You shouldn't see any sediment from the hot water valve using rpavlis water, right (not sure if potassium bicarbonate heated will result in anything)? New machine. I'm sure the retailer filled the water tank to test the flow control valve installation and perhaps check everything is functional. Howe...

The rpavlis formula is clicking for me. It's better if I stick with one unit across the board (weight is easier for me to conceptualize versus volume, and I'm already weighing everything, coffee, baking, etc). I own milligram scales so instead of using concentrate, I'm just gonna mix the potassium b...

Perfect. I've already purchased the potassium bicarbonate online. Now I just need to find glass containers for mixing and I believe I see plenty that are sold for home alcohol brewing. (I prefer glass). And if I recall, Cedar Springs (local water supplier) sells RO water in glass bottles, delivered ...

Yes, I'm beginning to see that. If I'm going to rely on such a high percentage of distilled/RO water, why not eliminate the filtered tap step altogether. I believe that was what I was initially set to do but was concerned about potential corrosion risk for my ECM. But I imagine those fears are not w...

It might be weird but I enjoy the experience more when I overthink things (but resolve them). Ignorance is not bliss in this mind! But yes, perhaps I am going overboard here BUT I've already had a bad experience with a previous machine - trying not to replicate the headaches. If I read correctly, yo...

Newly purchased ECM Synchronika, need some assistance with water. Don't plan to plumb, going to use water reservoir. I have read Jim's guide. I don't want to descale, so I want to only use water that is ideally on the lower end of the scale without dipping into corrosion risk territory (boiler safe)...

So am I chasing a unicorn here? I haven't used a vibe pump since I departed from superautomatics, so if they have come a long way and a manufacturer has made them even quieter, I guess I'm not married to rotary per se, just the lower noise of a rotary. I understand there comes a point where

I'm currently looking at a non-functioning Expobar IV-R dual boiler. I've fixed it enough times that I'm not interested in repairing it anymore. Before looking at what to get next, it's obviously natural to want at least the same or more. I was looking at ECM Sync (w/ flow control) or Lelit Bianca b...

Here in Ontario, I was a long time user of Organic Meadow whole milk, until it started giving me trouble. The other brand that is night and day with regards to ease of getting microfoam is Harmony organic whole milk. I'll stick with that for now, but I do have one other organic option. Haven't tried...

Heh, its whole milk or nothing here. And organic whole is 3.8% I try to explain how little fat that actually amounts to in a cappuccino, which is minuscule. Most don't mind. And all don't care when they taste it. I'll take a look at anything that contributes to learning. And I suppose I'll keep the ...