Search found 21 matches

by WR
January 25th, 2011, 8:02 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 25
Views: 4115

La Marzocco's Formula 1 Entry: Strada with pressure profiling!

New York now has two three group Stradas in the same store. Kava Cafe at 803 Washington, just south of Gansevoort. Pulled a really nice Hairbender for me today, real baker's chocolate finish. Delicious. He pre-infused with a slow ramp to 4bar then a quicker ramp to 9. Pretty plain vanilla profile bu...
by WR
January 21st, 2010, 2:10 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 18
Views: 2687

How often do you change your showerscreen?

Funny, after a chemical backflush this morning, i remembered reading this thread and pulled my shower screen and of course it was still caked with the residue that i couldn't remove from multiple prior detergent soaks and i thought i'd give the stove a try. At first a little smoke, good... next thin...
Advertisement
by WR
May 21st, 2009, 10:51 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

Just returned home and the machine has actually held its temp! don't know what's up. maybe there was a big piece of scale that finally dislodged itself after the descaler ate away at it a bit? It's at 210 and flushes OK. Something is still going on because if i follow my usual routine (flush to
by WR
May 21st, 2009, 11:30 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

I think the thermo is OK, because it reads the temp dropping into the 170s after a long idle but then i can still get it back up to temp by a series of flushes, and as high as 211.5 eventually. I don't know if this could get air into the HX, but I have a
by WR
May 20th, 2009, 11:58 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

Well... descaled the mushroom and thanks to Eric's detailed instructions all went as planned and was very simple. Had some scale that looked like barnacles on the mushroom and after, now have clean brass. I'm having extension problems posting pics, so will do that another day. I was very optimistic,...
by WR
May 20th, 2009, 8:43 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

This makes sense... the thermosyphon is compromised which is keeping me from getting the temps above 204 and the huge drop after a long idle. I can eventually get it up to 204 but not higher because I'm getting HX water that is cooling too much on the way to exit because the whole circuit isn't gett...
by WR
May 19th, 2009, 11:32 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

Doesn't seem to be the water sensor. I ran a number of measurements, forcing refills in between and always came up at about 4.75" off the bottom of the boiler. Thermosyphon stall would explain why i can get it almost up to temp for a while after a number of flushes but then a few hours later it's
by WR
May 19th, 2009, 3:08 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

Interesting... i'll give it a try tonight. it's odd i could get it up to about 204 by bleeding steam and waiting, but then an hour a half later it would be back to 175. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks Eric! -Will
by WR
May 19th, 2009, 9:09 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 34
Views: 1837

Help diagnosing false pressure (?) / temperature issue

I'm running a Vetrano on a timer and normally at walk up in the morning the grouphead static reading on erics grouphead thermo is 207-209 and the first flush is lots of steam and top temps of 210-212. about a week ago the walk-up reading would be in the 170s and a flush wouldn't get me above 190.
by WR
August 3rd, 2008, 9:18 am
Forum: Coffees
Replies: 46
Views: 3616

Tips for most recent Intelligentsia Black Cat?

I think both sides to this discussion are hitting points that are correct. We, educated consumers who spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about, reading about, talking about and tweaking about with coffee, FULLY understand that there is seasonal variation in a blend. We understand that a roa...