That reads like exactly like i am doing for the time being. I didn't know it would have a name! but it still needs to improve. I still don't get an even distribution and/or i really suck at tamping. today my 2 cups where as uneven filled as possible slight of one being totally empty, so

Nice vid, clear and understandable (even for an euro newbie) Till now i did roughly the same with my distribution (working with my gear since a month now), but only using a plastic straightlined kind of ruler instead of my finger. Is there anything against using something else then a finger or hand?...

Thanks all. i will try gently pulling the guard, and handwash the hopper with soap later

I was thinking for analyzing to make a little video myself. Let's hope i do this! (i probably will show a lot of things for you all to comment on ) *to be continued*

So, as someone who is only making espresso since 2 weeks, i don't have to be scared of doing something wrong, at least not to cause this problem of a few fine grounds in the cup. but i am still not sure it is something that should happen. extremely spoken, i never would get into a barista final this

I have a macap with standard hopper. friends gave me very oily beans and now my hopper looks like a piece of butter was in there! Should i clean it? (i certainly think so!) how? that strange plastic fingerguard is in there. rinse it with some dishwasher by hand?

I would think it strange that owning the macap only 2 weeks and making roughly 50 espressi, it already needs disassembling? i hope not! This morning i checked closely what i was doing. My grind is certainly not too fine, pull is too quick (but good enough for a wake-up cappu) my desk is clean, porta...

So it's not that the fine grounds is coming through the basket? wouldn't make sense! But i will check on contamination on the spouts first time i go on the machine again

I always have some fine coffee grinds in my espresso after pulling. I have an expobar lever and a macap M4 stepless. I wouldn't expect grinds in there! What could be the source? A bad portafilter basket? too fine grinding? (shouldn't be, 30 ml water is flowing in 28 seconds)

Thanks, i will dive right into the section you linked. I guess the first thing i could try is consistent dosing level. So get out the scale and get that consistent first. Like a barista said yesterday: "Don't blame the machine, most of the time that is working fine." Considering the pressure drop in...