I've seen some Reddit comments about them being okay for espresso with some adjustments, so I figured I'd give it a shot. As much as I'd love a Vario, I don't have that kind of cash to spend - especially since it's so espresso-focused and I drink more than one type of coffee. This grinder gets fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for French Press, which is perfect for my drinking habits. I do intend on modifying it a bit (you can buy an upgrade burr for it and remove the clicker so it's stepless) but I'm holding out on that for now. Would a video about the Encore modification be helpful?
@@rileydmcdonald Yes, please. I am also using an Encore and an entry-level Breville espresso machine. My espresso contains sour notes, likely due to the grinds not being fine enough. 1. Do you not taste the sour notes with your espresso? 2. I noticed that the water flowed unevenly through the spouts. One had more water flowing through it than the other. Is that to do with an uneven grind/ distribution of grinds in the puck? 3. How long did your extraction take? I tried to time it and it was around 20ish seconds? Haha. Would you say that the extraction was too short, and if so, is that attributable to the limitations of the Encore (E.g. Grinds are not fine enough)?
@@Isaacying Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely film the upgrade process. As for your questions: 1. I have tasted sour notes in espresso before, but that's really only when I use lighter roasts. Dark roast is extremely forgiving for espresso (which is what I'm using here), even if you're using a basic machine. James Hoffmann has a great video called "How to "hack" sour espresso," and the methods for fixing it are finer grind, more water (i.e. changed ratio, like 1:3 or 1:4), and changing water temperature. I can only change two of those three (no temp control on my machine), but I find varying degrees of success with it. The Reddit coffee community (r/Coffee) seems to agree with the dark vs. light roast thing - it's a lot easier to get sour espresso with light or medium than dark. Try Hoffmann's hacks and see if that helps, but it's also possible with your grinder and machine you might not be able to get light roast espresso that isn't sour. 2. I'm not sure why the uneven pour happens, but it could just be some fluid dynamics I don't understand. It happens to me a lot, but it seems to always be the left side gets more liquid than the right. It's possible the extraction is uneven, but I'm using a pressurized basket, which means all the espresso comes out one hole in the basket and finds its own way into the spouts. Could be because the water is flowing unevenly, but it could also be something as simple as the machine being slightly leaning one way on my countertop (which would cause it to favour one side over the other). I won't know for sure how even these extractions are until I get a single-walled, non-pressurized basket (I'll also make a video about this, but it won't be for a while). 3. There are varying opinions how to count extraction time, but based on my digging and sifting through r/Coffee posts, I've decided to count my extraction time from the moment I press the button on the machine (which includes pre-infusion) to the moment I hit my target weight. In total, from button press to finished espresso, it was 28 seconds. You can't see my finger pressing the button in the shot, but you can tell it's started by the noise the machine makes. I don't think it was too short, but yes, finer grinds would help with that.
I know the video is a couple years old but it's nice to see the whole process. I just bought this same setup and knowing I will need to constantly be aware of grind size changes as temperature and humidity affect my coffee beans is good to note. This is my first introduction to espresso and I only had an aeropress, no scale or nothing so it's all brand new to me but I am excited to learn how to make a real proper espresso and enjoy it instead of just having it to have it. I like the morning process before getting the day started. I spend half an hour outside with my cat every day so it's been great for the health and it's something other than water in the morning haha 😆 I get a 3.7 liters of water in a day anyway I can have the one coffee lol
I use the exact same setup too, and couldn't agree more about the grind size. Breville says you should start at an 8 for espresso, but I've found that all of my 8s channel like crazy, so 6 is where I hover now! You can double check how well your shots are actually pulling by using a bottomless portafilter, but it gets messy if you get the grind size wrong haha. Some trial and error there :P
@@jessactor Oooh, I see! That helps a ton :D I been fiddling it with a few weeks now and sometimes I get a decent shot other times it's wildly off like I have yet to get a shot I can drink or sip normally lol I just bought a portafilter :D I am waiting for it to come in. I will try a 6, that will probably be a lot better :) thank you! Definitely trial and error haha :P
👍 I like you explain the "whys" with the background info and use the vocbulary for folks to do more research. Very detailed and informative. Unique compared to 90% of the rest on UA-cam... James Hoffmann of course is top, but you are right there due to the answers of the "whys". 💯
Great detailing... Specific focus on weighing Cleaning...reminds all neophytes that coffee drinking is , always has been an art to be learned and personally enjoyed. Not until you develop. Learn etc. Will you fully appreciate and enjoy something so good as properly made coffee Or expresso. Many families all over the world look forward to this Special treat every day Traditionally. Thank you for you Sharing
I sure wish they didn't have that plastic in the stock portafilter. My first move was to by a bottomless with a nice stainless steel basket. Nice video, Riley.
I did the default grind modification on the Encore as well as the M2 burr upgrade and it does great with espresso grind. In fact, if I go finer than 7 with the mods, it will stall my Breville Infuser…so for sure, don’t let anyone tell you that the Encore can’t do espresso.
Don't know how I'm just now seeing this, but yeah it can do espresso! The tricky thing is if you want to do more than just espresso. I recently got a Varia VS3 (I'll have a video about it eventually) and it's a lot more consistent with my espresso, but I can ALSO use it for filter coffee. If I was doing this all over again (and if the VS3 was even out when I started this journey) I would skip the Encore and go straight to the VS3. At this point in my home espresso/coffee journey, I think the only reason I'd use an Encore again is if I needed to grind a lot of coffee at once. A single-dose grinder makes it a serious pain to grind more than 30 grams lol
Just got this machine as a wedding gift and I've been enjoying learning with it. I actually bought the Baratza Encore years ago when I started experimenting with espresso/moka pot coffee, so I'm glad to see someone else using it. I was running an 8 grind previously but might try out a 6 and see how that goes. One question I have is whether to use the dual wall or single wall basket (both in double shot size). What is your preference?
Good question! This video came out quite a while ago and my setup has changed pretty dramatically since then. I still have a Bambino Plus, but I'm using a Varia VS3 now instead of an Encore. And unless you have an Encore ESP, I wouldn't recommend using it with a single basket (and even then maybe not because of retention). I have a video about the Encore's shortfalls for single-wall here: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.htmlsi=pit9h9zcNiy_7UXu And I also have a video about single wall vs double wall. Bear in mind it's just my personal preference, but I did a blind taste test and found I preferred single. ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.htmlsi=H1oK197AZQWsk2Cd I probably could've stuck with the Encore if I only made espresso, but I vary the type of coffee I make too much for that to be practical. I've been using the VS3 for over a year and a half now and I wouldn't go back to the Encore even if you paid me.
Thank you for the video🙏. I bought my Bambino Plus on discount for 285$ last week. Have been watching videos on it to see what others use for set up for reference to try. I do have “Sage dose control pro” grinder instead. But I first time hear that extraction of dark roast is easier than light roast 👍
By my count of the time bar, if I start counting when the pump starts at 6:17 and you stopped the machine at 6:37, so that would be about 20 seconds including pre-infusion. I would expect that should have been closer to 25-30 seconds. BTW, I also have a Bambino Plus, but the Breville Smart Grinder. From what I'm seeing in your video, I may try to adjust my grind setting to be a bit finer, I'm only getting about 15g of coffee to compress into the double shot basket.
Thanks for the video, I just but the bambino plus and a similar grinder. I don't think your needle tool use should describe "fluffing" the coffee grounds. Got a few more tips!
It goes even finer! Making coffee with an ibrik (sometimes called Greek or Turkish coffee) is the consistency of powdered sugar. And different machines will have different tolerances for different kinda beans - this is just what works for me.
Hey bud. Nice video. Very informative. I need help. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. My puck it’s not in one piece. It’s actually so liquidy. I changed the grind setting, abit more corsé and also fine. And still same results
Sorry for the long delay! It sounds like your grinder isn't providing a consistent enough grind. If you go extra course, do you still have the issue? If the answer is yes, you may want to look into a new grinder. Double wall baskets (that come with the machine) may also be the culprit, as they have a single pinhole where the water comes out and that often requires pressure. Have you tried leaving the portafilter out to dry a bit? Ultimately if you're happy with the coffee, the puck doesn't matter. A single piece puck makes cleaning easier, but it's not a big deal if you like your espresso and you don't mind washing the portafilter more often
6:47 are you manually stopping the extraction? I've been using the default settings. is it worth messing around with the programming? Or should I try a manual shot?
I'd definitely recommend a manual shot. I like to press and hold (which starts low-pressure pre-infusion), then let go when I see espresso. Once it gets to my target weight, I press the button again and it halts the flow. I do manual shots because there's so much variation in espresso that the pre-programmed shots are no guarantee. And they're based on volume rather than weight.
Not yet! I do intend to sometime, but I want to modify my grinder a bit before I get a bottomless portafilter and non-pressurized basket. Breville seems to be having stock issues (as of this writing) with the non-pressurized baskets, so they're not as easy to come by right now. I figured I'd nail it with pressurized before I spend money on the new basket and naked portafilter.
@@rileydmcdonald Breville's site listed single wall basket, double shot, $6.36 right now. not sure for pressurized basket, it matter this much in your video. I switched to non-pressurized basket about 5 month ago, I can tell this, I will never use pressurized basket again, ever.
Update: I've been using an unpressurized basket for a while now and I changed my mind about this combo: the Encore just isn't quite consistent enough for consistently good shots. ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html
U need to compensate for the amount of weight that the spray bottle puts in your grind. Depending on how u spray the coffee, u could get any where from .2-.3 per spray. If youre measuring out after u grind if you spray the grinds, u may be getting overextracted coffee because you are putting less grinds compensating for the water that you put in.
@@rileydmcdonald espresso is very finicky. If you get frustrated with it, just remember its not always ur fault. Just pull another shot using rhe same settings and sometimes u will get a god shot. Espresso is wierd
Since making this video I've upgraded my burr to a Baratza M2 burr and it's more consistent and faster. I'd recommend it. I grind for espresso between 4 and 7 - it depends on the beans.
Sir, I think your approach towards homemade espresso makes perfect sense to me. What do you think about a Dedica and Baratza Virtuoso(older model without the LCD but with m2 burrs)? Let me know your thoughts. Much appreciated. Thank you.
