Ponte Vecchio Lusso - advice please?

Moon

Day 12 Suppose unless I'm prepared to ditch borderline shots .. I'm not giving myself the best chance of making every one a winner am I? 1. Rating - 7.7/10 2. Rating - 7.5/10 No luck so far today. '2' was a borderline shot with a faster 15 sec 1st lever pour and quick 2nd .. with a full dose and light tamp. Came out a bit too strong for me .. meaning a finer grind adjustment will only make it stronger? As it turned out - it should've been a sinker. 😢

Moon

SniffCoffee wrote:

Hey Moon Also I used to do the Fellini slightly differently: 1. Hold the lever down until a drop appears, then release; then 2. Push the lever down again just as it reaches the horizontal position, then let it go right to the top. See how you go! Cheers Sniff

----------------------------- Day 12 ^ Had to go back a few pages to find out who suggested this method? It was Sniff :thumb: Noticed the lever wanted to jump up when releasing after pre-infusion. Appeared like there was an air pocket in the group cylinder. Tried what Sniff suggested ---> '1 & 2' above ---> dropping back the dose a bit. Grind: 18g - Slightly finer Pour: 1st - 20 secs, 2nd - 7 secs = 27 secs Tamp: Polish half way .. lightish finish. Result: 8.4/10 - back in the 8s 😉 .. don't care much for those 7s 8)

Moon

The 300g of Merlo arrived along with my sister which was both interesting.. and enjoyable. The Merlo Espresso blend took to my Coffee machine and grind setting well .. and didn't need to be altered. My sisters verdict .. keeping in mind that she has a condition that reduces her full range of taste. Barista beans 1. Detected a strange flavour that overpowered the coffee. She thought it was the Organic Milk. Rating - 8/10 (apparently was being generous with this one.. being the 1st from my new machine 😉) Thought the flavour was too mild and prefers the 'punch' of the Merlo Espresso.. due to inability to detect subtle flavour. 2. Using Homebrand milk (Coles Farmland/ or Aldi .. not that aweful Woolies/Pauls stuff) Rating - 8/10 Merlo beans 3. HB milk Rating - 8/10 4. HB milk Rating - 9/10 My sister reckons that the coffees made with Merlo at the dedicated Merlo Cafes on the Gold Coast are far superior to the coffees either she, or I can make on our machines. I'm looking forward to trying these out when up there in March. ------------------------------------------- **My verdict on the Merlo** Merlo was consistent and had more top end flavour. Each cup rated 8.4/10 over the 2 days. The consistency and extra 'punch' was a nice change. Ideal for that first coffee in the morning. The testing period for the Merlo was short .. and due to not experimenting with the grind to taste the difference in flavour/body this may produce .. the last coffee using the Barista beans was superior to any I tried using the Merlo beans. Just had a Barista using the HB milk Rating - 8.6/10 Cricket analogy The Merlo was like a one day 50 over match .. full of 'in-your-face' superficial excitement that is satisfying. The Barista beans, on the other hand, was the 'Test match' coffee that allows you to sit back and appreciate the more subtle layers and complexity of the experience. For mine .. on my machine at least .. and I guess that's the one that counts 99.9% of the time - imho .. the Barista blend is a superior one .. and when 'on-song' .. delivers what I am looking for in a cup of coffee.... The Merlo however, is an honest, reliable .. and consistently enjoyable brew. It won't disappoint.

Hildy

Ash, did you end up selling your lusso?

