Still a newbie and learning, trying to get the taste right but I am loving the experience!!
Currently thinking about getting bottomless portafilter.
Not sure if it’s me or the coffees I am using but I tend to get bitter shots, normally going for 18g and get 35-38 in 30seconds. Recently been experimenting with 16g and grinding coarser and I think it’s getting better!
I love this subreddit, watching your setups and results is very inspiring
by PathOfJan
7 Comments
Welcome!
Don’t use 1:2 ratio rule, that is just starting point. If you brew darker roast try reducing output till you get rid of bitterness and if you go lighter you can preheat the maschine with a blank pull with the cleaning disk and go for higher ratio 1:3 or even more.
Recommend buying a soft coffee mat to reduce vibrations and noise from the grinder. ( There is a 30x40cm mat which you can find everywhere for around 10 dollars which fits both bambino and DF54, i have a post about it)
Also purge the steam wand for a couple seconds before steaming to get rid of the water.
Have fun brewing!
If its bitter, grind it a bit coarser and try it again. I have just a Bambino, so we dont have a water temp adjustment. You can try to manually pull a shot if you have not done so yet.
Dialing in a specific bean can be a pain in the backside.
Bottomless is just fancy imo, it can help you see if your puck prep is on point though and if it “channels”.
I do have one.
Overall, I’s say its a bit messier overall, BUT when its gets dialed in and you get those gorgeous shots. It makes it kind of worth it.
Some ideas if the result is too bitter for your liking
– bump down extraction, there are many ways to do this. Start with reducing the ratio keeping the rest the same. In other words, say try 33g out. Another good way is to go coarser, keep the ratio, and you will get a quicker shot.
– try lighter coffee. Tons of places sell passable medium roasts these days
IMO that’s an awesome set up. Unless you become a huge nerd, this set up is so much more than adequate. Frankly there are few machines I would buy over a bambino.
FYI I’d say to ditch the spinny tool
Man I have the same Breville and I can’t get longer than 20 second shots and it’s still bitter!
You don’t need a bottomless portafilter. Don’t be in a rush to pull perfect shots. You learn heaps from trial and error and this will help you more in the long run.
Hey there fellow B+ user! It’s a fun little toy for us beginners, right!? I don’t have any knowledge to pass on as I use my setup strictly out of spite against Starbucks. I can make myself a pretty tasty white mocha and that as far as my skill set has progressed so far. That said, this is a great space to learn from others and be in awe of their setups/skills. Welcome! Enjoy! ☕️🙂
Trust taste over numbers