Cafelat Robot User Experience - Page 485

#4841: Post by **jpender** » July 7th, 2023, 1:43 pm

Sproyo wrote:Here are two solutions I've come across. I had someone print the first one for me but I've yet to actually pick up the screws to install it.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5279711

https://www.printables.com/model/495213 ... -arm-latch

Thanks for that. I've seen similar ones. But they are more obtrusive than my transparent tape hack. I want something that is close to invisible from the front on one arm and very low profile on the other. Maybe it's impossible without drilling the steel, which I don't want to do. Maybe the right sort of adhesive could work. Or at the very least a clear plastic band, like the tape but cleaner looking.

left arm:

right arm:

left arm, rear side:

The metal is lightly magnetic so it may be possible to do away with a magnet on one arm if the other is strong enough. It might have to be very strong.

#4842: Post by **Jonk** » August 12th, 2023, 8:42 am

I finally bought a Flair 58 to see if I'm missing something. First impressions are mixed - somehow I think I like the F58 more than I thought I would, but for every advantage there's a drawback. It's just not a very polished product, from simple things like the portafilter handle being slightly too long to be able to lock in with the lever down, to more serious issues like air inside the system affecting feel and the already lower output capacity.

It seems like I'm able to reach higher brew temperatures with the F58. John's Cafelat Robot Temperature Tests suggests there shouldn't be much difference with the maximum pre-heat, but perhaps I dawdle for too long.

In my opinion, the most important difference is the ability to use different baskets. I prefer the Robot's basket over the 'low flow' basket that comes standard on F58, but at least for light roasts I believe their 'high flow' or other precision baskets without a chamfer are better. For those, you need to grind even finer than for the Robot (or the same baskets used in a regular pump machine) though and that's no joke

So for now I guess I'll keep both machines. Flair 58 put a lot of fuss back into the routine (just realized the Robot portafilter doubles as a pretty good dosing funnel

) but the results can be worthwhile. I wish someone will release a straight-walled basket for the Robot. If Cafelat won't, perhaps we can hope for 3rd party - even a $200 sworksdesign might be interesting.

#4843: Post by **Ken5** » August 13th, 2023, 6:37 pm

Thanks Jonas, looking forward to your future thoughts.

#4844: Post by **Ken5** » August 23rd, 2023, 8:15 pm

Does anyone else experience this from time to time?

At times either I get deep channels that line up with where the holes on the screen end,

or coffee sticks to the solid area of the screen leaving a deep void in the puck. Never had any coffee stick to the screen if there were no visible channels in the area where the holes meet the perimeter.

Weird thing is that with a channel as big as this one would think the shot would run much faster, but it does not.

I believe that my puck prep is good. I WDT, the spent puck is level when removing, I am consistent with my timings, etc.

I don't think it happens when lifting the levers, nor when pressing the water out of the basket after the shot. The channels are there even if I let the levers slowly drop on their own after the shot and also if I very slowly lift the levers when trying to remove the basket. The fact that there are no grounds above the screen also suggest that it is not happening when lifting the levers.

Does this happen to you too? Does not happen all the time, and when it does it happens for most of the bag. As I said the espresso tastes good, and the timings are good.

Ken

#4845: Post by **jpender** » August 24th, 2023, 2:13 pm

I wonder if you're just seeing an exaggerated case of the dark ring effect that is possibly due to the basket/hole design.

#4846: Post by **Ken5** » August 24th, 2023, 3:03 pm

Thanks for responding John!

What I am seeing I would think is more related to the hole design of the upper screen rather than the basket as that is where the channel is on the top of the puck. Looking at the depth and thickness of it one would think there is major channeling going on, but the timings and taste are basically the same with and without that channel... weird.

If I recall correctly you do not squeeze out the water remaining in the basket, so I assume you have never seen if yours does this.

Has anyone else noticed this? Trying different things. I just tried a shot with a coarser grind and an extra gram in the basket, I have been using 17g and just tried 18g. The channel was there, but much thinner.

Will try a paper filter without the screen next.

#4847: Post by **jpender** » August 24th, 2023, 3:27 pm

Ken5 wrote:If I recall correctly you do not squeeze out the water remaining in the basket, so I assume you have never seen if yours does this.

Why would that matter if it's not related to squeezing out the water?

I do sometimes squeeze out the water, by hand. I press down on the screen while the basket is sitting in the sink. Then I let it drain further. That leaves a pretty dry puck. And no, I've never seen huge craters on the surface.

#4848: Post by **Jonk** » August 24th, 2023, 3:36 pm

If it was indeed a channel of some sorts I'm pretty certain you would notice something more than how the puck looks, like inconsistent shot time, resistance or taste. I don't think this is something you need to be concerned about. Whenever you suddenly stop the shot there will be damage to the puck. There will also be some suction when you raise the piston to remove the portafilter.

I really like how the weight of the Robot's arms will gently push out any remaining liquid after a shot. I'm a bit annoyed having to pump the lever up and down once or twice with the Flair 58 to avoid having hot water to the rim of the basket. The second pump will actually blow out most of the liquid trapped inside the puck. Sometimes each hole in the basket will have a tiny mound of grounds still stuck to it after knocking out the puck - another oddity, but without any correlation to shot quality as far as I can tell.

#4849: Post by **Ken5** » August 24th, 2023, 3:52 pm

jpender wrote:Why would that matter if it's not related to squeezing out the water?

I do sometimes squeeze out the water, by hand. I press down on the screen while the basket is sitting in the sink. Then I let it drain further. That leaves a pretty dry puck. And no, I've never seen huge craters on the surface.

I assumed that you have not seen the top of a dry puck often.

#4850: Post by **Ken5** » August 24th, 2023, 3:55 pm

Thanks Jonas, I have been wondering how you have been enjoying the 58. I know K7 switched from the robot to it and was very happy with it. Don't really see many people that switched here on the forum.

You enjoying it?

Ken