EM6910 tricks

Rusty

You will get great coffee from the EM6910 - it is easy to use and clean. I know you're busy and tired, but if you can fit in the free Sunbeam training course it is well worth the effort 🙂 I upgraded to the EM6910 from a Silvia and have never regretted it 8) Enjoy, and follow AM's tips - he knows what it's all about.

shape_shifter

That he does Rusty ;D I'll be buying all the other things over a period of time, so it really will be using what I've got for a little bit. Looking at a triple basket first up 🙂

Tango

shape_shifter wrote:

That he does Rusty ;D I'll be buying all the other things over a period of time, so it really will be using what I've got for a little bit. Looking at a triple basket first up 🙂

I recently bought an EM6910 too shapeshifter and I think it's a great machine for the price. Been getting some great shots and some decent milk on the hottest and wettest setting. Thinking about getting a naked portafilter too but can't afford the $120 at the moment!

shape_shifter

Tango, yes I'm looking at getting a naked as well, no way to the $120, that's a little over the top. I think I might look for a second hand one and get my OH to make it naked. Oh does anyone know about this supposed 'new style' steam head, part number EM69168? I've looked through the manual but it doesn't say anything about part numbers.

Tango

shape_shifter wrote:

Tango, yes I'm looking at getting a naked as well, no way to the $120, that's a little over the top. I think I might look for a second hand one and get my OH to make it naked. Oh does anyone know about this supposed 'new style' steam head, part number EM69168? I've looked through the manual but it doesn't say anything about part numbers.

I'm pretty sure your machine would have the new style steam tip shape_shifter considering you just bought it. Does your steam nozzle look like: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sunbeam-EM6900-EM6910-New-Style-Steam-Nozzle-EM69168-/170609948902 The older steam tips on the EM6910 weren't smooth and rounded at the distal point of the tip - they had a 'nipple' as some called it. Looked like: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/attachments/10-11combo-w.jpg As a side note, how are you finding the milk steaming? I struggled for a bit, then I did the sunbeam course where Erin Sampson showed us a few tips in how to hold the jug. I found the best way is to have the jug tilted towards you as far as you can go without spilling the milk. I also set the steam on hottest and wettest!

Tango

AngerManagement wrote:

$120 ? Whoooo there............. That's a lot of $$$$ I wonder what Sunbeam charge for just the Group. I was sure that Sparkys here in Brisbane a complete handle was only about $80 at tops if I remember... Contact them and see what it is.... I can pick-up, make it a Naked and post to you. Unless the price has jumped, Postage and my time should not add more than $25 to outlay....

Thanks AM - I think the Sunbeam groups are quite expensive hence why a naked portafilter is pricey! I've managed to source one though - thanks for the offer!! I have the feeling you're the GO-TO guy for EM6910 issues!

Tango

Hi guys, Looking at baskets for the EM6910...either the Synesso or VST. Problem is, do you go with a 14g or 18g??

RichardM

I can't say for the EM6910, but for me, anything under about 16g for a double just tastes flat. The more coffee the better 🙂

Muscles

I pack between 20 and 22g into my synesso 18g basket. Love it! If I had a 22g basket I reckon I'd be packing 26-28g in there...

shape_shifter

I wouldn't even bother with the 14g, I'll be getting the 18g and 22g, although I don't know if I really need 2 that are a similar size, I might just go for the 22g, we like our coffee 🙂 OH has said that if I can't find a good enough priced PF to make naked then just buy the new naked PF and basket etc from Pullman. At least then we know everything fits each other. As these are all additional things we'd be buying anyway we still have our original savings off the machine. Oh and yeah, Tango, I can't tell you anything as we don't have it yet, they had sold out after the interest free stuff on the weekend and said it will be a few days, more like early next week I was told today *shrugs* oh well, doesn't matter, I've done a couple of roasts that will be ready for when it gets here.

Tango

Muscles wrote:

I pack between 20 and 22g into my synesso 18g basket. Love it! If I had a 22g basket I reckon I'd be packing 26-28g in there...

Muscles - does the Synesso 18g fit in the standard (non-naked) EM6910 portafilter?!

RichardM

shape_shifter wrote:

I've done a couple of roasts that will be ready for when it gets here.

