Stunning service from Bella Barista. Ordered 3pm Thursday. Arrived 1pm Friday. Not so slick from Niche - up to a week for despatch so I won’t be able to use it until I return from my epic 2 week adventure to the Italian Grand Prix and Prague (no apologies for the brag). I’ve borrowed a Sage Smart Grinder in the meantime, which is obviously awful. Finest setting and tamp hard! What I’m impressed with so far is how quiet it is compared to the LR. Also, all the accessories, especially the tamper and plumb in kit. I also like the external water tank and its movability, it just felt weird having hot water in the tank on the LR. Not so impressed with the plastic wood

Accessories wise, I’ve ordered the Timemore Black Mirror Nano, a Meross smart plug and Motta jug. I’m very keen on recommendations for a WDT tool and levelling tool. I had the Normcore WDT previously and thought it was awful. The prongs got bent very easily and it wasn’t long enough when using a funnel.

In summary, she’s looking very good and I’m excited to play around over the next couple of days before I leave. I’m going with the advice of normalising without messing with the flow control to begin with and may set the auto pre infusion for the time being. One other thing - what is the setting which is recommended to be changed from 0.8 to 0.4 for?

Many thanks for all the suggestions and discussions thus far.

Don’t need a levelling tool

Wdt needle tool and a normcore funnel

And this tamper

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145625657918?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=GwMdq2KuQN6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=8nPtpNt4SJC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It’s a copy of the £170 force tamper I’ve had both and the copy is very good

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

    The settings should be good to go from factory these days

    In terms of the pre infusion use that. Font bother with the paddle unless you go way to corse on grind.

    Set the low flow for 5-8s and then it will jump to normal flow.

    Bianca is a top machine

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

    • Tal likes this.

    Cuprajake

    Does that tamper tamp level? I tried the normcore levelling tamper and it was consistent, but consistently unlevel. My ridged vst basket makes it easy to see whether the tamp is level or not.

    I’m tempted to give your suggestion a go if it’s been good for you.

      Yeah it’s spring loaded

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

      • Tal replied to this.

        MediumRoastSteam I have this one and is a levelling tamper as well. It’s nicely made but sure there’s cheaper versions!

          a month later

          Cuprajake

          I bought one from AliExpress, around £30, came today. Didn’t realise it was one that clicks back after you fully compress it which wouldn’t have been my first choice. Any issue with the puck becoming unsettled or cracked as a result?

          The shots this evening seemed fine on that front, but I think it was a Lance H video ….that said the puck can become disturbed by these sorts of tampers, I will see if we get any bad shots over the next few weeks and make up my own mind.

          But kudos where it’s due, it tamps pretty level, Certainly more level than the normcore v4, so on that front we’re in business, cheers for the recommendation.

              Tal think it was a Lance H video ….that said the puck can become disturbed by these sorts of tampers, I will see if we get any bad shots over the next few weeks and make up my own mind.

              Lance likes to find topics to stir up to generate YouTube views. Like the Blind Shaker video. I’d check to see what the day to day experience of everyday users is. Or search for empirical studies. I use an Eazytamp, which is self leveling and has a force controlling spring. It doesn’t do a big click, but you can feel it hir the button of the basket and then stop pressing. It gives me a consistent tamp, which is key.

              • Tal likes this.

                PS I use a 3D printed WDT tool. I separately bought 0.35 mm acupuncture needles and trimmed their length.

                Tal never had an issue with either the force tamper or its copy,

                perhaps lance cant tamp 🤷‍♂️

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