My crema tends to be too bubbly and dissapates quickly. This with either portafilter. What am I doing wrong? Coffee ground too coarse?
233477
I have the same issue with the crema. Would also like the answer. I know it's not that my grounds are too coarse.
233478
Probably need espresso grind - best if fresh roasted -also, with practice best with bottomless portafiltet
233479
Sounds to me like the coarseness of the grind. Another symptom of too course a grind is that the coffee would be weaker than expected and the flow/output would be faster. I would recommend you experiment a little, timing carefully the grind time. Increase it in increments of five seconds or so and see the impact on crema and flavor. Once you find the grind time you like, you'll want to be fairly precise in repeating that time to get a consistent result.
233480
Too fine of grind would be my guess. I use Gevalia espresso roast (ground) which is fine for my unrefined taste. Alesso is another good pre ground. I've used Starbucks whole bean ground by their grinder and for the money I'll use Gevalia and get better espresso.
233481
You guessed it! Finer grounds and just keep packing it into the portafilter. I was having the same issue, it looked more like a cappuccino than an espresso. I'm using a different scoop from the one that came with the machine. After an initial scoopfull, I keep sprinkling more coffee in there, and give it a tamp until it's right to the rim. I'm also being careful to clean the gasket after each time I use the machine. Good luck!
683448
Could be the coffee is ground too fine. If you are grinding it or having someone grind it, specify it is for a "flat bottom" filter. My guess is the water is flowing over the top because of the fine grind, it can't filter through fast enough.
2068380
I don't have a tried and true answer for you because I have not had a problem. But here are a couple of suggestions to try. Make sure you let it cool down before trying to dump it. Make sure to take it all apart (including the rubber gasket) and cleaning really good at least once a week or maybe more. Make sure you don't put more coffee in than you are supposed too. Make sure it's the right grind of coffee and not espresso grind. Hope you get the problem figured out.
1681699
When I used them in my Illy machine I got very weak espresso, because the water is passing through the pod too quickly, as if the coffee in the pod isn't compacted enough. As Ria mentioned, maybe you need the Lavazza machine to have the pods work.
2057160
I agree with Karin. I use fine ground all the time. I don't pack it tight like you see done at espresso bar. Keeping the metal filter and rubber gasket clean is right too. After over a year, I still love the coffee it makes!
2005645
Not a clue. Seems to vary with mine depending on how compact the coffee is in the portafilter.
1020439
Hi, assuming the holes on the filters are not obstructed or defective, using coarse ground coffee might work. If the coffee is too finely ground like a powder (like Turkish coffee), it can clog up the holes. Perhaps setting your grinder (or asking your coffee store) to grind your coffee at drip or french press setting will work.
563820
I've been using Starbucks bagged Espresso. I have them grind it. I've had mine for about 6 weeks and sometimes it would struggle to push the espresso out or leak water out the side..and considering it was a new machine I was upset. I asked the girl at Starbucks and she told me to try a coarser grind. So instead of the 3 that Starbucks normally grinds it at...I asked them to grind it at a 3 1/2 and I took it home to try it and it was PERFECT! Poured at a decent rate, had good crema, and NO leaking water out the sides ;) <3 Hope that helps!
160903
I use only ground coffee in the filter...........hopefully someone has pod experience and can help you
737026
Hi Kate, this is a little tricky to diagnose via Amazon. Did you remove the hopper and bur? You should do this just to be sure there is nothing visible that could prevent the grounds from exiting the unit into the container. You might also try running a paperclip down through the shoot to be sure nothing has gotten stuck in there. Also, did you set to a very fine grind? If so, maybe dial it back to be sure you can get any grinding action. Does the motor seem as though it is laboring to perform the grind? I hope someone else can chime-in here, but give Baratza a call. I know you said no clogs, but I always go through the steps (even the most logical ones) a couple of times to be sure I did not mis something. Good luck and I wish I had the magic answer to your problem. I hope you get the grinder working because I sure enjoy mine and it still is performing perfectly. Best
2000892
No, fill the water accordingly with amount of ground coffee of your choice and your liking. I didn't follow their instruction of using coarse ground, fine ground works for me.
211956
Sorry can't help with this one. I only used it once and it left coffee grounds all over the place so I just trashed them.
2159458
Sounds like you need to return it. There is some steam but it doesn't affect my coffee. I love the machine by the way. I've started using organic half and half and buying more expensive cafe. I've recently tried/enjoyed espresso from trader Joe's & juan valdez.
1020440
Sorry this is happening to you. I only use coarse or drip ground coffee, works faster and tastes fine. I use 2 Tb per 6 oz. cup.
1300452
Perhaps the grounds are wrong, do you await the light going on? Some suggest using a paperfilter but I don't mind grinding it fine and having a bit of silt Or two grinding runs, usually, one coarse and the top fine (not too fine ... caffeine is a certain size, like LSD, it gets smaller in your system )
2148711
I am having the same problem. I adjusted my grinder to a coarse setting but I still get the sludge.
623735
My husband uses this more often than I do - but he tells me that if he presses the plunger too fast he will get too many of these particles. I seem to remember from presses I've had in the past that there often are very fine particles in the bottom. You may want to get your coffee ground more coarsely for use in a french press.