I've been to Starbucks only three or four times. I, too, was there recently and I WAS stupid enough to go for a straight double shot (or whatever phony boloney pseudo Italian nonsense they call it).
The gods punish us for our stupidity!!
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Espresso Enthusiasts
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I've been to Starbucks only three or four times. I, too, was there recently and I WAS stupid enough to go for a straight double shot (or whatever phony boloney pseudo Italian nonsense they call it).
The gods punish us for our stupidity!!
I've been to Starbucks only three or four times. I, too, was there recently and I WAS stupid enough to go for a straight double shot (or whatever phony boloney pseudo Italian nonsense they call it).
The gods punish us for our stupidity!!
Well you were braver than me at least, even if you were rightly punished for it
Well you were braver than me at least, even if you were rightly punished for it
Braver!?
Try not so incredibly bright!
But not an iota of sympathy??
Tough crowd, here.
I just received the tamper specifically made for the Strada filter basket. The fit is perfect!
It is completely without any slack, and when the grinds are compressed, the are absolutely no grinds on the wall of the basket. Also, the tamp is perfectly level, since there is no slack which would allow the tamper to rock.
Amazing!!!
It is completely without any slack, and when the grinds are compressed, the are absolutely no grinds on the wall of the basket. Also, the tamp is perfectly level, since there is no slack which would allow the tamper to rock.
Amazing!!!
I just received the tamper specifically made for the Strada filter basket. The fit is perfect!
It is completely without any slack, and when the grinds are compressed, the are absolutely no grinds on the wall of the basket. Also, the tamp is perfectly level, since there is no slack which would allow the tamper to rock.
Amazing!!!
That's great! I'm still waiting for my new one to arrive. It's coming from Hawaii!
I'm curious...where did you order your tamper?
Obviously not from Amazon!
I was under the impression you ordered a Vanelis 51mm tamper...but, apparently not from Amazon.
I'm curious...where did you order your tamper?
Obviously not from Amazon!
I was under the impression you ordered a Vanelis 51mm tamper...but, apparently not from Amazon.
It was the one you found on eBay.
Gracious...my memory is really going!
When you get a little older you'll understand the sad phenomenon of your brain turning to porridge. It is an experience I am enjoying now!
The new 51mm tamper will fit much better than the 50mm you are using now. The fit will not be as perfect as the Cafelat tamper made specifically for the Strada basket (the tolerance on the tamper is 0.05mm), but you will find that getting the edges tamped properly, and getting a level tamp, will be much easier that you are experiencing now. You will still have a little coffee on the walls of the basket when you are done tamping...but much less than now.
Gracious...my memory is really going!
When you get a little older you'll understand the sad phenomenon of your brain turning to porridge. It is an experience I am enjoying now!
The new 51mm tamper will fit much better than the 50mm you are using now. The fit will not be as perfect as the Cafelat tamper made specifically for the Strada basket (the tolerance on the tamper is 0.05mm), but you will find that getting the edges tamped properly, and getting a level tamp, will be much easier that you are experiencing now. You will still have a little coffee on the walls of the basket when you are done tamping...but much less than now.
That's my hope. This 50mm does leave a considerable amount of coffee on the sides.
Not only does it leave grinds on the side, but it also doesn't tamp the edge of the puck the same pressure as the middle. Since the water under pressure takes the route of least resistance, the water will tend to rush through the "untamped" edges of the puck effecting proper extraction. When the puck is uniformly tamped, the water passes through all of the puck uniformly.
Any, it will give you a better extraction.
Not only does it leave grinds on the side, but it also doesn't tamp the edge of the puck the same pressure as the middle. Since the water under pressure takes the route of least resistance, the water will tend to rush through the "untamped" edges of the puck effecting proper extraction. When the puck is uniformly tamped, the water passes through all of the puck uniformly.
Any, it will give you a better extraction.
The pursuit of the perfect puck! PPP
Hey, great!
Let us know how it works after you get home.
I think I need another 0.5mm bigger. This one is better than the 50mm, but there is still some slop between the tamper and the edge of the portafilter and I had a small layer of coffee on the side.
Unless you get a custom made tamper (e.g. Reg Barber), you will always have some slack. You would have to measure your filter basket accurately to 2 decimal places to have a tamper with a perfect fit.
Having some "slop" is to be expected with the equipment you have (Gee, that didn't sound quite right!
).Let's try again...with an inexpensive machine, the fit you have with the 51mm tamper is probably the best you can possibly have (assuming the tamper is, in fact, 51mm).
I would not suggest spending whatever a Reg Barber custom made tamper ( about $75) with the equipment you now have. While not inevitable, the probability is that you will upgrade sometime in the future. The likelihood of the tamper fitting you new basket is poor. More importantly, when/if you upgrade, you will likely have a 58mm basket, which is what comes with higher level machines.
