sense)

So today set the grinder to 11 and gave it a quick tamp. Not as hard as I had done previously and although the shots poured out relatively fast they tasted better than on previous attempts. (not sour or bitter)

I think with a bit more pressure applied it would slow the flow down a little and give me more flavour.

Am almost out of my second pack of tester beans so I will attempt to use some of this week's In My Mug Beans (Boliva Juan Quispe Washed) and see what sort of taste I get from this.

At times I feel like I should be wearing a lab coat with the amount of experiementing I am doing at the moment. :p
 
I have a Rocky/Silvia (v3) setup. Daft as it sounds, I can't get the machine to stall, even grinding on setting 1 (setting 0 = the burrs *just* starting to whisper together).

I find that some beans (generally supermarket ones) extract way too quickly (sub 20 secs) giving sour shots. This is ground as fine as possible and tamping considerably harder than 15kg. I've been aiming for 50ml.

The hasbean beans I usually grind on about setting 3ish - giving 25-30 secs for 50ml, but I still can't stall the machine!

Would a larger (say 18g) basket help things out? I'm assuming the larger capacity will slow the extraction down a bit giving better shots? I know the hasbean beans are better, but I can't always be bothered to order them in time and like the convenience of the occasional bag of supermarket beans, or from a local bean supplier (Wilkinsons).

If a larger basket would help, which one would you recommend? I need to change my tamper too - it came with the Silvia - it's an all metal one - quite heavy - but it's a couple of mm smaller than the diameter of the basket. What tamper would you recommend too?

I'd also like to get a blind basket for backflushing - I have the rubber plug thing, but it doesn't always work. Any recommendations?

Sorry for the long post :)
 
you can try 'tamping' on scales to get used to the sort of pressure you need to be putting in (30-40 pounds)

The freshness of the beans makes all the difference, supermarket beans will have been roasted weeks to months ago and as such will give a much worse result (the short pour, sour tasting shots your seeing)

All beans will need slightly different settings on the grind, and this will vary through the life of the bean, as it grows older generally it'll need a finer grind to get better results (although on a grinder like the rocky the stops are such that you shouldn't need to adjust more than weekly)

For supermarket stuff you may never get a decent pour at any setting, switching between supermarket stuff and fresh hasbean will need a pretty decent adjustment in the grind :)

basket wise I wouldn't recommend getting a larger basket, the consensus tends towards 14 grams of coffee although some cafes have apparently upped this.

Blind basket wise it shouldn't make a difference where you get it from, just buy the cheapest you can find in the right size :) (personally i quite like http://www.coffeehit.co.uk/)
 
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Hamster said:
Blimey, all the bits and bobs to go with the Classic cost me more than the machine itself!!
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My PID cost more than the classic on its own :D

Kind of tempted to powder coat it now:

7uGd9.jpg

(credit to http://www.jasonwolley.com/gaggia.html)
 
Gaggia classics

Well if you google for refurb Gaggia Classics on the usual huge auction site there's one firm selling refurb classics for £130 and £4 postage, comes with the stupid pressurised baskets tho. I can't praise my classic highly enough and at £134 delivered leaves you plenty of change to get the unprssurised baskets,tamper, milk jug etc.

BTW for quality british hand made tampers check out the ones made by Madeby Knock here http://www.madebyknock.com/buy.html £18 including delivery for a beech handle stainless steel tamper I love mine.

Charlie
 
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Charliej said:
Well if you google for refurb Gaggia Classics on the usual huge auction site there's one firm selling refurb classics for £130 and £4 postage, comes with the stupid pressurised baskets tho. I can't praise my classic highly enough and at £134 delivered leaves you plenty of change to get the unprssurised baskets,tamper, milk jug etc.

BTW for quality british hand made tampers check out the ones made by Madeby Knock here http://http://www.madebyknock.com/buy.html £18 including delivery for a beech handle stainless steel tamper I love mine.

Charlie
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Definitely agree. The amount saved on the Classic has made the £140 I spent on accessories more palatable! Apart from the Rancilio steam arm and backflush disc, I got everything from creamsupplies, most of which is Motta.

P.S. You need to modify your link :)
 
Flibster said:
Instead of powder coating, I always loved the look of these:

http://www.jlhufford.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=rancilio-silvia-limited-edition-2010

Leather covered.... Oooooooooooooh... :D
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I've seen that before. Does look quite classy!

I've not turned on my Classic yet! Fitted the Rancilio steam arm, got all of the necessary accoutrements with a Hasbean order due for delivery tomorrow. Just waiting for the non-pressurised baskets now. Should i wait or just use the pressurised basket for the time being?!!!
 
Major coffee disaster for me today. Somehow in the process of filling the hopper on my vario grinder, a screw dropped out of a cupboard above it and intmerge hopper.

Started grinding, followed swiftly by a horrific sound.

End result, two knackered burrs and a knackered motor and pulley system.

Thankfully Steve at hasbean has me in touch with manufacturers to get it repaired, but so frustrating, especially as just had three bags of coffee from extract coffee to try out :(
 
Hamster said:
I've seen that before. Does look quite classy!

I've not turned on my Classic yet! Fitted the Rancilio steam arm, got all of the necessary accoutrements with a Hasbean order due for delivery tomorrow. Just waiting for the non-pressurised baskets now. Should i wait or just use the pressurised basket for the time being?!!!
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Wait for the normal basket. Well worth it.

BUSH said:
Major coffee disaster for me today. Somehow in the process of filling the hopper on my vario grinder, a screw dropped out of a cupboard above it and intmerge hopper.

Started grinding, followed swiftly by a horrific sound.

End result, two knackered burrs and a knackered motor and pulley system.

Thankfully Steve at hasbean has me in touch with manufacturers to get it repaired, but so frustrating, especially as just had three bags of coffee from extract coffee to try out :(
Click to expand...

*doffs hat and hangs head in respect*
 
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