Search found 4685 matches

by cafeIKE
10 hours ago
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 9
Views: 120

Long startup - Vibiemme Domobar Super

It could be the boiler fill solenoid. If it's not opening fully or clogged somehow it would slow both the open group and boiler fill rates. Or it could be a low flow rate on the pump. If you got some dirt or growth in the water tank, it could clog the inlet screen. Or if there is
by cafeIKE
Yesterday, 11:25 am
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 9
Views: 120

Long startup - Vibiemme Domobar Super

That flow is about 2/3 of normal. {image}
Advertisement
by cafeIKE
March 25th, 2024, 10:08 am
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 9
Views: 120

Long startup - Vibiemme Domobar Super

It could be the bypass valve. Look at how much water is returned if you pinch the OPV return. The bypass valve should be brass and have the exit point straight up, not to the side as shown {image} You can also check how much water is pumped in 30s from an open group. It's possible the pump
by cafeIKE
March 25th, 2024, 9:59 am
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 16
Views: 483

Lights flicker in house, when espresso machine is on (Alex Leva).

4 more items, all of which I've experienced in ½c. Bad main breaker, bad panel connection, bad mains wiring to panel [squirrels], bad pole transformer [2 locations]
by cafeIKE
March 24th, 2024, 10:07 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 16
Views: 483

Lights flicker in house, when espresso machine is on (Alex Leva).

When the PID engages there is a large current surge until the heater is hot. Depending on the bulb, it maybe enough to cause a flicker as many LED bulbs do not respond linearly, but in steps. Hence some will show a voltage variation more severely. Are the LED bulbs on dimmers? What other items are o...
by cafeIKE
March 24th, 2024, 9:55 pm
Forum: Repairs, Restorations & Mods
Replies: 9
Views: 120

Long startup - Vibiemme Domobar Super

17 years is a long time for a pump. I replace 120v pumps every five years. What has been the maintenance schedule?
by cafeIKE
March 17th, 2024, 12:48 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 37
Views: 1316

Coffee too fresh for espresso. How to tell?

Look at the middle of the Effective Age Dates table: March 6, 2024 is 5 days @ 1 staling days per 16 frozen days. The staling rate varies per coffee and it's up to the user to determine the rate for a particular coffee [style] and set the Staling rate reduction field. Set to 2.9, 5 days effective age
by cafeIKE
March 16th, 2024, 7:13 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 37
Views: 1316

Coffee too fresh for espresso. How to tell?

The calculator has the Staling Rate Reduction. Default is 2 which makes the coffee 8 days old BUT the factor is not hard and fast and requires user choice based on experience. FWIW, I don't freeze until coffee is drinking as I like it. It's stood me in good stead for almost 15 years
by cafeIKE
March 16th, 2024, 4:56 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 37
Views: 1316

Coffee too fresh for espresso. How to tell?

See my "Frozen Coffee Storage Calculator" {image}
by cafeIKE
March 12th, 2024, 10:50 am
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 37
Views: 1316

Coffee too fresh for espresso. How to tell?

Definitely the wrong approach. Dose is determined by taste <<<< coffee, grinder, group geometry and basket all affect taste. In an e61, I found a long time ago that I prefer maximum headspace, i.e. shortest group screen and a wide selection of baskets to optimize dose and grind per coffee. I eschew ...