I personally think retention is a myth. The coffee that gets left in the machine after you grind your (double) shot after a deep clean doesn't go into the next grind - it goes in the nooks and crannies and piles up against component walls and mainly stays there once it's in place. And that stuff doesn't get swapped over in its entirety, or even mainly, with subsequent grinds. There's only one solution: clean your grinder regularly to get rid of the rank, stale old grinds and realise you'll lose 2 or 3 grams into the nooks and crannies in the first grind every time you do that.
Current Combo- Breville Bambino with your upgraded portafilter and IMS 18-22g basket and Baratza Encore ESP... from a budget point of view its been a solid combination... i am still learning to dial in each bean but your videos have been a massive help! Thank you Kev!
Just read through all the comments and got some good information from both you and a couple helpful commenters! Thank you very much for creating a channel for such a chill group of followers to congregate on
Great video, thanks. Just starting out with dialling in using a sage smart grinder pro so it's really helpful to have it all explained clearly and not over complicated whilst I'm still learning!
Loving your channel! I’m slowly getting through all your content lol. Also really enjoy your being part of your email list and I was able to take advantage of the Sage sale and bought the Barista Express for a stellar price PLUS used your 15% discount code. Let me tell ya, I’ll never be able to buy it at the price I got it for again. I got lucky too as Sage ended the sale the morning after I bought it. Phew. Always been a coffee lover myself. I’m from Canada and had the Breville machines since 2013 and now that I live in the UK I’m happy to own one here now. Anyways, wanted to pop in your comment section and leave something nice to say thanks for the content and I’ve clicked the bell so not to miss a video! Cheers mate
I’ve been brewing espresso for 12 years, using 3-4 different machines including a portable one (mypressi). My home unit is a barista express and always wondered why the grind was not fine enough, till I saw one of your other videos adjusting the actual burr. Hands down one of the best coffee channels on CZcams, if not the best. Great tutorials.
I have the Breville Bambino about 3 months now. I also have a Breville Coffee Grinder for over 8 years I still use. So from watching videos, like from some of the people you mentioned here, I got the idea to try grinding my coffee beans on the Extra Fine Turkish Style setting instead of the Fine or Espresso setting, and it came out more to my liking. I would not of tried that setting otherwise.
Great video as always, I'm slowly working through the back catalogue since purchasing my first espresso setup. I'm using a bambino plus and a smart grinder pro, bought here in the UK. Have sage changed the basket sizes as I can't get more than 15g in the portafilter when skimmed with the razor tool and using the double shot single skinned basket? Grind setting on 8 currently and yielding 35g of espresso in 17 seconds!
Hi Kev, Thank you for the great video. I am new to this and just got the baby bambino plus and the same grinder you used in the video. What grind setting did you settle on when making the coffee in the video? That would help me as a starting point. Thanks very much.
Hi Kev, had mine about a month now. Loving the machine and thanks for the discount code. Got a set of scales through today so am going to start really dialling in. Already got decent pucks with a wdt and good tamper plus a screen. Problem I’m having is I’m getting 35g from 17.5g in but it’s quite fast, around 20seconds. I’m grinding on the SGP down at 1 on the grind size… fresh beans and bottomless portafilter. Any suggestions how to get a longer extraction? It tastes good tbf!!
Can you share a link to that handy black piece you have that keep the espresso grinds from falling out of the basket? Also the razor tool and the knock box?
This really is great information for us beginners who are trying to get to grips with it all. I thought tamper was a place in Florida until 2 weeks ago. I've just bought my Bambino and don't yet have a grinder so I'm currently using the dual wall baskets and ground coffee, which at least makes things simpler. Even so I've gone through a similar process: I have not altered the button pre-sets, choosing to keep those constant (I'm assuming these are a simple timer rather than measuring volume dispensed). I then altered the dose to get a taste I like. I ended up liking 16g, it gives a flavour I like, corresponding to a ratio of ~1:2.8. And it fits in the basket easier!! Would you say things are very different for pressurised baskets versus standard baskets in terms of target shot times and ratios? And is there any advantage to keeping the ratio constant and aiming for a target timing, as you do here, vs keeping the timing constant and aiming for a desired ratio (as you do in the Bambino demo vid czcams.com/video/TPXA0yRUSYw/video.html)? Cheers
Great video Kev! I have the Bambino Plus and Sage Pro Grinder. For vast majority of "decent" beans off the supermarket shelf, I've found average grind size often sits between 8 to 11 and 19.6 second grind time for a superb double espresso using single filter basket. Thought I'd mention this as it can get quite expensive dialling in with wastage for the novice. Keep up the great work!
I had nothing but issues using supermarket beans and couldn't get the extraction time over 20 seconds until I reverted to using freshly roasted beans from HasBean. This is using a Markhonig Vario Home grinder as well so pretty high end. Has anyone found 'good' supermarket beans that state roasting date?
@@stevehatton5993 I go through about 1Kg of beans a week at home, so it gets to be a little expensive buying speciality from roasters, unless of course its getting towards Christmas etc. I found the Pret a Manger 100% Arabica to be excellent, but sadly these are no longer available until October 22. I tried Union Revelation 5 espresso. But once again very expensive and hard to get hold of. Waitrose own roast espresso bean was sadly and surprisingly bloody awful 😱. Have now found Taylors of Harrogate number 5, in 1KG bag for £13 (July 22) at Waitrose. These are a good all rounder. My personal drink is a Double Macchiato, but I will go Straight back to Pret Beans as soon as they are available.
@lee thorndike what weight do you get at 11 & 19? I'm still working this out with the same setup as you and have been using 16 and 11.6 secs for just over 18g of grounds.
Approx 18-20 grams depending on moisture content. I dial up/down 1 click for best taste as each bag of beans is from a different roast/harvest. I rarely alter grind time for any bean. Always record your grind settings for a certain batch for future purchases.
Great video for us beginners. I have a question which hopefully someone can answer ( if there is an easy answer). I have been given a Normcore spring set tamper as a gift, it has various spring settings. Is there roughly a setting at which I should begin ? I don't want to introduce further problems starting this fascinating process ! Any advice appreciated.
@@Gazzaroogood luck :-) I'm curious how has the timed dosing been going for you? I just got my Breville Bambino Plus last Friday and I'm waiting on a niche zero to be delivered so I'm currently working with Lavazza canned pre-ground coffee which is still decent in these pressurized baskets.
I will receive my first Bambino machine tomorrow after 6 months of reading the subs and I was so confused on dialing in. Not anymore! I have my formula written, and I am ready. I will be using a hand grinder for a bit so I hope dialing in is not 4 or 5 shots later. Thanks for clarity!
So I recently got a bambino plus and my pucks are still watery after the shot stops and I’m not getting much crema what am I doing wrong. Also, if I use my pressurized basket, it doesn’t put out hardly any espresso and a lot of the water stays in the basket. I’ve cleaned it and use the little pointy tool to poke the hole but it’s still not coming through.
Nice. I'd love to see you dialling in that Europiccola you have on the shelf. I have one, and it's beautiful, but a more frustrating device for bothering coffee-botherers I have yet to encounter. Nowadays it's just an ornament.
