So I've been trying to get the hang of my new Expobar over the past few weeks. Have had a LOT of terrible espresso in the process but it was to be expected.
I purchased the machine that does not have a PID but instead have simply been trying to follow the rules for temping a HX.
When I get up in the morning I run some water through the grouphead. Now here is where I start to get puzzled. SOMETIMES I see it flash boil and the water comes out of the naked PF turbulently, then as it goes steady I begin counting for a few seconds. However, there are times I never see it flash boil. It just comes out as a steady stream...

I decided to purchase a digital thermomiter and see what was going on exactly.
This morning I run water through the grouphead for a few seconds and into my cup and put the thermometer in the water. ....157F
Mind you, my machine has been on all night.

Is this an accurate way of testing the water temp from the grouphead? I imagine it would cool somewhat but I was expecting 190+F

Thoughts?

Please post a link to your exact machine . . . there are several "Expobar Office" models.

You should try checking your thermometer in some boiling water but yes, if it flash boils on one day and does not on another (same initial conditions), something is amiss. I assume the dealer is WholeLatteLove - see if they installed a thermosyphon restrictor in your machine.

Thanks for the reply. Here is the exact machine: http://www.wholelattelove.com/Expobar/e ... erplus.cfm

I actually just got off the phone with Whole Latte Love. The tech told me that I should try adjusting my Pressure Stat. He seems to think the steam pressure is too low which would cause it to not be hot enough. Im going to give it a shot this evening. Pretty lame I'm having this issue since I just bought the thing

What is the maximum reading you see on the gage just when the heating element goes off?

Did the tech ask you this? Did you ask them about a thermosyphon restrictor?

Do you mean what the pressure gauge is at when the boiler is up to temp and the red light turns off?
No, the tech didn't ask me that and no I didn't ask about the restictor. (Im pretty new to this)

Do you mean what the pressure gauge is at when the boiler is up to temp and the red light turns off?

Yes, machine fully warmed up and just when the red light goes out.

OK Red light just switched off and my brew pressure is a little over 7 bars.

No, I mean the boiler pressure gage.

Brew pressure gage reading at any time other than brewing is essentially useless.

Ahh gotcha.
Its sitting a little bit past 1 Bar

OK, maybe that's a touch low BUT changing the pressure upwards (say to 1.20 bar max) will not change water temp enough based on what you are reporting.

The key here is that it is fine one day and poor the next. That is a problem which the dealer should help you troubleshoot and confirm whether or not they have installed a thermosyphon restrictor in your machine.