I've been using my LP Pre-millennium for about a year now (with Kyocera hand grinder) with good to great results. Lately, I've been noticing that it's been especially easy to choke my machine.

I've read a number of people who claim that the LP requires a VERY fine grind - I've never had that experience. I started out at a point on my kyocera about 2 steps back from finest, but over the last few months have had to back off another two(ish) steps. I still sometimes manage to choke the machine even with a light tamp (less than 10lbs for sure). I often find myself having to go below 0.5bar boiler pressure (relative since the added pstat isn't exactly reading true bars) to get extraction.

(Edit) - I've also noticed that the resulting puck is crap - breaks apart right out of the PF. Is this from the light tamping?

Any thoughts? Has anyone else seen/heard of this?

I'm thinking perhaps the grinder is wearing down. I've noticed it does slip a fair bit during grinding....

Thanks!

Nick,

Check out the adjustment nut on your Kyocera. Have the bumps that keep the adjustment worn down on yours? They did on mine which has meant that I have gradually been having to loosen the nut more and more from tight to get a good shot.

I don't feel that it has impacted the quality of the espresso and so far the adjustment hasn't started to slip on me. It looks like Orphan Espresso isn't currently carrying the replacement nut for the Kyocera, but you could try roughening up the surface of the nut a bit to make it hold the adjustment.

Do your burrs still look in good shape?

Yeah, the burrs are fine - I think the raised bumps are wearing down though.

I'm not sure that that would account for the puck quality (lack thereof) and the choking though.... That said I am getting an electric grinder soon (on order!) so I'll post back to see if that changes things.

Chris, did you make the mods to the Kyocera nut (add more detentes)? Thanks!

I haven't done any mods to the Kyocera, but I did order a spare nut. When the original nut starts to slip, I may see what I can do to it before replacing as an experiment.