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I have got a 'nearly new' machine and I can't seem to get it to work.
Have filled tank, turned on to heat but it looks like the two pipes in the tank are not sucking any water up into the boiler.
Basically no water comes out when switched on, nor steam.
Air locks are mentioned in the manual but running the steam etc as suggested still results in no water/steam.
Is it broke!?
MM
Iirc the first time they are used they have to be run for quite a while - turn on to heat setting only and when at temp, run (without hopper in) for a bit till water starts to come through.
Have tried that.
I filled the water in the tank right to the MAX line so I couuld see if water was going into it.
I can see the clear pipes have nothing in them, like the pump is not sucking water.
When I very first turned it on some steam came out but now nothing. grrr
MM
Well I've fixed it.
I took it apart and the pump had come off it's mount internally during transit and the tube that draws the water had a kink in it. Sorted.
Just done first coffee which was nice but just a little watery. It came out quite quick.
How hard do you have to tamp the coffee?
I was using a medium Lavazza Qualita Rossa. What do all you coffee freaks use?
MM
Is the coffee you've got ground specifically for an espresso machine? If it's ground for e.g. a caffetiere it will be too coarse and won't allow enough pressure to build through the coffee
Just done first coffee which was nice but just a little watery. It came out quite quick.How hard do you have to tamp the coffee?
I was using a medium Lavazza Qualita Rossa.
I've got a Gaggia Coffee Deluxe which shares much of its gubbins with the Classic. I also use Lavazza Rossa as my day-to-day coffee.
It's definitely worth experimenting with tamping. It's about touch and feel so there's no way I can tell you here what works for me but I'd say I fill and tamp [i]quite[/i] hard. To put it another way, when I get it wrong it's more likely that I'll over fill it, struggle to get the basket on and end up with a very slow coffee that's a bit 'cooked'.
Lavazza red is OK for that machine. Black and Gold taste nicer, in my view. Illy is too expensive.
Tamping - get a nice solid one and press down till your feet start to lift off the floor. Also the quantity of coffee in the filter basket (and if you have a single or double basket) makes a difference.
Some time ago Lavazza were supplying a "perfect crema" device which means there is only 1 tiny hole in the basket, which is designed to get a crema from coarse ground coffee. Most purists hate the idea but my sister in law gets good coffee from hers.
Save up and get a grinder. The Iberital MC2 is cheapish and lovely because you can make it grind and dispense just enough for 1 cup - no faff or waste.
[url= http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/ ]Happy Donkey[/url] is the supplier and I get all my stuff from them. Coffee, Backflushing & Descaling powder, spare filters, tampers, spares, everything.
Ahh welcome to the habit!!! I thrashed about with mine for almost a year before I eventually worked out that I really had to but a decent burr grinder (Rancillio Rocky) and a stainless steel tamper... Chris King make a coffee tamper now how cool would that be?!
Beans now come freshly roasted from www.hasbean.co.uk
Coffee doesnt get much better than this. 🙂
I live about a couple of miles from Hasbean but they don't sell from the roastery door, even though I asked nicely.
Thanks for the advice. I've just got back from the shops with a tin of illy.
It is pricey but when I got the 'used once' classic for £50 I can afford it 😉
I'll have another play later
MM
Tesco's fair trade espresso is a very good alternative to many so called quality brands. About £2.79 per pkt. Very nice string smooth roast, but a bit oily for a good noisette.
mildred - MemberTesco's fair trade espresso is a very good alternative to many so called quality brands. About £2.79 per pkt. Very nice string smooth roast, but a bit oily for a good noisette.
Thanks for the reminded. Will buy some to try it later. Think I am going to get the Tesco's fair trade then some elephants beans then some Ethiopian beans as well. Recently tried some of the Waitrose Italian Roast ... the taste was so so that resembles dark colour drink.
I usually get my beans from my local roaster but their quality has started to gone now. Some beans, still using the same name, have been substituted with something else i.e. different beans. How do I know? Previous beans were larger in size now smaller and tasted differently. Mind you bloody expensive too @ £2.70 for 100grams. It's getting too much hype now so need to move on to other beans ...
🙄
JB and all
I have had a Classic for about 6 years and a Rocky grinder my coffee has been ok but thats it realy despite poncing about with the grinds and tamping pressures
I found this thread
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1143118905/0
Now I have a superb coffee try it
Nice link, thanks. Will give that a go.
I am getting a much thicker crema now i am tamping harder.
Some beans, still using the same name, have been substituted with something else i.e. different beans. How do I know? Previous beans were larger in size now smaller and tasted differently.
Beans aren't made in a lab, perhaps you're now buying a new crop harvest which is different to the previous one.