Espresso Enthusiasts

[Shrink]

Ah, yes, thank you for noticing. It is the opening measure from my favorite part of my favorite opera, Tristan and Isolde, where Tristan implores the night to last forever:

O night of rapture, rest upon us,
Lift our lives’ remembrance from us.

The second act of this opera is pretty much one long love duet between Tristan and Isolde. Tristan implores the night not to end because he knows that when the sun comes up, he will probably be killed and, well, he is in love with Isolde anyway. When warned by his trusty servant named, hey, there is it: Kurwenal, that the king approaches and Tristan has been betrayed by Sir Melot, Tristan responds: "Let me die here! Let the day to death surrender!"

This being a Wagnerian opera, Tristan and Isolde do eventually die, but not until the next act.

I just realized that there is no coffee in this opera. Well, there should be. Maybe the love potion in the opera is actually coffee.....hmmm.

Yeah, Wagner...that light and frothy stuff.

Couldn't you find anything more serious!?

 

[Kurwenal]

Fascinating; I've not heard that one before. I'll have to go look it up for a listen.

Ah, excellent. I hope you enjoy it. Here is a pretty good version, with English subtitles. The part I referred to above comes at about 33:00.

Act 3 is (much) more famous, especially the Liebestod. You might give that a listen first. The last 3 minutes of this are regarded as some of the most difficult notes to sing in all of opera, and include a high C# and a full octive jump from F# to high F#. The resolution with the oboe (a high D#) is truly one of the most beautiful moments ever in the entire history of the universe. OK, I'll stop.....

Yeah, Wagner...that light and frothy stuff.

Couldn't you find anything more serious!?

You mean, like, one of those light and airy Italian operas? What good ever came out of Italy?

Oh, wait.....have to go pull my 5:12 pm doppio.

 

[Shrink]

Ah, excellent. I hope you enjoy it. Here is a pretty good version, with English subtitles. The part I referred to above comes at about 33:00.

Act 3 is (much) more famous, especially the Liebestod. You might give that a listen first. The last 3 minutes of this are regarded as some of the most difficult notes to sing in all of opera, and include a high C# and a full octive jump from F# to high F#. The resolution with the oboe (a high D#) is truly one of the most beautiful moments ever in the entire history of the universe. OK, I'll stop.....




You mean, like, one of those light and airy Italian operas? What good ever came out of Italy?

Oh, wait.....have to go pull my 5:12 pm doppio.

Going to pull your 5:12PM doppio at 8:13PM?

And your 8:13 ristretto at...well...

What came out of Italy...better than Switzerland...cuckoo clocks!

 

[Kurwenal]

Yes, I live in your past. Exactly 3 hours in your past. And we all live in Scepticalscribe's past.

I guess that means every shot I pull is stale.

 

[S.B.G]

Going to pull your 5:12PM doppio at 8:13PM?

And your 8:13 ristretto at...well...

What came out of Italy...better than Switzerland...cuckoo clocks!

Remember, he's not in our time zone, Mr. Observant.

----------

Yes, I live in your past. Exactly 3 hours in your past. And we all live in Scepticalscribe's past.

I guess that means every shot I pull is stale.

Oh, the horror!

 

[Shrink]

Remember, he's not in our time zone, Mr. Observant.

Wait...you mean it's not 8:25 everywhere!

 

[S.B.G]

Wait...you mean it's not 8:25 everywhere!

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but no. Not everywhere, but in most places it is.

 

[Kurwenal]

/PRSI

Typical Easterner......

/


Enjoying your holiday a bit, eh?

 

[Shrink]

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but no. Not everywhere, but in most places it is.

Well, land o'goshen...what kind of newfangled stuff will they think up next.

For all I know, there could be espresso machines where you put in a cartridge and push a button and it makes espresso, sort of...

Nah...that's just too silly!

/PRSI

Typical Easterner......

/

Is there really any other place?

 

[Kurwenal]

but in most places it is.

Post of the Day right there, that is.

 

[S.B.G]

Enjoying your holiday a bit, eh?

I certainly enjoyed mine... Even got in some swimming for the first time in a long while.

I also just realized I hadn't had any coffee at all today!

 

[Shrink]

I certainly enjoyed mine... Even got in some swimming for the first time in a long while.

I also just realized I hadn't had any coffee at all today! :eek:

Please leave immediately...stand in the corner and think about what you have done. And when you realize that you must have coffee...you can come back!

 

[S.B.G]

Please leave immediately...stand in the corner and think about what you have done. And when you realize that you must have coffee...you can come back!

There's still time yet for me to get one in today. But if I don't, the time away from it will make it taste that much better in the morning. ☕ In fact, maybe I'll pull an espresso instead.... May I please stay?

 

[Shrink]

There's still time yet for me to get one in today. But if I don't, the time away from it will make it taste that much better in the morning. ☕ In fact, maybe I'll pull an espresso instead.... May I please stay?

Yes, just this once... but if it happens again, she's coming to your house!

