Bianca first use questions

Penance

Bianca arrived and isn’t it a beutiful thing!
All set up and had a few drinks which have raised a few questions.
For clarification I’ve moved from a 16 year old Gaggia Evolution.

I’m using a 50/50 mix of Ashbeck and Lockhills, I assume I don’t need the tank filter installed with this?

Pressure is 10bar, should I adjust to 9bar?

I’ve had to coursen the grind to achieve a good flow and time, I expected the Bianca to use the same or finer grind. What could the reason be?

I use to use the same grind for my beans and my wife’s decaf, this won’t work now. Would this be a better machine showing the difference more?

Ernie1

Congrats on the machine!

Is it 10 bar at the pump or the group (fully open)?

My advice would be don’t complicate anything initially. I didn’t touch the steam boiler or brew boiler at all in the year I had it.

You’ll get better temp and pressure stability from the Bianca than the Gaggia which might affect flow but people more expert will be able to chime in on further specifics. It’s somewhat expected though, I got totally different results to the Bianca when the LM arrived.

My guess would be basket dimensions and type will also play a part. Lelit use IMS baskets (or they used to at least) which will be different to the Gaggia.

Penance

It’s 10bar at the group.

I thought it may be basket differences but I’ve nothing to base that on.

MediumRoastSteam

Penance - Best thing you can do is to forget about the experiences learnt with the previous machine and move forwards with the new one. At the end of the day, they are completely different machines.

DavecUK

One of the min things to do is check your paddle flow rates are OK.

Make a short vid of the flow fully closed and full open on a warmed up machine.

Penance

DavecUK do I do that with a full basket or can I use the blind filter?

Cuprajake

i turned my steam down to 125 -

also turned my pump down under the machine, 8 bar on th pump gave me 9 bar at the group,

i know @DavecUK likes the 10 as you can pull it back with the paddle,

MediumRoastSteam

Penance that’s with no PF in place. You need to measure the flow rate of grams per second. E.g.: 30ml in 15 seconds with valve fully closed, 150ml in 15 seconds with valve fully open. As water has density of 1g/ml, the easiest thing is to weight the water dispensed over a period of time.

That would give you a 2ml/s and a 10ml/s respectively.

Penance

MediumRoastSteam should I be getting nearer 10ml/s fully open?

Penance

Fully closed, no water.

Fully open, 89gms in 15s

Penance

DavecUK

Penance Good attempt, but make a bit more space on the old memory card.

Ensure the low flow start is not enabled. Don’t move so fast, go from closed, very gradually until you see a drop come out. Just before that is the closed point. If your paddle isn’t against the case you need to adjust it so it is (2 or 3mm Allen key I think).

Then the video needs to show the fully open flow, from a more horizontal angle and I can tell you if it looks good. Mine puts out about 65 ish ml in 10s.

P.S. it doesn’t really matter if you get a tiny tiny flow when cold…

MediumRoastSteam

Penance - I have no clue - I leave that for Dave as he was the one who asked for it. I just tried to explain how to measure a flow rate. 👍

Fantastic machine you have there btw. Congratulations on the purchase.

Penance

MediumRoastSteam thanks, its going to be a steep learning curve but hopefully fun!

Cuprajake

@“Penance” where did you get the Bianca, I thought they were out of stock

Penance

Cuprajake Bella Barista

MediumRoastSteam

Cuprajake Bianca was on pre-order at BB Jake - not out of stock.

Penance

DavecUK Thanks. Hopefully this is better.
Low flow is off.

From what you said, I need to adjust the paddle a bit?

DavecUK

Penance From what you said, I need to adjust the paddle a bit?

Absolutely, yes. Adjust to the guidelines I gave you.

Ernie1

Are BB not setting them up anymore?

When I bought mine the closed position wouldn’t fully stop the flow and unless I’m imagining it (quite possible) this was done by BB before delivery.

Penance

Ernie1 it would seem not, if the paddle should be near the case when shut off.

I tried to make another espresso and with a very light tamp it took 46 seconds for 36gm. That’s with a courser grind than I used in the old gaggia. Doesn’t seem right to me.