What Pressure Do You Brew Espresso With?

JHCCoffee

Hi All
My Lelit Elizabeth came back from repair with the OPV set to 10.5 BAR. Accordingly, I had to substantially change the grind and brew ratio to get an acceptable tasting drink. So far, taste is not as good as it was at 9 BAR. So I will likely adjust my OPV. But to what?

Which begs the question: For those that do not have variable pressure or flow during the shot (other than pre-infusion) what fixed BAR do you set your machine at and why? What is the impact on: a) taste, and b) consistency? How does this relate to the coffee beans that you prefer?

DavecUK

JHCCoffee Personally, I don’t find a massive difference between 9 or 10.5 bar, perhaps a change in grind setting, but that’s about it.

Pompeyexile

I have to admit Like many people starting out on this real coffee journey and reading all I could, I also assumed the magic number 9 bar (as a starting point at the very least) was what was required to put me on the path to great tasting coffee. But, in trying to reach that I have wandered into the 10, 10.5 or even 8, 8.5 ranges and thought…bugger! But then on tasting, my coffee still seemed OK and very drinkable. Now, I’m guessing that difference would really only be noticeable to you super taster espresso drinkers and me being a mere Americano, flat white, sometime Latte and black filter coffee mortal it wouldn’t register.

But having said that, I still aim for 9 bar because that is what those who know better seem to aim for.

Matt77

I do have flow control, so I’m using the gauge on the group for my info. - is that comparable to a pressure set on the OPV?

in any case, it means I am always messing about with pressure and it seems around 8 is good for me. It seems slightly more forgiving and for the medium beans I tend to use it invariably gives me something tasty.

Maybe lower works too, but I think it would take some changes in other things as more often than not it’s doesn’t work out so well.

Cheers

JHCCoffee

Matt77 in any case, it means I am always messing about with pressure and it seems around 8 is good for me. It seems slightly more forgiving and for the medium beans I tend to use it invariably gives me something tasty.

Interesting. Just curious about what you found out about the taste impacts of lower (6 or 7) versus moderate (8 or 9) versus high (10 or 11).

And any reason for 8 versus the standard 9?

Cuprajake

I think 9bar was chosen as after that it doesn’t make much of a difference,

I brew at 2bar then 11-10-9-8-7 🤣

mobius

Using flow control, I’ve tried varying between a typical 9, down to 6.

I can’t tell any taste difference - I’m not great at tasting anyway - but it surprised me that the time profile may be quite different (slower start/faster finish, etc.) but the overall time for the same yield is often identical (or thereabouts).

Not that it matters.

MediumRoastSteam

mobius - I also tried it back in the day when I had a Profitec 700 and adjusting the pump pressure was a lot easier than the Elizabeth :-)

At the time, I remember writing on CFUK that I preferred 9bar shots as far as an espresso pulled at a ratio of 1:2 is concerned. I think the 6bar shots are favoured for longer ratios and light roasts, as well as the ~~gushers~~ turbo shots.

Unless you drink lots of espresso on a daily basis, I think it will be hard to be able to judge which one you prefer, unless you do a side by side experiment.

Try pulling shots at 6 bar for 3 days and stick with it. And then go back to 9 bar for another 3 days and then back to 6 bar. Ideally with the same coffee. Let you know which one you prefer.

simonc

I’m about to start a 1kg light roast so once dialed in will give this a go. Is there a difference between using flow paddle on a minima to set pressure Vs using the opv?

MediumRoastSteam

simonc - The paddle adjusts flow rate, which in turn influence the pressure. It’s not the same. But if you could keep the shot flowing at 6 bar consistently, then yeah, why not. Give it a go. Defo easier than adjusting the OPV.

One of the things, as far as I remember, is that contrary to intuition, one needs to grind finer at 6bar to keep the same usual parameters. That was a while back (like 7 years, so memory might be tricking me!)

DavecUK

simonc Is there a difference between using flow paddle on a minima to set pressure Vs using the opv?

Only in as much that if the grind is too tight you’ll find yourself reducing and reducing and reducing the flow in an effort to maintain pressure at say eight bar. If the max pressure you want is eight bar or nine bar, it’s simply easier to set the expansion valve (OPV) to that pressure.

Matt77

Ok. I’m going to try this too. I just seem to have it in head that the higher can be a bit harsh, and lower seems to work best as longer shots as mentioned, which is not really what I like the most.

Cuprajake

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Chriss29

Cuprajake What do you like about it @Cuprajake? Looks like it will clean up nice and easy.

Pompeyexile

Cuprajake For those with 58mm I can’t recommend this basket enough

I have only had and used the standard baskets that came with the Sage Dual Boiler so as they are doing it for £13.96 instead of £23.75 a 41% discount saving of £9.79 I thought I’d give it a go.

AlfredB

Cuprajake

This significantly reduces the amount of fines in the cup. I prefer the highest amount of fines possible.

Cuprajake

Gives a cleaner cup, yeah just soak it to clean.

Cuprajake

yeah it gives a very clean cup ^