@@Coffee_Kev Thanks, Kev. It's a bit like playing a violin when all you've played up to now has been Spotify. Great channel you have. I'm coming back to manual machines after 5 years of B2C, and you've helped a lot. Cheers!
Thanks for the video Kev. I've got the Bambino Plus recently have been using pre ground up till now, holding the shot button for around 8 seconds pre-infusion and then letting it run. Would you still recommend holding for pre-infusion this way or just pressing the double shot button as it seems you do in this video and letting it handle itself?
Hi Luke, yeah if you're holding for 8 seconds this is around the factory preset so I'd say just press the button to start the shot and press it again to stop 👍 cheers.
Thanks very much, this was helpful to me. Have you taken the temperature of the water coming out of the Bambino when you are trying to get the machine ready to brew? I find that the highest temperature coming out of my Bambino when I run hot water through it is about 77C, which seems a bit low to me. If you have a comparison temperature of the hot water coming out of the group head from your Bambino I would appreciate knowing that it is.
Hi, thanks for the video. I have wondering when to start the timer for the 28-32s for longest time! Because after pressing the double cup button (bambino plus), there's a few seconds lag before you hear some whirring and then a further few seconds before liquid comes out. Also I find that depending on the type of beans, a double shot can vary from 18g to 21g for me.
Great video, I still struggling to get a good ratio out of the Solis Perfetta Plus. The basket is very similar to Sage (unperssurized), however the manual suggests 16-18g. It has a gauge as well and the recommendation is between 8 - 12 bars. I use Sage smart pro grinder and for me it seems to get anywhere near 28-32 seconds mark (I tried different beans from local roasters plus things like Union and Lavazza), the pressure is always at 14 and more bars. Should I just not care about the bar pressure or something else maybe going on?
That's one theory, under dosing, but I've seen this happen when the basket definitely isn't under dosed. I gave up trying to figure out what causes pucks to stick a long time ago ;-), deciding it really doesn't matter, it's just something that happens every so often, and it's not a big deal. Cheers, Kev.
Hi Kev, I have the bambino plus, I notice when your pulling your shots your stopping it manually? Are you adjusting the shot timing ? As when I’m doing it I’m getting a very low volume from using the factory double shot timing?
Hi Jane, thanks for that, I'll put a note on the video. You should certainly only adjust finer with grinding, when using a grinder in the usual way with a hopper. If you're single dosing as I do, this doesn't matter as there aren't bits of beans in the burrs that are likely to get trapped when adjusting, but I should have mentioned that, so thanks for the heads up! Ta, Kev.
Super nice vídeos , I learn a lot. One doubt. But bambino this week, but my first coffee comes a bit cold. Should I change coffee temperature? Any tip please
Hi Kev! I am enjoying your videos but still find I am struggling to get consistent 1:2 espresso extraction from my set-up. I have been using the Sage Barista Touch and a WDT distribution tool for a few months now. I figured my main problem was the in-built grinder and not single dosing so I took a deep breath and bought a Niche Zero. I am getting closer to being consistent by single dosing with the Niche but still find my extraction is usually a little over at 45g from 19g of ground coffee from good quality, fresh coffee beans. Occasionally I find I am under extracted at around 29g. I am not sure why I am not being consistent and am finding it rather frustrating. I routinely run water through the group head / portafilter into my espresso cup so consistent temperature should not be the issue. On a positive note, I made my first proper 1:2 extraction in 31 seconds this afternoon and was blown away with the improvement in both flavour intensity and mouth feel. Annoyingly, it felt like I did everything exactly the same as I always do..
Hi Peter, I know what you mean, espresso can be frustrating, and consistently dialled in shots with any integrated grinder machine can be a challenge. The NZ is a good investment, imho, and I'd expect you to get consistent results with that, but espresso can be a pain at times even if you're using precision gear. If you're doing everything the same each time, same dose, same flush, same puck prep & tamp, same beans and so on, I'd expect consistent results although having the odd wobble is to be expected. I'd recommend just sticking with it and you should find you get more and more consistent as time goes on. Cheers Kev
The Niche is a really good grinder and will grind fine enough to choke your Barista Touch, so I would recommend you dial the grind down a powdery consistency, where your Barista Touch really has to struggle to get the water through the portafilter. Once you get to that powdery level of grind, then dial the niche back to make it a bit coarser, and that should be just about perfect for your shot. Be sure to use very freshly roasted beans, preferably darker roasted.
@JimSlaughterOC thank you for the suggestion of going ridiculously fine to the point of choking and coming back as opposed to incrementally trying to get more fine. My Niche Zero (USA) is on its way to me and I want to waste the least beans as possible trying to dial in for a palatable shot haha (I am fully aware it's going to take some practice to actually perfect dialing in since I have zero experience. My Bambino Plus machine came on Friday and I just went out and bought some pre-ground Lavazza Espresso in a can 😂 and even that is pretty amazing compared to pre ground coffee in a Moka pot which is my previous setup... I'm not drinking it straight though, I'm just making milkies LOL)
So at 28 seconds you turn off the machine? Also thank you for showing the machine still dripping after. Mine does that too and it always throws me off. Like do I stop the machine and count the dripping in my total time? It's so confusing.
Thanks Kev, really helpful video. I've recently purchased a bambino plus but the single and double espresso buttons automatically stop quite quickly when producing coffee, I don't feel the shot is big enough, you seem to stop them yourself. Is this normal or a fault? Thanks
Hi Kev, it's a great video, thank you so much! One question, when do you press the button to stop the flow? When the scale reads your desired amount (in this case 38 grams), or a bit before so that when it all drips out it's 38 grams? Should I leave the cup under the portafilter until it doesn't drip anymore or take it away as soon as possible after I press stop? Thanks!
Hi Guys, Thanks for your message:-) It depends on the quality of your scales and how responsive your scales are, What I would usually do is pre-empt the desired volume which usually means stopping the shot a couple of grams early, then move the glass away before too many drops have dropped in . Cheers Kev
Hi Kev. Great video, thanks. I use a Gaggia Classic with a Sage Pro grinder and am still not getting great coffee. Firstly, the coffee still comes through quickly, even with a very fine grind (I am on 4 now), I am left with a pool of coffee on top of the used coffee when I remove the portafilter and my crema layer on my espresso is about 1ml thick. What am I doing wrong? 🧐😟
Thanks nice info, The bambino smart grinder always pumps out to much coffee powder on 2 shots i know its meant to be stacked high but having alot of wastage can i do anything to reduce wastage, i try and pause and tamper but pause isnt long then it resets the timer again,
Cheers 👍😀. I'd highly recommend getting Brew scales, you can then adjust the timer accordingly so you know how many seconds to set it to, to grind the right amount.
You can pre weigh your beans and just put this amount into the grinder each time or adjust the grind time on the smart grinder using the knob on the left. A portafilter funnel also helps reduce spillage
Hi Kev. I see you use a different scale with your Bambino than the Timemore you reviewed one year ago. For a new user of Bambino Plus, which scales would you recommend ?
