Hello, First of all, thanks for this amazing forum! In a previous thread, you helped me select which new espresso machine to buy - the Lelit Bianca. I have now had the machine for some weeks and am starting to learn to use it. I have tried attaching a video recording of when I brew a cup of espresso, however, the forum does not seem to allow video files even though the size is very small. Instead, I have uploaded the video file here: http://ifile.dk/d/2fJJ8LdYX8PeAt8bd1dk0x In this video, I am brewing 1 cup of espresso. I use the brewing basket that is rated for 18g of beans. However, using 18g of beans will cause the water to run through it way too quickly. So I tried putting in 22g and tamping them fairly hard. This produces an acceptable brew, however, I still think the flow is a bit too quick. I notice that the lower manometer says that pressure at the pump is 10 bar while the manometer at the brew head says 5 bar. Is this normal? I would expect a higher pressure at the brew head, right? I think the total brew time here is about 20 seconds. That is too quick for a double espresso, no? Also, the cup is placed on a scale so that the total weight of the brew can be seen in the video. So what am I doing wrong here? Should I try going for 23g beans? Should this really work with 18 g beans? Or is it normal to have to put in extra beans? Is my grinder the problem and I need a finer grind?

hi, whats your grinder, and how old are the beans and where from, 18g in the basket is fine theres a screw under the machine to turn the pump to 8 or 9 bar

Grinder is Gaggia MDF. Beans are probably 12 days since roast. Will check in a bit.

larsg Just checked. The roast was 16 days ago.

Cuprajake I just watched the video. This seems to be about adjusting the pressure at the pump. This is currently about 10 bar, so I guess that should be fine, right? What I am concerned about is the pressure at the brew head. Here it is around 5 bar. Is this normal to have a pressure drop of about 5 bar? Or do I just have to use even more finely grained beans in order to increase the pressure here?

Have you tried tightening up the grind?

dutchy101 Tightening up the grind? Does that mean grinding more finely?

larsg Yes - go back to 18g dose and grind finer

dutchy101 OK. I think this is the finest my Gaggia MDF will grind. Maybe I need to modify the MDF in order to become stepless. Would that allow me to grind more finely? https://coffeeaspirations.blogspot.com/2006/07/barista-guild-of-america-and-how-to.html Or am I just at the end of the line with what I can do with a Gaggia MDF grinder and have to invest in a better grinder?

When I upgraded my machine from the Sage Bambino Plus to the ACS Minima and started using VST baskets, I was initially quite surprised how much finer I needed to grind than I had before (using the DF64 Solo grinder). On some roasts I am down to setting 5 which really felt like a bit of a worry at first - not a long way to go from there but I’ve got used to it now. I think you’ll really need to consider a new grinder to get the most out of your Bianca - as @Cuprajake says, it will be limiting you

Too quick flow - what am I doing wrong?

larsg

Cuprajake

Yes, I am using pre-infusion for 2 seconds. I will try without that. And try as you suggest.

larsg

Cuprajake

Would this Mignong Silenzio be good?

https://www.whiteaway.com/koekkenudstyr/kaffe-the/kaffekvaern/product/eureka-mignon-silenzio-black/

I think I can stretch my budget to this one at the current discounted price…

Is this a recommended buy?

Cuprajake

It’s only the 50mm version so I’d say very entry level.

It will work but not the best

Cuprajake

Is there no Facebook market place or eBay local you can use?

larsg

Cuprajake

I am not on Facebook. There is a local eBay equivalent but there are very few Mazzers on it.

What diameter knives should I look for? 50mm is too small? Is 54mm any better or about the same?

larsg

What about Mahlkonig grinders? Are they good?

For example: Mahlkönig X54

https://nordiccoffeehouse.dk/shop/22-kaffekvaerne/343-mahlkonig-x54-/

Or: Mahlkönig Vario Home V3

https://www.coffeeitalia.dk/mahlkonig-vario-home-v3.html

Or maybe: Remidag Super Veloce

https://kristianskaffe.dk/shop/9-maskiner-og-kvaerne/50-remidag-super-veloce/

Cuprajake

https://nordiccoffeehouse.dk/shop/22-kaffekvaerne/258-eureka-mignon-specialitaacute/?variantId=853

Is better than the x54 people were having real issues with them

larsg

Cuprajake

So if I understand you correctly, you recommend the Eureka Mignon Specialitá over both the Mahlkonig X54 and Eureka Mignon Silenzio. The Eureka Mignon Specialitá is almost double the price of the Silenzio. Is it so much better?

Cuprajake

Mahlkönig X54

4.295,00 DKK

Eureka Mignon Specialitá Sort

3.440,00 DKK ~~4.000,00 DKK~~

the mignon specilita is a better buy, and yes better than the silenzo.

Cuprajake

it is an espresso based grinder though, not really for switching brew methods,

your location makes getting a grinder difficult. and being the fact that a lower budget it makes it even harder.

did you try with out pre infusion?

larsg

Cuprajake

Yes. Tried two different shots without pre-infusion.

Please see this video:

http://ifile.dk/d/1yiIXiQbJSlK9e1jn7rOTZ

Cuprajake

larsg

Cuprajake I am convinced. I just ordered a Mignon Specialita.

CoyoteOldMan

Something is wrong in Denmark…

the difference in price should be of the order of 20%, not double. Worth it… I don’t know, but you get a grind timer, a funky display and slightly larger burrs (55 mm rather than 50 mm). For £50 extra, the burrs are probably worth it; if you plan to single dose most or all of the time (and thus a grind timer is pointless), then the Mignon Zero is slightly cheaper than the Specialitá, but it has the same burrs.

DavecUK

larsg Please set up a YouTube account and upload them to it, this linked video will disappear in 6 days…then the thread will become confusing.

Cuprajake

its very fast, id say your over dosing the basket but the grind simply isnt fine enough. the grinder is limiting you,

have you had any more thoughts to the above suggestions on grinders?

CafeNoir

larsg +1 as cuprajake said, MDF is an ok grinder however Bianca will probably never deliver excellence using such a grinder

DavecUK

CafeNoir larsg +1 as cuprajake said, MDF is an ok grinder however Bianca will probably never deliver excellence using such a grinder

I’m going to go for gold and say the MDF is not up to the task for the Bianca.

Ernie1

The x54 isn’t a bad grinder, I had one before the Super Jolly, it just doesn’t do what it’s advertised as doing very well (switching brew methods and timed grinding). That’s not necessarily Mahlkönig’s fault, it’s an inherent shortcoming of on-demand, hopper fed grinding.

This means you’re basically just getting a 54mm flat-burr on-demand grinder, of which there are better choices for the same money.

CafeNoir

There are a host of grinders at a big range of prices that will easily kick the MDF to the curb, lol….

the big questions are, what is your budget and what are your priorities (looks, size, on demand vs single dose, looks, brand…etc)

Once we’ve got that established the guys on here have a health of knowledge and experience and are always happy to give some guidance

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