FIRST USE
- Remove the water tank and fill it with potable water to the indicated MAX line. Place the water tank back firmly onto the machine.
- Ensure that the drip tray is firmly placed on the machine.
- Place a 17 fl. oz (500ml) container under the portafilter and steam wand for the water drips for this first cycle.
- Plug the power cord in the power outlet, and the 1 Cup button illuminates.
FILLLING THE WATER TANK
Lift the water tank from the machine. Remove the water tank lid and add potable water to the water tank, filling to the MAX marking indicated.
FILTER BASKETS
This machine includes dual wall 1 Cup and 2 Cup filter baskets.
Use the 1 cup filter basket when brewing a single cup and the 2 cup filter baskets when brewing 2 cups or a stronger single cup or mug.
You will need to adjust the grind amount and size if switching from a single basket to a double basket, or vice versa.
The provided filter baskets are designed for:
1 Cup filter basket = 8-11g
2 Cup filter basket = 16-19g
THE GRIND NOTE
When grinding coffee beans, the grind size should be fine but not too fine. The grind size will affect the rate at which the water flows through the ground coffee in the filter basket and the taste of the espresso.
If the grind is too fine (looks like powder and feels like flour when rubbed between the f ingers), the water will not flow through the coffee even when under pressure. The resulting espresso will be OVER EXTRACTED, dark in color and bitter in flavor.
If the grind is too coarse, the water will flow through the ground coffee in the filter basket too quickly. The resulting espresso will be UNDER EXTRACTED and lacking in color and flavor.
COFFEE DOSE AND TAMPING
- Insert the filter basket into the portafilter.
- Grind enough coffee to fill the filter basket.
- Tap the portafilter several times to collapse and distribute the coffee evenly in the f ilter basket.
- Using the tamper, tamp down firmly (approx. 30-40 lbs. (15-20kgs) of pressure). The amount of pressure is not as important as the consistent pressure every time.
As a guide, the top edge of the cap on the tamper should be level with the top of the filter basket AFTER the coffee has been tamped.
PURGING THE GROUP HEAD
Before placing the portafilter into the group head, run a short flow of water through the group head by pressing the 1 Cup or 2 Cup button. This will stabilize the temperature prior to extraction.
INSERTING THE PORTAFILTER
Place the portafilter underneath the group head so that the handle is aligned with the INSERT position. Insert the portafilter into the group head and rotate the handle towards the center until resistance is felt.
Place your cup/s under the portafilter on the drip tray.
EXTRACTING ESPRESSO
As a guide the espresso will start to flow after 8–10 seconds (infusion time) and should be the consistency of dripping honey.
If the espresso starts to flow after less than 6 seconds, either under dose the filter basket or the grind is too coarse. This is an UNDER EXTRACTED shot.
If the espresso starts to drip but doesn't flow after 15 seconds, the grind is too fine. This is an OVER EXTRACTED shot.