Hi Phi, I have a collection of scales that I use ;-). Myweight barista are very good for the money, chunky & durable. Timemore blackmirror are good, a bit more compact. See: coffeeblog.co.uk/the-best-coffee-scales Cheers Kev
Great video Kev. I don't know what i'm doing wrong but I got a bambino for xmas. I cannot for the life of me get consistent shots. Followed this video to the T. Yesterday I pulled a perfect coffee. Today, the same beans, same grind size, same everything failed twice. First time it wouldn't pull through at all and when i unlocked the portafilter a load of steam was released like there was too much pressure. The second shot was totally under extracted. I'm wasting so much coffee and its just so inconsistent from coffee to coffee with the exact same beans. And I only use fresh beans. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Bruce, probably your grind was too fine on the first shot or you may have used too much coffee. If the water can't get through it is one of those two. I would dial up the grinder so that it is just a little bit coarser and maybe use a bit less coffee. It's important to weigh the coffee to make sure you are getting a consistent amount of coffee into the portafilter every time. Also, (and this probably does not apply to you) on occasion I have run out of water and thought there was some problem with the shot only to discover I forgot to add water to the reservoir, so that's something to check also.
I do not want to assume that you are an idiot or make you feel like one but are you using the pressurized basket or do you have the non-pressurized baskets?
You can change the preset as it's based on your taste. If you're brand new to this I would say look at a video about ristretto and lungo shots :-) good luck
Hi Kev, thank you for this video. I think I’ve watched it at least 20 times trying to dial in my espresso! 😂 I have the Bambino and the Dose Control Pro grinder. I weigh out 18g of coffee and tamp - but when I use the razor tool I tend to lose a gram or two. So go down to 16g or so. Is that an issue? Do I need to adjust my yield ratio? Would I be better to weigh out 16g to start with and aim for 32g output? Sorry for all the questions. I’m still very novice. Thanks for your videos. They are so helpful.
I see he hasn't had a chance to respond so: I'm inexperienced but bought a Bambino Plus. This is a big investment for me, so I did a ton of research. I've seen this exact question and I honestly cannot remember which channel it was on but he responded and explained that different beans have different densities. (It might have been Tom's Coffee Corner) Beyond the specific beans (altitude, shade vs whatever other growing conditions you can think of around the planet affects the size and density) density is also dependent upon the roast level as the darker the roast, the less dense and therefore the less weight the beans themselves and the subsequent ground coffee has. You are doing nothing wrong and it seems like people overemphasize the precise gram dose you're supposed to have in a basket for a perfect shot when NOT ALL BASKETS ARE ALIKE IN SHAPE OR SIZE AND they are in fact actually volumetric. If you don't have the proper physical volume in the basket with the proper amount of head space between the screen where the water comes out and the surface of the puck, you can have issues. Breville it seems, created the razor to simplify the situation for people who aren't deep down the rabbit hole and just need to be able to start somewhere. I understand one of the biggest issues is actually overfilling a basket and this was their way to fix that so you could at least get a decent cup of coffee haha. As Kev mentions here, you're supposed to have the proper volume in the basket and that is all the razor does. It sounds like you figured out the remedy to this all on your own and it's just to reduce the amount of the specific beans you're using in the basket itself so you don't end up wasting :-) it took me a couple tries to get the right amount of beans in my basket to and it was frustrating until I remembered watching those other videos and just started incrementally reducing the amount I was grinding until the razor just grazed the surface of the bed 😊 good luck on your coffee journey! P.S. not discounting weight as an important variable and a way to quantify and replicate a shot, but you're going to need to use more of some beans and less of others so sticking to a recipe of 18g for every single Bean you're ever going to use doesn't really make sense to me 😊
@@NoZenith Thank you so much for replying NoZenith. I really appreciate that! I’m still a bit hit and miss on my coffee journey, but getting there. How are you getting on with your Bambino Plus?
@@DebbieYD I dove in middle deep after waiting three years to invest. I didn't want to get a cheap machine and I didn't want to get a grinder that was going to cause me a lot of headaches with retention, mess, static, uneveness and lack of versatility I do occasionally like pour over and a couple times a year I have a group of family over and would need to grind for something besides espresso) So I went straight for a Bambino Plus x Niche Zero... but I'm still waiting on the grinder so I'm using canned pre-ground Lavazza 😆. I've got the basic process down, it's really nice to make even a mediocre latte at home and now I'm reabsorbing specific info like this video on dialing in to hopefully waste the least amount of coffee getting a decent cup when I do get my grinder 😄 good luck on achieving better consistency ASAP!
@@NoZenith I’m getting there with the consistency. My grind is fine yet my output is still a bit quick (around 25 seconds for 36g). I think I could do with a better tamp (I’m using the one that came with my Bambino and it’s a little small). I’m still playing with dialling it in. And I’m still playing with the grinder (Dose Control Pro). I’m really tempted to go on a barista course!
@@GG-td8mt I use a really fine grind - almost as fine as the machine goes, and I think I could still go down a notch or two. I use 18g for a double shot - with about 36 - 40g output and I no longer use the razor tool to prep the puck. It’s much more consistent - although still runs a little quick at around 22 seconds.
Kev, Let me know if this makes sense. I have Bambino Plus and I’m trying your steps. 19g dose aiming for 38g yield for 1:2 in 28-32s. So I manually stop the shot button at 27s to get my timing right because that’s what i can control. and then i check if my yield is 38 or not. i find that keeping an eye on weight and then checking what time it reached 38 is harder because timer does not stop. What do you think?
Yeah, having a shot timer on the machine itself that stops and holds the time on the screen for a few seconds, is very handy. Doing it with a timer just requires a bit more practice, as you've said it's a bit of a faff to focus on stopping the shot at the desired yield, and keep an eye on what the shot time is, but it's doable with a bit of practice. Just get into the habit of glancing at the shot timer just before you move the cup off it. I wouldn't worry too much about nailing the 28-32 second shot window. When you're getting started, I'd be happy with a much bigger window, 20-35 seconds. Ta Kev
I seriously need help as a newbie . I have got Bambino plus and Encre esp. Do I have to stick with 19g even if I grind finer? Or Do I have to top up a bit more then use the razor tool ?
First off, I'm not very experienced at espresso, but I'm wanting to learn. So, I just bought a used Bambino Plus and I've pulled a couple shots that were pretty bad, but I went to pull my third shot and I can't get water through the puck. It's acting just like you're doing a backflush. It will come up to pressure, run for a bit, and after about 40 seconds it stops and there is zero espresso and it shoots water into the drip tray. Am I doing something wrong? I've tried lightening up on the tamp, I've tried 16 grams instead of 18 grams of coffee. I'm currently soaking the basket and shower screen in a descaller, hoping that might fix the issue, but because I'm new to all of this, I don't know if the machine is broken or if I'm doing something wrong.
Hi Steven It sounds like you have choked the machine, which usually happens when the grind is too fine. If you are using Pre- ground coffee with the dual walled basket this can happen if the coffee has been ground too fine. Try using the single walled basket instead and see how you get on, If your grinding your own just make the grind more coarse. Cheers Kev
@@Coffee_Kev Thanks for the info. I FINALLY got it working, but I had to go to a 15 to get it to work. What's even weirder is, pulling a shot at 15 worked fine a couple times and then it got too fast, so I went down to a 14 that worked a couple times great and then was too fast too. So, next I'm trying a 12 to see how that does. It almost seems like the more I use it the better pressure it gets. I feel like at this rate, I'll be back to an 8 soon and it will be working fine. BTW, the beans are whole beans and I've used some of my own roasted beans and some store bought beans, both have been doing the same thing.
