Knluk I think it’s not unusual ( from my own experience) to get some residue on the shower screen. I tend to wipe my shower screen in between each shot with a cloth and try to leave adequate headspace in the basket to allow some freedom for the water to circulate. I use the upper circular line within the basket as my limit. it works for me

    Can I just check ( as a new Lelit user ) that i am not overdoing things.

    I run about a batch of about 3 shots in the morning and the same in the evening. After my last shot ( morning and evening) I backflush 2 to 3 times with water only. So in essence I backflush ( with water only) twice a day. I have noticed the paddle can sometimes get a little stiffer when warm compared to cold. Is this normal? expansion? I was going to lubricate the o’rings after about 2 months. Should i do it sooner? The shots are good. So no complaints there.

    Also I clean the portafilter with washing up liquid at the end of use for the day. I take out the shower screen every 3- 4 days to clean it and also clean underneath the grouphead with a wet pad and a very small amount of fairy liquid, opening the lever at the end to flush any residue down. Finally wiping with a plain wet pad.

    I was going to use puly every 2 months or so and then grease the cam. If I use puly should I grease the o’rings on the paddle also?

      Knluk I got this after every shot. Is it normal?

      Yes. You need to drop the shower screen every 2-3 days and keep things clean.

        I would just flush a few seconds after each shot while the PF drains, cleaned off the screen a treat.

        Then once a week -

        Drop the screen and gasket into very slightly soapy water, use the group brush while the screen is off, and then rinse and refit the screen/gasket.

        Wash the water tank.

        Backflush four 10 sec cycles with water.

        Monthly -

        Pulycaff backflush & cam lube. Soak PF/basket in Pulycaff

        3-monthly -

        Lubricate paddle and steam wand ball-joint.

        Which gram basket are you using and also which dose style of bean, quick flush will bring the crud off. I used to water blind back flush the end of every session.

        Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

          coffeealex

          This is the routine I have more or less been following with my Bianca and based on how frequently I use it. Some useful links below (mostly to guides from @DavecUK).

          Hope you find this useful and feel free to adapt as you see fit…

              I forget I wrote some of this stuff…in fact when I comission my Bianca Vs, I’m going to have to read my own stuff cos I’ve forgotten so much of it. 🤣

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              Well, after re-watching Dave’s excellent videos I thought i would just double check the lubrication on the o rings ( as i thought it would be good practice for getting used to the feel of the thread for later on. The job was thankfully pretty straightforward and with the help of the great videos it was back together in 10 min. Except for the fact that the grub screw ( I hadn’t noticed) had come out completely and rolled silently off the table. So having spent 10 minutes to do the job I spent nearly 50 on my hands and knees doing an inch by inch search of my floor, akin to a crime scene. Somehow I found it. It had bounced right underneath the recycling bin in the corner. So do not do what I did. Make sure you place everything you remove in a container so that it is all contained.

                DavecUK you are so right! I have certainly learnt my lesson IE. to never assume that something won’t fall out, move or drop down. Assume it can and place it into a container.

                  Just pull a shot to make an affogato. (video attached). Does the shot look alright to you?

                  Taste wise, it is a 7.5/10 for me. Texture is nice and thick too. Spotted some channeling on the side(?) and small stream of coffee shooting out sideway. Is it normal? The flow looks too rapid to me when I look at it. And I get 40g out of 17g coffee is 20 second. As this grind size gives good taste, should I adjust the flow paddle? (It is now fully open)

                  You need to tighten up the grind a bit, that’s quite a fast shot. If you are using a Niche try two marks finer.

                  Contact me

                    DavecUK great advice. I just tightened the NZ by 2 marks and got 17in/38out in 25s, the flow from the bottom of the basket looks much better. I also lowered the temp to 91 degree to help with the bitterness I expected. Happy with the result.

                    Planned to schedule my first maintenance this weekend. Tried to remove the filter screen but fail. Scared that I may damage it if trying too hard. Let me watch some video and try again this weekend.

                    will try to play with the flow paddle next week. So far, I am very happy with the machine and the combination with NZ.