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?

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.

It's 10bar at the group. I thought it may be basket differences but I've nothing to base that on.

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.

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"#1 likes the 10 as you can pull it back with the paddle, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh-VUwnMd_g

@"Penance"#p31207 - 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"#p31210 do I do that with a full basket or can I use the blind filter?

@"Penance"#p31219 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.

Fully closed, no water. Fully open, 89gms in 15s

@"MediumRoastSteam"#p31220 should I be getting nearer 10ml/s fully open?

Bianca first use questions

DavecUK

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

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

Penance

DavecUK will do that in a while.

Penance

DavecUK Adjusted as per your video.
Now approximately 7mg/s flow

Going to see if pulling a shot is better

Amberale

Don’t force it past the point where it shuts off flow.
Never.
Ever.
Again.
You can damage the FCD and have to replace it, it is a couple of small brass machined parts.

Amberale

Dave has a really good vid somewhere on the net on how to do this but…
With the paddle at 6 o’clock lift the lever to start flow.
Move the paddle clockwise gently until the flow stops(this appears to be about 9 o’clock on your vid.)
Lower lever to stop flow.
Use a small (2mm?) Alan Key to loosen the set screw in the wooden paddle, lift the paddle and reset it so that it touches the machine body.
Check/repeat.

Penance

I think that’s sorted it, able to grind finer, 20gms in, 38gms out in 30s.
A very nice drink!

Thanks for the advice :)

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