Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

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jfrescki
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Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by jfrescki »

I had been hearing a sound like an old "aaaoooga" horn for a while while pulling shots. I thought it was the flow meter. In the last few weeks I started also hearing a squeal at the beginning, end or both parts of a shot. I finally investigated today. Turns out both sounds were from my failing preinfusion chamber which was leaking a little each shot.

Here's a video of the sounds and the drip.

I removed the tank and am now running with no chamber. I was a little disappointed at first because the machine is just four years old, and I've also already replaced the brew element. I'm like "hey, these machines are supposed to be bullet proof". But it turns out it might be the best thing that could have happened. I've pulled a few shots today without the chamber, and they look better and there's more clarity of flavor. I definitely believe that mechanical preinfusion muddies the taste now (which I have read over the years)!

My shots always have gone pretty well, but without the chamber today they've all looked like espresso porn. Only time will tell if other blends might be harder without the preinfusion, but as of now, I'm not replacing it.

EDIT: And without filling the chamber each shot, the machine uses a lot less water, so less refilling to boot!

EDIT2: Heard the "aaaooga" this morning, so I guess that sound is the flow meter.
Last edited by jfrescki on Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
John

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rhinoevans
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by rhinoevans »

I have one on my original S1V1. Makes me wonder if I should pull mine. :shock: :shock:
jfrescki
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by jfrescki »

It's pretty easy to take off. You need to remove the face plate. Then you need (I think it was) a 13mm & 14mm box wrench to remove the chamber. You need a 5mm hex wrench to put the original nut in that plugs the hole in the group plus some teflon tape. If you've been in the machine before, it could take as little as 15 minutes.
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jfrescki
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by jfrescki »

Day two: Finished the Bodka Main Squeeze and opened SO Brazil Recreio. I received it 1/8 and froze the 6oz I just opened. I used the other 10 fresh. Without a doubt it's much better in the cup now. More flavor and more flavor separation.
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nod1
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by nod1 »

Hi can I ask what your brew recipe was before you took off the Preinfusion and after ie what do you dose, what weight of espresso do you aim for and within what time? Thanks


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chas
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by chas »

From my experience with different preinfusion designs on different machines, I'd say stay away from machines where preinfusion is always on and can't be turned off and on.

Pre-infusion seems to flatten some flavor spikes. I am not a fan of really acidic/citrusy coffees. However, sometimes I end up with beans that have this type of profile. Typically this is something that can't really be tamed down enough just by varying the brew temp. However, turning on pre-infusion will often do the trick. On the other hand if you have a flavor profile with a really strong chocolatey peak, for example, that you want to be in your cup, having preinfusion on may reduce or at least greatly muddy that profile. So you do NOT want to use preinfusion with those coffees.
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chas
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by chas »

BTW John, we need to give you the coveted "First Person Award" for being the first out of thousands of owners that have had this part fail. :banghead:
Chas
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jfrescki
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by jfrescki »

Thanks, I'm running a good track record. What's next??

nod1, I basically stick to 15.5g dose unless a coffee really calls for something different. I'll aim for anywhere from 21g - 29g out depending on the coffee, and I rarely stray from 92-93C (unless the blend is mouth puckering). I tend to play with extraction % instead of dose. I didn't change the recipe with either coffee before/after preinfusion (although I had to grind more coarsely to maintain shot time).

I'd picked up three coffees from Bodka right before the failure, so this morning I switched to their Guatemala SO melange. This was one of my favorites with preinfusion. The shots I pulled this morning were not as good. I'll have to play around with this coffee so see if I can go 3 for 3 without preinfusion. My shots did run fast this morning, which may be the problem.

Finally, I never had sink shot with preinfusion, and I admit I'm more apt to get a shot go awry now, but the flavor has just been great.
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goodboyr
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by goodboyr »

chas wrote:BTW John, we need to give you the coveted "First Person Award" for being the first out of thousands of owners that have had this part fail. :banghead:
I will gladly relinquish my award to John!
:grin:
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chas
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by chas »

You have the First Complete Lemon Award. It's yours forever.
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goodboyr
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by goodboyr »

Thanks for that...

BTW, I believe I have found the root cause of my issues, including why my Dream experience is different than most. But I want to wait a bit to make sure I've got it solved before I report back.
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Re: Mini preinfusion chamber failure.

Post by jfrescki »

So I properly dialed in the Bodka Guatemala, and it's great. At least as good as when I had the preinfusion :lol: . My results from the last post were simply because the shots ran fast.
John

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