Moon

^ Hi Hildy You will probably get a quicker response if you send ash a message regarding his PV Lusso? Day 17 The Barista beans are definitely now peaking. i lost track of exactly when this started over the last few days. 1. 18g +5 with a medium tamp Pour was slow .. and although I didn't time it .. was probably around 45 sec total. Rating - 8.7/10 *This was a lovely coffee :coffee2: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm pulling the lever down for pre-infusion .. waiting 5 secs .. then releasing the lever to just under horizontal to get the first drops before pulling down. I then follow sniffs method of the Fellini move by releasing until horizontal .. then pulling down before releasing for the first extraction which takes approx 20-25 secs. At this point the lever slows and it drips instead of a continuous pour. I then pull the lever down for the 2nd extraction and replace the cup when there is around 30-35ml in the cup .. which is around 2/3 of the way up, and only takes about 5-7 secs .. as the 2nd pour is always quicker. 2. 18 +5 Pour - 20 secs .. once completing the Fellini move .. + 5 secs 2nd pull/extraction Rating - 8.9/10 Man .. that was Special. More of that please? 😛 Considered giving this one a 9/10 .. only with a top score of 9.2/10 .. I'm leaving some headroom for the cup that blows me away - using some super bean that hasn't yet come my way? Bring it on .. although mycuppa would say his Guatamala is that bean .. and that I blew it .. lol :pan If the Merlo rated 8.5/10 .. these Barista babies are on fire, and deserve to be up there nudging a 9. I need to leave a little room .. just in case they go all chocolatey on me? It's these 'Coffee Heaven' times that make it all worthwhile. I was going to say - make life worth living .. only I better not get too carried away .. eh? ( can't say .. 'it's only coffee' around here .. can I? :stir ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh WOW! Whooooaaah .. Just pulled a rip snorter! Tweaked the grind a tad finer .. initial taste thought it was a touch strong. After it cooled slightly .. finished it off. 18g + 5 Pour: 20 + 10 = 30 secs Tamp - medium Rating - 9.1/10 <--- hit the Jackpot :thumb: Deserved a top score of 9.2/10 .. only maybe .. there's a coffee worth the extra 0.1? Full flavored and even had the chocolate note that I was waiting for. This Barista coffee is simply stunning in a latte when all the stars are aligned.

Brett_H

Sensational Moon! I'm glad you liked the Merlo beans. For me they are like Mother's milk... It's where my journey into good coffee really began; well, Merlo and Alan Frew's correspondence. Their coffee at the Torefatzioni was always better than my home coffee before I got my technique consistent on my own equipment. I realised that to be the major difference for my enlightened Merlo-frequenting guests was that heir milk was far superior to mine, so, practise the practice. Keep up the fine work mate! A+

Moon

Cheers Brett Merlo consistently scored 8.5/10 which was very good considering there wasn't any tweaking .. and used the Barista setting for all of them. The crema and bright tan colour is certainly impressive. My sister has been a long term Merlo fan .. and reckons that it isn't as good as it used to be.. but still her favorite. I noticed that the bean size is smaller and not the big buxom shiny bean that I remember it to be - since last trying it some 12/18 months ago? Yesterdays Barista was outstanding .. however .. a different story today .. and unable to reproduce the dizzy heights of a 9.1/10 rating... unfortunately. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 18 Last nights coffee scored a 9/10 Today 1. 8.9/10 (last of the Coles Farmland milk) Aldi Farmdale full-cream milk 2. 8.1/10 (slightly finer grind - med/firm tamp) 3. 7.9/10 (backed off to coarser grind - med/firm tamp) 4. 8/10 (slightly finer - light tamp) Oh well .. nice while it lasted 😢 Texture & micro-foam seem fine .. looking like it's the milk? Dropped off significantly when changing over to Aldi. Going back down around the 8/10 is still a nice coffee .. only it ain't Coffee Heaven.. and I kinda like it up there. Bought 4 ltr of Aldi milk .. but will have to get a litre of Coles Farmland to see if it makes a difference?

Moon

Day 19 Zoomed down to Coles on my Aprilia 125cc Scooter to pickup a ltr of Farmland to check if the milk was a problem? 1. 18+5 .. adjusted grind slightly finer & tamped firmly. Pour took over a minute ---> sinker 2. Adjusted grind back .. 18g +3 and light tamp Pour - 25 + 5 = 30 secs Shot - been 35ml lately Micro-foam excellent Rating - 8.9/10 3. Same as above Rating - 9/10 (missing the chocolate for a 9.1/10) Moony is back! :rofl: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Will go back to the Aldi milk for the next one .. to see if it goes from Hero to zero? Aldi milk looking like being relegated to using on Weetbix. Woolies Macro organic @ $2.30 ltr is history .. Coles Farmland @ $2 for 2ltrs gets the :thumb: Bit of a saving there 8)