Sorry for the delay and thanks for watching! I have no personal experience with the Virtuoso, but I've heard good things. The M2 burr is definitely a great one. And I've never used a Dedica, but based on some quick Googling, here's my advice: - Dial in your grinder for espresso and leave it there. It's going to be a lot of headaches if you're switching back and forth between brew methods (I have a video about this here: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html). I think the Virtuoso can probably be decent for espresso (decent, not amazing), but you'll need to make sure you're keeping it around the same grind setting for a bit before it can be as consistent as you'll need it. If you need to make other types of coffee, I solved my grinder problem (for now) by dedicating my Encore to espresso and buying a Timemore C2 for pourovers/French Press. - stick with medium to dark roasts with this machine. It likely won't get hot enough to do a proper extraction with light roasts and you'll more often than not end up with something sour. - play around with the double-walled basket for a while, but after you get pretty good with it (consistent), consider buying a single-walled basket. My next video (coming soon) is about the differences, and if you can get one for a good price, I'd say it's worth it.
Great video! Just got the Baratza Encore and my espresso shot is tiny and it kind of drips out. I don’t have this problem with professionally ground coffee. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching! I've got a few tips for you, but here's the simplest one: grind coarser. If you're struggling to get liquid out it means the coffee is too fine and it's clogging. I have decent luck between 6 and 10 on my Encore, but I've also upgraded the burr (video about that here: ua-cam.com/video/NbnRxM4ymDU/v-deo.html&lc=Ugwy9pCduIcwjCVgu8d4AaABAg). Are you weighing the grounds in and the liquid out? Are you timing it? Load about 18 grams of coffee into the portafilter and shoot for 36 g out. You ideally want it to be done in 30-35 seconds. Fiddle with your grind settings until you get in that ballpark. To be honest, overall I would say the Encore isn't ideal for espresso. Not impossible, mind you - just not ideal. I get decent results with it, but I've also stopped using it for anything else but espresso (keeping it within the same range seems to help). I use a hand grinder for anything other than espresso. A few other things to consider: - WDT is very key, especially with home grinders and especially with the Encore. Clumps are common and you want to break them up. - I got much better shots after I started using a distribution tool and a calibrated tamper (look on Amazon for 54mm distribution tool and 54mm calibrated tamper, I got ones from MATOW and I really like them) because it makes things more predictable. Controlling variables is important if you want to be consistent.
Great video! Tips on warm the cup before hand, spritz the beans and how to clean after brewing were much appreciated. Not sure why are you using that wooden slab on the weight scale when you have those transparent plastic casings still with you...haha. That espresso did not dispense equally from the spouts indicating channeling did occur. A bottomless portafilter should have had been used to detect. Questions on timing on Bambino > when do you really start the clock (if brewing manually)? Once you press and hold the button, it sounds like some seconds are lost as the machine heats up and brings the water to the head. Then there is the pre-infusion time; I assume 30 seconds of extract time should include the 8 sec pre infusion time, no? How long should it take if one starts the timer when first drop hits the cup. 22 secs? TIA
Good question! Everything I've read suggests you want the brew time to include pre-infusion, so it should be 30 seconds in total. But you're right - it does seem to take a while for the pump to start and water to flow. I'm usually happy with between 30-35 seconds.
I’m a newbie here and used to use the Nespresso Vertuo, which I always enjoyed the double shot. Got a Bambino, not the Plus. I don’t own a grinder yet as I’m afraid the machine is not that good. I got 2 ground coffees and my coffee tastes bitter and awful. Would a grinder help?
Nespresso is a whole different animal - they've done a lot of research and development and testing to make things consistent and easy. Unfortunately, home espresso isn't that simple, and it's way harder to get a taste you're going to like with pre-ground coffee (unless you've had it pre-ground at a cafe and you specifically told them it's for espresso - but even then it's a risk). I would say this: if you want to endlessly tinker, play with variables, and spend a lot of money on coffee accessories, then yeah get a grinder and use your Bambino. If that's what you want, budget another several hundred dollars for a grinder (the Baratza ESP, Varia VS3, or DF64 are all examples of the bare minimum you need to make a consistently decent espresso at home). Then budget $100-$200 more for a scale. If you're the type of person who just wants a good coffee with very little hassle - a "wake up and press a button" kind of person - stick with your Nespresso and return the Bambino. I make myself an espresso every morning and my routine has taken me years of experimenting, buying and 3D printing a bunch of tools, and searching for the perfect grinder. It takes me 10-15 minutes from the time I turn on my machine until I can sit down with my espresso, and even then I'll occasionally pull a shot I don't like. Home espresso is not for the faint of heart. And it's probably not a good idea to use pre-ground coffee in an espresso machine, especially if you're used to consistently good Nespresso. In short: if you want something as simple and consistent as a Nespresso, just stick with the Nespresso. If you want to upgrade to something easy, but without using pods, budget like $1,000 for a super fancy Breville that comes with a grinder.
@ thanks matr for the reply. I don't mind needing extra time to make my coffee. Here in AU the Baratza ESP is $277 and vs3 $479. I think I might get the Baratza with a scale and try a decent ground. Thanks again
At that grind setting on mine, that's be barely filter level fine. Did you move the calibration screw to the right hand side (inside the case) to calibrate it for fine?
Not sure, but if I had to guess I'd say maybe they need a good cleaning. Soaking them in Cafiza for a few minutes and then thoroughly rinsing might help. Have you tested the baskets with just water? Because if they're being clogged when you make espresso, it could be you're grinding too fine. Try running water through and see how it flows. If none of that works (grinding coarse, cleaning the basket), you can buy new baskets online directly from Breville. Third-party sellers also have some - I got my single-wall basket on Amazon. Hope that helps!
I just bought a bambino plus and mine always seemed to run a little slow, sometimes without any coffee coming out. I've increased grind size and managed to get about 35g of coffee out of 16g of grounds in 30 seconds but when I take the portafilter off the puck is mushy and quite wet, what am i doing wrong?
It's possible you're not doing anything wrong. What happens if you wait a bit before removing the portafilter? I'm talking like 10 seconds - enough time to stir the espresso and rinse off the spoon. Also, a little liquid in the portafilter might be normal in your machine if you're using a double-walled (pressurized) basket - I would think the small amount of water in there plus no more pressure from the machine may have the surface tension to prevent draining.
I meant double espresso, as in the larger basket. The Bambino Plus comes with two baskets and both are pressurized. I've since bought a single-walled basket with a naked portafilter and I'll have a video about that soon.
Here's my new video... and it's not as warm and optimistic about the capabilities of these two devices together. ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html I've made some good shots with it, but not consistently.
I just got a Breville Bambino and decided to try my Encore to grind espresso for it. Unfortunately, if I go any finer than about a 10, the grinder just spins but no beans drop into the burrs to grind. I've looked everywhere to find a fix, but still coming up short. Have tried wetting the beans, cleaned out the chute in the grinder with an allen wrench. The only things I haven't done yet are recalibrate the burr for a finer grind and order the M2 burrs that I have on my Virtuoso (which works for espresso grinding on my Bambino). Any help would be appreciated!
Hmm, that's annoying! I do find sometimes beans will popcorn around a bunch, but if you wait long enough they'll usually find their way down eventually. If you're impatient (like me) I find it's pretty effective to lift the front of the grinder up and bring it back down on the counter sharply a few times. You can also flap the lid a few times to get grinds out, like a makeshift bellows. Let me know if that works, and good luck!
@@rileydmcdonald Interesting you say that. With certain beans I do have to rock the grinder around to get beans to feed sometimes when I am grinding for pour-over. However, this didn't work for expresso grinding. The beans aren't even bouncing around. Just sitting there. I ended up buying the ispresso Jmax hand grinder since it has very fine adjustments for espresso. And I'll just keep using my Encore for pour-over only. Thanks!
Thanks for the impressive details you mentioned here, I’m just wondering if you calibrated your encore? I just got is as a gift and tried it, the results is terrible inconsistency, even in grind 0 which barely suite filter coffee with still large chunks that is way too coarse for filter (maybe good for french press but I don’t have one). So I’m thinking of calibration but I don’t know if it will help with the inconsistency.
I haven't calibrated mine, but it's been remarkably consistent for me! I use it for espresso, AeroPress, V60, and French Press brewing. There are many videos online showing how to calibrate these things, but before you take it apart and start toying with it, I'd contact Baratza directly. The rubber gasket in my Encore ripped about a year after I bought it - I emailed them and they sent me a new one for free! They really want you to be happy with your grinder, and they're very kind and responsive. When they sent me the gasket they even sent a video for the proper way to install it. TL;DR Contact Baratza and they'll almost certainly be able to help you.
Thanks for the compliment! What specific accessories are you looking at? I've had really good experiences with the accessories I bought, but I'd have a hard time saying you NEED all of them. Here's what I have: - American Weigh 2KG scale (definitely get a scale, it'll make everything to do with coffee easier) - a dosing funnel I 3D printed (not necessary, per se, but extremely handy) - bottomless portafilter with single-walled basket (maybe not a NEED, but it does make different, subtler coffee - my thoughts on that here: ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.html) - 54mm calibrated tamper (this is great because it ensures the same pressure every time, but it's also WAY more comfortable to use than the one Breville gives you) - 53mm distribution tool (helps consistency and ensures a flat bed to tamp every time). I had a 3D printed one in this video, but I ended up buying a metal one and it's way better. Of those, I'd say if you don't want to buy the entire kit, go for the scale, the distribution tool, and maybe the funnel. The tamper is nice, but not critical; the single-walled basket is neat, but can be a pain. I'd definitely recommend a scale though. If you don't buy any of the other things, get yourself a good scale. American Weigh ones aren't pretty, but they work great, they're fast, and they have a lifetime warranty.
Loved the video, thank you for sharing! I've got a question for you -- is there a particular reason you went for the Bambino Plus over the regular Bambino?
Good question! First and foremost, to be honest I wasn't even aware there was a regular Bambino until after I'd already bought mine. But I still likely would've picked the Plus because of the auto-steaming feature, I think.
I have the same setup, just got my bambino today. When I grind on 8/9 the water doesn’t go through (or hardly), but when it’s on 10 it’s under extracted. Do you know what i might be doing wrong?