@@stevenattaway Hi Steve, May I ask what basket you're using standard or dual wall? also what grinder do you have? and are you purging your coffee after changing your grind size? Cheers Kev
@@Coffee_Kev The basket is standard double shot. The grinder is Breville/Sage Smart Grinder Pro. I have FINALLY made it back down to a 10 on the grinder settings and I'm thinking that might be the sweet spot. I don't have the single dose purge bellow for my grinder but that has been coming up a lot recently which makes me think I might need to get one.
Isit just me doing this.... I've just customised the shot time to pull about 50-60ml of fluid volume ...which will equal about 37g of coffee... If it doesn't meet the 28-30 second mark I've adjusted the grind size -/+. Seems okay... Doesn't taste over or under extracted.... Seems pretty consistent each time. Smart grinder pro and bambino plus user. I'm not into all these extra steps...I grind, tamp, pull and drink.... Should I let the machine pull the shot using it's default timings... wondering if im missing something.
the problem i have with the bambino is that i can not fit 18g in my double shot, single wall basket. 12 is a good amount in this basket. the grinder im using is the 1Zpresso jx pro. Do you think i should buy a precision basket? a better portafilter maybe ?
If you're only getting 12g in the double shot basket, it must be very coarse? You should easily be able to get 18g, even maybe 19g in the basket. Cheers, Kev.
@@Coffee_Kev I have had a similar issue (although not as extreme). I can get 19g in (although I am waiting on delivery of a dosing funnel to reduce mess!), but the razor tool always skims 2-3 grams off the top. My best result so far is 17g, but that's coming out over-extracted. I tried grinding finer and managed to get a perfect dose, in fact got just over 19g which the razor trimmed to 19g exactly, but that's over extracting too because the coffee is too fine. I feel like I'm missing something! :) (p.s. - LOVE your channel, it's got the perfect balance of information, explanation, and humour)
Hi Kev. I have the Sage Bambino and every shot I pull takes around 20 seconds (starting from the push of the double espresso button), even if is use the finest or coarsest grind side. Do you know why this might be happening? At the end of my tether with dialling in, honestly 😭
Hi Suzan, Have you watched my newer videos, they should help you: czcams.com/video/T6sslti-zbs/video.html czcams.com/video/LgYDjMCsKJE/video.html czcams.com/video/-a9pJ80jjAg/video.html czcams.com/video/AjJ7mgN-oxo/video.html Cheers Kev
What kind of grinder do you have? If you don't have a decent quality burr grinder then that may be your problem. If you have a decent burr grinder that is capable of grinding fine, then grinding finer will necessarily cause the shot to take longer to pull. You should be able to grind fine enough to choke the machine (as evidenced by just a few drops of coffee coming through). This fine of a grind will look a bit on the powdery side. Once you get to that point then dial back your grind to a slightly coarser grind and the shot should take longer to finish. Also of course you need fresh coffee beans to achieve a good shot, and use a consistent amount of coffee. I usually grind around 16 grams of coffee for a double shot on my Bambino, and that works pretty well. 16 or 17 grams is good for me. Darker roast coffee is better for pulling good shots.
Great video, thanks Kev. Super helpful and informative! I have one question, with the sage bambino/bambino plus machines - is there a way to ‘set’ the time so that you don’t have to manually stop the machine each time, once you’re dialled in? Edit: knew you’d be all over it - you cover it in this video czcams.com/video/t0K9k9z79lU/video.html
When I tried dialing in for a bag of Frank and Honest it tasted horrible, I set grind to 14/16 on sage barista pro and only got 20 second pull. The best I could get was grind 23 with dual wall.
If you're grinding freshly roasted coffee, then I'd agree. Although I wouldn't throw it in the bin, it has uses. Ash tray, mini sugar bowl, mini indoor frisby, giant tiddly wink 😆
The shot time is how long it takes to achieve your required shot volume, whether you're stopping the shot manually or using the pre programmed shot button
i work as a barista and that issue with pucks sticking in the group even exists on the £3000 machines we use 😂
I personally think retention is a myth. The coffee that gets left in the machine after you grind your (double) shot after a deep clean doesn't go into the next grind - it goes in the nooks and crannies and piles up against component walls and mainly stays there once it's in place. And that stuff doesn't get swapped over in its entirety, or even mainly, with subsequent grinds. There's only one solution: clean your grinder regularly to get rid of the rank, stale old grinds and realise you'll lose 2 or 3 grams into the nooks and crannies in the first grind every time you do that.
Current Combo- Breville Bambino with your upgraded portafilter and IMS 18-22g basket and Baratza Encore ESP... from a budget point of view its been a solid combination... i am still learning to dial in each bean but your videos have been a massive help! Thank you Kev!
Best dialing in video I’ve seen. Just the basics up front so I understand all the variables to consider. Gracias!!
Glad you found it helpful 😀 Cheers.
Hi@@Coffee_Kevwhich settings did you use it at min 18:39 ? :)
Thank you, It was one of the best videos about Dial in that I have seen so far, so many little details
Even though I'm quite happy dialling in on my GCP, you can never have enough good tutorials! Thanks, Kev 👍
Thanks for the kind words 👍 😀
I watched a few dozen of vids, this one makes it clear. Bravo !!
Glad you found my video helpful Megane
Just read through all the comments and got some good information from both you and a couple helpful commenters! Thank you very much for creating a channel for such a chill group of followers to congregate on
Thanks so much :-)
Cheers
Kev
Thank you so much for this video! Pulling all the shot in different grinds was so helpful.
Glad you found the post helpful :-)
Another fantastic video, thanks Kev!
Great video, thanks. Just starting out with dialling in using a sage smart grinder pro so it's really helpful to have it all explained clearly and not over complicated whilst I'm still learning!
Thanks Helen, I'm glad it helped :-).
Loving your channel! I’m slowly getting through all your content lol. Also really enjoy your being part of your email list and I was able to take advantage of the Sage sale and bought the Barista Express for a stellar price PLUS used your 15% discount code. Let me tell ya, I’ll never be able to buy it at the price I got it for again. I got lucky too as Sage ended the sale the morning after I bought it. Phew.
Always been a coffee lover myself. I’m from Canada and had the Breville machines since 2013 and now that I live in the UK I’m happy to own one here now.
Anyways, wanted to pop in your comment section and leave something nice to say thanks for the content and I’ve clicked the bell so not to miss a video! Cheers mate
Wow, Thanks for your lovely comments, You definitely got a great deal with your Barista Express!
So much helpful info. Thanks for the demonstration.
Glad you found my video helpful Traci :-)
Great vid! Exactly what I needed to see while I try to dial in my new machine :)
Thanks Luke :-)
I’ve been brewing espresso for 12 years, using 3-4 different machines including a portable one (mypressi). My home unit is a barista express and always wondered why the grind was not fine enough, till I saw one of your other videos adjusting the actual burr.