mycuppa

Moony 'Ol Chap. Sorry, I have not had a chance to get onto the computer for the last 10 days. Re: Barista 1. funny smell. Dunno about that one......have no idea........always smells good to me when it's in the cooling tray. Hot day perhaps ? 2. Inconsistent in the early days........I do have some thoughts (or theories) on that one............ This time of year I have become accustomed to not liking so much. In December and January, the fresh crops from Brazil arrive and some of them can be quite unstable, e.g. raw coffee has been processed and then shipped very quickly to destination in sealed grainpro bags. It does not happen all the time. I've had the same problem for the last few years - 12 months ago I wanted to return a couple of pallets to the broker - that was how frustrated I had been at that time and at various times of the year around crop arrivals, I may even switch to different coffees. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the coffee and it does stabilize and will produce exceptional results, but I do prefer some types of raw coffee to have a bit of age. For other coffees and origins, this is not the case. Some of the larger farms actually store their raw coffee in large wooden vats in controlled (or stable) temperature conditions for up to 3 months before shipping. I can only assume from that practice they are attempting to achieve some form of stabilization. As we all know, vast quantities of raw coffee sit in warehouses at the brokers and in the factories of coffee roasting companies - sometimes for well over a year.

Ol_Grumpy

I find it curious that we all know many factors such as climate, the individual season- a dry or wet season, freak hail storms, insect or disease infestation, etc, etc, etc We all know these and a million other things can and do influence the production of fresh foods..... Why is it when it comes to coffee, we expect such a level of consistency??? Dunno? Is it a hang over from Instant coffee? Which is very consistent? Highly processed and as far from fresh as you can get, but consistent, nonetheless?? Personally I find the 'elusive' character of great coffee... as being an essential element of the appeal... You can never be absolutely certain just what today's coffee will reveal...

Moon

Ol Grumpy wrote:

Personally I find the 'elusive' character of great coffee... as being an essential element of the appeal... You can never be absolutely certain just what today's coffee will reveal...

Well Grumps .. I guess it's not too dissimilar to any other relationship that a bloke finds himself having to deal with.. There's plenty of blokes out there that hang-in-there for that elusive 1% 'high' (ok .. let's say 5%) .. knowing full well he has to get through the other 99% (95%) daily grind for however long in order to reach it ---> the Summit - then reassure himself that it is all worthwhile. As an unmarried bloke .. I am less experienced in dealing with the highs and lows that present on a regular basis .. as mycupper says .. Hero one day .. zero the next. Lol .. I'm missing out on a challenge there. Did I mention no kids? Bit like the 'Dolby' effect on your sound system - clipping the very highs as well as the very lows .. I prefer a little consistency in an extended mid range myself. I'll settle for 9/10.. with a variance of +- 0.5/10 There are people who like regular drama in their lives, for excitement .. and then there are those who prefer to avoid it. I guess by insulating the boiler in my Lusso as a preventative measure - I am in the latter group .. avoiding machine breakdowns and the inconvenience and challenge that goes with it .. including the shock, when you suddenly realize you can't make yourself a coffee until your machine is fixed. Now that's a 'low' 😢 Is a Football Coach happy with a fantastic performance one week .. and abysmal the next? .. nah, they want consistency .. so that they can implement a plan to improve individual/team performance. As previously mentioned .. making every coffee a 9.2/10 would probably get boring... My idea of reinvigorating my passion is to change the beans .. tweak it .. and getting a different coffee flavour .. not going from a 9.2/10 to a 7.2/10 and finding myself in a wtf is going on here moment. :🙂 As my journey continues .. I am finding out it is not all smooth sailing .. with setbacks inevitable. I'm not going for an Olympic Gold Medal here .. I just want to have a very nice cup of coffee. *No way am I going through a 95% grind to achieve a 5% return on my investment. Nah .. I'm loving it 🙂 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ^ Bit of a yarn Edit: mycuppa - the funny smell wasn't the beans .. it was the milk used. In my opinion .. Barista beans when freshly ground .. get a 10/10 for their aroma. Love it. It is part of my coffee ritual

Ol_Grumpy

Yeah baby.... And just when we get to 95%, What do we do?... celebrate..... Nah... We move the bloody goalposts further away.... Bwahahahaha! The gods must surely think we are crazy!!!

