The S1 Cafe - Helping Your Espresso Dreams Become Reality

I just ordered cartridges from wateranywhere.com (the web dealer for Applied Membranes). I ordered the following: HF-2510AC 2.5" x 9.75" 10 micron carbon $7.00 HF-2510soft 10" standard softening $8.00 For my order of 3 softening and 1 carbon shipping was $11.54 for a total with tax of...

When I bought my machine in April I asked about the red panels and I believe that they cost $84 each.

The Vivaldi II has 3/8 tubing coming out of it. You can plumb with 1/4, but the final braided tube to the machine is 3/8 and you are better off being sure that you don't starve the machine by using 3/8 all the way.

Niko:
If you are comfortable with the meter please share the details about it and where you bought it. This looks like a reasonable price to pay to insure that water quality is appropriate.
Thanks for your efforts,
Mark

Other threads on the site discuss the carbon cartridge (check out the following wforum/viewtopic.php?t=388).

Chris sells a 10 micron carbon cartridge, but numerous other forum members have gone to a 5 micron. For our use I don't think that it matters a bit which one you use.

I thought that it was slightly better at 94 compared to 93 and haven't gone up from there to break through into bitterness.

I've been pulling shots of Peet's Espresso Forte at 94 and think that it is where I should be. What experience have others had with these beans?
Mark

I just received my VII from Chris in early April; should I check my expansion valve? Since they say that they check and adjust every machine I have been presuming that these adjustments should be correct without any double-checking or adjustment?

Thanks for any advice...

Don't fret; just practice. You have to be right on and fast with the VII when you steam (particularly small quantities like 4 oz) but once you get the hang of it you just feel great and can race along. For me the trick is all in starting off with care and getting to the correct depth immediately. Th...

I also ordered replacement springs from Espresso Parts (as described above by Tom and recommended by Chas). This really cheap and easy fix dramatically changes things for the better; you can easily pull the baskets in and out but they are held in firmly so you don't have to worry when dumping the pu...

Perhaps I am paranoid, but I would not be comfortable putting toothpic pieces into the holes for fear that they would get blown out and poured into a drink thereby potentially choking someone.

I routinely steam 4 oz. of milk in a 12 oz. pitcher using the 4-hole tip on a VII. It took me a bit to get accustomed to it, but once you get the feel it just stretches the milk and is great in a very few seconds (as Niko has pointed out in other posts). My suggestion is to practice and learn to use...

I've been using the bumper pitcher and really like it; can't compare to an Alessi because I've never used one.

Thanks for your comments. I was surprised by how expensive the blind basket was at Espresso Parts, but I needed it and that was the link that I knew of.

I received my VII from Chris in early April and have only backflushed twice; the first time using the rubber disk provided with the machine and yesterday with a stainless disk purchased from Espresso Parts (as suggested on the forum). Neither time did the machine flash the LEDs to indicate overpress...

I received my VII in early April and it certainly has a 4-hole tip. I can't see the O-ring at all when the tip is screwed into the wand. As you screw the tip onto the wand you should feel a springy resistance when the O-ring starts to be compressed. You should not need to tighten it tremdously tight...

I have been using the single-shot basket as a bean measure. As noted by other folks, a level fill of the single-shot basket results in a nice fill of the double-basket before tamping. I fill the single, grind those beans and dispense all into the double for each pull.

What volume are you drawing in your 10 seconds? If the volume is low you may also need to increase the volume programmed on the button.

At 10 seconds are you getting blonding? (in other words what stops you at 10 seconds)

An accumulator will presumably help with the pressure regulation (as we discussed in the regulator thread) but it will do nothing about crud. If you really have crud I'd put in a coarse filter at the front end; they are cheap and you can replace that and save your more expensive softener and charcoa...

If you are concerned about crud (sediment, rocks, etc.) in your water clogging your softener system you could put a third 10" filter housing into the system before the softener cartridge and put a coarse filter into it.

I only know what I have seen on other sites. For example check this link from Chris Coffee (http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/plumbing/calcitefilter): 10" Calcite Carbon Filter 10 Micron This 10-micron Calcite Carbon filter is a generic 10". Simply put it will fit any standard 10&qu...

I have the same pressure problem; it is never too low, but can shoot up substantially. My "final" regulated pressure shifts between 25 psi (my target) and close to 50 psi. Yes, I am thinking about the 21 oz. size. I first saw these suggested for coffee cart installations using the small si...

I also have highly variable water pressure and have been considering putting an accumulator tank onto the system to even things out. Check out this link for the devices: http://www.shurflo.com/pages/Food_Service/beverage/accumulator_tanks/tanks.html. The idea is that the water pressure works against...

Has anyone just cut off the 3rd flat section of the portafilter spring to reduce the pressure holding the basket to a more reasonable level? I want to be able to remove the basket to clean and also to swap in multiple baskets when making repeat coffees. Thanks for any advice on the easiest/best way ...

I received my machine from Chris on April 3 and I can tell you that it is very quiet. I think that I can hear the fan coming on periodically, but I have not opened it to insure that the fan is plugged in or to see how it is mounted.

I'm using a Gaggia MDF grinder. I started with the grind set at about 6. The crema was light and the pull for a double shot took about 15 seconds. I've moved down to a setting of 4 and the crema is much darker, the pull seems longer (I haven't timed it), the puck is a bit wet but the group pressure ...

I am using an Espro tamper.

My VII arrived last week and I'm getting reasonable, but not fantastic shots. Any suggestions on a scheme to dial in grind, dosing volume for the double shot button and temperature would be appreciated. The brew temperatue is currently set at 94 degrees and I'm pulling about 2 ounces from the double...