Hands down one of the best coffee channels on CZcams, if not the best.
Great tutorials.
Hi Eric,
Thanks so much for such positive feedback, It really does mean a lot to me.
Cheers
Kev
What a great idea for a video. Thank you!
Thanks Andrew :-)
Great details of information. Thank you.
Thanks :-)
I just got my Breville Bambino Plus. Thanks for sharing your tips and workflow
You're welcome Jonny :-)
I have the Breville Bambino about 3 months now. I also have a Breville Coffee Grinder for over 8 years I still use. So from watching videos, like from some of the people you mentioned here, I got the idea to try grinding my coffee beans on the Extra Fine Turkish Style setting instead of the Fine or Espresso setting, and it came out more to my liking. I would not of tried that setting otherwise.
Glad it worked for you :-)
This video is amazing 😀
Great video as always, I'm slowly working through the back catalogue since purchasing my first espresso setup. I'm using a bambino plus and a smart grinder pro, bought here in the UK. Have sage changed the basket sizes as I can't get more than 15g in the portafilter when skimmed with the razor tool and using the double shot single skinned basket?
Grind setting on 8 currently and yielding 35g of espresso in 17 seconds!
Hi Kev, Thank you for the great video. I am new to this and just got the baby bambino plus and the same grinder you used in the video. What grind setting did you settle on when making the coffee in the video? That would help me as a starting point. Thanks very much.
Hi Kev, had mine about a month now. Loving the machine and thanks for the discount code. Got a set of scales through today so am going to start really dialling in. Already got decent pucks with a wdt and good tamper plus a screen. Problem I’m having is I’m getting 35g from 17.5g in but it’s quite fast, around 20seconds. I’m grinding on the SGP down at 1 on the grind size… fresh beans and bottomless portafilter. Any suggestions how to get a longer extraction? It tastes good tbf!!
Can you share a link to that handy black piece you have that keep the espresso grinds from falling out of the basket? Also the razor tool and the knock box?
Nice video Mate! 😃 👍
Ta :-)
This really is great information for us beginners who are trying to get to grips with it all. I thought tamper was a place in Florida until 2 weeks ago. I've just bought my Bambino and don't yet have a grinder so I'm currently using the dual wall baskets and ground coffee, which at least makes things simpler. Even so I've gone through a similar process: I have not altered the button pre-sets, choosing to keep those constant (I'm assuming these are a simple timer rather than measuring volume dispensed). I then altered the dose to get a taste I like. I ended up liking 16g, it gives a flavour I like, corresponding to a ratio of ~1:2.8. And it fits in the basket easier!!
Would you say things are very different for pressurised baskets versus standard baskets in terms of target shot times and ratios?
And is there any advantage to keeping the ratio constant and aiming for a target timing, as you do here, vs keeping the timing constant and aiming for a desired ratio (as you do in the Bambino demo vid czcams.com/video/TPXA0yRUSYw/video.html)?
Cheers
Great video Kev! I have the Bambino Plus and Sage Pro Grinder. For vast majority of "decent" beans off the supermarket shelf, I've found average grind size often sits between 8 to
11 and 19.6 second grind time for a superb double espresso using single filter basket. Thought I'd mention this as it can get quite expensive dialling in with wastage for the novice. Keep up the great work!
I had nothing but issues using supermarket beans and couldn't get the extraction time over 20 seconds until I reverted to using freshly roasted beans from HasBean. This is using a Markhonig Vario Home grinder as well so pretty high end. Has anyone found 'good' supermarket beans that state roasting date?
@@stevehatton5993 I go through about 1Kg of beans a week at home, so it gets to be a little expensive buying speciality from roasters, unless of course its getting towards Christmas etc. I found the Pret a Manger 100% Arabica to be excellent, but sadly these are no longer available until October 22. I tried Union Revelation 5 espresso. But once again very expensive and hard to get hold of. Waitrose own roast espresso bean was sadly and surprisingly bloody awful 😱. Have now found Taylors of Harrogate number 5, in 1KG bag for £13 (July 22) at Waitrose. These are a good all rounder. My personal drink is a Double Macchiato, but I will go Straight back to Pret Beans as soon as they are available.
@lee thorndike what weight do you get at 11 & 19? I'm still working this out with the same setup as you and have been using 16 and 11.6 secs for just over 18g of grounds.
Approx 18-20 grams depending on moisture content. I dial up/down 1 click for best taste as each bag of beans is from a different roast/harvest. I rarely alter grind time for any bean. Always record your grind settings for a certain batch for future purchases.
@@leethorndike9251 sleep is overrated eh 😬
Great video for us beginners. I have a question which hopefully someone can answer ( if there is an easy answer). I have been given a Normcore spring set tamper as a gift, it has various spring settings. Is there roughly a setting at which I should begin ? I don't want to introduce further problems starting this fascinating process ! Any advice appreciated.
V clear guide. Just got the bambino and sage dose pro. Wish me luck!
Let me know how you get on Gary
Good Luck!
Cheers
Kev
@@Coffee_Kev getting pretty close. V quaffable. Just refining now. Used to weighing doses but will see how accurate timed doses are.
@@Gazzaroogood luck :-) I'm curious how has the timed dosing been going for you? I just got my Breville Bambino Plus last Friday and I'm waiting on a niche zero to be delivered so I'm currently working with Lavazza canned pre-ground coffee which is still decent in these pressurized baskets.
I just got the Bambino plus and could cry for the simple old Dualit I just abandoned for it. Please tell me that you got there in the end!
I will receive my first Bambino machine tomorrow after 6 months of reading the subs and I was so confused on dialing in. Not anymore! I have my formula written, and I am ready. I will be using a hand grinder for a bit so I hope dialing in is not 4 or 5 shots later. Thanks for clarity!
I’ll be honest I’m using a electric grinder and it’s still taking a few shots LOL
So I recently got a bambino plus and my pucks are still watery after the shot stops and I’m not getting much crema what am I doing wrong. Also, if I use my pressurized basket, it doesn’t put out hardly any espresso and a lot of the water stays in the basket. I’ve cleaned it and use the little pointy tool to poke the hole but it’s still not coming through.
Really enjoyed this, very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it :-), Cheers.
@@Coffee_Kev I did. Congrats on 10k aswell
@@outdoorascent Thank you!
Thanks for the review, What Tamp tool are using??
Nice. I'd love to see you dialling in that Europiccola you have on the shelf. I have one, and it's beautiful, but a more frustrating device for bothering coffee-botherers I have yet to encounter. Nowadays it's just an ornament.
Hi John,
Here is my video on the europicccola, it is a very beautiful machine:czcams.com/video/vQWby7NDbgA/video.html
@@Coffee_Kev Thanks, Kev. It's a bit like playing a violin when all you've played up to now has been Spotify.
Great channel you have. I'm coming back to manual machines after 5 years of B2C, and you've helped a lot. Cheers!
Thanks for the video Kev. I've got the Bambino Plus recently have been using pre ground up till now, holding the shot button for around 8 seconds pre-infusion and then letting it run. Would you still recommend holding for pre-infusion this way or just pressing the double shot button as it seems you do in this video and letting it handle itself?