Moon

Last nights coffee using Aldi milk. Rating - 7.8/10 Too strong for me .. think I'm allowing the shot to pour too long .. closer to 40ml instead of 30ml. Nothing wrong with the milk. This morning (Aldi milk) (backed grind off Rating 1. 8.8/10 2. 9/10 3. 8.4/10 So .. Aldi milk is fine. Have to try the 50/50 blend of Coles & Woolies Organic I've got in the fridge .. maybe that's ok too? Maybe Ol' Grumps is bang on the money? One coffee at a time - it's a 'lucky' dip? ---> Am I feeling lucky? Like any other marriage - perhaps going from hero one day to zero the next .. and back to hero is just how it goes?

Moon

Last nights installment 8.3/10 Day 21 Today 1. 8.2/10 2. 8.7/10 3. 8.2/10 4. 8.7/10 No Coffee related orgasms there, unfortunately .. but all in the 8s .. which is good Ol' Grumps philosophy that variation is the spice of life (rather than consistency) is beginning to kick in. :lamp: Each cup brings different layers of flavour to the fore .. to appreciate & enjoy. ^-^ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WARNING - Caffeine addicts look away now! It's time for a kidney/liver flushout Scootering down to the local fruit shop to purchase goodies to concoct a brew of a different type 1. Watermelon, Grape & Pineapple blend for the juice extractor Followed later by 2. Celery & carrot brew. Ahhhh .. should be revitalized .. ready for a return to my *first love (sorry Pussy Cat) ----> :coffee2: I have found that by doing this ^ my palate is refreshed .. and am able to identify the flavors with more clarity. *ps. Lucky I don't have a Wife .. or I'd have to install another setup out back in the Dog House. Either there - or it would be a tight squeeze in the lined basket I put up for the local Possums to sleep in.

Moon

Day 22 Purification went well yesterday .. although only managed stage 1, stage 2 later today Back to Coffee. Purchased a new glass cup so that I can measure the shot during the pour, as well as observe the colour. Today 1. 8.2/10 2. 8.7/10 ..and No 3 is in these photos and yet to be tasted and rated * Pick the flaw? lol

Moon

The 'flaw' is more evident here.. This Baby rated a 9/10 :thumb:

Brett_H

Great looking pour Moon! The flaw is that you can still see the Nescrappe label despite obvious attempt to obscure it. No,... The flaw is that you drew the nikko line on the inside of the cup. No,.... .??

Moon

Hi Brett Haven't tried scraping off the Nescafe sticker yet .. only I reckon it won't be easy? Perhaps a new single edge razor blade may do the trick? As for the shot line .. it's permanent marker atm ( inside, lol ) that's not so permanent .. I need something .. err .. permanent that doesn't involve etching the glass .. inserting ink into the groove, and filling over with some kind of resin. Seems too much like a project? Maybe after some practice I can guess it, and won't need the training wheels, besides, according to Ol' Grumps .. variation in shot will offer different highlights in the taste of each cup. Might just go with that? I like the glass rather than the cup, as it allows you to see the shot level, crema, colour, and how much milk to pour in to get the 1cm latte micro-foam level right.

Moon

Day 23 (yesterday) 1. 8.7/10 2. 8.9/10 3 8.3/10 Day 24 (today) 1. 8.5/10 2. 8.4/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Coffees seem to be more full-flavored of late, although the pour has been quicker the last 2 days. No2 today .. I adjusted the grind finer .. only it did not slow the pour down. Due to the beans being more potent .. the faster pour didn't seem to detract much from the outcome. Not as much depth in the flavour as a slower 25-30 sec pour .. but still a very tasty brew. It appears the faster pour offset the stronger beans .. with scores in the mid 8s .. is a very nice coffee. No complaints here :coffee2:

Lacehim

Ok, don't kill me for asking this Moon. Loving your coffee journey, I really am. But how do you come up with these figures. Personally I would get rid of them because your taste will always be progressing. I'm sure day 1s 8.8 won't be the same as day 24s 8.8? It looks like your getting the right stuff out of your lusso. I always loved the shots out of mine when I nailed it. Have any quality issues appeared with your machine?

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