Recommended temperature for PID-ed La Pavoni Europiccola
- RioCruz
- Posts: 631
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For those of you who have PID-ed your Europiccola or use a temp strip, what temperature do you find gives you the best shots? I suspect there will be various answers, but I would be interested in whatever your personal experience might be...
"Nobody loves your coffee more than you do."
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
- drgary
- Team HB
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Rio:
What generation of Europiccola and what type of coffee? Also there are different locations for temperature measurement.
Depending on the coffee and as long as it's not roasted into second crack, I may start as low as 189F or as high as 208F.
What generation of Europiccola and what type of coffee? Also there are different locations for temperature measurement.
Depending on the coffee and as long as it's not roasted into second crack, I may start as low as 189F or as high as 208F.
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
- RioCruz (original poster)
- Posts: 631
- Joined: 14 years ago
1999 pre-millennial Europiccola with brass piston. I'll be using a strip on the group bell. As for which coffee and roast...well...your range is good enough. Thanks.
"Nobody loves your coffee more than you do."
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
- RioCruz (original poster)
- Posts: 631
- Joined: 14 years ago
Stefano recommends 92-93 C (197-199 F) for my machine. Does this agree with what others have found as a general guide?
"Nobody loves your coffee more than you do."
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
- drgary
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The group bell temp is just a guide, from there you dial in by taste. Also don't be surprised to see temp rise by more than 10F during the shot. It can be more or less depending on boiler temp, length of preinfusion and such.
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
- rpavlis
- Posts: 1799
- Joined: 12 years ago
I do not understand the total lack of enthusiasm for the use of infrared thermometers. One does not have obnoxious wires running everywhere, and one does not have to worry about heat poor conductivity from the surface to the probe. One DOES have to worry about emissivity. With a chromed machine one can simply stick a small piece of tape at the spots one wants to probe. (Polymer coated brass can be measured directly.) Most tape has very high IR emissivity, so one usually does not need adjustments on the instrument. The price of these things has fallen by a factor of at least 100! They are also handy when roasting coffee. They are, in fact, extraordinarily useful all over a kitchen. Above all, with a bottomless portafilter, one can know the actual temperature of the espresso as it is being produced. On the 2nd La Pavoni I like the flared bell part temperature to be a bit above 90C. I like the emerging espresso to reach at least 90, but preferably not higher than about 93. Why make it difficult? With these inexpensive devices, one can just aim and shoot. (Remember, however, that you cannot measure bare metallic surfaces, you can measure most liquids very well, especially water.) You can also measure the temperature of espresso in cups, and one can also measure temperatures of the cups before filling them. All this without obnoxious wires!!!
- drgary
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With respect my friend, holding it?
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
- rpavlis
- Posts: 1799
- Joined: 12 years ago
Another neat feature of these things is that each time you pull the trigger and hold it the present temperature is always displayed, along with the highest measured since the trigger was pulled. When one releases the trigger, the last temperature and highest one remains on the display for several seconds. Of course you cannot measure internal things this way. The holding the highest temperature is especially useful for tracking the temperature of the espresso as it emerges from the portafilter. Furthermore the response is essentially instantaneous, there is no lag as with other devices. Another good feature is their low price! If you have a polymer coated brass machine, you can also scan the whole thing in a few instants to teach yourself how temperatures are distributed. You can do this too with chrome plated things, but you need to put tape where you want to probe.
- RioCruz (original poster)
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- Joined: 14 years ago
Well, Robert... With this robust endorsement, you may now have upped the enthusiasm for them.rpavlis wrote:I do not understand the total lack of enthusiasm for the use of infrared thermometers... All this without obnoxious wires!!!
I see eBay has them for as low as $11. You have given me pause in my determination to get a temp strip. Thanks also for the temp settings you offered!
"Nobody loves your coffee more than you do."
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle
~James Freeman, Blue Bottle