V12man Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 Thanks, I think I've got the grind worked out.I started with the finest setting and worked back until the coffee started flowing into the cup, versus dripping. I haven't used my existing grinder (yet) to try the "pre-ground" option, so I'll try again this week. The temperature cannot be changed on this machine, unless I'm missing something somewhere. I've set the length of draw based on time for the long cup (about 28 seconds) rather than when beans pass the blonde stage (mainly because I don't know when that is on this machine). For the short and medium sized cups, I let it at the factory default. I served up 5 different strengths for the wife, and she likes it mild (2/5) versus my strong (4/5). Since then, I think she has gotten used to the taste and as a result is back to 1 tsp of sugar with her cup. What else? I must admit I like the convenience of a quick cuppa coffee, but still prefer to "make" a cup. I am surprised there is no temperature change allowed on that machine - usually they have some small ability to change it - but they don't tell you what the actual temp is... sort of high, medium low type of thing. Interesting you can choke the machine (or nearly choke it) on the grind settings - but in any case, when setting the time for the pull based on the cup size, there is nothing you can do except pull it till you get the cup full enough so that milk drinkers don't get cold coffee... (unless like my wife you put it in the microwave afterwards...)
Frosty Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 Okay, you're correct - there is a temperature setting in the menu section: Low, Medium, Hot, Maximum. Back to the manual I need to go to see if I'm missing something else.Turned it to Maximum and will start again with a finer grind unless it drips with the first twist of the dial.
V12man Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 Okay, you're correct - there is a temperature setting in the menu section: Low, Medium, Hot, Maximum. Back to the manual I need to go to see if I'm missing something else.Turned it to Maximum and will start again with a finer grind unless it drips with the first twist of the dial. Just make sure the drip is not from a bit of pre-infusion some of the machines do - you can hear this - pump runs for a couple of seconds, then stops for a couple, then starts again and runs till the end.
Dirty Sanchez Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 (edited) OK, machine & grinder plugged in. Chaos ensued... Never before have I never ground so much coffee. Grinder is still not dialled but we're getting there Thanks to V12man & GBguy for all the advice! Also thumbs up to Jonathan & his team at Bean There! Edited January 6, 2014 by Dirty Sanchez V12man 1
Weight Weenie Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 Nice one Sanchez! How is the Compak doing? I'm still keen on one.
Dirty Sanchez Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 Just patiently getting it dialled. I've sent less than a kg through it, so tough to call. So far, so good.
cadenceblur Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 I reckon the Compak is a a decent grinder. Pretty happy with mine. Must admit though that Dialling in the grinder when one changes beans is proving to be one of the most frustrating exercises for me!
lazza Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) Anyone have experience with a Saeco,.(I'm sure someone has in 113 pages-can anyone shorten the search,) Edited January 7, 2014 by lazza
Wayne Potgieter Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Not sure if any of you are keen... Vlamrouge 1
Frosty Posted January 11, 2014 Posted January 11, 2014 Just make sure the drip is not from a bit of pre-infusion some of the machines do - you can hear this - pump runs for a couple of seconds, then stops for a couple, then starts again and runs till the end.The drip is definitely for the duration of the coffee pull process. I'm now down to 2/7 (there are 14 settings, so 2 is actually 4). I have now moved to the finest setting on my stand alone grinder, and changed beans - this has produced a BIG thumbs up from the wife, no more bitter taste. V12man 1
arendoog Posted January 11, 2014 Posted January 11, 2014 Anybody have a Gaggia espresso machine .Any comments ??
V12man Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 Anybody have a Gaggia espresso machine .Any comments ?? I don't have one, but some of the older ones are VERY cool and hugely collectible - but they have a range from toy to big commercial, so you would need to be specific about which one to get reasonable comments.
HappyMartin Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) I'm finally getting on top of my Oscar. It has been loads of fun. I have watched a lot of videos and tried to learn as best I can. Lots of very good advice on this thread. Big thanks to V12man in particular. The grinder finally seems to have settled down. I manage to consistently pull a double shot between 25 and 30 seconds which I think is correct. Even the milk steaming has gotten better although every now and again I just blow it. End up with huge bubbles sometimes or next to no froth at all. Being less aggressive with the temp and keeping the end result cooler seems to help. Anyway thanks to everyone on this thread that has been posting advice on the Oscar. Because of you guys I bought the machine and I am very happy so far. Thanks also for the all the ongoing advice and support. Edited January 12, 2014 by HappyMartin Weight Weenie 1
LukeV-2 Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 I'm finally getting on top of my Oscar. It has been loads of fun. I have watched a lot of videos and tried to learn as best I can. Lots of very good advice on this thread. Big thanks to V12man in particular. The grinder finally seems to have settled down. I manage to consistently pull a double shot between 25 and 30 seconds which I think is correct. Even the milk steaming has gotten better although every now and again I just blow it. End up with huge bubbles sometimes or next to no froth at all. Being less aggressive with the temp and keeping the end result cooler seems to help. Anyway thanks to everyone on this thread that has been posting advice on the Oscar. Because of you guys I bought the machine and I am very happy so far. Thanks also for the all the ongoing advice and support. What grinder did you get Martin?
HappyMartin Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 It's also a Simonelli but not the one that came bundled with the oscar. Not sure of the model. Cost about 9K I think
LukeV-2 Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 It's also a Simonelli but not the one that came bundled with the oscar. Not sure of the model. Cost about 9K I think Thanks.
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