Prefect coffee != espresso
Prefect coffee can be brew thru different methods
Like art, perfect art can be done with clay, crayons, pencils etc.

Yes the learning curve is steep but without the right tools how to achieve? Baby steps 1st. Walk before u learn to run esp when one has a machine that is build for walking.

Perfect espresso shot depends on other factors temperature of water, stable pressure etc. that machine isn't capable of doing that. So switching is more playing.
A krups to encore grinder to many they ain't the grinder to produce the prefect shot

This post has been edited by patryn33: Dec 7 2014, 09:32 PM

So far everything I ordered from China is ok even coffee machine

thanks for your info bro
i just saw a grinder call welhome zd15 , its a rebadge of sunbeam em0480
looks good. i might consider that.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r....ucket=15#detail

This ah? price seems attractive

Found a review here
http://www.kapihan.ph/forum/index.php?f=6&...&rb_v=viewtopic

http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/sunbeamgrinder.html

A lot of reviews on Australian forum
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1959709
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/grinders/30043-sunbeam-emo480.html

This post has been edited by patryn33: Dec 8 2014, 12:42 AM

I met ppl who pretty much bought the entire house Reno products on taobao. From toilet, floors, table, chairs, cabinets eye.. All ok

I order many stuff but mostly small stuff there, delivery times long. Branded high end quality good states still cheaper than taobao.

Yes, a lot of brewing methods.. But for espresso, it's more on yields.. So, better to start with non pressurized baskets and work from there. Reason being is because, it'll help in understanding the freshness of beans, and finding the right grind. Considering the grinder is a rebadged Sunbeam, it's a good start. Pressurized filters are more or less for beans bought off shelves or pre-grounded coffee because it's more forgiving.

As for buying products from China, I've bought some stuffs before.. Really have to read through the descriptions and feedbacks. So far very good experience, only once I got a product totally different from the item advertised lol. That's from Aliexpress

The ZD17 grinder looks interesting.. Seems like Sunbeam's Cafe series..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EIKSswwQfE

Btw, this machine looks awesome..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dBQJIZNomw

This post has been edited by mel5582: Dec 8 2014, 07:50 AM

Thanks for sharing, gonna give this a try. Been failing for like almost every time, probably I shouldn't keep switching with pannarelo and without, but now mostly without.

I'm using (Philips) Saeco Promia and in my third week now. Yet to depressurize the PF as I'm still waiting for my tamper to arrive. Grinder is Hario Slim, easy choice for low budget but I've ordered Welhome ZD-15 grinder, again, still waiting.

Back to topic, I've only successfully froth it once to the foam level that I wanted in out of say, 20 tries . The last attempt I tried was with really cold milk in order to buy myself more time. Anyhow I believe its just my lack of technique and precision, but I'm getting there, I hope.

Don't worry.. you'll get it. Everyone starts from zero
One way is, if you have a cold/hot water dispenser.. fill your milk pitcher with cold water to the half way mark and put 1 drop of dishwasher detergent into it. Practice using this.. you'll get microfoam like milk texture, but of course there are a few big bubbles that can't be tapped out. At least, you could get used to the technique without wasting expensive milk

This post has been edited by mel5582: Dec 9 2014, 03:54 PM

Need you to share more tips here Me too have been trying to get good froth on Poemia. It's just refused to. Jin pek cek... Most of the time the milk gets really hot (smoking liao!!! ) before seeing bubble (foam) leh... Got once I fill my 20oz pitcher half full (standard is 1/3 I heard) and still... ... Haiz. The milk I use is always cold. Straight from fridge. Few times I put to freezer before frothing too. Same

Oh.. you need to surf the surface.. this is because you put the steam tip too low into the milk.. need to lift it up slightly till you hear "slurp slurp slurp"..

Some tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Q6Tl-V_uc

I just receive my China brand machine few days ago and before I watch the video when I steam my milk it keep produce high pitch screaming sound until I beh tahan haha but after I watch the video and keep try to adjust the position and I managed to get rid of the high pitch sound and produce a smooth microfoamed milk but not every time success la Just keep try to adjust the position and try to get a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature

Just wanna ask is it the ground too fine ah? the coffee macam tak boleh keluar like that one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C58jAscdyQk

This post has been edited by wadthehellz: Dec 9 2014, 05:33 PM

I'm not getting any success, so no tips to share, only what-not-to-do to share

I don't have issues surfing the surface, I can get good foam from that first step. Its when I proceeded to the next step by dipping the tip by about 1/2cm (or until sound gone) that problems started to haunt me. During this step, I'd be focusing on both the temp and maintaining the whirlpool (easier said than done) and most of the time, the temp caught up really fast and I just couldn't get the microfoam throughout the whole volume.

I suspect its either:
a. spent too long at first step to create foam;
b. not building whirlpool fast enough;
c. whirlpool not strong enough to polish the foam;
d. all of the above

For now, I'm using my hand only as heat sensor haha (waiting for thermometer to arrive together with tamper). Lets see if I can take a video with every bit of details like temp/type of milk/time etc and share it for the pros to comment.

This post has been edited by Keng: Dec 9 2014, 06:00 PM

Letting air into the milk only takes 2 seconds for 30cl pitcher.. Maybe 5 secs for 50cl. Texturing depends on the power of the steam wand.. I think for your case, it should be a single hole.. Try placing the wand at the extreme side of the pitcher, at an angle.. And see if the swirling is strong enough?

Feeling the temperature with your hands = best
Or by sound.. Because your hands and tongue can resist the same temperatures.

This post has been edited by mel5582: Dec 9 2014, 06:19 PM

Yeah, looks like over extraction.. How old are your beans?

I'm not sure cause there is no roast date only got expire date I ordered from http://mistercoffee.com.my/ and I choose medium grind ground coffee last time and I use my manual grinder to grind again to finer. After that I try to set to coarser abit it flows too fast pula and taste sour which I believe is under extraction.

I think better buy beans and grind them fresh.. because with pressurized basket, the crema looks.. dissipated.. this could mean that the coffee is no longer fresh..
If you're grinding pre-ground coffee, it'll create a lot of fines and inconsistencies. I think if you were to use the same grounded coffee, you might need the grind setting which is in between your over extracted grind and the one that tastes sour / runny..

hmm I see I see. I ordered 500g arabica and 500g espresso beans from mistercoffee(it only cost RM60 ) and it should be reach by today but still not yet receive. Dont know why always met courier delivery problem . Now ran out of coffee need to wait the bean arrive only can adjust the grind setting. so sad lah

Just now did another try. Sudah bengang liao... Removed everything left only the metal stick. Then found out I need a smaller pitcher It's because the stick simply too short liao... Nvm... I pour little bit more milk.

The milk was just nice about 1/2cm covering the tip. Then the milk macam like Cappuccino liao Too much bigger sized bubble. The temp was just nice though. Belum smoking...

Without the sleeve however, I think it has more control. So next time I'll try again with the "naked" setting

Getting a smaller pitcher too. 12oz ones.