crema on espresso

FionaK

Thanks for both those replies. Very helpful. Followed the link given and now feel like I know a lot more about grinders (had a few questions answered there thank you very much Ken). And Pablo - very useful to have the experience of someone who has been through the process of trying to get good coffee from a Krups. I'm going to try getting some fresh coffee ground one grade coarser than usual for espresso machine, and hopefully in a small quantity only. Will let you know how I go. Now perhaps I should make a fresh batch of Friands to go with all this coffee! Fiona K

FreshCoffee2

One more thing. The most affordable grinder, with real and adjustable grinding plates (NOT spinning propeller / blender) that will do the job, is the little German made Emide. It sells at below $100.00 and has been shown to be reliable in service over prolonged periods with the kind of use that will be expected with a very small espresso machine. Keep away from anything else at below the $100.00 figure. The next step up would be the grinder mentioned by others here at around the $150.00ish mark. If you wish to pursue the Emide, please contact me off-forum through my company website link. Regardez, FC.

admin

Hi Fiona - just to close off on what may have appeared as contradictory advice on fineness of the grind - typically you'd try and get the grind fairly fine if you're trying to get the ideal crema, however as I've mentioned many of the cheaper machines won't be able to pump water through a really fine grind - therefore a couple of suggestions from people familiar with this type of machine that you try a coarser grind...in theory, you should have much more success actually getting a shot out of a coarser grind on a Krups, but it won't be most amazing crema (in terms of your original question). One name you can try for good coffee (although not right on your doorstep) would be Danes Coffee in Brookvale; if Paul Jackson's available, you might see if he's got a minute, and he should be able to give you some fairly good advice on the grind for your type of machine. Best -A

FionaK

Bought some more ground coffee today. Only Gloria Jeans, but half size pack and ground a little coarser. Just made a nice coffee with it. Fiona

pab

Fiona, If you ever at Castle Towers go to Cafe Sul Pont (around the corner from McDonalds) and try some of their coffee. They might grind some especially for you. Cheers, Pablo

FionaK

Thanks for that tip Pablo. Actually did buy the coffee from Gloria Jeans at Castle Towers, so will try the place you suggest next time. Now my coffee machine doesn't seem to be working properly anyway - wont froth milk and generally not working well. And just when I though I was getting somewhere! Will try a good clean out, but I don't think that's the problem. Anyone have or know of a second hand machine to sell or barter? 🙂 Fiona K

FreshCoffee2

Fiona. re: your comment that the machine is not operating / frothing properly. a) If you mean that is has the same "production" of steam as it had before but you are not able to get froth on the milk now, then it is most probably the milk and not the machine that is the problem; b) if the production of steam has actually diminished, the most common cause of this problem is milk that has gone hard and blocked the exit hole in the nozzle at the end of the steam pipe. Poke a pin or paper clip into the hole, then blow it out by producing steam. To stop this kind of thing happening, always blow steam / water out of the steam pipe AFTER steaming / frothing milk, as part of the steam pipe cleaning process. Regardez, FC.

FionaK

Thanks FC, I'll give the pin thing a try. I have tried frothing soy milk (same brand as I usually use that froths really well), home made soy milk and cows' milk, all with same results. And I was getting lots of froth (closer to too much rather than not enough) with these milks before, so unlikely to be the milk considering changed with all three types. Before I try doing the milk, while doing (pulling?) the coffee, a lot of water comes out the steam spout. I believe that this Krups machine always puts out a bit of water first, but now it seems to be more - fills up a little milk jug, and this is a change from before, where there was a drip and then a bit after I turned the steam dial, now it comes out a lot and then hardly any water before steam when I turn the steam dial. So the nozzle doesn't seem to actually be blocked. This is why I thought it seemed faulty not just dirty. I will certainly try an extra good clean of everything though, and appreciate any suggestions. Fiona

FreshCoffee2

Dont know anything about the operating controls on your domestic machine however if I have understood correctly that water comes from the steam pipe while you are making coffee, the following has most probably gone wrong: a) in the event of it being a regular pump driven boiler machine, then the rubber seal in the steam tap/valve has perished or broken and needs replacing (a simple operation) OR b) in the event of it being a thermoblock machine, then something has probably gone wrong in the 2/3 way distributor valve and because you wouldnt normally bother trying to repair such a thing, it (the distributor valve)needs replacing. regardez, Fc.

[deleted]

I'm having a similar problem on my sunbeam cafe crema machine, except the steam just takes 10-30 minutes to come out. it makes a coffee fine, but steaming milk is impossible >.< The worst bit is that it's 1 month out of warranty.

Reschsmooth

Matthew - I would suggest you approach Sunbeam (if you are sure it is a fault with the machine) and suggest they look at it at least as if it were under warranty. Firstly, you could suggest they do this as a goodwill exercise and secondly, that, notwithstanding the warranty, that it would represent extremely bad form that a product, relatively new to the market, would stop functioning properly immediately it is out of warranty. I would also suggest you look at how you are using the machine - have you descaled it? Cheers P

[deleted]

Haven't descaled yet, then again I've probably made 1 or 2 coffees a week with it. 😛 I tried it on a whim last night and although the steam cmae out very wet initially it *did* come out, which is the main thing. Hopefully I won't have to send it back for repair.

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