I've been searching and searching but can't seem to find anyone with first hand experience comparing the SSP HU to Cast lab sweets and the stock italmill df64 burrs for espresso. I would really like to know as I am looking for more texture/syrupy body over the stock italmills.

Is this a thing?

Note: I'm not speaking about the prewetting without pressure, where you just lift the lever to mid-position without lifting it all the way up beforehand.

I just got a linea mini and a niche and we went through a few coffees but wanted to get something that is commonly available, not expensive so I tune my grinding/coffee making skills.

not expensive is in the list as sometimes I make 3-4 shots in a row to just taste what I did...

I understand that an HX machine has a single boiler, usually on the steam side (I think) and somehow the heat gets to the other side to brew espresso. The boiler is pretty self explanatory. I called one of the retailers to discuss selection of a new espresso machine but they...

I recently purchased a used LMLM. Truly (at least in my opinion) a beautiful machine and I have really enjoyed the simple classic design and function. I did start to wonder what else it was capable of and went down the rabbit hole of MOD options. I considered (and purchased) the...

most baskets hole patterns are not edge-to-edge (the unifilter might be the exception). so essentially there is a wall of coffee along the edge that when water passes through does not have a direct exit and needs to migrate inward to reach an exit path. This essentially means...

I got my Breville Dual Boiler back in late fall of 2011. I was getting ready for a promotion at work that I was going to celebrate with a saturated brew group machine, probably a GS/3 because of their value in comparison to the single group Cyncra (that I really wanted) and...

Hi I'm new here. But I have enjoyed these forums for more than a decade. In fact, my first proper grinder and decent machine were informed by discussions on HB.

Now, have anyone thought about something like this?
- I seem to have fatal issues with my espresso machines every 6...

So I managed to pick up an SCL for a great price today. It's my first lever, and I'm excited.

Have a couple of questions though that I couldn't find answers too:

1. What's the red light signify?

2. What should the pressure gauge say at idle? I've read that thermosyphon...