The S1 Cafe - Helping Your Espresso Dreams Become Reality

True confessions - I was browsing one of the threads relating to the new wooden handles for PFs, and was reading about the concerns several people had about getting the handles wet while soaking. And then it dawned on me. I have been doing a Cafiza soak every couple of weeks, including my PF. But I had not been removing the basket first! OMG, I could not believe the accumulated gunk that must have been forced up between the side of the basked and the PF during a shot. So, despite blank shots between pulls and hot water cleaning and shaking at the end of the day, a lot accumulates. So, for those who may be as clueless as I, take heed.

Oh please do post a "before and after" picture. I'd love to see what it looks like. I'm not joking, it would be very interesting to see how much really did accumulate and how well Cafiza reaches every little crevice.

Niko
I regret to inform you that I was so disgusted with the PF (and myself), that I neglected to document the disaster. Following the Cafiza bath, I fired up the S1 and had a nightcap. Good news: what a great cup. Bad news: little sleep! When my next disaster occurs, I'll reach for the camera first.

Damn.
Does that mean we have to wait another 2 years to find out?

At least you described it well and you're a very honest man, not many would tell about a dirty portafilter like that.

If I had any ability to feel shame, I would withhold the information that I spent a couple of months with my bathroom scale on a kitchen window sill so that I could measure a true thirty-pound tamp. It was the same scale I weighed myself on for years hoping to weigh less (more shamelessness) than 100 kilos.

Somehow, on the window sill I forgot that it was metric and kept tamping to 30 kilos (66lbs), believing it was 30 pounds. I did this when I first got my Gaggia and again with the Vivaldi until my wife at last reminded me that it was a metric scale.

My palm was often a little tender after tamping, but I still couldn't make the connection on my own.

LOL! Do I hear a motion for a new thread? My Most Embarrassing LaSpaziale Moments!

I see it as a "Confessions" thread...

I know I've had my moments but this one tops them all so far.
I just ordered a Mazzer Mini E Doserless, got it last Friday and been using everyday since. The dosing works great, blah blah blah, well guess what? The portafilter holder/fork (cradle) was bent, I mean it was bent real good thanks to UPS and I didn't even notice it right away! It took me all weekend to discover this, it actually was discovered my someone else who visited my house, who has the same unit, he said it wasn't normal at all (obviously). I normally have an eye for detail and never miss a thing but this is a blunder. As crooked as it is, it still delivers grinds into the portafilter.

At least I back up my stupidity with photographic proof!

Weska wrote:It was the same scale I weighed myself on for years

You forgot to mention "bare feet".
Now, people will really think we are weird, grinding with Hepatitis and drinking with bare feet.