I can say that paired with a top notch grinder (Kafatek Monolith Conical), my shots are coming out with swiss-watch consistency. Completely repeatable, pull after pull.

What espresso are you guys using in the Linea
I should have my new Linea mini tomorrow and have some blends on the way but wanted to see what others are having great success with lately.
Thanks

Linea is great for whatever you want to put in it! Seriously, you can dial in anything you want.

cartnj wrote:What espresso are you guys using in the Linea
I should have my new Linea mini tomorrow and have some blends on the way but wanted to see what others are having great success with lately.
Thanks

Let's see as far as blends I've pulled and really liked on the LM:

Blueprint Coffee: Penrose V10 (200F, 18G or 22G VST with 18 or 20g at 1:2)
Thump: Storm King (201-201.5F, 18G VST basket with about 18.2g in, 36-40out)
Counter Culture: Hologram
Counter Culture: Big Trouble

I'm grinding with a K30 Vario, only VST baskets so far, Pergtamp with WDT. Shots come out nearly picture perfect on the bottomless 85% of the time or better. I would consider it ESSENTIAL to get a .6mm flow restrictor(gicleur) and swap that in ASAP, it really made a world of a difference in getting even extractions, reliably. It took me all of 30-40 minutes to do, its very easy. If you want one get it from espressoparts LM charges $10 shipping and 2-3 week backorder. EP has them in stock and free shipping.

Congrats! (also what beans do you have on the way?)

Thanks for the response and the settings
I ordered so far:
Blue Bottle 17Ft Ceiling espresso
Blue Bottle Hayes Valley
Linea Caffe: Espresso Linea Blend
Red Bird: Brazil Sweet blue
Red Bird: Blue Jaguar

I had the K30 grinder also with my previous setup. That's a fast grinder!
On my previous machine I had some luck with Blue bottle and very little luck with brazil sweet blue.
I will say I used up the entire free bag of black cat which I managed to get a few good shots but I don't think I would order that

I will try some of your suggestions and hopefully I will find something my wife and I like and stick with it.

Here is a picture of my new setup.. just got it today.

sluflyer06 wrote:I would consider it ESSENTIAL to get a .6mm flow restrictor(gicleur) and swap that in ASAP, it really made a world of a difference in getting even extractions, reliably.

Did you change the brew pressure? I also did the .6mm swap and I'm pulling shots at 6 BAR.

BTW my first post; very long time reader!

I'm running 7bar, I was afraid to go any lower, I'd read some people who thought they lost some tasting notes down at 6, but I never tried myself. I'm getting clean and even extractions at 7.

I have tested both 6 and 7 BAR shots and although I pulled great tasting espresso in both, the 7 BAR seems to produce repetitive great shots. With 6 BAR you need to do more adjustments and longer extractions.

Why change the Gicleur? I will say the shots are dead on with the stock, though I find the soggy pucks minorly annoying.

Because people just can't accept things from the factory, and have to tinker in the nonsensical pursuit of "perfection."