@@jordanfrancis129 Yeah, I've started pressing the 1-cup/2-cup button for 7-8 seconds before releasing it, which seems to increase the water pressure. I also switched to using pre-ground espresso coffee, so I'm not sure how it would work with the Baratza Encore grinder, but it might be worth trying.
Yep! The distributor spreads the coffee around, but the razor can take some of it out (which is no good). It can be a bit messy too. I have it sitting in a drawer.
I know you can buy dosing funnels for lots of types of portafilters, but I've never looked for ones specifically for the Bambino. You'd need a 53mm one - I bet Amazon has them, but I've never looked. Mine has been very handy, but I'm thinking of maybe redesigning it so it sits flush with the basket rather than inside it. I don't want to create a gap between the grounds and the wall of the dosing funnel, so I may need to re-work this one a bit.
Not a dumb question! I was pressing the two-cup button. If you press and hold either button, you can actually choose when to stop. The preprogrammed amount of water coming out is often not enough or too much.
Hey thanks for sharing this - I just got a Breville Bambino Plus and am currently using the Baratza Encore as a grinder (originally bought for pourover) so it's great to see examples of how to use them together! What scale are you using - could you share the link?
Glad to hear I could help! The scale I'm using is an American Weigh Scales 2KG model. I bought mine from Eight Ounce Coffee in Canada (sadly they're sold out as of this writing): eightouncecoffee.ca/collections/american-weigh-scales/products/american-weigh-2kg-scale
Weight of the grounds matters more than grind time, and some grinders will grind by time so it's easier to replicate a shot over and over again. But the ambient moisture, humidity, and even when the beans were roasted can affect an espresso shot, so you may need to adjust grind as the beans age and weather changes. That's why using a scale every time is just kinda easier. Professional baristas use time-based grinding, but that's also because they're often dialing in a perfect shot at the beginning of every day
You can press and hold whatever button you want. I was using the double in this video, but I often use the single. If you press and hold, you'll start pre-infusion. When you let go, it goes full pressure (or it sometimes starts full pressure after 15 seconds or so), and then you just need to press it again to stop the water.
Sounds like you need to grind finer and maybe pay more attention to distribution. Fluffing up and declumping your grounds is super important, and I found the needle distribution tools to be very helpful.
As soon as I hit the button. So I'm including the time it takes for the water to get to the coffee, then low-pressure pre-infusion, then the high pressure pumping.
I don't think it matters too much! My reasoning for using the single is because of its capacity. Backflushing works by re-distributing excess water through the machine, and I thought since the single is so small it would take less water to fill up and then flush back. I could be way off about that, and anything will work!
When I made this video I was using the double-wall basket that came with the machine. I upgraded and I'm now using a single-wall basket from Matow I got on Amazon. My new process is in this video: ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.html
@@rileydmcdonald thank you for the response... i thought it was the OEM double wall.. pressurized (friendly espresso for beginners) that is the same one i am using... Question.. how are/were you getting such a dry puck.. i am getting watery wet pucks that are soup.. did you do something to get it to be dry? in the pressureized double wall basket? i will watch your new process soon
Are you timing and weighing your shots? If they're taking more than 35 seconds and the puck is wet, you may be grinding too fine. Try grinding more coarse and see if that helps. My video will give you an idea of what to shoot for in terms of weight and time.
@@rileydmcdonald yes i have a scale i use- i put in 17 grams.. and i try to pull a shot in 23 seconds because i like the more concentrated.. but i have tried a pull at 35 seconds and it was too weak of flavor.. my grinder is the breville smart pro grinder.. currently have it set at 10 seconds grind, 1 shot and size at 9... had it at 7 and it was almost too fine.. thanks for your help in this... love having the bambino and a smart grinder.. in my first week of pulling shots.. and will learn and grow with it..
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I've never tried it, but I won't. The tamper is designed to go right to the edge of the portafilter (the snug fit is important) and the dosing funnel I printed sits inside the portafilter. It wouldn't fit, and if it did fit, the tamper would probably break the funnel. I'm tempted to design a different one that uses magnets to hang on the outside though...
Thanks very much and thanks for watching! Glad I could help. When I shot this video, no I hadn't. Since then, I've modified my technique a little (and my gear) and upgraded the Encore to an M2 burr. I find I have best results making any espresso with the Bambino if I keep the Encore as a dedicated espresso grinder, so that's what I'm doing. Now I make pourovers and French Press using a Timemore Chestnut C2, and I make espresso just with the Encore. Here's a video where I talk about my newest process: ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.html
@@rileydmcdonaldis it possible to do espresso with the timemore chestnut 2? I just got a bambino plus and timemore c2 mistakenly thinking I could make an espresso
@@FreeHat_ you probably can, but you're going to hate it. I ground for espresso once or twice with my Chestnut C2 and it took FOREVER to grind that fine. Unless you hook it up to a drill, it's a miserable way to grind that fine. I'd recommend the Varia VS3 for a do-it-all grinder - I'll have a video for that sometime!
@ does that include the updated one with all stainless steel? Did yours have an espresso click recommendation on it as well? I’m wondering if the new ones can
Mine is aluminum for most of it and the burr holders are plastic. It does have a setting for espresso, but like I said: miserable and slow. It's possible you may have better luck if they have an espresso-specific burr set or something, but it seems like the general consensus no matter the hand grinder is that espresso takes a long time and is better done with an electric
Your puck issues could be tamping or grind size or the basket itself if it's not a smooth basket. Could also be distribution or clumping. Preventing channeling is part of it. You don't believe you're getting 30g? Have you weighed it? You can't know until you weigh it. If you weigh it and you're not getting enough yield, you just need to put more water in. There are so many variables in espresso it's hard to say exactly what your problem is. Definitely get a scale if you don't have one!
There's a short answer and a long answer for that. The short answer is yes, it's upgraded, and no, the Encore isn't great for espresso (especially single-wall baskets, and I have a video about that here: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html) The long answer is, I've put an M2 burr into the Encore - which helps - but I've also made my Encore my designated espresso grinder. I use a Timemore Chestnut C2 hand grinder for pourover and French Press now, which alleviates some of my inconsistency problems. I make pretty decent espresso with the Encore, but it's not perfect (and not perfectly consistent). If you're on a budget, you don't mind some tinkering, and you can stand the idea of designating the Encore as your espresso grinder, it works okay. If not, spring for a more high-end option that'll do espresso better.
Some libraries have 3D printers available, and you can sometimes find an enthusiast or a cheap service that'll print stuff for you. I can provide links to my design files if you like - that way you can send them to a printer?
Thanks for this video -- I have a Bambino Plus and I'm looking to upgrade the espresso that I get from it. One question I'm curious about is basket removal. I, too, generally stick with the 2 shot basket as well, but I find when I need to remove the basket it's very challenging and often requires coaxing with a butter knife. Do you find this is the case with your unit? Do I just lack the technique?
Very unfortunate problem! And yes, it's happened to me before. There are two things I might suggest to try and remove it. 1) Jiggle the portafilter on the group head. This is what I do when my baskets get stuck (and for what it's worth, generally only my 1-cup basket gets stuck, and only when I'm using it to backflush the machine). Unlock the portafilter, but keep it pressed against the group head. While still pushing, angle it up, down, and side to side. Sometimes it'll take a couple of tries, but I generally have good luck with this. I don't know the exact reason why it sticks, but I suspect it's a slight vacuum - in theory, angling it like this should allow a little air in to one side and help release the vacuum. 2) Run some more water through it. As per James Hoffmann (here: ua-cam.com/video/8Y-EYGSOU7I/v-deo.html), pucks will release better from the basket if you run a little more water through them. Obviously in that video he's specifically talking about pucks releasing from the basket, not the basket from the group head, but I think the same principle may apply. I hope that helps! I'll be curious to see if these work for you, so definitely keep me posted!
Thank you! I've upgraded quite a bit since this video, actually. Check out some of my other videos (like the bottomless vs double-wall one) to see how I do it now.
@@rileydmcdonald nice nice! looking forward to it - planning to get this machine but I gotta get a better grinder for it if I switch out the portafilter. Thanks!
I spent a whole 1kg of beans with my $800 grinder on this bambino plus and an unpressurized filter basket - could not get anything decent out of the bambino because the temp of the water just wasn’t high enough through a non pressurized basket. Even pre-heated everything, ran empty shots thru the group handle to heat it up before I made it…just didn’t cut it. Called breville and they said you cannot adjust the temp and that they are not designed to work with non-pressurized baskets. I tried every variable, customized the timings for the shot etc but only got sour coffee …too hard to get a decent coffee out of these things compared to my ECM Teknika which is far more forgiving and gives me great coffee every time.
@@itssugarfree The reason why I returned my bambino plus and got a Gaggia Classic pro...It’s so much better than the bambino. Better shots, get hotter, and feels heavy duty compared to the plastic breville.
I have an unpressurized basket and I like it just fine! Having said that, I tend to prefer medium to dark roasts in my espresso, and that's not what this machine will excel at. You're right, the temp doesn't go very high - but that's not as much of a problem if you're using dark or medium roast (you can watch my vid discussing that here: ua-cam.com/video/DPG_BEk2VWA/v-deo.html). I may change my tune on this someday, and at that point maybe I'll consider a different machine. But for now I'm happy. I've had decent luck dialing in shots by adjusting grind size (obviously), but if I can't get it quite right with grind, I'll mess with 0.1g of dose at a time until I can get timing right. So if it's still pulling too fast or too slow, I just add or subtract 0.1g of grounds at a time until I get the flow right. Also, especially if the coffee is on the lighter side, I play with ratios when I end up with sour espresso (assuming I've tried all other avenues and the extraction looks and times right). A little more water in the lighter roasts seems to do the trick, at least to my tastebuds - I like a 1:3 or sometimes even 1:4 on some coffees. Texture isn't as good but at least it isn't like drinking lemon juice. I'll have a video coming out soon about how I make espresso with a naked portafilter and single-walled basket, so watch out for that if you want a current-day rundown. I don't have any other machines to compare it to, so I don't doubt your ECM Tenika probably makes things easier. But I'm stubborn - and I spent a decent amount of money on this thing - so I want to try and exhaust ALL my options before I consider something else.
