disabling the preinfusion chambers by using a longer spring, has the advantage of not having the preinfusion phase interfere with your controller pressure. leaving the original spring in so you do have preinfusion means you can open the lever, set it for a 9 bar pressure and know the group will react the same as a normal group.

 

Thanks Dave

So there is no right or wrong setup, it is just down to what you determine as your own best method, think I will leave original spring in for the moment as I am running without the pressure gauge so i can leave my group head thermometer in place,I am trying to figure out a method of obtaining temperature and pressure readings simultaneously.

If i do decide to obtain the longer spring do you know anyone in the UK that stocks it?

 

@ken0062 I would recommend using a Manometer on the group...It would be nice if one day someone comes up with a combined temperature sensor and pressure measurement tool for the E61. I did look at it a few years ago.

The longer spring must be a special....the other way is to remove the preinfusion chamber spring completely.

 

It would be nice if one day someone comes up with a combined temperature sensor and pressure measurement tool for the E61. I did look at it a few years ago.

So far the only answer I have found involves drilling into the grouphead Here and a lot of modification, but I may have come up with a more non evasive idea using a couple of compression pipe fittings and a bit of machining, Will post back if I ever get it to work

 

A manometer is obviously ideal but not totally necessary. You can make adjustments to flow based on flow into the cup, you can increase flow from a low flow/low-pressure preinfusion when you see the basket fully beading and forming a central stream.

There are a few discussions floating around on how to use the paddle devices. I mainly make sure I don't spend too long at very low pressures and ramp down through the shot. If I get the grind wrong, if it's too fine I might shut off flow and let it 'bloom', if it's too fast I might drop it down to half flow rate and pull a longer shot, or I might open it all the way and get one slightly quicker. There's no right or wrong way really, you'll get some experience with different coffees and know what you want to do.