Search found 210 matches

by genovese
March 13th, 2018, 9:06 pm
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 15
Views: 627

Erosion of failed temperature probe: cause or effect?

Thanks for the suggestion, which I'll follow up, but that will have to wait until I test for actual values of the other parameters, some of which are certainly relevant to corrosion. My GH typically starts at 1 gr with a new cartridge (6 to 9 gr from the tap, dependent on seasonal variation in the m...
by genovese
March 13th, 2018, 5:19 pm
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 15
Views: 627

Erosion of failed temperature probe: cause or effect?

Background: 7-year-old Duetto II with original owner, largely trouble-free except for uneven experience with the brew boiler temperature sensor, which I believe is an NTC thermistor in a solid machined brass package which screws into the boiler, immersing the probe in boiler water. The original sens...
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by genovese
March 5th, 2014, 1:19 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 38
Views: 5504

Burnt electrical in my espresso machine. Can you help me figure out what happened?

I've seen internal switch failure where a leaf spring cracked, leaving a free shard of metal to float around, possibly bridging who knows what pair of contacts
by genovese
February 5th, 2014, 3:11 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 15
Views: 1135

How do you clean your stainless steel beauty?

A dampened (with water) cloth, then a clean dry one to polish away water spots. No need to over-think this
by genovese
January 21st, 2014, 2:03 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 20
Views: 7962

Going a bit crazy, 6 years after starting my espresso journey

If I may interject, 'sour' (or tart or acidic) in this context means literally that, one of the 4 primary flavors perceived on the tongue, independent of the nose and independent of any aromatics connoting fruit or anything else. To experience the pure "sour," try tasting some dilute (and odorless) ...
by genovese
November 17th, 2013, 1:01 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 4
Views: 4473

Starting and Switching Off Rancilio Silvia

Most of these procedures are optional, at least where their timing is concerned. The one thing that you must NOT fail to do is to maintain an adequate water level in the boiler if there is any chance that the heating element will have power, or you risk a meltdown and a $100+ parts bill, last time I...
by genovese
November 15th, 2013, 1:52 am
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 13
Views: 3106

Izzo Alex Duetto II pump noise

Mine's plumbed at home, but once a month I travel with it to an event. After setting it up and switching to the tank water source, about one time in four I hear the sound of cavitation, usually with greatly reduced output pressure (nowhere near 9 bar). The first time, I thought I had broken somethin...
by genovese
October 25th, 2013, 10:33 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 4
Views: 6070

Cleaning coffee stained silicone parts, tubing.

I doubt that's possible. Many polymers happily dissolve a variety of oils, along with whatever oil-soluble pigments they carry. I see it with gaskets on airpots, and on white polyethylene cutting boards when they come in contact with things like avocado, BBQ (pork fat, red pepper) basil pesto (olive...
by genovese
October 19th, 2013, 7:40 am
Forum: Grinders
Replies: 45
Views: 6972

New Burr Seasoning With Rice

You said you weren't happy with the taste afterward, but you didn't say whether the taste was any better (or worse) beforehand. It seems unlikely that 1.5# of anything short of gravel would faze a K10. Part of your perceived problem may be the flavor profile of large conical burrs vs. smaller flat o...
by genovese
September 12th, 2013, 3:14 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 15
Views: 4848

Rancilio Epoca - Pours are too fast

More likely an exercise in futility. Notwithstanding you get lucky part of the time, without the ability to correct the grind, in real time, to account for staling (in this case starting from stale and getting staler), humidity and different baskets, not to mention variations in the raw materials an...