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Just got our new one and quite impressed, used some espresso grind (by the local coffee shop) and some (shock horror) lavazza both in the double shot pressurised basket, acceptable but not great.
How can I improve? Shot time is 30 seconds and getting 60g of coffee or of 19g of grind
Pressurised baskets dont really allow for much adjustment of shot times and yield. Try using the non pressurised, although if you're getting somewhere else to grind the coffee for you you'll have no way of adjusting the grind setting until your next bag.
I'd say your own grinder is the way to really play around with how your shots are.
Obvious way would be to get your own grinder so you can get 'dialled in', and use a non-pressurised basket which will allow you to grind finer.
I only have a Delonghi Dedica but with a decent grinder and non pressurised basket it can produce pretty good results.
Edit: ha, snap!
If you can alter the ratio as well 2:1 will give you better espresso than 3:1.
60g is to much. As said 2/1 so you want 38g. And to get that you need a finer grind or tamp harder.
Grinder was set to save setting they use in the shop in their fancy machine so assumed it works be ok in my lesser machine?
So 38g out in 30 seconds? Is that from the for starting or from turning the pump on to dispense
My sage grinder gives me 18g coffee and with the coffee beans I am presently using, 28 seconds from turning the dial gives me 36g of coffee using the double portafilter.
I'd probably (as suggested above), bin the pressurised baskets and switch to regular baskets to start with. Getting a consistent and controllable extraction is near impossible with pressurised, they're designed to extract a good creme from effectively stale coffee. If you're into controlling your brew ratios, then you're already beyond their usefulness. Then, sadly it's a case of adjusting the grind. As everyone has said, for espresso, start aiming for 1:2, 18g to 36g in 30 seconds is a good starting point. You can vary slightly from there depending on the coffee. Some coffee may need closer to 1:1.5 or 1:3.
Grind is generally the only way you can vary this in fairness. Bear in mind that the older the grind, the faster it will run. Your local coffee shop pulls shots within about 30 seconds of grinding, where as at home, the coffee has been drying out for several hours/days which will affect brew time. Even whole bean, you tend to have to grind finer the older it gets as it degasses. You can also ask what they dose at. A lot of cafe's that are making Lattes all day will dose at 21g, i.e. a triple shot as their doing 16 - 18oz coffees. thus, they can grind courser due to the bigger dose. if you're using 18-19g, you'd probably need to go a step or two finer.
in answer to your question above - it's 30 seconds from pump on to pump off. It should usually take about 5 - 10 seconds from pump on to the coffee starting to run. Less than 5 seconds and it's running to quick so you'll end up under-extracting.
The sage's are a pretty good machines with good pressure, thus will cope with finer grinds than most mainstream consumer machines (deloonghis etc). To get the best out of it, I'd be looking to get your own grinder. You can usually get some great deals on second hand Rancilio Rocky (doserless) or Eurika Mingion on eBay. I've had both and there's really not much difference between the mingion and something super expensive.
Welcome to the rabbit hole of the home barista. Beware, when your coffee machine set up costs more than your bike, you know you've been sucked in!
@bjhedley thanks so much that is amazing, actually understand what you are saying as opposed to the usual stw coffee bull shit 👍👍👍👍😃
No worries, good luck!
actually understand what you are saying as opposed to the usual stw coffee bull shit
Wow you're so grateful for all the advice you're getting but ignoring because you were too cheap to budget for a decent grinder.
That was because bjhedley explained properly without the usual coverall comments and recommendations neglecting people's actual budgets and constraints. This wasn't a budgeted buy this was because the other broke at the same time as the boiler so sorry I'm not as cash rich as you 😉
People aren't being dicks telling you to buy a decent grinder if you want to make good coffee. If you'd done some research before you bought the coffee machine you'd have found out that it's probably more important than the coffee machine itself.
It's like you bought an expensive SLR and are now moaning about people telling you you will need a lens to go with it.
@grum I know I need a decent grinder dude, as I've said the cash part is the issue. I'm checking with users of the same machine what's what as the instructions are vague.
I'd love a new grinder but sadly having just moved house, buying a new van, having a third kid, and the boiler issue in the last 8 weeks, not to mention Christmas, cash is a little tight 🤷
Soz was being grumpy - sadly once you start down the coffee nerd rabbit hole it's hard to stop!