Welcome to the CoffeeCrew forum for registered users. - feel free to make yourself at home. This forum is dedicated to coffee and espresso based issues.
Forum spammers, scam artists, confidence artists, crooks and obvious commercial shilling is discouraged. Violation of this one simple rule will result in you and your immediate geographical region being banned from the site so do not post ads here! Capiche?
The coffeecrew guestbook and forum has been alive for more than 10 years! Please consider it your one-stop resource for finding out about all things coffee, espresso, specialty coffee and all associated gear and equipment.
We welcome long posts - there is no word limit in fact. Keep in mind that you can only type for 15 to 20 minutes in the forum-post submit window (session timeout)- so consider composing your posts or responses in a text editor - then cut and paste! Thank you and enjoy the forums!
I'm new to the forum and a one year owner of a Sylvia and Rocky. As usual, the learning curve was a bit tough but I have been having superb results in the last 8-10 months with excellent shots and consistent performance regardless of the bean used. I cleaned both machines last week (including a back-flush, burr cleaning, etc) and am now having some problems. Even on the finest grind setting (yes, I have checked that I have it adjusted just before the burrs touch and then backed it off) I am having VERY fast pours. Rather than a nice consistent 25-28 seconds with perfect formation on the screen of my bottomless portafilter, I am getting inconsistent formation on the screen (with some jets and fast blonding) and rapid pours lasting no longer than 15 seconds for a standard double shot. I have not modified my dosing, tamp pressure or technique, or distribution in the puck.
What gives? It seemed odd to me that I had to keep the Rocky so close to it's finest grind setting but quite frankly, it has been that way since I purchased it. Since I have always had great results, I just didn't think the lack of adjustment was going to be a problem. With these new problems however I am concerned that there may be a problem with the grinder. Either that, or I'm brutal......either way, I am looking for some advice.
Thanks,
Dave
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 732
Karma: 19
Re:Rancilio Issue, Advice Needed - 2008/03/03 14:17Dave - I ran into something like this -- and it was a cleaning issue: I did the basic disassembly procedure for the Rocky ONLY taking off the top burr assembly. What I found was lots and lots of primordial coffee oils and ooze that needed to be wiped off - After I did that, I could dial down a little deeper and get a more consistent grind. It is all about consistency friends.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
interference
User Coffee Lover
Posts: 1
Karma: 1
Re:Rancilio Issue, Advice Needed - 2008/03/06 08:35I've had this problem with my Rocky. The problem is probably play / "slop" in the burr carrier threads. This causes the burrs to not meet perfectly parallel. So they are touching before they can get close enough to grind for a 25 second shot. Essentially your zero point has crept upwards. You might notice that at +0 or +1 you can change the sound of the burrs touching simply by pushing on the hopper in various directions...
The way to clean up this problem is to apply teflon plumber's tape around the threads of the upper burr carrier. You want enough so that the hopper turns firmly but smoothly. On my Rocky, this was 2 winds of teflon, applied carefully and precisely.
After doing this, zero point actually went down due to more firmly held parallel burrs and Rocky was once again able to grind finely for a golden rule shot.
It was this experience that led me to upgrade from the Rocky to the Mazzer Mini. The Mazzer has three springs that maintain tension between the burrs to hold them parallel. Since the Rocky doesn't have the springs, the teflon helps immensely. Note that if you often change to drip and press pot settings, the teflon will wear out more quickly. I would recommend reapplying the teflon each time you take Rocky apart for cleaning.
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
An FYI for anyone in the metro Vancouver area looking for Bodum or Bialetti products. Check out your local Winners/Homesense.
I was there on the weekend and there were a lot of Bodum coffee pres...
What are peoples opinions on Galileo Coffee, a small Roastery Cafe just south of Squamish in the little town of Britannia Beach on Highway 99? I've really enjoyed the Howes Blend that they use in thei...
The Breville was my first machine. It has been a good machine no complaints. When you are ready, move up but you did not make a mistake. I can make a Mocha that will bring tears to your eye's with min...
I'm pretty keen to try roasting for the first time. Getting pretty good at pulling espresso shots finally, and would love to figure out what it takes to roast great tasting beans :)...
Yea... it's been a headache, and that is understated, to say the least. Tonight, one of their reps came by to look at the machine and offer me some solutions. He was very nice. He actually said for th...
Saeco Incanto, in general, is garbage. We've had ongoing problems with ours (that you can see at the web link in my profile).
Have you had the machine serviced at all? Or just a call to ask if the...
Based on all the discussion and reviews, I am looking to buy either the 8 cup or the 12 cup model. Since the physical size of the units (other than the pot, of course) seems to be exactly the same, i...
Forum 