Hi Luke, yeah if you're holding for 8 seconds this is around the factory preset so I'd say just press the button to start the shot and press it again to stop 👍 cheers.
Thanks very much, this was helpful to me. Have you taken the temperature of the water coming out of the Bambino when you are trying to get the machine ready to brew? I find that the highest temperature coming out of my Bambino when I run hot water through it is about 77C, which seems a bit low to me. If you have a comparison temperature of the hot water coming out of the group head from your Bambino I would appreciate knowing that it is.
Can you temp surf by hitting the steam button?
Hi, thanks for the video. I have wondering when to start the timer for the 28-32s for longest time! Because after pressing the double cup button (bambino plus), there's a few seconds lag before you hear some whirring and then a further few seconds before liquid comes out. Also I find that depending on the type of beans, a double shot can vary from 18g to 21g for me.
Hi, yeah it's from when you press the shot button, as there's 7 or 8 seconds of preinfusion before the shot starts, on Sage/Breville machines. Cheers
what portafilter is that? also what size dosing funnel fits the standard bambino ports filter and what size tamper? thanks
What scale is this? I’m trying to find one that fits on the drip tray without hanging over!! That looks like it fits nice.
How do you set the Bambino machine so it's a non factory brew time, where I control the amount of water? Thanks
Ver very well explained. Bambino user here.
Thank you Daniel :-)
Great video, I still struggling to get a good ratio out of the Solis Perfetta Plus. The basket is very similar to Sage (unperssurized), however the manual suggests 16-18g. It has a gauge as well and the recommendation is between 8 - 12 bars. I use Sage smart pro grinder and for me it seems to get anywhere near 28-32 seconds mark (I tried different beans from local roasters plus things like Union and Lavazza), the pressure is always at 14 and more bars. Should I just not care about the bar pressure or something else maybe going on?
Hi Roman, can you let me know what shot time you are getting?
Cheers
Kev
@@Coffee_Kev that would be in the range 28-30 seconds.
the puck sticks to the shower screen if there is a significant gap between the coffee in the PF and the shower screen, allowing a vacuum to form
That's one theory, under dosing, but I've seen this happen when the basket definitely isn't under dosed. I gave up trying to figure out what causes pucks to stick a long time ago ;-), deciding it really doesn't matter, it's just something that happens every so often, and it's not a big deal. Cheers, Kev.
Hi Kev, I have the bambino plus, I notice when your pulling your shots your stopping it manually? Are you adjusting the shot timing ? As when I’m doing it I’m getting a very low volume from using the factory double shot timing?
Thanks, Kev, that’s really useful! One thing, though. With the Specialità shouldn’t you have the motor running when you change the grind size?
Hi Jane, thanks for that, I'll put a note on the video. You should certainly only adjust finer with grinding, when using a grinder in the usual way with a hopper. If you're single dosing as I do, this doesn't matter as there aren't bits of beans in the burrs that are likely to get trapped when adjusting, but I should have mentioned that, so thanks for the heads up!
Ta, Kev.
Super nice vídeos , I learn a lot. One doubt. But bambino this week, but my first coffee comes a bit cold. Should I change coffee temperature? Any tip please
Hi Tiago,
Make sure you are flushing the group with the portafilter in place with your cup below so every thing is warmed up.
Cheers
Kev
What are the scales used in this video? I'm struggling to find some small enough for my Bambino tray?
Hi Kev! I am enjoying your videos but still find I am struggling to get consistent 1:2 espresso extraction from my set-up. I have been using the Sage Barista Touch and a WDT distribution tool for a few months now. I figured my main problem was the in-built grinder and not single dosing so I took a deep breath and bought a Niche Zero. I am getting closer to being consistent by single dosing with the Niche but still find my extraction is usually a little over at 45g from 19g of ground coffee from good quality, fresh coffee beans. Occasionally I find I am under extracted at around 29g. I am not sure why I am not being consistent and am finding it rather frustrating. I routinely run water through the group head / portafilter into my espresso cup so consistent temperature should not be the issue. On a positive note, I made my first proper 1:2 extraction in 31 seconds this afternoon and was blown away with the improvement in both flavour intensity and mouth feel. Annoyingly, it felt like I did everything exactly the same as I always do..
Hi Peter, I know what you mean, espresso can be frustrating, and consistently dialled in shots with any integrated grinder machine can be a challenge. The NZ is a good investment, imho, and I'd expect you to get consistent results with that, but espresso can be a pain at times even if you're using precision gear. If you're doing everything the same each time, same dose, same flush, same puck prep & tamp, same beans and so on, I'd expect consistent results although having the odd wobble is to be expected. I'd recommend just sticking with it and you should find you get more and more consistent as time goes on.
Cheers
Kev
The Niche is a really good grinder and will grind fine enough to choke your Barista Touch, so I would recommend you dial the grind down a powdery consistency, where your Barista Touch really has to struggle to get the water through the portafilter. Once you get to that powdery level of grind, then dial the niche back to make it a bit coarser, and that should be just about perfect for your shot. Be sure to use very freshly roasted beans, preferably darker roasted.
@JimSlaughterOC thank you for the suggestion of going ridiculously fine to the point of choking and coming back as opposed to incrementally trying to get more fine. My Niche Zero (USA) is on its way to me and I want to waste the least beans as possible trying to dial in for a palatable shot haha (I am fully aware it's going to take some practice to actually perfect dialing in since I have zero experience. My Bambino Plus machine came on Friday and I just went out and bought some pre-ground Lavazza Espresso in a can 😂 and even that is pretty amazing compared to pre ground coffee in a Moka pot which is my previous setup... I'm not drinking it straight though, I'm just making milkies LOL)
So at 28 seconds you turn off the machine? Also thank you for showing the machine still dripping after. Mine does that too and it always throws me off. Like do I stop the machine and count the dripping in my total time? It's so confusing.
Thanks Kev, really helpful video. I've recently purchased a bambino plus but the single and double espresso buttons automatically stop quite quickly when producing coffee, I don't feel the shot is big enough, you seem to stop them yourself. Is this normal or a fault? Thanks
You have to set the total flow volume manually.
Hi Kev, it's a great video, thank you so much! One question, when do you press the button to stop the flow? When the scale reads your desired amount (in this case 38 grams), or a bit before so that when it all drips out it's 38 grams? Should I leave the cup under the portafilter until it doesn't drip anymore or take it away as soon as possible after I press stop? Thanks!
I have the same question. I would love if Kev would answer it.
Hi Guys,
Thanks for your message:-)
It depends on the quality of your scales and how responsive your scales are,
What I would usually do is pre-empt the desired volume which usually means stopping the shot a couple of grams early, then move the glass away before too many drops have dropped in .
Cheers
Kev
does anyone recommend a puck shower screen plate? to place it on the puck before pulling
Hi, did you change the default extraction time of the bambino? Seems to me that you changed something. Thanks
Hi Kev. Great video, thanks. I use a Gaggia Classic with a Sage Pro grinder and am still not getting great coffee. Firstly, the coffee still comes through quickly, even with a very fine grind (I am on 4 now), I am left with a pool of coffee on top of the used coffee when I remove the portafilter and my crema layer on my espresso is about 1ml thick. What am I doing wrong? 🧐😟
Gaggia’s normally need the opv set.
