My shiny new toy arrived today. [attach=1] A couple of points about the shipping process: My machine was sent on the evening (AU time) of Wednesday Nov 27. It arrived in Australia on Friday afternoon just in time for customs to knock off and call it a day. After sorting out the GST and customs fee (no duty applies to espresso machines, you just need the right harmony code) it arrived in the early afternoon of Tuesday Dec 3. 5 days door-to-door ain't bad. The machine now comes in two boxes, with the upper grouphead in the second box. Along with the insane amount of un-compressable foam, there's no way this thing is getting damaged in transit from anything less than catastrophic elephant accidents. [attach=2] Thankfully the kids were at daycare today, it's not the kind of setup you'd want to do distracted. Not difficult, but you need to pay attention and take care, removing an internal clip and assembling the group. Once it's done, the boiler will suck dry the tank and then the warm up begins. [attach=3] [attach=4] Leaving the steam wand open until it starts steaming prevents false pressure and aids in quick startup and once the element heating light turns on a quick 500ml flush gets it on its way to being up to temp. Very quick really, but didn't time it. First shot went well, extremely smooth and clear but I botched the grind and tamp so it was a bit of a gusher. [attachimg=5] I've started to get it right, but a new machine isn't just one variable - particularly not when changing to a lever. It's a new process, a new group, a new portafilter basket, a new dosage... lots of variables that need to be tamed. [attachimg=6] Texturing milk is where it really shines. With its stonking great 2.5L boiler, steaming milk is a blast. Literally. I blasted the milk right out of the jug. 🙂 [attachimg=7] KK's tried-and-true method of plonk the wand just below the surface and allowing it to grab some air before submerging fully is not required. Purge, then stick the thing all the way down before flipping the toggle. You'll texture the milk far faster than the shot will complete. [attachimg=8] Jus really enjoyed her first latte (I sinked the 90's capp I produced on my first attempt) but neither of us have quite worked out what we're tasting just yet. The londinium is producing a radically different shot than I've experienced with these beans (Tim Adams Season 10) - that's true of course whether I've had it at Lamkin Lane or at home. Right now I don't know what I'm tasting, but it's smooth and balanced and totally not dialled in. Good experience all around and I'm really looking forward to playing further.