So...my guess is that the fit, though not perfect, is what you can expect with any 51mm tamper (again assuming the measurement is roughly correct) with the equipment you have now. Don't let a little slop bother you, it is to be expected. However, I am assuming that the fit with the 51mm is better than the 50mm.
Unless you get a custom made tamper (e.g. Reg Barber), you will always have some slack. You would have to measure your filter basket accurately to 2 decimal places to have a tamper with a perfect fit.
Having some "slop" is to be expected with the equipment you have (Gee, that didn't sound quite right!
Let's try again...with an inexpensive machine, the fit you have with the 51mm tamper is probably the best you can possibly have (assuming the tamper is, in fact, 51mm).
I would not suggest spending whatever a Reg Barber custom made tamper ( about $75) with the equipment you now have. While not inevitable, the probability is that you will upgrade sometime in the future. The likelihood of the tamper fitting you new basket is poor. More importantly, when/if you upgrade, you will likely have a 58mm basket, which is what comes with higher level machines.
So...my guess is that the fit, though not perfect, is what you can expect with any 51mm tamper (again assuming the measurement is roughly correct) with the equipment you have now. Don't let a little slop bother you, it is to be expected. However, I am assuming that the fit with the 51mm is better than the 50mm.
Yeah it won't bother me near as much as the 50mm tamper which left a considerable amount of coffee on the edges.
The 51mm is much heavier than the 50mm/60mm tamper I recently bought and it did make a very nice puck.
Maybe when the weather warms up I'll take the portafilter and the tamper you sent me to my dad and have him measure and mill them for a more-perfect fit!
Nice that your dad can do that for you.
However, I'm not sure that it will make a huge difference in what the machine produces. As long as the puck is level, and the edges are reasonably well tamped down (which they probably are with the 51mm tamper), my guess is that you will get all of what the machine can give you. While it is likely that if/when you upgrade, the filter will require a 58mm tamper...you might get one that uses a 53mm tamper. What I'm suggesting is that you carefully consider whether you want to radically alter the 53mm tamper as the improvement of what you can get from your current machine will be a small increment.
I guess I should have expounded a bit more.
If I choose to have it milled down, it's purely because the little perfectionist in me is coming out! Not because I think it will improve the the machines performance.
I guess I should have expounded a bit more.
Well, when it comes to espresso, I certainly understand that concept!!
I'm just suggesting that you might use the 53mm tamper in the future. On the other hand, although the Vanelis is quite a good tamper, you can always get a new one for about $26-$30...not a giveaway, but not blindingly expensive.
And then you can have a perfect fit now!!
Well, when it comes to espresso, I certainly understand that concept!!
I'm just suggesting that you might use the 53mm tamper in the future. On the other hand, although the Vanelis is quite a good tamper, you can always get a new one for about $26-$30...not a giveaway, but not blindingly expensive.
And then you can have a perfect fit now!!
Right now, I figure I'll keep this machine until it stops working and then look to upgrade. If I need to buy a new tamper at that time, it won't be a huge deal.
Considering that De Longhi machines are pretty reliable, and have a good long life if properly maintained, that will be a long time.
However, given your rapidly advancing skills, and your obvious enjoyment of the drinks you are making, I have a prediction...you will want to upgrade before the De Longhi dies.
Remember...you heard it here first!!
Considering that De Longhi machines are pretty reliable, and have a good long life if properly maintained, that will be a long time.
However, given your rapidly advancing skills, and your obvious enjoyment of the drinks you are making, I have a prediction...you will want to upgrade before the De Longhi dies.
Remember...you heard it here first!!
Haha, I am prepared to eat my words should I upgrade prior to the De Longhi's demise.
Well I just had a very nice experience with Cimbalis parts department. I needed a new group head gasket (tip, when high pressure burning hot espresso squirts out at you its time to get a new one) so I rung Cimbali and they said they would put pop one in the post for me with no charge.
The gasket is only just over a pound but still, thats above and beyond what you expect.
The gasket is only just over a pound but still, thats above and beyond what you expect.
Always good to provide tips about espresso machine maintenance! I thought those third degree burns I was experiencing were normal!!! I figured it was part of the sacrifices one makes for good coffee!!
Gosh...the things you learn here.
Nice to find a vendor who stands behind their product. Even though it's a relatively small amount of money, this is one of those "it's the principle of the thing" situations.
NOTE TO eric/: Just wondering if you have been doing regular back flusjing with your new machine. Gaggia doesn't mention it in their Owner's Manual, but you have a three way pressure valve so you can, and should, be doing regular back flushing.
Haha, I am prepared to eat my words should I upgrade prior to the De Longhi's demise.
Which model did you opt for, General?