Does the tamp fan on the oracle serve the same purpose as the razor tool in terms of keeping the correct head space? As an additional question, the Oracle doses 20g which is too high. I've tried lowering the tamp fan by adjusting the 'rod' holding it in place, but I'm still getting 20g on the lowest setting - and now I can't use the single shot basket (I assume because the fan sits too low against the tapered sides....)
Nothing is more exciting than an espresso upload first thing in the AM! Curious, would you be able to give any recommendations on light roast espresso? I love light roast, but when making it from my Barista Pro, it tastes a little off. Dark/Medium come out perfectly. It's just the light roasts that I've run into problems with and wonder what adjustments might help. Thanks for any help in advance!
Yeah that makes sense, light roasts are far more challenging. I'd start by experimenting with a hotter brew temp, and from there it's just a case of working to extract more, grinding finer, increasing the brew ratio, just trying to get the best you can with that machine. It's not the ideal machine for light roasts, you could do with a higher end grinder really for light roasts, but you should be able to get better tasting shots with some effort. Cheers, Kev.
I’m a new coffee maker here. My concern with the razor tool is doesn’t that take away a certain amount of coffee? So my initial dose weight of 18 grams means nothing and I don’t know how to get a proper 1:2 Again this is probably a dumb question, but I am a newbie 😅
not dumb at all. It's just a case of weighing the dose after trimming, and then taking your target yield from this. This also gives you a good idea of where you're at with the grind size. If you start off with 18g and you trim a lot off, this would be a hint that you're too coarse with the grind. If you start off at 18g and the razor tool doesn't touch, this would be a hint that you may be too fine with the grind. Re your initial dose, if you're using a darker roast, 18 - 18.5g as the starting dose before trimming is about right, if you're using beans that are more towards the medium side of things, you'll probably want to start out at 19 - 19.5g before you trim, then just take the dose weight after trimming, and double it as your target yield if you're starting out with a 1:2. Ta, Kev.
Weighing accurately is the key. I just weigh out 20 grams for an IMS basket, grind it and check it's still 20 grams in the portafilter basket. The razor tool confirms the headspace is correct. Add a puck screen and brew.
Hi Kev, If changing grind size (going finer) changes head space on your puck, do I then need to add more in to reach the razor tool height? Having issues with it being sour, however if I go too fine, I'm nowhere near the razor height level?
You don't need to, as such, being a couple of mm under the height of the razor tool isn't necessarily an issue, the only issue with that is being able to maintain a consistent dose volume if you're not dosing in enough to trim, if that makes sense? What's your dose weight just out of interest? Ta
@@dand666 is it a medium roast by any chance? 18g is often plenty for darker roasts, I'll often find it's more like 19g (sometimes more like 19.5) when going a bit lighter.
Yes a Medium roast. Okay, I'll start going 19g as a minimum, and probably aim for 1:2.5 ratio I think. Struggling with the 1:2 ratio so probably need more yield.?@@Coffee_Kev
I just realized something very interesting. On the same grinder setting, the size of grounds varies if you put only 18 grams in the hopper versus if the hopper is full. Coffee comes out coarser if the only 18 g is put in versus if hopper is full of coffee beans. That will effect dialing in.
Thank you for this detailed video. Now I have to tap the portafilter with my hand as pro baristas do 🙂
haha, no worries 😎
Brilliant video. Well detailed kevvy 😊
Does the tamp fan on the oracle serve the same purpose as the razor tool in terms of keeping the correct head space?
As an additional question, the Oracle doses 20g which is too high. I've tried lowering the tamp fan by adjusting the 'rod' holding it in place, but I'm still getting 20g on the lowest setting - and now I can't use the single shot basket (I assume because the fan sits too low against the tapered sides....)
Nothing is more exciting than an espresso upload first thing in the AM!
Curious, would you be able to give any recommendations on light roast espresso? I love light roast, but when making it from my Barista Pro, it tastes a little off. Dark/Medium come out perfectly. It's just the light roasts that I've run into problems with and wonder what adjustments might help.
Thanks for any help in advance!
Yeah that makes sense, light roasts are far more challenging. I'd start by experimenting with a hotter brew temp, and from there it's just a case of working to extract more, grinding finer, increasing the brew ratio, just trying to get the best you can with that machine. It's not the ideal machine for light roasts, you could do with a higher end grinder really for light roasts, but you should be able to get better tasting shots with some effort. Cheers, Kev.
Kev are you going to coffee fest in Madrid this February?
I'm afraid not Ryan
I’m a new coffee maker here. My concern with the razor tool is doesn’t that take away a certain amount of coffee? So my initial dose weight of 18 grams means nothing and I don’t know how to get a proper 1:2
Again this is probably a dumb question, but I am a newbie 😅
You could weigh it after tamping and razoring.
not dumb at all. It's just a case of weighing the dose after trimming, and then taking your target yield from this. This also gives you a good idea of where you're at with the grind size. If you start off with 18g and you trim a lot off, this would be a hint that you're too coarse with the grind. If you start off at 18g and the razor tool doesn't touch, this would be a hint that you may be too fine with the grind. Re your initial dose, if you're using a darker roast, 18 - 18.5g as the starting dose before trimming is about right, if you're using beans that are more towards the medium side of things, you'll probably want to start out at 19 - 19.5g before you trim, then just take the dose weight after trimming, and double it as your target yield if you're starting out with a 1:2. Ta, Kev.
Weighing accurately is the key. I just weigh out 20 grams for an IMS basket, grind it and check it's still 20 grams in the portafilter basket. The razor tool confirms the headspace is correct. Add a puck screen and brew.
What does "opening brew temperature" to fix the tanginess means? Higher temp? Lower temp? My Express Impress is set at factory default of 93.
Upping the brew temp to fix the tanginess. Hotter temp if it's tasting tangy. Ta, Kev
Hi Kev,
If changing grind size (going finer) changes head space on your puck, do I then need to add more in to reach the razor tool height?
Having issues with it being sour, however if I go too fine, I'm nowhere near the razor height level?
You don't need to, as such, being a couple of mm under the height of the razor tool isn't necessarily an issue, the only issue with that is being able to maintain a consistent dose volume if you're not dosing in enough to trim, if that makes sense? What's your dose weight just out of interest? Ta
18g minimum. Sometimes go up to 19g@@Coffee_Kev
Using a SGP and a Duo temp Pro
@@dand666 is it a medium roast by any chance? 18g is often plenty for darker roasts, I'll often find it's more like 19g (sometimes more like 19.5) when going a bit lighter.
Yes a Medium roast.
Okay, I'll start going 19g as a minimum, and probably aim for 1:2.5 ratio I think. Struggling with the 1:2 ratio so probably need more yield.?@@Coffee_Kev
👏👏
I changed from WDT to blind shaker with impressive results 👍
I just realized something very interesting. On the same grinder setting, the size of grounds varies if you put only 18 grams in the hopper versus if the hopper is full. Coffee comes out coarser if the only 18 g is put in versus if hopper is full of coffee beans. That will effect dialing in.
Correct, I recommend not filling the hopper, please see this video:
ua-cam.com/video/ctGVBWqpnY4/v-deo.html
Cheers
Kev
You needed to pronounce the TH'es as a Z: "'Ello, coffee bozzereurz...". Zat way your Franche she will be parfaite.