It might be! Though to be honest, I think I might re-design this so it sits on the outside of the portafilter and just barely goes inside it. It's kind of annoying having a gap between the ground coffee and the wall of the basket after I pull the dosing funnel out. An Aeropress filter would be even worse for that since (if it fit) it would likely go all the way to the bottom of the basket.
@@rileydmcdonald Yep, I get it now. My previous comment was before I'd received by Bambino. Now that I have it, see what you mean. Aeropress funnel doesn't work unless you kinda strategically hold it hovering at the top of the portafilter. Anyway, I broke down and just bought the proper metal funnel. It's great.
Great video, just a question. Have you done the stepless mod on Encore or any other mods? It seems to me your grinder setting would result in a very coarse grind.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! No mods yet, but I have an M2 burr in the mail and I'll make a video about the modding process when I do. I'm going to make it stepless when I put the new burr in. You're right, setting this at a 6 seems like a lot, but with this particular coffee (Cafe Dante by Colosimo Coffee Roasters) between 5 and 6 is perfect. Anything less and the machine chokes. I've tried it with a few other beans and it obviously varies, but I have decent luck between 3 and 6 with almost everything. I'm looking into getting a single-walled filter and bottomless portafilter in the coming months - we'll see how it goes with those - but for the current setup, this works surprisingly well.
Unfortunately yes. For months I've been eyeing a Breville single-wall filter, but Breville Canada has been out of stock for nearly a year. Shipping from the US with currency conversion has proved to be quite expensive, and most aftermarket baskets seem to come with handles and are around $80-$100 CAD. Soon, though. Soon I'll bite the bullet and buy a naked portafilter with a single-wall basket.
@@rileydmcdonald got mine off Amazon- Walmart i think carries them to- you can get hem without the portafilter - i think i paid around $30 for mine=- and ISM basket- they have VCT or something like that too-
Update: I've been using one for two and a half months and I'm no longer confident the Baratza Encore can make good espresso consistently: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html You can do it sometimes, but not enough to justify its use for espresso on a regular basis.
@@rileydmcdonald i broke down and bought the sette 270- it ground it plenty fine enough, and had microadjustments- but got money back for it when my brand new gaggia classic broke (pump went on it) just 3 weeks later- I never did get good espresso shots- even with hte Sette- I got closer with a Cafalet Robot, but still couldn't draw a good shot- (Now i was using decaf beans with low acid- so maybe that was the problem, but with the gaggia- it would just go through too fast- the robot i coudl control the time easily, but still the shots were either way too bitter or sour- couldn't find the sweet spot-
Do you actually think three or four or five beans, one way or the other truly affects the taste. I never measure the weight, add frothed milk and sugar, and it all tastes good to me.
I try to keep it as consistent as possible so I enjoy it the same every time, and I never put milk and sugar in my coffee. But to each their own! The only thing that matters making coffee is that you enjoy it - and I enjoy the ritual and consistency. 😊
Great question! I should be thinking about that more - I don't. I no longer use a 3d printed distribution tool, but I still use the funnel. I would think - perhaps incorrectly, I'm not sure - the coffee is touching it for so little time, under no heat and with no liquid, that any potential leeching into the grounds would be very minimal. But that's a good call, I should definitely think more about that. My dad printed these for me, so I'll ask him what he's using for filament and what the recommendations are. I do know some 3d printing filament is labeled as food safe specifically, and I think my dad has some, but I'm not 100% sure on these parts. Thank you!
Great video, this is my set up at home and I’m still working out the grind size so seeing it here was helpful to figure out the consistency. Did you modify the baratza here at all or this is out of box?
Thank you! Yes, this video is pre-modification. I made a video about the mod process too, though right now I can't say 100% that out of the box isn't better than modded. I have some more playing around to do, but I'll post an update video about more time with the modded grinder. Happy I could help in any case! Enjoy your espresso :)
I'm not sure it makes much of a difference aside from ensuring grinds are in the right place, especially with low-quality or badly fitting tampers. But I could be wrong on that.
If you drink coffee before you go to work, performing your daily ritual as above will make you late for work unless you wake up at 1/2 hr before leaving the front door.
It's definitely not ideal. Since making this video I bought a Timemore C2 for pourovers, so I've dedicated my encore solely to espresso. Since I don't change grind settings too much anymore, I'm finding it's a lot easier to be consistent now. Would still love a Niche someday though...
Yes and no! I'd probably get a more snug fit with a 3D printed one, but the plastic tends to get very static-heavy and grinds stick to it. Plus I'd want it to be heavier, so I'd have to put weights in it. I have a calibrated tamper with a spring in it I bought on Amazon and it works great. Worth the money!
Yep that's what I meant! Honestly the time is mostly a guideline - I've had really good espresso shots from my Bambino that were 40-45 seconds. As long as you like the taste and it's consistent, that's what matters!
Expensive grinders CAN be worth it, but it depends - like any hobby - on your level of experience, I think. I've definitely got my eyes on upgrade grinders, but I plan on waiting a while before pulling the trigger.
Great video though mate 👍 I’m looking at getting that machine but just want to chuck coffee in go, froth some milk and that’s it 🤣. Do you recommend the Bambino? My Amodo Mio pod machine has been awesome but coffee pods are costing me a fortune and thought this machine will save me some money in the long run. Just Subscribed cheers from Australia
If you want to chuck coffee in and go this will probably do the trick, yeah. You can take espresso to extremes but there are some features on the Bambino that are excellent for beginners and people who just want ease of use. Good for you for abandoning pods!
How could you go through all of that process and NOT have your group handle heated up before making your coffee? I found these bambino machines can’t do decent coffees because they just don’t get enough heat through the group handle. You can only use the pressurized filter baskets with them. So I think if you are going to be so careful about making your coffee, do yourself a favor and get a decent machine.
Hey there - I responded to one of your previous comments and basically answered this question before I saw you'd commented again. Rather than copying and pasting that answer, I'll just say "I'm fine with this machine, at least for now," and if you want to get into the meat of why, see my other comment :P Thanks for watching!
It's definitely an involved process, but some people (like me) are comforted by the routine. Obviously a lot of people don't want to do this much fiddling to get their coffee in the morning, but for some of us, it's worth the hassle and you get used to it
I've measured the temperature out of the grouphead at about 89C, so it's not as high as you might think. I'd say it's actually better suited for dark roasts than light - I have a video about that here: ua-cam.com/video/DPG_BEk2VWA/v-deo.html
"I never ever fuck with single". This is the best part so far.
I came to the comments to check if anyone else heard that 🤣
Finally, someone using an Encore for espresso. Looks like it works really well!
I've seen some Reddit comments about them being okay for espresso with some adjustments, so I figured I'd give it a shot. As much as I'd love a Vario, I don't have that kind of cash to spend - especially since it's so espresso-focused and I drink more than one type of coffee. This grinder gets fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for French Press, which is perfect for my drinking habits.
I do intend on modifying it a bit (you can buy an upgrade burr for it and remove the clicker so it's stepless) but I'm holding out on that for now.
Would a video about the Encore modification be helpful?
@@rileydmcdonald Yes, please.
I am also using an Encore and an entry-level Breville espresso machine. My espresso contains sour notes, likely due to the grinds not being fine enough.
1. Do you not taste the sour notes with your espresso?
2. I noticed that the water flowed unevenly through the spouts. One had more water flowing through it than the other. Is that to do with an uneven grind/ distribution of grinds in the puck?
3. How long did your extraction take? I tried to time it and it was around 20ish seconds? Haha. Would you say that the extraction was too short, and if so, is that attributable to the limitations of the Encore (E.g. Grinds are not fine enough)?
@@Isaacying Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely film the upgrade process. As for your questions:
1. I have tasted sour notes in espresso before, but that's really only when I use lighter roasts. Dark roast is extremely forgiving for espresso (which is what I'm using here), even if you're using a basic machine. James Hoffmann has a great video called "How to "hack" sour espresso," and the methods for fixing it are finer grind, more water (i.e. changed ratio, like 1:3 or 1:4), and changing water temperature. I can only change two of those three (no temp control on my machine), but I find varying degrees of success with it.
The Reddit coffee community (r/Coffee) seems to agree with the dark vs. light roast thing - it's a lot easier to get sour espresso with light or medium than dark. Try Hoffmann's hacks and see if that helps, but it's also possible with your grinder and machine you might not be able to get light roast espresso that isn't sour.
2. I'm not sure why the uneven pour happens, but it could just be some fluid dynamics I don't understand. It happens to me a lot, but it seems to always be the left side gets more liquid than the right. It's possible the extraction is uneven, but I'm using a pressurized basket, which means all the espresso comes out one hole in the basket and finds its own way into the spouts. Could be because the water is flowing unevenly, but it could also be something as simple as the machine being slightly leaning one way on my countertop (which would cause it to favour one side over the other). I won't know for sure how even these extractions are until I get a single-walled, non-pressurized basket (I'll also make a video about this, but it won't be for a while).
3. There are varying opinions how to count extraction time, but based on my digging and sifting through r/Coffee posts, I've decided to count my extraction time from the moment I press the button on the machine (which includes pre-infusion) to the moment I hit my target weight. In total, from button press to finished espresso, it was 28 seconds. You can't see my finger pressing the button in the shot, but you can tell it's started by the noise the machine makes.
I don't think it was too short, but yes, finer grinds would help with that.
Hey @Isaac - finally got around to upgrading my grinder and made a video about it here: ua-cam.com/video/NbnRxM4ymDU/v-deo.html
Hey@@rileydmcdonald. I watched the video. I'll find the time to try what you did. 🙂
I know the video is a couple years old but it's nice to see the whole process. I just bought this same setup and knowing I will need to constantly be aware of grind size changes as temperature and humidity affect my coffee beans is good to note. This is my first introduction to espresso and I only had an aeropress, no scale or nothing so it's all brand new to me but I am excited to learn how to make a real proper espresso and enjoy it instead of just having it to have it. I like the morning process before getting the day started. I spend half an hour outside with my cat every day so it's been great for the health and it's something other than water in the morning haha 😆 I get a 3.7 liters of water in a day anyway I can have the one coffee lol
I use the exact same setup too, and couldn't agree more about the grind size. Breville says you should start at an 8 for espresso, but I've found that all of my 8s channel like crazy, so 6 is where I hover now! You can double check how well your shots are actually pulling by using a bottomless portafilter, but it gets messy if you get the grind size wrong haha. Some trial and error there :P
@@jessactor Oooh, I see! That helps a ton :D I been fiddling it with a few weeks now and sometimes I get a decent shot other times it's wildly off like I have yet to get a shot I can drink or sip normally lol I just bought a portafilter :D I am waiting for it to come in. I will try a 6, that will probably be a lot better :) thank you! Definitely trial and error haha :P
👍 I like you explain the "whys" with the background info and use the vocbulary for folks to do more research. Very detailed and informative. Unique compared to 90% of the rest on UA-cam... James Hoffmann of course is top, but you are right there due to the answers of the "whys". 💯
Thank you so much! I'm glad I could help.
