Ian

I have no idea how the PID is calibrated or setup. I left it exactly as Dave sent it to me.

I recall a discussion I read during my brousing/learning stage here where PID settings were altered to "improve" shot to shot consistency at lower boiler temps but I thought the end result was that it is not reeproducible.

I pulled a couple of nice shots at 233* today (grouphead temp of 198* on the thermometer).

I heated the glass with a couple of oz. of H20 and then grind, dose and pulled the shot. The first in the morning was Sweet Maria Liquid Amber Espresso 1.5-2 oz and this evening a ristretto of a FC roast of Ethiopia Idido Misty Valley. I think I'll try 1 degree warmer tomorrow.

Ian - here is a photo of my PID setup. Not sure what it tells you (certaily not its setting other then temp)but comments are welcome.

Nice install. I was just curious if you'd done your own tuning and what you'd come up with.

Two years of e61 HX PID futzing have shown me a huge range of parameters return acceptable results.

Ignore the numbers and enjoy the espresso!

Thanks Ian

I have MANY things to futz with before I play with PID parameters where I have no idea what factor(s) each control. I'll learn my basic barasta techniques for now.

The 234* shots were a tad more bitter then the others so I will go a hair lower and see the results.

Geoffrey,

Just curious...from your post it seems as if you are an espresso drinker more than a cappa guy. If so, why did you opt for Dave's PID'd Anita over his Alexia? I ask because I toyed around with the idea of a PID'd Anita or Andreja as a possible upgrade to my Alexia.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Merle, I had a single boiler with electronic control and investigated single boiler machines like Zaffiro before deciding a PID HX has all the advantages and none of the drawbacks.

Merle

I spent some time contemplating what machine to purchase and a number of factors came into play one of which is my ignorance of the whole topic

I read as much as I could about the various types of machines and the reviews of individual machines. The PID control of the boiler to me is a much more precise and quich way to regulate temperature and I guessed that the PID would have a lower failure rate (pressurestats from what I've read fail at a n alarming rate). The temperature stability and ability to change temperatures on the fly lets me pull shots without flushing as the topic of this thread implies. So, in that sense I can make the Anita into a pseudo 1 boiler and get good espresso.

In my reading I also liked the idea that using flushes and especially with Erics temperature probe thermometer for E61 groupheads I could easily vary my brew temperature and possibly even the profile. I can't say my skills are up to taking advantage of this capabibility of the HX but I like the idea that it is a flexible setup (in theory).

Finally, my fiance likes her cappas and we MUST keep the women of the house happy! We both love to cook and have company for dinner so the throughput capabilites came into play as well as my guests' might want milk based drinks too. I thought hard and actually at first selected the Alexia but in the end those factors, the small increase/difference in price and the thoguth that I did not want to feel the need to "upgrade" any time in the at least near future led to my selection of the PID'ed Anita. I'm happy so far but I have A LOT to learn. Good to know the knowledgable folks here on HB are willing to help!

Hope this helps.

Geoffrey and Ike,

Thanks for the replies. I won't be upgrading until I move back to the US in January, so I still have time to ponder. In the interim, I have a Gaggia Factory 16 on the way which I could use on the rare occasions that I have friends over and need to make many milk drinks back-to-back. I figure I can use the Gaggia to steam while the Alexia brews the espresso. In essence this makes a double boiler, albeit in two separate machines.