Thanks HG, I hear you but with even a really light tamp at 13, 14, 15, 16 nothing happens in the 1st 10 sec. I played around tonight & found my self up around 19, 20 setting using a espro tamp before it clicked & it still dragged out to the 35-38 sec mark. So I guess I will need to go up a notch or 2???????? On another note, have you removed the black plastic liner in the group handle on your machine?