One of the most helpful videos I’ve come across while trying to learn. Thank you so much! 😊
Happy I could help! Thanks for watching :)
Same. I just got the Bambino Plus and this was extremely helpful.
Great detailing...
Specific focus on weighing
Cleaning...reminds all neophytes that coffee drinking is , always has been an art to be learned and personally enjoyed.
Not until you develop. Learn etc. Will you fully appreciate and enjoy something so good as properly made coffee
Or expresso.
Many families all over the world look forward to this
Special treat every day
Traditionally.
Thank you for you
Sharing
I sure wish they didn't have that plastic in the stock portafilter. My first move was to by a bottomless with a nice stainless steel basket. Nice video, Riley.
Thanks Stan! And thanks for watching :)
@@rileydmcdonald should have mentioned that water spritz static killer is brilliant!
You can push out that plastic insert with a philips screwdriver which is what I did.
I love the capacity! I’m not worry again with it! Thank you Excelent product
I did the default grind modification on the Encore as well as the M2 burr upgrade and it does great with espresso grind. In fact, if I go finer than 7 with the mods, it will stall my Breville Infuser…so for sure, don’t let anyone tell you that the Encore can’t do espresso.
Don't know how I'm just now seeing this, but yeah it can do espresso! The tricky thing is if you want to do more than just espresso. I recently got a Varia VS3 (I'll have a video about it eventually) and it's a lot more consistent with my espresso, but I can ALSO use it for filter coffee. If I was doing this all over again (and if the VS3 was even out when I started this journey) I would skip the Encore and go straight to the VS3. At this point in my home espresso/coffee journey, I think the only reason I'd use an Encore again is if I needed to grind a lot of coffee at once. A single-dose grinder makes it a serious pain to grind more than 30 grams lol
"I will drink it in just one second"
I nearly did not get accepted by my Italian in laws for saying that about espresso :)
Great video!
Thank you! I hope your in-laws forgave you eventually haha
Just got this machine as a wedding gift and I've been enjoying learning with it. I actually bought the Baratza Encore years ago when I started experimenting with espresso/moka pot coffee, so I'm glad to see someone else using it. I was running an 8 grind previously but might try out a 6 and see how that goes.
One question I have is whether to use the dual wall or single wall basket (both in double shot size). What is your preference?
Good question! This video came out quite a while ago and my setup has changed pretty dramatically since then. I still have a Bambino Plus, but I'm using a Varia VS3 now instead of an Encore. And unless you have an Encore ESP, I wouldn't recommend using it with a single basket (and even then maybe not because of retention).
I have a video about the Encore's shortfalls for single-wall here: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.htmlsi=pit9h9zcNiy_7UXu
And I also have a video about single wall vs double wall. Bear in mind it's just my personal preference, but I did a blind taste test and found I preferred single. ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.htmlsi=H1oK197AZQWsk2Cd
I probably could've stuck with the Encore if I only made espresso, but I vary the type of coffee I make too much for that to be practical. I've been using the VS3 for over a year and a half now and I wouldn't go back to the Encore even if you paid me.
I was afraid it would look cheap but the Breville Bambino Plus in black truffle looks so good in my counter.
I never fuck with single either 😆
Thank you for the video🙏. I bought my Bambino Plus on discount for 285$ last week. Have been watching videos on it to see what others use for set up for reference to try. I do have “Sage dose control pro” grinder instead. But I first time hear that extraction of dark roast is easier than light roast 👍
Bambino plus for 285 ? No way
@@ravirajanaidu12 well I f up on grinder so :/
Really good video for entry-level gear.
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
By my count of the time bar, if I start counting when the pump starts at 6:17 and you stopped the machine at 6:37, so that would be about 20 seconds including pre-infusion. I would expect that should have been closer to 25-30 seconds. BTW, I also have a Bambino Plus, but the Breville Smart Grinder. From what I'm seeing in your video, I may try to adjust my grind setting to be a bit finer, I'm only getting about 15g of coffee to compress into the double shot basket.
Thanks for the video, I just but the bambino plus and a similar grinder. I don't think your needle tool use should describe "fluffing" the coffee grounds. Got a few more tips!
Today I learned what finely ground coffee actually looks like. And that my grinder is bad.
It goes even finer! Making coffee with an ibrik (sometimes called Greek or Turkish coffee) is the consistency of powdered sugar. And different machines will have different tolerances for different kinda beans - this is just what works for me.
@@rileydmcdonald that's wild.
Gosh, I love the way you make do with whatever you have. 😃
Thank you!
Hey bud. Nice video. Very informative. I need help. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. My puck it’s not in one piece. It’s actually so liquidy. I changed the grind setting, abit more corsé and also fine. And still same results
Same here
Sorry for the long delay! It sounds like your grinder isn't providing a consistent enough grind. If you go extra course, do you still have the issue? If the answer is yes, you may want to look into a new grinder.
Double wall baskets (that come with the machine) may also be the culprit, as they have a single pinhole where the water comes out and that often requires pressure. Have you tried leaving the portafilter out to dry a bit?
Ultimately if you're happy with the coffee, the puck doesn't matter. A single piece puck makes cleaning easier, but it's not a big deal if you like your espresso and you don't mind washing the portafilter more often
6:47 are you manually stopping the extraction? I've been using the default settings. is it worth messing around with the programming? Or should I try a manual shot?
I'd definitely recommend a manual shot. I like to press and hold (which starts low-pressure pre-infusion), then let go when I see espresso. Once it gets to my target weight, I press the button again and it halts the flow.
I do manual shots because there's so much variation in espresso that the pre-programmed shots are no guarantee. And they're based on volume rather than weight.
Have you tried pulling a shot with a non pressurized basket?
Not yet! I do intend to sometime, but I want to modify my grinder a bit before I get a bottomless portafilter and non-pressurized basket.
Breville seems to be having stock issues (as of this writing) with the non-pressurized baskets, so they're not as easy to come by right now. I figured I'd nail it with pressurized before I spend money on the new basket and naked portafilter.
@@rileydmcdonald Breville's site listed single wall basket, double shot, $6.36 right now. not sure for pressurized basket, it matter this much in your video. I switched to non-pressurized basket about 5 month ago, I can tell this, I will never use pressurized basket again, ever.
Update: I've been using an unpressurized basket for a while now and I changed my mind about this combo: the Encore just isn't quite consistent enough for consistently good shots. ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html
Really good video. Learned a lot from this!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching :)
U need to compensate for the amount of weight that the spray bottle puts in your grind. Depending on how u spray the coffee, u could get any where from .2-.3 per spray. If youre measuring out after u grind if you spray the grinds, u may be getting overextracted coffee because you are putting less grinds compensating for the water that you put in.
That's a great tip! Thank you, I will start doing that.
@@rileydmcdonald espresso is very finicky. If you get frustrated with it, just remember its not always ur fault. Just pull another shot using rhe same settings and sometimes u will get a god shot. Espresso is wierd
hi, good video what's the settings in the grinder what's size?..thank you
Since making this video I've upgraded my burr to a Baratza M2 burr and it's more consistent and faster. I'd recommend it.
I grind for espresso between 4 and 7 - it depends on the beans.
Sir, I think your approach towards homemade espresso makes perfect sense to me. What do you think about a Dedica and Baratza Virtuoso(older model without the LCD but with m2 burrs)? Let me know your thoughts. Much appreciated. Thank you.
Sorry for the delay and thanks for watching! I have no personal experience with the Virtuoso, but I've heard good things. The M2 burr is definitely a great one. And I've never used a Dedica, but based on some quick Googling, here's my advice:
- Dial in your grinder for espresso and leave it there. It's going to be a lot of headaches if you're switching back and forth between brew methods (I have a video about this here: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html). I think the Virtuoso can probably be decent for espresso (decent, not amazing), but you'll need to make sure you're keeping it around the same grind setting for a bit before it can be as consistent as you'll need it. If you need to make other types of coffee, I solved my grinder problem (for now) by dedicating my Encore to espresso and buying a Timemore C2 for pourovers/French Press.
- stick with medium to dark roasts with this machine. It likely won't get hot enough to do a proper extraction with light roasts and you'll more often than not end up with something sour.
- play around with the double-walled basket for a while, but after you get pretty good with it (consistent), consider buying a single-walled basket. My next video (coming soon) is about the differences, and if you can get one for a good price, I'd say it's worth it.
Great video! Just got the Baratza Encore and my espresso shot is tiny and it kind of drips out. I don’t have this problem with professionally ground coffee. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching! I've got a few tips for you, but here's the simplest one: grind coarser. If you're struggling to get liquid out it means the coffee is too fine and it's clogging.
I have decent luck between 6 and 10 on my Encore, but I've also upgraded the burr (video about that here: ua-cam.com/video/NbnRxM4ymDU/v-deo.html&lc=Ugwy9pCduIcwjCVgu8d4AaABAg). Are you weighing the grounds in and the liquid out? Are you timing it? Load about 18 grams of coffee into the portafilter and shoot for 36 g out. You ideally want it to be done in 30-35 seconds. Fiddle with your grind settings until you get in that ballpark.
To be honest, overall I would say the Encore isn't ideal for espresso. Not impossible, mind you - just not ideal. I get decent results with it, but I've also stopped using it for anything else but espresso (keeping it within the same range seems to help). I use a hand grinder for anything other than espresso.
A few other things to consider:
- WDT is very key, especially with home grinders and especially with the Encore. Clumps are common and you want to break them up.
