La Marzocco GS3, Day 1

[jakline]

My GS/3 arrived today from Chris Coffee. It arrived, as Chris says on his site, "via common carrier strapped to a pallet"--with not so much as a dent in the packaging.

Set up was remarkably easy. I filled the boilers and bled the group, set the offset with the Scace 2 (yep, I couldn't resist the Scace), and set the boiler temp. The Crystal Geyser water tested OK with the test strips Chris sent (a Hach 5-B test kit is coming tomorrow for a more precise test).

I went through a couple of cans of Illy beans and ended up making a pretty good espresso. Comments about the Illy are unnecessary--based on advice from roblumba (Rober Lombardi), I'm going to pick up some beans at Barefoot Coffee Roasters tomorrow (actually, today). (Note: I'm not averse to trying other beans. I have tried Vivace's Dolce a couple of times in the past, but I never could dial them in on the Liva.)

I must say it was fun getting stable/reproducible temps with the GS/3. I spent quite some time logging and graphing temps on the Livia in an attempt to arrive at a reproducible temp surfing routine; but I never did get there.

Thanks again for all the replies to my previous post.

Cheers,
John

[alexanderruas]

great fun to read about your experience. now we are just waiting for photos of your home set-up, a report on which of the beans you're trying out (I think you should try something from Ritual Roasters up in SF. They just released a new blend called Sweet Tooth - read a review on http://godshot.blogspot.com/2008_...848976180426019516

alexander

[PhillySteve]

I filled the boilers and bled the group, set the offset with the Scace 2 (yep, I couldn't resist the Scace), and set the boiler temp. Cheers,
John

What temp offset did you end up with? It seems most are getting -3 to -4 deg F. I also bought from Chris, but picked it up at the shop after having them bench test it.

Also, when you remove your left panel, do you see anything between your pump and the frame? 2 white strips? A rubber bushing? Nothing?

Steve

[jakline]

Hey Philly Steve,

You're from Philly. Lancaster is my home town.

What temp offset did you end up with? It seems most are getting -3 to -4 deg F.

Using a Scace 2, I ended up with 4.3 F.

I aslo bought from Chris, but picked it up at the shop after having them bench test it.

Mine was bench tested before it was shipped to me. They did (properly) drain the boilers before shipping.

Also, when you remove your left panel, do you see anything between your pump and the frame? 2 white strips? A rubber bushing? Nothing?

Alas, I haven't looked. I've been meaning to do that. I'll try to remember to look tonight when I go home. I haven't been in a hurry to look since vibration is not a problem.

How about your machine, do you have the white strips for the rubber?

- John

[laservet]

Mine has the white strips.

[PhillySteve]

How about your machine, do you have the white strips for the rubber?

- John

Yeah, white strips. No vibration.

[jakline]

I'll try to remember to look tonight when I go home. I haven't been in a hurry to look since vibration is not a problem.

I just looked. I have the white strips too.

[malachi]

Have fun.
You're a lucky man.

[PhillySteve]

Hey Philly Steve,
You're from Philly. Lancaster is my home town.
- John

So you swapped corn fields, shoo-fly pie, strudel, and horse-buggies for a San Fran and a great Pacific view? Must be nice. But don't you get sick of all that nice weather?