Thanks nice info, The bambino smart grinder always pumps out to much coffee powder on 2 shots i know its meant to be stacked high but having alot of wastage can i do anything to reduce wastage, i try and pause and tamper but pause isnt long then it resets the timer again,
Cheers 👍😀. I'd highly recommend getting Brew scales, you can then adjust the timer accordingly so you know how many seconds to set it to, to grind the right amount.
You can pre weigh your beans and just put this amount into the grinder each time or adjust the grind time on the smart grinder using the knob on the left. A portafilter funnel also helps reduce spillage
Hi Kev. I see you use a different scale with your Bambino than the Timemore you reviewed one year ago. For a new user of Bambino Plus, which scales would you recommend ?
Hi Phi,
I have a collection of scales that I use ;-). Myweight barista are very good for the money, chunky & durable. Timemore blackmirror are good, a bit more compact. See: coffeeblog.co.uk/the-best-coffee-scales
Cheers
Kev
Great video Kev. I don't know what i'm doing wrong but I got a bambino for xmas. I cannot for the life of me get consistent shots. Followed this video to the T. Yesterday I pulled a perfect coffee. Today, the same beans, same grind size, same everything failed twice. First time it wouldn't pull through at all and when i unlocked the portafilter a load of steam was released like there was too much pressure. The second shot was totally under extracted. I'm wasting so much coffee and its just so inconsistent from coffee to coffee with the exact same beans. And I only use fresh beans. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Bruce, probably your grind was too fine on the first shot or you may have used too much coffee. If the water can't get through it is one of those two. I would dial up the grinder so that it is just a little bit coarser and maybe use a bit less coffee. It's important to weigh the coffee to make sure you are getting a consistent amount of coffee into the portafilter every time. Also, (and this probably does not apply to you) on occasion I have run out of water and thought there was some problem with the shot only to discover I forgot to add water to the reservoir, so that's something to check also.
I do not want to assume that you are an idiot or make you feel like one but are you using the pressurized basket or do you have the non-pressurized baskets?
Hi Kev, I have the Bambino Plus. Should I be using manual timing or sticking to presets thanks 😊
You can change the preset as it's based on your taste. If you're brand new to this I would say look at a video about ristretto and lungo shots :-) good luck
want to know
when I want use milk and make it hot , how many times I have to wait ?
Hi Kev, thank you for this video. I think I’ve watched it at least 20 times trying to dial in my espresso! 😂 I have the Bambino and the Dose Control Pro grinder. I weigh out 18g of coffee and tamp - but when I use the razor tool I tend to lose a gram or two. So go down to 16g or so. Is that an issue? Do I need to adjust my yield ratio? Would I be better to weigh out 16g to start with and aim for 32g output? Sorry for all the questions. I’m still very novice. Thanks for your videos. They are so helpful.
I see he hasn't had a chance to respond so: I'm inexperienced but bought a Bambino Plus. This is a big investment for me, so I did a ton of research. I've seen this exact question and I honestly cannot remember which channel it was on but he responded and explained that different beans have different densities. (It might have been Tom's Coffee Corner) Beyond the specific beans (altitude, shade vs whatever other growing conditions you can think of around the planet affects the size and density) density is also dependent upon the roast level as the darker the roast, the less dense and therefore the less weight the beans themselves and the subsequent ground coffee has.
You are doing nothing wrong and it seems like people overemphasize the precise gram dose you're supposed to have in a basket for a perfect shot when NOT ALL BASKETS ARE ALIKE IN SHAPE OR SIZE AND they are in fact actually volumetric. If you don't have the proper physical volume in the basket with the proper amount of head space between the screen where the water comes out and the surface of the puck, you can have issues. Breville it seems, created the razor to simplify the situation for people who aren't deep down the rabbit hole and just need to be able to start somewhere. I understand one of the biggest issues is actually overfilling a basket and this was their way to fix that so you could at least get a decent cup of coffee haha.
As Kev mentions here, you're supposed to have the proper volume in the basket and that is all the razor does. It sounds like you figured out the remedy to this all on your own and it's just to reduce the amount of the specific beans you're using in the basket itself so you don't end up wasting :-) it took me a couple tries to get the right amount of beans in my basket to and it was frustrating until I remembered watching those other videos and just started incrementally reducing the amount I was grinding until the razor just grazed the surface of the bed 😊 good luck on your coffee journey!
P.S. not discounting weight as an important variable and a way to quantify and replicate a shot, but you're going to need to use more of some beans and less of others so sticking to a recipe of 18g for every single Bean you're ever going to use doesn't really make sense to me 😊
@@NoZenith Thank you so much for replying NoZenith. I really appreciate that! I’m still a bit hit and miss on my coffee journey, but getting there. How are you getting on with your Bambino Plus?
@@DebbieYD I dove in middle deep after waiting three years to invest. I didn't want to get a cheap machine and I didn't want to get a grinder that was going to cause me a lot of headaches with retention, mess, static, uneveness and lack of versatility I do occasionally like pour over and a couple times a year I have a group of family over and would need to grind for something besides espresso) So I went straight for a Bambino Plus x Niche Zero... but I'm still waiting on the grinder so I'm using canned pre-ground Lavazza 😆. I've got the basic process down, it's really nice to make even a mediocre latte at home and now I'm reabsorbing specific info like this video on dialing in to hopefully waste the least amount of coffee getting a decent cup when I do get my grinder 😄 good luck on achieving better consistency ASAP!
@@NoZenith I’m getting there with the consistency. My grind is fine yet my output is still a bit quick (around 25 seconds for 36g). I think I could do with a better tamp (I’m using the one that came with my Bambino and it’s a little small). I’m still playing with dialling it in. And I’m still playing with the grinder (Dose Control Pro). I’m really tempted to go on a barista course!
@@GG-td8mt I use a really fine grind - almost as fine as the machine goes, and I think I could still go down a notch or two. I use 18g for a double shot - with about 36 - 40g output and I no longer use the razor tool to prep the puck. It’s much more consistent - although still runs a little quick at around 22 seconds.
Ordered 1kg of Fruit cake blend to give this a go!!!
Let me know what you think Sam :-)
Kev,
Let me know if this makes sense. I have Bambino Plus and I’m trying your steps. 19g dose aiming for 38g yield for 1:2 in 28-32s.
So I manually stop the shot button at 27s to get my timing right because that’s what i can control. and then i check if my yield is 38 or not. i find that keeping an eye on weight and then checking what time it reached 38 is harder because timer does not stop.
What do you think?
Yeah, having a shot timer on the machine itself that stops and holds the time on the screen for a few seconds, is very handy. Doing it with a timer just requires a bit more practice, as you've said it's a bit of a faff to focus on stopping the shot at the desired yield, and keep an eye on what the shot time is, but it's doable with a bit of practice.
Just get into the habit of glancing at the shot timer just before you move the cup off it.
I wouldn't worry too much about nailing the 28-32 second shot window. When you're getting started, I'd be happy with a much bigger window, 20-35 seconds.