- I got much better shots after I started using a distribution tool and a calibrated tamper (look on Amazon for 54mm distribution tool and 54mm calibrated tamper, I got ones from MATOW and I really like them) because it makes things more predictable. Controlling variables is important if you want to be consistent.
Great video! Tips on warm the cup before hand, spritz the beans and how to clean after brewing were much appreciated. Not sure why are you using that wooden slab on the weight scale when you have those transparent plastic casings still with you...haha. That espresso did not dispense equally from the spouts indicating channeling did occur. A bottomless portafilter should have had been used to detect.
Questions on timing on Bambino > when do you really start the clock (if brewing manually)? Once you press and hold the button, it sounds like some seconds are lost as the machine heats up and brings the water to the head. Then there is the pre-infusion time; I assume 30 seconds of extract time should include the 8 sec pre infusion time, no? How long should it take if one starts the timer when first drop hits the cup. 22 secs? TIA
Good question! Everything I've read suggests you want the brew time to include pre-infusion, so it should be 30 seconds in total. But you're right - it does seem to take a while for the pump to start and water to flow. I'm usually happy with between 30-35 seconds.
I’m a newbie here and used to use the Nespresso Vertuo, which I always enjoyed the double shot. Got a Bambino, not the Plus. I don’t own a grinder yet as I’m afraid the machine is not that good. I got 2 ground coffees and my coffee tastes bitter and awful. Would a grinder help?
Nespresso is a whole different animal - they've done a lot of research and development and testing to make things consistent and easy. Unfortunately, home espresso isn't that simple, and it's way harder to get a taste you're going to like with pre-ground coffee (unless you've had it pre-ground at a cafe and you specifically told them it's for espresso - but even then it's a risk).
I would say this: if you want to endlessly tinker, play with variables, and spend a lot of money on coffee accessories, then yeah get a grinder and use your Bambino. If that's what you want, budget another several hundred dollars for a grinder (the Baratza ESP, Varia VS3, or DF64 are all examples of the bare minimum you need to make a consistently decent espresso at home). Then budget $100-$200 more for a scale.
If you're the type of person who just wants a good coffee with very little hassle - a "wake up and press a button" kind of person - stick with your Nespresso and return the Bambino. I make myself an espresso every morning and my routine has taken me years of experimenting, buying and 3D printing a bunch of tools, and searching for the perfect grinder. It takes me 10-15 minutes from the time I turn on my machine until I can sit down with my espresso, and even then I'll occasionally pull a shot I don't like. Home espresso is not for the faint of heart. And it's probably not a good idea to use pre-ground coffee in an espresso machine, especially if you're used to consistently good Nespresso.
In short: if you want something as simple and consistent as a Nespresso, just stick with the Nespresso. If you want to upgrade to something easy, but without using pods, budget like $1,000 for a super fancy Breville that comes with a grinder.
@ thanks matr for the reply. I don't mind needing extra time to make my coffee. Here in AU the Baratza ESP is $277 and vs3 $479. I think I might get the Baratza with a scale and try a decent ground. Thanks again
Update. Got the vs3. Waiting to arrive
Great choice! That's what I have (had it for a year and a half now) and I love it. Some quirks - it's not perfect - but I love it anyway.
At that grind setting on mine, that's be barely filter level fine. Did you move the calibration screw to the right hand side (inside the case) to calibrate it for fine?
Nope! Mine worked like that out of the box.
Do you have the 3D printing info to replicate the tools you made?
Hi, I just got my bambino plus but it is used. Do you know any reason that the 2 wall baskets may not let enough water through or how to change it?
Not sure, but if I had to guess I'd say maybe they need a good cleaning. Soaking them in Cafiza for a few minutes and then thoroughly rinsing might help. Have you tested the baskets with just water? Because if they're being clogged when you make espresso, it could be you're grinding too fine. Try running water through and see how it flows.
If none of that works (grinding coarse, cleaning the basket), you can buy new baskets online directly from Breville. Third-party sellers also have some - I got my single-wall basket on Amazon.
Hope that helps!
My God! I feel like such a failure!!
Where did I put that hemlock?
I just bought a bambino plus and mine always seemed to run a little slow, sometimes without any coffee coming out. I've increased grind size and managed to get about 35g of coffee out of 16g of grounds in 30 seconds but when I take the portafilter off the puck is mushy and quite wet, what am i doing wrong?
It's possible you're not doing anything wrong. What happens if you wait a bit before removing the portafilter? I'm talking like 10 seconds - enough time to stir the espresso and rinse off the spoon.
Also, a little liquid in the portafilter might be normal in your machine if you're using a double-walled (pressurized) basket - I would think the small amount of water in there plus no more pressure from the machine may have the surface tension to prevent draining.
How is the glass jar registering as zero on the scale? Such sorcery
That's what the "tare" button is for! It zeroes the scale for you. Put whatever you want on it, press the tare button, and you're back to zero!
Great explanation. Thank you
No prob! Thanks for watching :)
at 1:40 that you only use Double. Does this mean you use pressurized basket (dual wall)? Did you mean single wall (non pressurized) instead?
I meant double espresso, as in the larger basket. The Bambino Plus comes with two baskets and both are pressurized. I've since bought a single-walled basket with a naked portafilter and I'll have a video about that soon.
@@rileydmcdonald gotcha, thanks!
My pleasure!
Here's my new video... and it's not as warm and optimistic about the capabilities of these two devices together. ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html
I've made some good shots with it, but not consistently.
The portafilter on the bambino - is it steel or aluminium? Thanks
I believe it's aluminum but I'm not 100% sure. Based on the weight and characteristics alone though I think it's likely aluminum.
I just got a Breville Bambino and decided to try my Encore to grind espresso for it. Unfortunately, if I go any finer than about a 10, the grinder just spins but no beans drop into the burrs to grind. I've looked everywhere to find a fix, but still coming up short. Have tried wetting the beans, cleaned out the chute in the grinder with an allen wrench. The only things I haven't done yet are recalibrate the burr for a finer grind and order the M2 burrs that I have on my Virtuoso (which works for espresso grinding on my Bambino).
Any help would be appreciated!
Hmm, that's annoying! I do find sometimes beans will popcorn around a bunch, but if you wait long enough they'll usually find their way down eventually. If you're impatient (like me) I find it's pretty effective to lift the front of the grinder up and bring it back down on the counter sharply a few times. You can also flap the lid a few times to get grinds out, like a makeshift bellows.
Let me know if that works, and good luck!
@@rileydmcdonald Interesting you say that. With certain beans I do have to rock the grinder around to get beans to feed sometimes when I am grinding for pour-over. However, this didn't work for expresso grinding. The beans aren't even bouncing around. Just sitting there. I ended up buying the ispresso Jmax hand grinder since it has very fine adjustments for espresso. And I'll just keep using my Encore for pour-over only. Thanks!
Peel an inch of the rubber off of either end of the twist tie, works much better
Thanks for the impressive details you mentioned here, I’m just wondering if you calibrated your encore? I just got is as a gift and tried it, the results is terrible inconsistency, even in grind 0 which barely suite filter coffee with still large chunks that is way too coarse for filter (maybe good for french press but I don’t have one). So I’m thinking of calibration but I don’t know if it will help with the inconsistency.
I haven't calibrated mine, but it's been remarkably consistent for me! I use it for espresso, AeroPress, V60, and French Press brewing.
There are many videos online showing how to calibrate these things, but before you take it apart and start toying with it, I'd contact Baratza directly. The rubber gasket in my Encore ripped about a year after I bought it - I emailed them and they sent me a new one for free! They really want you to be happy with your grinder, and they're very kind and responsive. When they sent me the gasket they even sent a video for the proper way to install it.
TL;DR Contact Baratza and they'll almost certainly be able to help you.
great video,, I ordered my Bambino plus yesterday, do I need to purchase the extra accessories? I was hoping you were going to do a latte.
Thanks for the compliment! What specific accessories are you looking at? I've had really good experiences with the accessories I bought, but I'd have a hard time saying you NEED all of them. Here's what I have:
- American Weigh 2KG scale (definitely get a scale, it'll make everything to do with coffee easier)
- a dosing funnel I 3D printed (not necessary, per se, but extremely handy)
- bottomless portafilter with single-walled basket (maybe not a NEED, but it does make different, subtler coffee - my thoughts on that here: ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.html)
- 54mm calibrated tamper (this is great because it ensures the same pressure every time, but it's also WAY more comfortable to use than the one Breville gives you)
- 53mm distribution tool (helps consistency and ensures a flat bed to tamp every time). I had a 3D printed one in this video, but I ended up buying a metal one and it's way better.
Of those, I'd say if you don't want to buy the entire kit, go for the scale, the distribution tool, and maybe the funnel. The tamper is nice, but not critical; the single-walled basket is neat, but can be a pain. I'd definitely recommend a scale though. If you don't buy any of the other things, get yourself a good scale. American Weigh ones aren't pretty, but they work great, they're fast, and they have a lifetime warranty.
It is possible to get more than 16 grams in the portafilter. But your grinder won’t do it. The smart grinder pro is fine enough to get 19-20 grams.
Loved the video, thank you for sharing! I've got a question for you -- is there a particular reason you went for the Bambino Plus over the regular Bambino?
Good question! First and foremost, to be honest I wasn't even aware there was a regular Bambino until after I'd already bought mine. But I still likely would've picked the Plus because of the auto-steaming feature, I think.
@@rileydmcdonald ah that makes sense haha, thanks for the insight
My pleasure. Thanks for watching!
I have the same setup, just got my bambino today. When I grind on 8/9 the water doesn’t go through (or hardly), but when it’s on 10 it’s under extracted. Do you know what i might be doing wrong?
Did you find a solution just got mine and same problem :(
@@jordanfrancis129 Yeah, I've started pressing the 1-cup/2-cup button for 7-8 seconds before releasing it, which seems to increase the water pressure. I also switched to using pre-ground espresso coffee, so I'm not sure how it would work with the Baratza Encore grinder, but it might be worth trying.
@@justinetek6332 thank you
Do you use the distributor in place of the “razor” tool that comes with the Bambino Plus?
Yep! The distributor spreads the coffee around, but the razor can take some of it out (which is no good). It can be a bit messy too. I have it sitting in a drawer.
