Hi Cindy, I wonder if you are using a triple basket. The naked PFs come with one frequently, and they are taller and don't fit a normal PF. But the one you got from WLL should be a double and should work. For reference, my double basket from Expobar is just under 1" tall sitting on the counter, maybe 15/16" or so. Triple is about 1/4" taller.
Spritzing happens when the water is channeling through the puck and not getting enough resistance (uneven distribution, and old beans). Low brew pressure happens when the grind is too coarse, and so the puck doesn't create enough resistance for the pump to build against. Both of these go hand in hand. If you have old beans, there is not a lot you can do. With fresh beans, you will need to grind finer and/or increase your dose in the PF. After a shot, look at the puck and you'll see pinholes if you had channeling. When everything is in good balance, the puck will knock out of the PF as a mostly dry, slightly elastic piece, and will hold together nicely. If the grind is too coarse, the puck will fall apart when you knock it out; too fine, and it will be sloppy wet. Also, when in balance, the brew pressure will be about .5 bar below the max pressure you have set, i.e. what the machine shows when you pressurize against a blind PF. I set to 9 bar and brew at about 8.5. 4-5 is way too low. Obviously the extraction should tell you a lot also--nice and even emergence all over the bottom of the PF, syrupy/thick/"gloppy"/hanging from the PF like a stationary tornado--all good things. Thin/spritzing/spiraling/blonding/seeing the PF through the espresso/"snowflake" pattern on the PF--all bad things. I'll try to take some video of good and bad shots when I can, but you can also find lots on youtube. Can't emphasize enough the importance of fresh beans. For decaf, you get about four days after roasting. For regular, about ten, with the best days being somewhere around 3-7 days post-roast. With decaf, you have to start using it right away. Good news is, even after the beans are too old for good espresso, they still make a nice aeropress cup! Hang in there, it will come. bmc On Mar 18, 2011, at 9:59 AM, Cindy Goddard wrote: > Hi Todd, > > Yes, it does snap in (makes click sound). > > Cindy > > On Mar 18, 12:53 pm, "Todd Salzman" <[email protected]> wrote: >> Make sure the filter basket is snapped all the way into the portafilter. >> >> Todd >> >> >> >> [ Attached Message ]From:Cindy Goddard <[email protected]>To:Brewtus >> <[email protected]>Date:Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:35:03 -0700 >> (PDT)Local:Fri, Mar 18 2011 12:35 pmSubject:Just got my Brewtus >> III-Portafilter/double basket won't lock inWell, it is a lovely machine. >> Unfortunately, when I use the double >> basket, the portafilter won't lock in. It works fine with the single >> basket. I have a call in to WLL, waiting to hear back. Luckily, I >> got a naked portafilter and it works fine with a double. I noticed >> that the gap on the lip is larger on the stock portafilter when using >> the double vs the single. I suppose this is why it won't lock in. I >> also have another double basket and it does the same thing. >> >> The instructions from WLL is great. Right now I'm trying to get good >> shots, but I'm having a lot of spritzing and the shot goes blonde >> pretty early. What is the pressure gage suppose to show when pulling >> a shot? It seems to only go to 4-5 bars. But I have seen it go to 10 >> when not pulling a shot. Is this normal? >> >> Anyway, this machine is a show piece on my counter. Hopefully by the >> time I get some fresher beans next week, I will be closer to pulling >> decent shots. But as of right now, I'm at the back of the class! LOL >> >> Cindy >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Brewtus" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group >> athttp://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. >> >> N1Yn� > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en.
