Inconsistent Shot Times?

delta76

Clodius no machine can do that, to be clear, not without a help of an external scale. Elizabeth has no bluetooth capacity to connect to a scale so either shot timer, or you stop the shot yourself.
But it is not really the machine’s responsibility. Elizabeth is pretty consistent, within the margin error (basically pump this amount of water per second until this pressure is reached i.e. OPV open). it’s the grinder and bean and prep and basket, a zillion things that effects the output.

delta76

Tal agree. you need to weigh in and out to be sure you’re getting that 18gr in basket. and even then, if you open the grinder you might be surprised how much is retained :D

HarveyMushman

Im going to go out on a limb and say that the majority of people who make coffee at home would do well to pretend time as a variable in the preparation of coffee was never mentioned and never will be again.

Just weigh in, weigh out and taste. It would make for far more satisfaction and far less frustration/confusion.

thetravdog

HarveyMushman yeah time isn’t a variable really, it’s an output. I just was hoping I might be able to dial my shots in and time whatever my perfect shot was and then if I ran for that time again with the same grind size and weight of coffee in I would get the same results give or take a gram or 2 maybe? I’ll just live with weighing every shot until I can afford a decent lol

Adrianmsmith

thetravdog

Not dreaming, just about the wrong machine🤪 need a decent machine like an evo leva for shot consistency to the g, not a machine Decent 🤓😁

Adrianmsmith

Clodius Is my only option an upgrade to Mazzer Philos. Please tell my wife that’s what I need

Post her contact details and I’m sure some of us can sort that out for you 🤗

Cuprajake

Not the machine

Grinder, shot prep basket beans etc

If you have beans to spare

Grind 10g of fresh beans through your grinder first, then put your actual beans through. See what happens

My sd nodded mignon was shite for that, it took a shot for itself a day🤬

Clodius

If time isn’t a variable would you expect to get the same tasting coffee from my 2 consecutive shots, one that needs 30s and another that needs 25s? Both outputs being 40g, for example.

Adrianmsmith

Clodius

Time And Relative Dimensions In Shots 🤦🏼‍♂️

MWJB

Clodius I wouldn’t necessarily expect “the same” tasting shots. I would be looking more for identifiable failures, like under-extraction. I would expect two good shots from the same bean, same weights & grind setting to be good, but maybe slightly different & not exhibiting a clear malfunction.

If it did, then I’d adjust and see what the results are over a few more, until the malfunction was eliminated.

If you pull good shots., at the same parameters, same bean you will not be seeing the full sweep from under to over-extraction, only a bias towwards one or the other (most likely under), plus artefacts from being a bit too coarse/fine & differences in prep, shot to shot.

Clodius

Sorry, but I didn’t understand your comments. This morning first shot was 38g out in 30s, second one was 53g out. I was getting milk from the fridge and didn’t pay attention to stop it in time. Going to get other beans from Monmouth coffee and maybe open up the Mignon to clean it again

delta76

Clodius it seems @Cuprajake suspected that due to retention, your first shot has some significant old ground from the day. (I think 2gr is not too far off with the mignon unless you use a blower), which makes the first shot slower than it should. by grinding 10gr you push that out, then both of your shots will be new, uniform ground.
I think 10gr is a bit too much, maybe 3-4gr should do the trick especially if you're using some good beans - don't waste it.

Inspector

Clodius

I wouldn't worry too much as my Elizabeth behaves the same, its not the grinder its the machine/opv whatever you want to call it. First shot always 10 seconds or so slower than the rest.

I compensate this by grinding the first shot 0.5-1 notch coarser on my Sculptor 78s.

Or i put blank basket on and run the pump 3-4 times at least for 10 seconds before the first shot.

It is how it is, i learned to live with it.

Cuprajake

for some reason my comment hasnt posted,

grind 10g through the grinder first, then use your shot beans, for the next two shots

are you weighing the grounds in and out?

Cuprajake

really though should be the other way round stale grinds you would expect to speed the shot up, unless they inc micro fines that could slow, ?

Tal

Same for both my ACS Vesuvius and my previous Fracino Cherub. I always put it down to temperature of the group head given the grinder is so consistent

Clodius

I think it was the beans. I’ve been using Monmouth El Savador medium roast coffee for the past 10 days or so and it’s been within range, plus or minus a few grams

delta76

Clodius that does not sound right. I still suspect your grinder can grind medium-dark better with more uniformity. the previous bean is likely lighter roast and it could not grind very well.

Clodius

@delta76 could be the Eureka Mignon reaching its limits. I had Black Horse, Comsa blend, which is classified as light medium roast whereas the Finca Malacara A from Monmouth is just medium roast.

I also cleaned the grinder and have been spinning the Umikot planetary WDT for longer. Not sure if any of these have actually made a difference

MWJB

Clodius I doubt very much it's a grinder issue, darker roasts grind up a shade finer, compared to light, but grind quality is not known to significantly shift.

If you are happier with the Monmouth, carry on, but if you feel you want to nail the weights, use scales. Different roasts & different beans (structure, density) brew at different speeds.

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