Hi UFGator

I think you should look into using a naked portafilter. If you don't use 58mm then I suggest buying a regular portafilter and drilling a hole with a hole saw. It is not that difficult. It will be a great help diagnosing any problems and fine tuning techniques.

8.5 bars (measured at the group head) is a good pressure. The pressure reading from the machine may not be that accurate.

To get more volume without blonding, with good distribution and tamping, you'll basically need more surface area on the basket. It is a combination of baskets with grind levels and higher doses. The larger the grinds, the more volume, but it also affects the flavor.

Cheers

+1 to all this advice, especially cleaning the waste/stale stuff and burr sesoning. My replacement SJ burrs were really inconsistent till I had about 8 lbs or so through them. The Titaniums seemed to take even longer.

Finally got the dosage and temp right for belle based on my current setup...beans have 5 days of age so I am grinding slightly finer, 16 grams at 95C for a 30 sec double shot at 1.2oz. Starting to love this grinder, no distribution, a few doser twacks for a big pile in the portafilter, lightly tap vertically then one 20lb tamp with no polishing. Great results despite the burrs still breaking in after only 2 lbs of beans

UFGators wrote:Finally got the dosage and temp right for belle based on my current setup...beans have 5 days of age so I am grinding slightly finer, 16 grams at 95C for a 30 sec double shot at 1.2oz. Starting to love this grinder, no distribution, a few doser twacks for a big pile in the portafilter, lightly tap vertically then one 20lb tamp with no polishing. Great results despite the burrs still breaking in after only 2 lbs of beans

Wait till day 8! Belle "sings."