Do they sell that funnel for the grind? I don't have a 3d printer lol.
I know you can buy dosing funnels for lots of types of portafilters, but I've never looked for ones specifically for the Bambino. You'd need a 53mm one - I bet Amazon has them, but I've never looked.
Mine has been very handy, but I'm thinking of maybe redesigning it so it sits flush with the basket rather than inside it. I don't want to create a gap between the grounds and the wall of the dosing funnel, so I may need to re-work this one a bit.
Dumb question. You were pressing the 2 cup button correct?
Not a dumb question! I was pressing the two-cup button. If you press and hold either button, you can actually choose when to stop. The preprogrammed amount of water coming out is often not enough or too much.
Hey thanks for sharing this - I just got a Breville Bambino Plus and am currently using the Baratza Encore as a grinder (originally bought for pourover) so it's great to see examples of how to use them together! What scale are you using - could you share the link?
Glad to hear I could help! The scale I'm using is an American Weigh Scales 2KG model. I bought mine from Eight Ounce Coffee in Canada (sadly they're sold out as of this writing): eightouncecoffee.ca/collections/american-weigh-scales/products/american-weigh-2kg-scale
Does the grind time matter?
Weight of the grounds matters more than grind time, and some grinders will grind by time so it's easier to replicate a shot over and over again. But the ambient moisture, humidity, and even when the beans were roasted can affect an espresso shot, so you may need to adjust grind as the beans age and weather changes.
That's why using a scale every time is just kinda easier. Professional baristas use time-based grinding, but that's also because they're often dialing in a perfect shot at the beginning of every day
Are you holding the double shot button to make it run longer or are you just pressing it once?
You can press and hold whatever button you want. I was using the double in this video, but I often use the single. If you press and hold, you'll start pre-infusion. When you let go, it goes full pressure (or it sometimes starts full pressure after 15 seconds or so), and then you just need to press it again to stop the water.
i cannot get a thick creme and the pull time on mine goes very fast
Sounds like you need to grind finer and maybe pay more attention to distribution. Fluffing up and declumping your grounds is super important, and I found the needle distribution tools to be very helpful.
Hi, at which point do you start timing the extraction?
As soon as I hit the button. So I'm including the time it takes for the water to get to the coffee, then low-pressure pre-infusion, then the high pressure pumping.
@@rileydmcdonald the timing should be 30s or less?
Do you use the single basket for backwash clean? I have been using the double, should I switch to the single for cleaning?
I don't think it matters too much! My reasoning for using the single is because of its capacity. Backflushing works by re-distributing excess water through the machine, and I thought since the single is so small it would take less water to fill up and then flush back. I could be way off about that, and anything will work!
You're supposed to use that little rubber disc for backwash cleaning.
@@scanspeak00 yeah I mean do I need to put the rubber disc in the single shot basket or can I use the double too
great vid... what basket u using?
When I made this video I was using the double-wall basket that came with the machine. I upgraded and I'm now using a single-wall basket from Matow I got on Amazon. My new process is in this video: ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.html
@@rileydmcdonald thank you for the response... i thought it was the OEM double wall.. pressurized (friendly espresso for beginners) that is the same one i am using... Question.. how are/were you getting such a dry puck.. i am getting watery wet pucks that are soup.. did you do something to get it to be dry? in the pressureized double wall basket?
i will watch your new process soon
Are you timing and weighing your shots? If they're taking more than 35 seconds and the puck is wet, you may be grinding too fine. Try grinding more coarse and see if that helps. My video will give you an idea of what to shoot for in terms of weight and time.
@@rileydmcdonald yes i have a scale i use- i put in 17 grams.. and i try to pull a shot in 23 seconds because i like the more concentrated.. but i have tried a pull at 35 seconds and it was too weak of flavor.. my grinder is the breville smart pro grinder.. currently have it set at 10 seconds grind, 1 shot and size at 9... had it at 7 and it was almost too fine.. thanks for your help in this... love having the bambino and a smart grinder.. in my first week of pulling shots.. and will learn and grow with it..
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Could you also tamp with the funnel still on?
I've never tried it, but I won't. The tamper is designed to go right to the edge of the portafilter (the snug fit is important) and the dosing funnel I printed sits inside the portafilter. It wouldn't fit, and if it did fit, the tamper would probably break the funnel.
I'm tempted to design a different one that uses magnets to hang on the outside though...
Great video, thank you ;)
Thanks for watching!
Excellent video, clear and to the point and well explained. Did you make any modifications to the encore?
Thanks very much and thanks for watching! Glad I could help. When I shot this video, no I hadn't. Since then, I've modified my technique a little (and my gear) and upgraded the Encore to an M2 burr. I find I have best results making any espresso with the Bambino if I keep the Encore as a dedicated espresso grinder, so that's what I'm doing. Now I make pourovers and French Press using a Timemore Chestnut C2, and I make espresso just with the Encore.
Here's a video where I talk about my newest process: ua-cam.com/video/nXhjL-T0FOY/v-deo.html
@@rileydmcdonaldis it possible to do espresso with the timemore chestnut 2? I just got a bambino plus and timemore c2 mistakenly thinking I could make an espresso
@@FreeHat_ you probably can, but you're going to hate it. I ground for espresso once or twice with my Chestnut C2 and it took FOREVER to grind that fine. Unless you hook it up to a drill, it's a miserable way to grind that fine.
I'd recommend the Varia VS3 for a do-it-all grinder - I'll have a video for that sometime!
@ does that include the updated one with all stainless steel? Did yours have an espresso click recommendation on it as well?
I’m wondering if the new ones can
Mine is aluminum for most of it and the burr holders are plastic. It does have a setting for espresso, but like I said: miserable and slow. It's possible you may have better luck if they have an espresso-specific burr set or something, but it seems like the general consensus no matter the hand grinder is that espresso takes a long time and is better done with an electric
Don’t mess with non food grade 3d print plastics my friend ! Just buy good metal tools. You anyway spent good deal on the grinder and bambino.
grind size hello?
Can you troubleshoot a few things? My puck doesn’t come out perfect, and I don’t believe I get 30g espresso
Your puck issues could be tamping or grind size or the basket itself if it's not a smooth basket. Could also be distribution or clumping. Preventing channeling is part of it.
You don't believe you're getting 30g? Have you weighed it? You can't know until you weigh it. If you weigh it and you're not getting enough yield, you just need to put more water in.
There are so many variables in espresso it's hard to say exactly what your problem is. Definitely get a scale if you don't have one!
I thought the encore wasn’t good for espresso, is this upgraded?
There's a short answer and a long answer for that. The short answer is yes, it's upgraded, and no, the Encore isn't great for espresso (especially single-wall baskets, and I have a video about that here: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html)
The long answer is, I've put an M2 burr into the Encore - which helps - but I've also made my Encore my designated espresso grinder. I use a Timemore Chestnut C2 hand grinder for pourover and French Press now, which alleviates some of my inconsistency problems. I make pretty decent espresso with the Encore, but it's not perfect (and not perfectly consistent). If you're on a budget, you don't mind some tinkering, and you can stand the idea of designating the Encore as your espresso grinder, it works okay. If not, spring for a more high-end option that'll do espresso better.
Great video man! Would you 3d print and send a funnel and distributor to me! Just shooting my shot; these things are expensive
Some libraries have 3D printers available, and you can sometimes find an enthusiast or a cheap service that'll print stuff for you. I can provide links to my design files if you like - that way you can send them to a printer?
Thanks for this video -- I have a Bambino Plus and I'm looking to upgrade the espresso that I get from it. One question I'm curious about is basket removal. I, too, generally stick with the 2 shot basket as well, but I find when I need to remove the basket it's very challenging and often requires coaxing with a butter knife. Do you find this is the case with your unit? Do I just lack the technique?
Very unfortunate problem! And yes, it's happened to me before.
There are two things I might suggest to try and remove it.
1) Jiggle the portafilter on the group head.
This is what I do when my baskets get stuck (and for what it's worth, generally only my 1-cup basket gets stuck, and only when I'm using it to backflush the machine). Unlock the portafilter, but keep it pressed against the group head. While still pushing, angle it up, down, and side to side. Sometimes it'll take a couple of tries, but I generally have good luck with this. I don't know the exact reason why it sticks, but I suspect it's a slight vacuum - in theory, angling it like this should allow a little air in to one side and help release the vacuum.
2) Run some more water through it.
As per James Hoffmann (here: ua-cam.com/video/8Y-EYGSOU7I/v-deo.html), pucks will release better from the basket if you run a little more water through them. Obviously in that video he's specifically talking about pucks releasing from the basket, not the basket from the group head, but I think the same principle may apply.
I hope that helps! I'll be curious to see if these work for you, so definitely keep me posted!
Replace the stock portafilter with bottomless. Not only allows for easy removal of the basket but also help improve your puck prepping skills.
Thank you! I've upgraded quite a bit since this video, actually. Check out some of my other videos (like the bottomless vs double-wall one) to see how I do it now.
hello are you using the stock portafilter?
I was when I made this video, but I've upgraded since then. I'm working on another video about my new process and I'll be posting that soon.
@@rileydmcdonald nice nice! looking forward to it - planning to get this machine but I gotta get a better grinder for it if I switch out the portafilter. Thanks!
Have you tried this with a standard/unpressurized basket yet?
Yep! Have been for a few weeks now. Still works great! I'll be posting an update video soon.
@@rileydmcdonald awesome! Can’t wait to hear if it produces a better shot!
I spent a whole 1kg of beans with my $800 grinder on this bambino plus and an unpressurized filter basket - could not get anything decent out of the bambino because the temp of the water just wasn’t high enough through a non pressurized basket. Even pre-heated everything, ran empty shots thru the group handle to heat it up before I made it…just didn’t cut it. Called breville and they said you cannot adjust the temp and that they are not designed to work with non-pressurized baskets. I tried every variable, customized the timings for the shot etc but only got sour coffee …too hard to get a decent coffee out of these things compared to my ECM Teknika which is far more forgiving and gives me great coffee every time.
@@itssugarfree The reason why I returned my bambino plus and got a Gaggia Classic pro...It’s so much better than the bambino. Better shots, get hotter, and feels heavy duty compared to the plastic breville.
