Address7 - Interesting post. My Jaeger replacement pstat has been working fine now 7 months - I sure hope it oulasts the Mater pstats. (I replaced 2 of those already in just over 2 years.)

I only use distilled water in the boiler - interesting that you had not much scale build-up while not using distilled water. I have great steam with the distilled water - so, I am not going to risk changing it. I do use Brita filter water in the main tank, though.

Would I buy the Semi again knowing the pstat problems? well, I don't know.... it has gotten a lot more expensive since I bought my demo model - and at the current price there are other intriguing choices. However, that being said I like the machine and I am glad to own it.

Howard

I have a Jaeger replacement as well, and it's worked about 8 months now. The Mater on my second machine has had on and off use for about 3 months, and is still working.

The facts so far:

1) Both Mater and Ceme pstats have failed, up to now, no Jaeger has, but none have been installed for more than a year.
2) There's no sign of scale on many of the failed stats, so lime scale is not the culprit
3) Some people have had machines for many years with no premature failures (if a stat fails after 5 years, it isn't premature, but ordinary wear and tear)

Just guessing here, but I still think the problem is debris left from the construction of the machine finding its way into the pstat which is at the lowest point of the machine. If this is the case, in the affected machines, one or several pstats will fail early in the machine's career, then the problem will clear up. There was a rash of these problems, involving both Ceme and Mater pstats, around the time I posted the review. Was the culprit a new lathe at the Elektra plant?

Jim - an intriguing theory; I hope it's correct - odd as it is - a new lathe?

On another point entirely - I believe I am putting in about 10 - 10.5 grams of fresh ground coffee into my single Elektra baskets - does that coincide with other peoples usual doses for a Semi-Automatica single? (I force out about an oz or a little over an ounce of coffee in, usually, 30+/- sec. Generally, +30 sec. seems to taste better than -30 sec.

Howard

howard seth wrote:I believe I am putting in about 10 - 10.5 grams of fresh ground coffee into my single Elektra baskets - does that coincide with other peoples usual doses for a Semi-Automatica single?

This is how much I dose, it seems to leave the right amount of head space. I tried 7 to 8 grams, but it didn't seem to work as well. However, I'm not very practiced in singles, since my usual drink is a 14 to 15 gram double.

I'm another happy Jaeger customer at 8 trouble-free months so far. Overall I'm still very happy with the Semi and have no regrets about buying it. I have ongoing upgraditis with every other aspect of my coffee obsession -- brewers, roasters, grinders, etc. -- but not the espresso machine.

One question: The Jaeger does seem to have a somewhat wide deadband. Mine is set so the gauge tops out in the low part of the green zone, just over 1.1 bars. Is this what other people are doing? The pressure goes down to around .8 to .9 before the heater comes back on. Should I worry about getting the pressure back up before pulling a shot?

Never thought of that, that'll work.

IslandAddict - I set my deadband level, on my Jaeger pstat, a little higher than you do. Mine is set to top out between 1.3-1.4

I don't know if that's "correct" - it is a matter of taste - the shots taste fine. (My espresso beans are generally Sweet Maria's blends - home roasted with a Behmor.)

Howard