Anthony, 50-60ml from a dose of 14grm is way off. Suggest you up the dose to 16grms or more and aim to extract 1.5 times your dose in around 27secs. Don't bother about the crema - concentrate on extraction.

 

Wow so that really is way off then.

Just to to be clear then, I should grind about 16g of coffee. I'd then zero my scales on an empty shot glass, pull my shot over approx 27s and when done I want my scales to show approx 24g? Am I understanding you correctly?

thank you

 

Wow so that really is way off then.

Just to to be clear then, I should grind about 16g of coffee. I'd then zero my scales on an empty shot glass, pull my shot over approx 27s and when done I want my scales to show approx 24g? Am I understanding you correctly?

thank you

Yes and you must lose any thoughts about the volume of the shots as when weighing input and output the volume of the shot becomes irrelevant.

 

Thanks charliej.

The first thing that springs to (my novice) mind in that case is how will I know when to stop to achieve a weight of 24g if I'm not using volume (in a cup) as a visual indicator?

 

Pour the shot into the cup which is sat on the scales.

Kill the pump when the scales read 22g and see what the lag is , adjust next time if need be.

Note the time it took you to reach 24g , and all being repeated exactly the next time just go by time

 

Ahh superb Gary, I hadn't thought about putting the scales under the cup whilst pouring. I feel a bit stupid now!

Off to to try it out, will report back...

thanks a million guys.

 

Measuring by extraction by weight worked for me too. It massively improved my shots when I was starting out. Keep us posted on how you get on.

 

Ps try to keep the scales from getting wet.

 

It just takes time! You need to remember, that if you grind fine, then the tamp is less important, as a means pf packing the grind into the basket. The Vario should not really clump at all, do if you are continuing to stir, knows as the WDT technique (google it) then perhaps something finer like a cocktail stick would be better. On my grinder, i do not really tamp at all, other than to push the mound down and polish it. The main thing is to be consistent with your approach. Then you can tweek one variable at a time.

 

At some point a naked PF can be handy in seeing where any distribution errors are and helping you correct them...

 

thanks guys, bit of a mental day yesterday so never got time to reply.

I have a problem with my 9 quid scales in that they are not very accurate and are probably too large to sit on the shelf under the PF.

I did get closer but I just cant trust the scales as they were jumping around all over the place, e.g. I stopped the pour at approx 23g, it would go onto to register 27g, then jump back down to 24, long after the pour had finished. I suspect it was because they were hanging off the shelf and any slight movement was altering the read.

So where can I buy decent but not ridiculously priced scales?

 

I use these.... V cheap and seem to do a good job for the money

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=130976690910

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-01-g-100-GRAMS-DIGITAL-POCKET-MINI-COIN-WEIGHING-SCALES-JEWELRY-GOLD-SILVER-/231107959011

£5 eBay , others are available .....

 

Great minds boots! Mine are cheaper

 

100 gram limit is poor . 300 FTW

 

I suppose the 100g limit is only an issue depending on what you use them for. For me weighing in my beans, the grind output and then the shot output (in anything up to an 8oz cup) they have been great. No problems whatsoever.

If your using them for brewed then the limit may be more of an issue.

 

These;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/833105C-Electronic-Digital-Pocket-Gold-Jewellery-Weighing-Weight-Scale-1kg-0-1g-/271240982341?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item3f2738ef45

or these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151067184567?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Both take higher weight and not much more in cost

 

These;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/833105C-Electronic-Digital-Pocket-Gold-Jewellery-Weighing-Weight-Scale-1kg-0-1g-/271240982341?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item3f2738ef45

or these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151067184567?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Both take higher weight and not much more in cost

+1 for the bottom link. They have taken a battering and still the original battery is strong! accurate to 0.01g and zero latency

 

Thanks again guys, new scales ordered.

I'm having a bit of a 'mare tonight. I. bought new beans from a very reputable shop in Glasgow today (Papercup), I also had a wonderful espresso in the shop so set about trying to mimic it at home.

I measured out about 16-18g, done all the usual stuff and poured to get to about 26g in the cup and it took about 14s. My vario was at about 2L, I stepped through various increments all the way down to about 2B but the longest pour time I can get for 26-28g in the cup is about 16s even after stepping the grinder way down.

I had it at about 2F a few days ago, albeit with a different bean and it was choking, any ideas what is going on?

BTW my first or second pour even at 14s tasted great, very like the one from the shop but subsequent pours haven't been as nice.

 

What's the roast date on the beans?

 

It just says

roast date: best within two weeks, although enjoy for up to two months

Thankyou.

 

I'd expect beans from Papercup to be pretty fresh. Can you go finer?

 

Guys I've just realised I'm adjusting whilst the grinder is not running, been looking at a few videos and they reckon this is bad, could I have gubbed my grinder?

 

Nah unlikely, is it making any weird noises? It's best to adjust when running to prevent the burrs touching and to stop beans getting jammed between the burrs when you go finer but you'd know by the sound if that was an issue.

 

Ok thanks jeebsy, I've just cleaned the hopper out and removed the top burr, reassembled and ran it dry. No strange noises, thankfully.

Ill start again in the morning. I'm also going to try and attend the barista skills courses either with funinacup or at Papercup.

Are there any good videos which demonstrate this method of weighing the grinds, then weighing the brewed coffee, I think I'm doing it correctly, but it'd be good to have a visual reference.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and contributions.