Update on my drip tray issue. Clive is sending me another drip tray screen. The screen appears to be missing, or has a broken weld, thus causing the rear lip to protrude and push it away from the machine. The machine itself is beautiful and I have been pulling some amazing shots! The wood bits are absolutely worth it. It changes the entire feel of the machine. Props to Clive for the great support.




Video: https://streamable.com/s/c9i56/cpxovr

PSNY wrote: The wood bits are absolutely worth it. It changes the entire feel of the machine. Props to Clive for the great support.

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Video: https://streamable.com/s/c9i56/cpxovr

Just ordered mine exactly like yours. Wife doesn't like the side panels, but I did. Went with knobs only and can't wait to get my machine. Any updates on your experiences with the M58. I am upgrading from the older QM67.

Drew

I have had this machine for about half a year now and have been struggling this whole time to get consistently good tasting shots. It was very rare that I could achieve the sweetness that I would get in nice shops. Even after I got my monolith flat a couple of months ago, which helped, I still wasn't getting what I was hoping for. Light roast, dark roast, didn't matter. My extractions looked perfect with the bottomless portafilter and basket that came with the machine. After seeing a few top baristas absolutely swear by VST baskets, I finally decided to give the 18g one a try as kind of a last ditch effort. It is incredible the difference it has made.

I had never given one a try since there seems to be a lot of people on here who claimed they weren't really necessary or were very temperamental. I haven't had any of the channeling issues described by others, and have been able to pull consistently great shots with multiple coffees, both light and dark roasts. Maybe I just got a dud basket with my machine, no idea. I was mainly using the double ridged basket. What a relief this has been, and I finally feel like this ~$6000 investment is worth it.

Anyone else have this experience? I am finally loving my espresso

Have you tried precision shower screen? This might also help.

https://www.chriscoffee.com/E61-Precisi ... m?CartID=1

Have you tried precision shower screen? This might also help.

https://www.chriscoffee.com/E61-Precisi ... m?CartID=1

Haven't even heard of such a thing. I suppose I will look into it. I notice that even after water backflushing a couple of times after each session I end up with gunk in my screen after a week or so. I thought my spending was over after the monolith

Using precision screens with the VST might result in the sceeen clogging, as you tend to use a very fine grind with the vst

Keep in mind that your water will have a big effect on the taste of your shots. Trying to get the equivalent of your favorite coffee shop w/o having the right water will be impossible. Here's a link on water recipes that may help: https://baristahustle.com/blogs/barista ... er-recipes

As for the channeling, based on my experience, my guess is that you probably were grinding to thin for the stock basket. I've always used a VST basket with my Lucca (same one you have) and I used to have to do a lot of work (i.e. serious Weiss Distribution Technique WDT) to avoid channeling. Then I found that by increasing the coarseness in my K30 and adding a few more grams, all I need to do now is tap the portafilter to accommodate the grounds, tamp and it works every time. Life is so much more relaxing now

(also, re: the shower screen. IMO, it'll help a bit but the screens that come with the Lucca is already very good. I used to have a Gaggia Classic and, sure, for that it's a big difference. For the Lucca, just back flush every day after your done with just water --no cleaner and you'll be good.)

Cheers!

Fydees wrote:I have had this machine for about half a year now and have been struggling this whole time to get consistently good tasting shots. It was very rare that I could achieve the sweetness that I would get in nice shops. Even after I got my monolith flat a couple of months ago, which helped, I still wasn't getting what I was hoping for. Light roast, dark roast, didn't matter. My extractions looked perfect with the bottomless portafilter and basket that came with the machine. After seeing a few top baristas absolutely swear by VST baskets, I finally decided to give the 18g one a try as kind of a last ditch effort. It is incredible the difference it has made.

I had never given one a try since there seems to be a lot of people on here who claimed they weren't really necessary or were very temperamental. I haven't had any of the channeling issues described by others, and have been able to pull consistently great shots with multiple coffees, both light and dark roasts. Maybe I just got a dud basket with my machine, no idea. I was mainly using the double ridged basket. What a relief this has been, and I finally feel like this ~$6000 investment is worth it.

Anyone else have this experience? I am finally loving my espresso

Fydees wrote:Haven't even heard of such a thing. I suppose I will look into it. I notice that even after water backflushing a couple of times after each session I end up with gunk in my screen after a week or so. I thought my spending was over after the monolith

Don't forget to watch the link's attached video - It's narrated by Sebastian Gorka!

Keep in mind that your water will have a big effect on the taste of your shots. Trying to get the equivalent of your favorite coffee shop w/o having the right water will be impossible. Here's a link on water recipes that may help: https://baristahustle.com/blogs/barista ... er-recipes

As for the channeling, based on my experience, my guess is that you probably were grinding to thin for the stock basket. I've always used a VST basket with my Lucca (same one you have) and I used to have to do a lot of work (i.e. serious Weiss Distribution Technique WDT) to avoid channeling. Then I found that by increasing the coarseness in my K30 and adding a few more grams, all I need to do now is tap the portafilter to accommodate the grounds, tamp and it works every time. Life is so much more relaxing now

(also, re: the shower screen. IMO, it'll help a bit but the screens that come with the Lucca is already very good. I used to have a Gaggia Classic and, sure, for that it's a big difference. For the Lucca, just back flush every day after your done with just water --no cleaner and you'll be good.)

Cheers!

When, I say the VST basket was a last ditch effort, I mean it. I have been making my own water for a couple of months now. Tried a few different recipes, landed on a mostly potassium bicarb recipe, but I didn't notice a huge difference before. Might try out different recipes again. I always WDT, and I at least tried RDT, but didn't find it to do very much. I would try lots of different brew ratios with certain coffees that I couldn't get to taste anywhere near good, taking Matt Perger's approach of locking in the ratio and then going from there. I am not sure how I could have always been grinding too thin for that basket, as I would try different grinds such that it would move the time of the shot from 25 to 40 seconds from flipping on the pump. I usually used 16 to 17 grams as that was what I read was correct for that basket, maybe that was the problem? My shots usually looked pretty perfect on the stock double basket, but they always lacked sweetness and clarity that I would get from the great shops. With the VST thus far, anything in the 25 to 35 second range seems to taste good, and somewhere in there is excellent. Still learning, though, as I just got it for Christmas. Espresso is quite the journey

Just ordered my Lucca M58 today!! Nervous and excited at the same time. hope I get it before the weekend. I have off Monday and Tuesday. My birthday is Wednesday and I get my vacation back at work that day so I have 5 Emergancy vacation days (just call in that day and say evd and have off that day). So I will be home the day it suppose to be here and sign for

***update*** shipped today and comes friday!!