I have an unpressurized basket and I like it just fine! Having said that, I tend to prefer medium to dark roasts in my espresso, and that's not what this machine will excel at. You're right, the temp doesn't go very high - but that's not as much of a problem if you're using dark or medium roast (you can watch my vid discussing that here: ua-cam.com/video/DPG_BEk2VWA/v-deo.html). I may change my tune on this someday, and at that point maybe I'll consider a different machine. But for now I'm happy.
I've had decent luck dialing in shots by adjusting grind size (obviously), but if I can't get it quite right with grind, I'll mess with 0.1g of dose at a time until I can get timing right. So if it's still pulling too fast or too slow, I just add or subtract 0.1g of grounds at a time until I get the flow right. Also, especially if the coffee is on the lighter side, I play with ratios when I end up with sour espresso (assuming I've tried all other avenues and the extraction looks and times right). A little more water in the lighter roasts seems to do the trick, at least to my tastebuds - I like a 1:3 or sometimes even 1:4 on some coffees. Texture isn't as good but at least it isn't like drinking lemon juice.
I'll have a video coming out soon about how I make espresso with a naked portafilter and single-walled basket, so watch out for that if you want a current-day rundown. I don't have any other machines to compare it to, so I don't doubt your ECM Tenika probably makes things easier. But I'm stubborn - and I spent a decent amount of money on this thing - so I want to try and exhaust ALL my options before I consider something else.
2:20 I bet an Aeropress funnel would be perfect for that
It might be! Though to be honest, I think I might re-design this so it sits on the outside of the portafilter and just barely goes inside it. It's kind of annoying having a gap between the ground coffee and the wall of the basket after I pull the dosing funnel out.
An Aeropress filter would be even worse for that since (if it fit) it would likely go all the way to the bottom of the basket.
@@rileydmcdonald Yep, I get it now. My previous comment was before I'd received by Bambino. Now that I have it, see what you mean. Aeropress funnel doesn't work unless you kinda strategically hold it hovering at the top of the portafilter. Anyway, I broke down and just bought the proper metal funnel. It's great.
Nice! How much? Is it magnetic or just a tight fit?
Great video, just a question. Have you done the stepless mod on Encore or any other mods? It seems to me your grinder setting would result in a very coarse grind.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! No mods yet, but I have an M2 burr in the mail and I'll make a video about the modding process when I do. I'm going to make it stepless when I put the new burr in.
You're right, setting this at a 6 seems like a lot, but with this particular coffee (Cafe Dante by Colosimo Coffee Roasters) between 5 and 6 is perfect. Anything less and the machine chokes. I've tried it with a few other beans and it obviously varies, but I have decent luck between 3 and 6 with almost everything. I'm looking into getting a single-walled filter and bottomless portafilter in the coming months - we'll see how it goes with those - but for the current setup, this works surprisingly well.
Hey Mahdi - upgraded my grinder this week and made a video about it: ua-cam.com/video/NbnRxM4ymDU/v-deo.html
Thank you!
are you using pressurized filters?
Unfortunately yes. For months I've been eyeing a Breville single-wall filter, but Breville Canada has been out of stock for nearly a year. Shipping from the US with currency conversion has proved to be quite expensive, and most aftermarket baskets seem to come with handles and are around $80-$100 CAD.
Soon, though. Soon I'll bite the bullet and buy a naked portafilter with a single-wall basket.
@@rileydmcdonald got mine off Amazon- Walmart i think carries them to- you can get hem without the portafilter - i think i paid around $30 for mine=- and ISM basket- they have VCT or something like that too-
Update: I've been using one for two and a half months and I'm no longer confident the Baratza Encore can make good espresso consistently: ua-cam.com/video/_D6VDpWvZ60/v-deo.html
You can do it sometimes, but not enough to justify its use for espresso on a regular basis.
@@rileydmcdonald i broke down and bought the sette 270- it ground it plenty fine enough, and had microadjustments- but got money back for it when my brand new gaggia classic broke (pump went on it) just 3 weeks later- I never did get good espresso shots- even with hte Sette- I got closer with a Cafalet Robot, but still couldn't draw a good shot- (Now i was using decaf beans with low acid- so maybe that was the problem, but with the gaggia- it would just go through too fast- the robot i coudl control the time easily, but still the shots were either way too bitter or sour- couldn't find the sweet spot-
Darn! That sounds frustrating. I'm surprised even the Sette didn't work for you. What will you do now?
Ideia for the next video: you 3d print a porta filter with 3d printed coffee in it
Just kidding dude, loved the tips
Do you actually think three or four or five beans, one way or the other truly affects the taste. I never measure the weight, add frothed milk and sugar, and it all tastes good to me.
I try to keep it as consistent as possible so I enjoy it the same every time, and I never put milk and sugar in my coffee. But to each their own! The only thing that matters making coffee is that you enjoy it - and I enjoy the ritual and consistency. 😊
nice but imagine how much time it would take if you drink 20+ cups a day
With that amount of caffeine, I imagine it would take very little time to end up in the hospital with heart palpitations...
How do you know those 3d printed chemicals are not toxic
Great question! I should be thinking about that more - I don't. I no longer use a 3d printed distribution tool, but I still use the funnel.
I would think - perhaps incorrectly, I'm not sure - the coffee is touching it for so little time, under no heat and with no liquid, that any potential leeching into the grounds would be very minimal.
But that's a good call, I should definitely think more about that. My dad printed these for me, so I'll ask him what he's using for filament and what the recommendations are.
I do know some 3d printing filament is labeled as food safe specifically, and I think my dad has some, but I'm not 100% sure on these parts. Thank you!
Great video, this is my set up at home and I’m still working out the grind size so seeing it here was helpful to figure out the consistency. Did you modify the baratza here at all or this is out of box?
Thank you! Yes, this video is pre-modification. I made a video about the mod process too, though right now I can't say 100% that out of the box isn't better than modded. I have some more playing around to do, but I'll post an update video about more time with the modded grinder.
Happy I could help in any case! Enjoy your espresso :)
This is the exact setup I have. Weird that UA-cam knows
Using a twist tie as a WDT is genius 😂
I thought you should not twist when you tamp?
I'm not sure it makes much of a difference aside from ensuring grinds are in the right place, especially with low-quality or badly fitting tampers. But I could be wrong on that.
If you drink coffee before you go to work, performing your daily ritual as above will make you late for work unless you wake up at 1/2 hr before leaving the front door.
I've actually got it down to a 5-10 minute process! Filming makes it go slower and I've had a lot of practice haha
I had Baratza Encore but I sold it. Now i have 1zpresso hand grinder. This is much better. My opinion, baratza encore is not good enough for espresso.
It's definitely not ideal. Since making this video I bought a Timemore C2 for pourovers, so I've dedicated my encore solely to espresso. Since I don't change grind settings too much anymore, I'm finding it's a lot easier to be consistent now.
Would still love a Niche someday though...
All this for a cup of coffee? Madness. I’ve done all this but I’ve left the madness behind.
Isn’t what you’re doing a 1:1 ratio? Your adding the same weight of water as coffee
Nope! 17-18grams in to 35 grams out - 1:2 ratio.
Thanks
No problem! Thanks for watching
it's a shame you didn't 3D printed the tamper
Yes and no! I'd probably get a more snug fit with a 3D printed one, but the plastic tends to get very static-heavy and grinds stick to it. Plus I'd want it to be heavier, so I'd have to put weights in it.
I have a calibrated tamper with a spring in it I bought on Amazon and it works great. Worth the money!
Over 30 secs is bad and under 30 secs is also bad? I think you meant under 25?
Yep that's what I meant! Honestly the time is mostly a guideline - I've had really good espresso shots from my Bambino that were 40-45 seconds. As long as you like the taste and it's consistent, that's what matters!
/r/coffee: nO, aNy gRiNdEr tHaT iS uNdEr $6,969,696 iS nOt gOiNg tO wOrK!
Expensive grinders CAN be worth it, but it depends - like any hobby - on your level of experience, I think. I've definitely got my eyes on upgrade grinders, but I plan on waiting a while before pulling the trigger.
I just came from there.. they recommended a grinder that was only $320. So maybe chill lol
Channelling happened, IMO. Nonetheless, a nice video.
Yup, very clear sings of channeling but were not acknowledged.
Cool
Fucks sake just for a coffee😳
Haha yeah it's a lot!
Great video though mate 👍 I’m looking at getting that machine but just want to chuck coffee in go, froth some milk and that’s it 🤣. Do you recommend the Bambino? My Amodo Mio pod machine has been awesome but coffee pods are costing me a fortune and thought this machine will save me some money in the long run. Just Subscribed cheers from Australia
If you want to chuck coffee in and go this will probably do the trick, yeah. You can take espresso to extremes but there are some features on the Bambino that are excellent for beginners and people who just want ease of use. Good for you for abandoning pods!
Just knock the puck down the sink then wash it away.
How could you go through all of that process and NOT have your group handle heated up before making your coffee? I found these bambino machines can’t do decent coffees because they just don’t get enough heat through the group handle. You can only use the pressurized filter baskets with them. So I think if you are going to be so careful about making your coffee, do yourself a favor and get a decent machine.
Hey there - I responded to one of your previous comments and basically answered this question before I saw you'd commented again. Rather than copying and pasting that answer, I'll just say "I'm fine with this machine, at least for now," and if you want to get into the meat of why, see my other comment :P
Thanks for watching!
Bro. Why is this so complicated.
Good, consistent espresso IS complicated. Coffee is complicated!
One can only hope you are as meticulous in your job.
;) You betcha
Takes to long to make one drink.
It's definitely an involved process, but some people (like me) are comforted by the routine. Obviously a lot of people don't want to do this much fiddling to get their coffee in the morning, but for some of us, it's worth the hassle and you get used to it
upgrade yo grinder lol and weigh your shot to 28-30g
What a joke
hi there. do you think bambino can make good shots with dark roasts considering its brewing temperature is quite high?
I've measured the temperature out of the grouphead at about 89C, so it's not as high as you might think. I'd say it's actually better suited for dark roasts than light - I have a video about that here: ua-cam.com/video/DPG_BEk2VWA/v-deo.html
@@rileydmcdonald I've just watched it, thanks.