Arrarex Caravel ( tips and techniques )

Naki^chap · January 2013

I have recently purchased a Caravel so I thought I would start a thread for tips and techniques on these machines,

I would like to know what boiler temps,dose,tamp pressure etc other owners are using
and any other advice to brewing with a caravel,

a quick video of a pull on mine

galumay · January 2013

Nice work Cadan, you have the more desirable early model Caravel, I have had about 5 of them now, sold a couple of them on, converted one to a 'glamping caravel' with no electrics and added a PID Kettle controller to my main one. I reckon that about 13.5g works best in them, i was grinding a bit fine and choking mine a bit, found it was better a little less pressure. I do as you show in your video and do a fellini just after the lever is horizontal. I have a couple of videos of mine with the nekkid portafilter somewhere on here, i will find and link! edit - http://www.bestcafes.com.au/forum/espresso-machines/naked-pf-for-caravel/msg34699/#msg34699 They do make the most sublime espressos and are my go to machine for anything but a milk drink.

Naki^chap · January 2013

Thanks galumay, yes I think mine is one of the earlier models it has the two metal buttons on the back, (photo below ) I have been dosing approx 16g in my basket and tamping so the grounds are level with the top of the basket as the shower screen sits flush up in the group,i might experiment with a little less grinds, Which model pid do you have as I was looking at some plug and play type pid controls, Thanks Cadan.

Naki^chap · January 2013

Very nice nekkid shots galumay I have seen on HB someone in Germany is manufacturing the Nakkid handles for the caravel,possibly a copy of the type you have, would like to own one but a little bit pricey for my liking.

UNM · September 2013

I recently joined the Caravel club. Should be an interesting experience learning all the ins and outs of this rather beautiful appliance. Not sure of best temperature, it is currently at a measured water temperature of 86-96 degrees Celsius. Not at all bad fore a mechanical thermostat when you take overshoot into account. I shall add an external PID in due course to reduce deadband, but no rush. It is surprising how slowly the temperature falls when the element cuts out. Currently dosing roughly thirteen grams, fill chamber for 5-10 secs preinfusionGentle pull about a third of the way down to build slight pressure against the puck, then a steady pull all the way, followed by one more from three quartets down to the bottom to force remaining water through the puck. Results in just over 30gram shot.

Brett H · September 2013

Awesome! These don't overheat like the Pavoni et al do they?

UNM · September 2013

on 1380237687:

Awesome! These don't overheat like the Pavoni et al do they?

Nope. You set the temp, you make espresso. Cup after cup. It is an appliance designed to do one task and do it well. No compromise required. Still quite a learning experience, but I am already making good coffee with it. Being a manual lever gives good control over extraction rate.

Brett H · September 2013

Fantastic! I notice there are more and more of these on Crema. Galumay clearly is in cohorts with the Italian chapter of UHL.

Ol Grumpy · September 2013

Wot the.... I hadn't read this thread so I followed big G's link to Vimeo and took a gander... Wot the... You know I have an old fellow who wanders past my place each day with his bag of crumbs and while's away many a pleasant afternoon feeding the birds in the park, on his favourite bench... down the back of my place... Wot the... I'm just gonna say.... Wot the... If you need to know more then take the link to the Caravel and while you're there... check out the latest posted video... It is Big G feeding his new best mate; 'Nike2' And after you've watched it you will understand why I cannot come to ask, "What happened to Nike1?"

Beanz · September 2013

Ol Grumpy I had trouble understanding what you were on about initially then I figued it out Unbelievable !!

Ol Grumpy · September 2013

Sorry, my last post was extremely obtuse... Let me just say... Allow me to introduce our very own, "Crocodile-Rick"... [applause]... http://vimeo.com/75200730 EDIT: Bwahahahaha.... I couldn't help myself.... In my 'minds eye' Nike comes lunging up the beach... And Rick turns to run and slaps straight into that standing tap.... Bwahahaha... I should seek medical help....

derrilex · September 2013

Pelting that poor mud gecko with fish ! :D

mycuppa · September 2013

I am more concerned about his choice of colors for his "boardies"........ Perhaps that is why Nike2 won't lunge.....

Brett H · September 2013

I am more concerned about the lovely tea party happening while Nike 1 demolishes entree:

UNM · October 2013

How do others clean the portafilter and handle/holder Been rinsing thoroughly after each use.

