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10-27-2015, 09:30 AM | #9976 |
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I'll have to send you some of my pumpkin spice to compare. hahahahah
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10-27-2015, 09:31 AM | #9977 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region:
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10-27-2015, 09:47 PM | #9978 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 272381
Join Date: Jan 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2004 Franky the Forester |
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10-27-2015, 09:58 PM | #9979 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region:
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What do you think of the astra so far?
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10-27-2015, 10:37 PM | #9980 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 272381
Join Date: Jan 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2004 Franky the Forester |
This is pretty much stream of consciousness. I haven't sat down to really formulate my thoughts yet, but here goes. (in no particular order)
-Steam power is nice - an 8 oz drink takes maybe 10 seconds compared to ~45-60 with the gaggia. -Warm up is faster than I expected, although I haven't timed it. -I can physically pull a shot and steam at the same time, but when I do I'm never happy with the shot. -It's surprisingly easy to choke - on par with the gaggia if not a little easier. I was hoping it would be a stronger machine, but I guess the jury's still out on that one. -I've never owned (or used) a HX-style machine. I've read all about the cooling flush, but darned if I can tell when I'm supposed to stop; there's some extra steam that comes out, but the water never "dances". I've tried taking temps in a shot glass with idle times anywhere from 20 minutes to 10 seconds, and all temps have been 185+/- 5. I guess that means good temp stability, but what does that mean for a cooling flush? -Holy power cord batman! I could use about four feet less. It's tough to wrap that monster up on the counter top. Note to self: I need to figure out what else is on that same circuit. -The heater cycles on at 15psi and off at 18psi. It takes 10 seconds to heat, and 50 seconds to cool, all day every day - like clockwork. It feels a little too often for me, but I guess I could equate that with keeping tighter temp control than the gaggia. -I've been using the bottomless portafilter on the gaggia, and it was surprisingly difficult to go back to a double spout. I feel like I don't know what's going on anymore, although I'm sure it will just take time. -No sight glass on the reservoir makes me nervous. I'm already trying to think of ways to make a gauge. To fit our counter tops, the fill cap is pretty much inaccessible. I need to pull the machine out a little ways to check it and fill it up. I feel like I can generally keep track of the water I use pulling shots and steaming, but I don't have a handle on the random pump cycles to fill the boiler. -The drip tray needs a handle! That water is hot! -I can't steam a pitcher of milk without terrible screeching. My trick for that on the gaggia was to let in a little more air. When I do that now, I get a frothy mess. Usually I can still get a decent pour, but very over aerated. More practice! Reading over that all again, it sounds like a lot of complaints, but it's not intended to be negative. A lot of that (hopefully) can be corrected by learning, although it's tough to learn a new machine when I'm not entirely sure what they behavior of said machine should be i.e. is what I'm seeing normal? A buddy of mine has a good thermocouple, so I want to take some data points this week and try to get some baselines when I get a good shot. |
10-28-2015, 01:01 AM | #9981 | ||||||||||||
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Chapter/Region:
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I can try to take a video and upload it, if you like. |
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10-28-2015, 08:11 AM | #9982 | |||
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 272381
Join Date: Jan 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2004 Franky the Forester |
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10-28-2015, 09:25 AM | #9983 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region:
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Sputtering: No problem, just run a couple OZ, lock in, count, and go. A buddy of mine has a newer one which behaves differently than my 4.5yo unit.
I'll try to take a vid this weekend! |
10-28-2015, 01:45 PM | #9984 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 272381
Join Date: Jan 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2004 Franky the Forester |
Quote:
That being said, as long as the portafilter is warm, it shouldn't matter whether I flush with or without, right? |
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10-28-2015, 02:05 PM | #9985 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
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Absolutely flush without, so you can see! Also, prepare the pf, set it aside, flush, lock, count, go. Flushing before pf preparation isn't going to help, since it takes much more than 2-5sec to dose and tamp.
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10-29-2015, 02:41 PM | #9986 |
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Any updates, Brad?
Also, any other Panama feedback? |
10-30-2015, 10:19 PM | #9987 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 272381
Join Date: Jan 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2004 Franky the Forester |
I'm getting more comfortable with the Astra; shots are getting more consistent. My go to espresso has been harsh in the Astra compared to the Gaggia - very aggressive. I tried under-dosing and going finer on the grind, and it calmed down a bit.
Steaming is still noisy. It starts out fine, but after 5-6 seconds the screech ramps up. The last 2-3 second is very loud, almost like if you were to start dialing back on the steam. I need to log more time on it. |
10-30-2015, 10:38 PM | #9988 |
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Going finer made it less harsh? Hmmm. It should be the opposite.
Milk: bury the wand, and open it all the way. |
10-30-2015, 10:46 PM | #9989 |
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Member#: 17079
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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10-30-2015, 10:47 PM | #9990 |
Scooby Specialist
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Yessir!
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11-02-2015, 09:47 AM | #9991 |
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Kona is processed and for sale, I'll be buying soon!
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11-02-2015, 10:03 AM | #9992 |
Spreadsheet!
Member#: 34694
Join Date: Mar 2003
Vehicle:The creator of "Life's a Beach!" |
I did not see any one else, but I quite enjoyed the panama and would likely buy it again. We had while on vacation and the coffee equipment was less than ideal, blade grinder, had to heat water in a pot. Then when packing up we forgot it . I was excited to try it back home. Speaking of kona, are you planning on doing the holiday sampler again this year?
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11-02-2015, 11:13 AM | #9993 |
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Yessir, but I probably won't include the Kona in it this year. Prices went up a lot.
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11-02-2015, 03:46 PM | #9994 |
Spreadsheet!
Member#: 34694
Join Date: Mar 2003
Vehicle:The creator of "Life's a Beach!" |
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11-02-2015, 04:32 PM | #9995 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
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Oh yeah, I've slipped it in there, when I had enough around, but today I went to see if the Kona was available yet, and yikes, prices went up. I don't want to raise the sample box price to reflect that.
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11-03-2015, 06:59 AM | #9996 |
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NESIC
Location: Western RI
Vehicle:2011 Mazda, 2003 WRX Black , WRB |
Dat Panama. Omnomnom!
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11-03-2015, 09:47 AM | #9997 |
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Hell yes! I'm sitting at peets drinking some Panama now! :middlefinger:
Kona ordered, BTW. It'll be up this week. |
11-03-2015, 10:07 AM | #9998 |
Visiting NASIOC Timeout
Member#: 2197
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Tri-State
Location: An adventure is just
Vehicle:an inconvenience, properly considered. |
Almost time for a new thread!
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11-03-2015, 10:09 AM | #9999 |
Scooby Specialist
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Join Date: May 2003
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Whoa, almost 10 years to the day!
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11-03-2015, 10:09 AM | #10000 |
Visiting NASIOC Timeout
Member#: 2197
Join Date: Aug 2000
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: An adventure is just
Vehicle:an inconvenience, properly considered. |
Aaaaaaaaand GO!
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