Operation Manual

64
6 •
I can brew espresso but there is no pressure for steam.
• Be sure that the power switch is in “Position II.”
• Check the reading on the steam-boiler pressure gauge.
• Allow time for steam boiler to heat up after turning the machine on
• Remove the steam wand’s tip and check for debris in the tip.
7 •
The coffee tastes bad
The list of causes is nearly endless. Volumes can be written on what can cause espresso to taste bad. Here
are a few tips to help:
• Be sure that the coffee you are using is fresh
• Try a different brand of coffee.
• Use a quality grinder and grind the beans fresh, within a few minutes of each extraction.
• If you know someone who makes espresso, invite them over and let them try making espresso with your
equipment and coffee. Sometimes the smallest change in procedure can make a big difference in taste.
8 •
The coffee tastes bitter.
• brewing temperature that is too hot
• coffee that is over-roasted or stale
• cheap, low-quality coffee
• worn burrs of low-quality grinder that makes too much dust
• brew pressure that is too high
• not using enough coffee in the portafilter.
9 •
The coffee tastes too acidic (“sour”).
• brewing temperature that is too cold
• coffee that is under-roasted
• brew pressure that is too low
• bad or spoiled coffee
10 •
I hear a constant hissing sound from inside the DD.
When the power switch is in “Position II”, this could indicate that there has been a failure of the vacuum
breaker valve to seal properly. Discontinue use of the machine, unplug it from the outlet, and contact your
reseller for technical assistance.
11 •
The brew pressure gauge gives erratic readings
The brew pressure gauge on the front panel should only be used as a general indicator as to what is hap-
pening during the brewing cycle. There are only three situations in which the gauge will display any useful
information
• When there is a properly prepared portafilter, filled with properly ground and tamped coffee, locked in the
brewhead, and the brewing process is underway (lever all the way up).
•When you are using preinfusion with a plumbed machine, the gauge’s displayed pressure will drop slightly
when you have moved the lever to the correct position.
• A plumbed machine will show the line pressure while the DD is off and cool, but it is not a very accurate
reading because of the scale of the gauge.
At no other times will this gauge display any accurate information.