Beanz · October 2013

From your comment I am wondering if your basket seperates from the handle ? Mine were locked solid when I got them but they will seperate with patience and lots of fiddling. Once separated the parts are very easy to wash. My original baskets have two elevated pips one on each side. It seems there is one position where they come in and out easily and the other 359 degrees is locked solid not sure whether that was a design objective or simply wear at one point.

UNM · October 2013

Currently they do not separate. They are obviously made separately, but tightly stuck together. I have no desire to break something, hence my question. Lots of fiddling? Yep, can do that. Patience? Hmm, that might be a challenge.

Beanz · October 2013

It took several attempts over a few evenings but persistance paid off. I was lucky on the earlier model the handle screwed off leaving only metal parts which I put in a pot and boiled with some Caffetto and left it to soak to try and break up any accumulated coffee residue that was glueing it together. On a later model I could not do that as the handle is overmoulded so I simply dipped it in and out of a similar solution. In the end I did need to seperate them by inserting an old knife edge between the basket and the handle. Using an old vegetable peeling knife that was really well worn I very gently worked around the edge of the basket, very slowly it worked it's way up. Only use a very blunt edged knife to avoid accidents. Other safer objects I had did not have a thin enough edge to work into the small gap. Maximise the area of contact between the blade and the handle / basket to avoid any damage to the edges. Once it was up a few mm but still tight I used a thicker blade If you get impatient put it down and come back to it. Aim for a very gentle coaxing process rather than brute force. The first one was a nightmare as I was not even sure at that stage whether they were meant to come apart, the second one was much easier as I was confident I was on the right track Good luck

galumay · October 2013

The way beans describes it pretty well sums it up UNM, I have had all the baskets out of my portafilters so yours has definitely been apart. They don't seem to accumulate much crud anyway, maybe the lower temps? A good rinse is all I do with mine, once a year or so you can soak in some descaler and hot water if you want.

UNM · October 2013

Been using the Caravel as my espresso machine of choice for a while now and it is becoming part of my morning routine. Fast warm up is a big plus. The fiddly little filter basket is still an irritation. I need a funnel. Easy temperature adjustment is good, but I really want to add a PID, partly because I can, partly because I like a temperature display. I find I am naturally compensating for variations in extraction rate by adjusting pressure on the lever, don't know if other lever users do this, but it definitely reduces incidence of sink shots. Probably also reduces number of God shots, but I enjoy the coffee so don't mind.

Janlab · October 2013

on 1358678707:

added a PID Kettle controller to my main one.

Also joined the Caravel Club with a "never used" cream colored beauty. As such the basket came out easily. @G, where do I source the kettle PID? Jan

SniffCoffee · October 2013

on 1382663964:

Also joined the Caravel Club with a "never used" cream colored beauty. As such the basket came out easily. @G, where do I source the kettle PID? Jan

From the US - I actually have one that I purchased but then decided against going down the Caravel path - so it's unused - PM me if you're interested Sniff

UNM · October 2013

Either grab one from sniff, or make your own. It isn't hard. PID, SSR, case, socket, plug, wire, time. Job done.

Janlab · October 2013

Thanks UNM, you have a plan/diagram? (I'm a bit electronically challenged, hehe) Hopefully will get Snif's... J

Naki^chap · October 2013

on 1382663964:

Also joined the Caravel Club with a "never used" cream colored beauty. As such the basket came out easily. @G, where do I source the kettle PID? Jan

You can get a digital thermometer with thermocouple from evil Bay for a $5 delivered from China, that will at least let you know the water temp in the boiler and you'll be able adjust the thermostat to suit, I have drilled a tiny hole in the rear of the lid on mine to push the thermocouple through so I can keep the lid shut, not expensive and works well.

Naki^chap · October 2013

I get the best results from mine by filling the basket to the top once tamped,and grinding fine enough the I really have to apply ALOT of pressure on the lever to get a fast drip from the group handle, I load the handle then pull down until I get a few drips coming out then I slowly lift to refill the chamber and push down to finish the shot, with the grind fine enough that I really have to push down hard gives me a sweet thick bodied shot with lots of crema, If I grind a bit coarser so as I don't need to apply so much pressure , I find the shots are a bit thin and lacking the sweetness, but that's just me.

galumay · December 2014

I am back in the routine of pulling daily shots on a Caravel, our first stop in our 'gap year' is the summer at a mates bach in Piha, on the west coast of Auckland. I sold him a Caravel & Lido grinder a couple of years ago and now i get to use it on a daily basis! I brought a bag of my beans with me, will have to source some good local ones soon. The Caravels really do pull a sublime shot.

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