 

[S.B.G]

Yes, just this once... but if it happens again, she's coming to your house!

Image

Great. Now I'm losing my appetite for coffee. #

 

[Shrink]

Great. Now I'm losing my appetite for coffee. #

And just about everything else...if you catch my drift!

 

[S.B.G]

Okay, I had some coffee today! I pulled a double-shot of the Liquid Amber and am drinking it straight up.

 

[Shrink]

Okay, I had some coffee today! I pulled a double-shot of the Liquid Amber and am drinking it straight up.

Now that's impressive...as I know that you generally prefer your espresso as latte or cappuccino.

Of course it's Liquid Amber...so it's not exactly torture!

Is it OK straight?


Darn...now I feel guilty!

 

[S.B.G]

Now that's impressive...as I know that you generally prefer your espresso as latte or cappuccino.

Of course it's Liquid Amber...so it's not exactly torture!

Is it OK straight?


Darn...now I feel guilty!

Since I don't don't drink espresso on a regular basis, my skills are a bit lacking with pulling shots. This one was simply, "okay." The crema left much to be desired, but the bitterness wasn't too bad. The top of the puck was still soupy, and the last time we discussed that, you recommended reducing the amount of coffee in the PF. I did that and reduced it from 16 grams to 15 grams, keeping all other factors the same as my last pull, which I have a log of.

 

[Shrink]

Since I don't don't drink espresso on a regular basis, my skills are a bit lacking with pulling shots. This one was simply, "okay." The crema left much to be desired, but the bitterness wasn't too bad. The top of the puck was still soupy, and the last time we discussed that, you recommended reducing the amount of coffee in the PF. I did that and reduced it from 16 grams to 15 grams, keeping all other factors the same as my last pull, which I have a log of.

I've always found reducing the dosing eliminates the soupiness...so I'm stuck. The only other thing I can think of is that the grind is a little too fine.


I'm sure Kurwenal or mobilehaathi can help out with this...

 

[mobilehaathi]

I've always found reducing the dosing eliminates the soupiness...so I'm stuck. The only other thing I can think of is that the grind is a little too fine.


I'm sure Kurwenal or mobilehaathi can help out with this...

I'm not sure how I managed to get you to believe that I know much about pulling shots. I only pulled shots for a year on a fully automatic Breville machine, and that was about two years ago.

Not sure I can be much help other than providing moral support.

 

[Shrink]

I'm not sure how I managed to get you to believe that I know much about pulling shots. I only pulled shots for a year on a fully automatic Breville machine, and that was about two years ago.

Not sure I can be much help other than providing moral support.

Well, I was desperate!

 

[Kurwenal]

Since I don't don't drink espresso on a regular basis, my skills are a bit lacking with pulling shots. This one was simply, "okay." The crema left much to be desired, but the bitterness wasn't too bad. The top of the puck was still soupy, and the last time we discussed that, you recommended reducing the amount of coffee in the PF. I did that and reduced it from 16 grams to 15 grams, keeping all other factors the same as my last pull, which I have a log of.

Go to 17g and I'll bet your soup goes away. (Which will serve only as a diagnosis, not a cure. The espresso will probably suck.)

There are a lot of other possible causes, beyond that. Tamping is the next most likely. Then not polishing the top of the puck. Then uneven coffee distribution in the basket.

I am assuming the issue is not your machine.....but, by chance are you using a Breville?

 

[S.B.G]

Go to 17g and I'll bet your soup goes away. (Which will serve only as a diagnosis, not a cure. The espresso will probably suck.)

There are a lot of other possible causes, beyond that. Tamping is the next most likely. Then not polishing the top of the puck. Then uneven coffee distribution in the basket.

I am assuming the issue is not your machine.....but, by chance are you using a Breville?

I am going to assume it's me and not the equipment first. #

I went with a light tamp and polished the top of the puck. To the best of my knowledge the tamp and distribution was even. It was a rather fine grind too.

I am using a Gaggia Baby Class.

 

[Kurwenal]

I am going to assume it's me and not the equipment first. ��

I went with a light tamp and polished the top of the puck. To the best of my knowledge the tamp and distribution was even. It was a rather fine grind too.

I am using a Gaggia Baby Class.

OK.

First off, who cares. What matters is the taste, which comes from consistency. Soupy puck all the time, tastes good = cool. One puck soupy, next puck hard = bad, no matter how one individual pull tastes, because you won't be able to repeat a good one.

From your description, I think it is probably your tamp and polish (but it could be your grind). Be religious about getting exactly 16g into the basket, not a smidge more or less. Tamp it twice as hard as you tamped the one tonight. Then give it 5 good polish turns. Inspect the top of the puck and it should be very flat. Turn the portafilter over and the puck should not fall out.

Then, try it. See how it looks and tastes.

If it is still soupy, but tastes good, hey, victory! Next time, just leave the PF in the brew head for a minute or two after you pull the shot and I'll bet it will not be soupy. And, that will tell us what we need to know.