Well, it arrived today from BB (£165 compared to £214 most places). They only had the cream version and it arrived during the Newcastle v Spurs game. Eventually I had the time to put it together. It comes in an eco friendly box and even for me, took seconds to put together. I filled it with 300 mls of cold water and ran it. Whilst that was going through I thought about the grind level to use on the Duo which still had the espresso burrs in. I retarded it 60 which was way coarser than I would normally go, but looking at what came out it seemed to be in the ballpark for the endless videos I had seen. What attracted me in the first place was the simplicity. The only thing I need to get right is the grind.

So, I made a brew using this:

https://www.northernedgecoffee.co.uk/product-page/jimmy-strength-1

A roaster in Berwick upon Tweed. The beans were lighter than I expected but only opening yesterday I still have an open mind about them. The brew itself had a sweetness to which I am not accustomed, so much so that I cannot wait for breakfast tomorrow.

Making a brew could not be easier. Put 300. mls water in. Grind 20 gms of beans and away you go. I have only used it once and I must admit that I ended up stirring the grinds as the water did not seem to be spreading across. Sp, I cannot wait for tomorrows breakfast now!

https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

I have a Technivorm machine tucked away somewhere, it’s fairly old and rather on the large side, I am inspired to drag it out for breakfast.

A quick question. I have not yet read the manual, but I have heard one or two say Technivorm do not suggest using distilled or RO water. Might this have any grounding or is it just in hope that you buy their descaler (recommended after every 80 uses which matches the amount of supplied filter papers!)

According to Technivorm, yes:

We do not recommend using reverse osmosis filtered water or distilled water, as it can damage the brewer’s boiling element.

In reverse osmosis water and distilled water, all minerals are removed, and the water’s PH becomes slightly acidic. The water will leach minerals out of the copper boiling element to return to a neutral PH, eventually damaging the copper element permanently. Because we build Moccamaster coffee brewers to last for a long time, using reverse osmosis or distilled water could significantly reduce the brewer’s life.

per: https://support.moccamaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009388901-What-kind-of-water-should-I-use-

https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

  • MWJB replied to this.

    Not to say this is the recommended course of action but I used (very hard) tap water in mine every single day for nearly 4 years without issue.

    I then discovered you’re supposed to use their descaler and did it for the sake of it but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t even necessary.

    Being the absolute maverick that I am I also measure out the water with the carafe which it suggests not doing. Still no problems!

    La Marzocco Linea Mini - Mazzer Philos

    dfk41 Does your RO machine remineralise the water? Only those with a DI resin filter (rather than a remin/alkaline filter) take all the minerals out.

    Remineralised RO water can be harder than Ashbeck, Cornish & water from Glasgow. Pretty sure you’re allowed to use the Moccamaster in these places.

    If in doubt you could mix 50:50 tap & RO until you can check the KH/alkalinity of your water mix.

        Right, this morning I repeated yesterdays brew (20 gms, 300 mls water on 60 on the Duo espresso burrs). The process took 6 minutes from start to finish. I think the target is 3 to 4 minutes, so that tells me to coarsen the grind by 30%. Before my next cup I am going to put the brew burrs in. They are virgin having had nothing through them. This is the brew bed and to me, it already looks pretty coarse. Any pointers what to set the Duo dial at with brand new brew burrs in, with the aim of brewing in about 3.30?

        https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

          dfk41 presumably those espresso burrs are making enough fines which slow down the pour.

          Maybe you wouldn’t need to grind that coarse with the brew burrs.

            dfk41 My RO is an Osmio Zero so i don’t think it remineralises.

            It does through remineralisation cartridge.

              dfk41 A proposed 90 on the Duo sounds bizarrely coarse.

              In this video the brewer takes 3:41 just to to deliver all the water to the filter cone, with the brew basket full of liquid at this time. Brew ends about 5:00 then a little more time to let drips finish.

              This video shows a brew ending around 5:50 (4:00 to dispense the water).

                  MWJB Hi Mark, I was at 60 on the espresso burrs but I zeroed and swopped them over to brew burrs this morning, and settled on 40 as a nice random number. Should you be taking two measurements, ie the first when the water has been drawn and the second when it has filtered though, and if so, what does the target of 3 to 4 minutes refer to?

                  The brew I made on 40 took approximately 4.30 to drip through so I guess that I am fine tuning now?

                  https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

                  • MWJB replied to this.

                      dfk41 I’d measure what you can see.

                      So start the timer when you hit the ‘On’ switch.

                      If you wanted you could also check when the last water is dispensed from the nozzle, you’ll probably hear it though.

                      Note when the stream from the cone slows to drips (record this time). Then leave in place another 30-40s.

                      I don’t see how the target of 3-4 min is possible if it takes 3:40 to 4:00 just to dispense all the brew water into the filter cone. Where does this target time come from?

                        On the brew burr set, I am on 32 that takes about 3:30 mins on V60. I also brew at 45 taking a similar time (about 5-7s difference). I like the strength from 32 grind setting. Of course, the zero point would be different for each of us.

                        You are already in the range! :-)

                        I am still enjoying this machine, so much so that since I received it I have not switched the Evo on until today when a friend came round! The brew burrs are in and I am grinding at about 43, but the burrs are not run in and have probably been used less than 12 times so they will settle down. I am looking forward to receiving the coffee @MWJB recommended (cannot remember now, maybe Dark something or other with red plums……was £30 odd per 500 gms though so I have high hopes!). My main issue is after washing the beaker it comes with I forget to put it back in place so usually fill the little beaker stand before realising!

                        I can wholeheartedly recommend this machine to anyone who a) wants one 10 ounce cup and b) cannot be bothered mucking around as required by most brew systems! They are £214 everywhere but BB have two left to be cleared out at £165…..an absolute bargain!

                        https://bellabarista.co.uk/products/moccamaster-one-cup-filter-coffee-machine-matt-black-with-free-250g-bag-of-coffee?variant=41982699274413

                        PS No free bag of coffee!

                        https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

                        LMSC A good suggestion matey….I know @Systemic has had wush wush from several companies since, and they all had 2 things in common………they were pretty pricey and none of them boasted Pineapple as a flavour! I have checked back and although I cannot find a trace of the ad, I think it was called Whoosh Whoosh……..I might be wrong but as I have said many times, it was like drinking pineapple lumps!

                        https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

                          @dfk41 your memory fails David. First Wush Wush I had was when you generously sent me some to try. Was from Rave and excellent. Following year I treated myself to some - it was very disappointing. For info, it wasn’t from Rave

                            Will definitely give Darkwoods Wush Wush a try