Ta
Kev
I seriously need help as a newbie . I have got Bambino plus and Encre esp. Do I have to stick with 19g even if I grind finer? Or Do I have to top up a bit more then use the razor tool ?
Hi, I have done a whole series on the BP, Please see:
czcams.com/video/1loOy4UM3cc/video.html&pp=gAQBiAQB
Cheers
Kev
First off, I'm not very experienced at espresso, but I'm wanting to learn. So, I just bought a used Bambino Plus and I've pulled a couple shots that were pretty bad, but I went to pull my third shot and I can't get water through the puck. It's acting just like you're doing a backflush. It will come up to pressure, run for a bit, and after about 40 seconds it stops and there is zero espresso and it shoots water into the drip tray. Am I doing something wrong? I've tried lightening up on the tamp, I've tried 16 grams instead of 18 grams of coffee. I'm currently soaking the basket and shower screen in a descaller, hoping that might fix the issue, but because I'm new to all of this, I don't know if the machine is broken or if I'm doing something wrong.
Hi Steven
It sounds like you have choked the machine, which usually happens when the grind is too fine. If you are using Pre- ground coffee with the dual walled basket this can happen if the coffee has been ground too fine. Try using the single walled basket instead and see how you get on, If your grinding your own just make the grind more coarse.
Cheers
Kev
@@Coffee_Kev Thanks for the info. I FINALLY got it working, but I had to go to a 15 to get it to work. What's even weirder is, pulling a shot at 15 worked fine a couple times and then it got too fast, so I went down to a 14 that worked a couple times great and then was too fast too. So, next I'm trying a 12 to see how that does. It almost seems like the more I use it the better pressure it gets. I feel like at this rate, I'll be back to an 8 soon and it will be working fine. BTW, the beans are whole beans and I've used some of my own roasted beans and some store bought beans, both have been doing the same thing.
@@stevenattaway Hi Steve,
May I ask what basket you're using standard or dual wall? also what grinder do you have? and are you purging your coffee after changing your grind size?
Cheers
Kev
@@Coffee_Kev The basket is standard double shot. The grinder is Breville/Sage Smart Grinder Pro. I have FINALLY made it back down to a 10 on the grinder settings and I'm thinking that might be the sweet spot. I don't have the single dose purge bellow for my grinder but that has been coming up a lot recently which makes me think I might need to get one.
Isit just me doing this.... I've just customised the shot time to pull about 50-60ml of fluid volume ...which will equal about 37g of coffee... If it doesn't meet the 28-30 second mark I've adjusted the grind size -/+. Seems okay... Doesn't taste over or under extracted.... Seems pretty consistent each time. Smart grinder pro and bambino plus user. I'm not into all these extra steps...I grind, tamp, pull and drink.... Should I let the machine pull the shot using it's default timings... wondering if im missing something.
Hi, as long as it tastes good to you, then don't mess around with it :-)
the problem i have with the bambino is that i can not fit 18g in my double shot, single wall basket. 12 is a good amount in this basket. the grinder im using is the 1Zpresso jx pro. Do you think i should buy a precision basket? a better portafilter maybe ?
If you're only getting 12g in the double shot basket, it must be very coarse? You should easily be able to get 18g, even maybe 19g in the basket. Cheers, Kev.
@@Coffee_Kev I have had a similar issue (although not as extreme). I can get 19g in (although I am waiting on delivery of a dosing funnel to reduce mess!), but the razor tool always skims 2-3 grams off the top. My best result so far is 17g, but that's coming out over-extracted. I tried grinding finer and managed to get a perfect dose, in fact got just over 19g which the razor trimmed to 19g exactly, but that's over extracting too because the coffee is too fine. I feel like I'm missing something! :)
(p.s. - LOVE your channel, it's got the perfect balance of information, explanation, and humour)
I don't understand why you need to time it for a 2 shot? Surely that shot should stop when it's done the amount for a 2 shot dispense?
Hi Kev. I have the Sage Bambino and every shot I pull takes around 20 seconds (starting from the push of the double espresso button), even if is use the finest or coarsest grind side. Do you know why this might be happening? At the end of my tether with dialling in, honestly 😭
Hi Suzan,
Have you watched my newer videos, they should help you:
czcams.com/video/T6sslti-zbs/video.html
czcams.com/video/LgYDjMCsKJE/video.html
czcams.com/video/-a9pJ80jjAg/video.html
czcams.com/video/AjJ7mgN-oxo/video.html
Cheers
Kev
What kind of grinder do you have? If you don't have a decent quality burr grinder then that may be your problem. If you have a decent burr grinder that is capable of grinding fine, then grinding finer will necessarily cause the shot to take longer to pull. You should be able to grind fine enough to choke the machine (as evidenced by just a few drops of coffee coming through). This fine of a grind will look a bit on the powdery side. Once you get to that point then dial back your grind to a slightly coarser grind and the shot should take longer to finish. Also of course you need fresh coffee beans to achieve a good shot, and use a consistent amount of coffee. I usually grind around 16 grams of coffee for a double shot on my Bambino, and that works pretty well. 16 or 17 grams is good for me. Darker roast coffee is better for pulling good shots.
May I ask what portafilter and filter basket (what size) are you using? Thanks
Hi John, it's the Sage/Breville Bambino but I'm using the nicer portafilter from the Barista Express/Pro, same standard stock basket though, 19g.
what is the dose recommended for 51mm bottomless portafilter delonghi dedica?
About 14g
Great video, thanks Kev. Super helpful and informative!
I have one question, with the sage bambino/bambino plus machines - is there a way to ‘set’ the time so that you don’t have to manually stop the machine each time, once you’re dialled in?
Edit: knew you’d be all over it - you cover it in this video czcams.com/video/t0K9k9z79lU/video.html
O dont know how to adjust the Belleville for a 25 second extraction its always at 12 to 15 seconds no matter what i do.
Hi. What baskets? What beans? Cheers, Kev.
Can the Bambino (non plus version) change the temperature of the water?
Nothing in Breville's current Bambino line has adjustable temperature other than how hot it will auto froth milk on the bambino plus. Hope this helps.
When I tried dialing in for a bag of Frank and Honest it tasted horrible, I set grind to 14/16 on sage barista pro and only got 20 second pull. The best I could get was grind 23 with dual wall.
Should probably be closer to 10 (grind clicks). Did you ever get it dialed in?
What grinder is that mate?
Hi I was using the Eureka Mignon, If you scroll down to the product links you will find it there.
Cheers
Kev
Personally, if your grinding your own coffee, throw the double basket in the bin! Only use the Single Basket.
If you're grinding freshly roasted coffee, then I'd agree. Although I wouldn't throw it in the bin, it has uses. Ash tray, mini sugar bowl, mini indoor frisby, giant tiddly wink 😆
bought scales for coffee specifically... the rattling in the machine means they dont work lol...
After he said “fundamentals” for the 50th time I bailed…. I’ll enjoy my espresso as is…
😂
“Made simple”. 20:47 video
It is 28 seconds cause you stopped it
The shot time is how long it takes to achieve your required shot volume, whether you're stopping the shot manually or using the pre programmed shot button
Ohh I didn't know that. Thanks 😁