ok so far have opted for same 16.5 dose, finer grind, lighter tamp. My shot looked spot on, nice pour, nice flecks etc. However I am not liking the beans at all. Bit of a medium roast (supplied by the coffee shop that sold me the grinder). I've roasted up a batch of my own (behmor1600)

I too struggle with V3 steaming. I am having slightly better luck with starting my steaming when the light goes off and there is maximum pressure built up. Several years ago I had a domobar super, and it had so much steam the machine was like the space shuttle lifting off.. it's been hard to get use...

Hey guys, I have just upgraded from the Rocky to the Vario. My rocky may have been a bit of a lemon to begin with. I was never happy with it as even with blades starting to scrape it would still not grind fine enough to choke my v3 silvia. The vario is no where near max

Sounds worth a try. I was just used to all the hammering of 2oz in 25sec. But yeah sounds like a long ristretto is for me

*edit -ok it has been pointed out that I am basically doing long ristrettos. So what I have pushed aside would be the 2oz in 25sec mindset. (Still learning) Maybe the 2oz 25sec is more suited to straight shots. After what seems like years of struggle I am now making the best espresso drinks of my life

Guess I'll try a different basket first, then take it back to the shop for a look (haven't had a moment free to take it in yet). Do you know of any baskets available in NZ or do I need to go with coffeeparts in AUS? Thanks

Throwing in the towel on my Rocky. Patchy performance at best, just a terrible experience since I've had it, even with the 'teflon tape mod'. I am very frustrated this week. A standard rancilio double basket, finest grind I can go on my rocky and 18gms updose only gets me a 20sec shot at best! Having

I think it depends on the machine pump right? I was told to adjust my Silvia to 9bar and it was a horrible experience.. everything tasted horrific. I put it back up to stock pressure (which i think is 11 ) and I have been having some of the best coffee ever

yeah my 58mm tamp will not go below the ridge line, i suspect 16 grams won't even be tampable with my 58mm tamper. Guess I'll start with 18 and take it from there ok tried 18 and it didn't even get a tamp.. i could have gotten a tamp with a smaller tamper. Thanks to this ridge

Here is a side by side comparison. Stock Silvia double on the left, and the LM double on the right. {image} So... wow, I did not expect it to be so much larger. I was dosing 17.5gms in the stock double, how much should I use in the LM double? I am thinking 19gms?