From experience - when you get a new machine, roast at least double what you think you're going to use as a) you will be busy with the machine, and forget about your old poppery masterpiece, and b) you will drink more just to "get the hang of it". (I still reckon you'd have been better off with my Lelit 😛 )

shape_shifter

😛 I was expecting that, I would have you know, except that it doesn't have a 'push a button' feature and that was one of the 'must haves'. I have no idea what he'll do once I can afford the lever, I'll be making outstanding coffees from the lever and he'll have to make do with what comes out of the EM6910 when I'm not home ;D Yes I have expected to go through quite a bit, I have a blend from Jeff to go through as a black as well, and I want to start seeing if I can get a blend going with the Harrar so hopefully the first week will be well and truly covered 🙂

Muscles

Tango wrote:

Muscles - does the Synesso 18g fit in the standard (non-naked) EM6910 portafilter?!

Yep, but don't expect it to stay in the PF with the stock Sunbeam spring cause it won't. You will need the weaker springs that are sold on the Pullman site...

shape_shifter

A question: while I'm waiting I'm looking at videos on youtube, I'm finding so far that they have all gone over the optimum pour section into the over extracted section. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that besides a tiny bit in the manual they don't make any reference to it either. Oh the question is, do people find that this actually does happen regardless?

shape_shifter

Question: should I take the 2 pour spout off? This model doesn't come with the single pour spout just the double but I was thinking in the meantime, less metal to absorb heat. It's also not in the instruction guide anymore either. Interesting to note that the shower screen only has a small section of holes on it, once I take it off in a minute I'll know if all the holes have been punched. I was expecting a larger circumference of holes I think due to the larger portafilter. Question: stupid question and I know the answer but just as a put it out there thing, how much should I really get out of the double? I'm used to pulling 60ml out of 15g, would I be right in thinking that we'll have much stronger coffee if I stick to 60ml out of 20g? We won't know what's hit us.

derrilex

Ahhh, still dishing out the good oil ( pun intended) on the 6910 AM. Good to see. Takes me back. I had to do another aggressive steam descale the other day when the pump went quite on me. Going like a train again now though. Will this thing ever let me upgrade ?

shape_shifter

LMAO this is fun, we have a grinder that even on the coarsest settings is too fine 🙂 Maybe they doubled the shims in ours, we haven't pulled it apart that far yet. Unfortunately we're using Jeff's PST coffee (sorry Jeff 🙂) to try this out with but I have to say the last shot that I pulled didn't taste anywhere near as bad as what I was getting out of the Presso with the same coffee. So I think there is progress. Was a little worried at the start when no water came out for ages 🙂 OH thinks that the steam is really dry already so I'm going to leave all the settings where they are at this stage and change them as we need to. Yes thank you to AM for the initial knowing where 9 bar sits, we did that as the first run with the double floor basket. I still think that the normal double basket doesn't have enough holes in it, this coming from a Presso user where the baskets are like the new VST baskets, holes all the way to the outside. We also checked the shower screens, why do they need two? Anyway both had all holes punched so it's all good there 🙂 Ok now back to working on the making the grind coarser, I might go and manually grind some now, oh and I'm only getting I think about 18g in the double basket, more measuring to do too. Oh oh one last thing - it's bloody NOISY!!! I'm hoping it settles down a little once it's worn in!

Brett_H

Hi SS, those grinders are known for noise. My mate ran his alongside my old Lux and between the two grinders I think we loosened the foundation of our home! Great that ou are haing fun experimenting!!! Enjoy 😉

shape_shifter

LMAO that noisy comment went for both the machine and the grinder, we were running both at once and couldn't talk to each other. Ok I think I'm close, with my MANUAL grinder mind you LMAO I'm laughing my head off at the people that scorned me for using a manual grinder but if they are reading this their comment will probably be "oh it's only a sunbeam" ;D This is definitely fun Brett, learning all over again 🙂 I am sorry that I had to use the PST in this way but it's the only coffee we have enough of to see the differences to start. Ok AM I know you said don't worry about numbers, so of course here is a numbers question 😃 I know where the 9 bar sits and the last shot I pulled I got 30ml in 30 seconds out of 16g of coffee and I think it tastes not half bad (I say that because I don't think I really like the PST coffee but of all the tastes I've had and originally through the Presso it's great in comparison). So the question is is that when I watched the gauge it goes to the middle of the darker yellow/brown section. This is in comparison to where the 9 bar sits which is almost on the middle between the lighter yellow/brown section but leaning ever so slightly to the lighter side. Do I just say stuff it if I think the coffee tastes fine and that's where it will sit for us, or do I play around to try and get it back towards the centre of the two? Tomorrow I'll take photos and video hopefully, that will probably be easier to understand than my waffle 😃