23
votes
Accepted
I run my espresso machine until my whole cup is full. What's my coffee called?
I'd say that it's a caffè crema which is generally made the way you make your coffee and is about 240 ml. It's about 3 times more water than a normale.
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14
votes
I run my espresso machine until my whole cup is full. What's my coffee called?
I would also go for caffè crema (more water than a lungo). There is no strict agreement on at how much water does it stop being a lungo and starts being a crema. But I guess "lungo" is more well known ...
- 141
14
votes
Accepted
Espresso drips out slowly
As suggested in comment above, descaling or decalcifying your machine may solve your problem. We just run straight distilled white vinegar through ours to do so. Running the machine with distilled ...
- 280
12
votes
What are the 4M's of espresso?
4M is a term mainly used among Italians for espresso. It is a placeholder for four words that start with "M" in Italian that affects espresso preparation. Some information can be found here.
These M'...
- 7,678
11
votes
How can I improve this latte?
I own this machine and have since moved on from it for the exact reasons you stated.
It is possible to create microfoam that is good enough for making clearly defined latte art on the Delonghi Dedica ...
- 1,301
10
votes
Espresso drips out slowly
Adjust the grind. Make it less fine.
Sounds like the pump is not strong enough to push water through the puck. Rather than set-and-forget on the finest it can do, you should be adjusting the grind ...
- 251
10
votes
Accepted
Should I press the coffee into my espresso machine?
The process of compressing the coffee powder in a portafilter of an espresso machine before pulling the shot is called tamping. There is a lot of information available on the web explaining how it is ...
- 763
9
votes
Accepted
Steam-Powered Espresso Machine: Crema?
There are a few reasons why you might not get a good crema:
Stale coffee
Coffee not ground fine enough
Pressure too low
With a steam-powered espresso machine (especially if it's an entry level ...
- 746
8
votes
I run my espresso machine until my whole cup is full. What's my coffee called?
This is called Lungo, Italian for "Long coffee". Typically it is prepared around 150 ml.
More info is here:
Lungo (Wikipedia).
- 7,678
8
votes
Accepted
Can I have this type of coffee?
The beverage you make by diluting vending machine "espresso" with hot water is called "poor imitation of Americano". It is hard to say how much caffeine it contains because it's not clear what this ...
7
votes
How to properly use the Bialetti Brikka
I understand that the crema created by the Brikka is an approximated crema using the gasket's small opening. Sure, purists may not consider this tan, smooth film of microbubbles as authentic crema (...
- 533
6
votes
Is it necessary to keep a portafilter in the grouphead when not in use?
In addition to what Tim Post wrote, I've understood that keeping the porta filter in the machine keeps the gasket from drying out so that you don't need to replace it as often. I used to place my ...
- 161
6
votes
Getting large volume lattes
Assuming you are not planning to buy a lot more machinery, you can simply use the Nespresso to make espresso - depending on your preferred strength, two to three shots should be what you need for your ...
- 3,963
6
votes
Accepted
Consequences of wrongly cleaning espresso machine with vinegar?
I'll answer as a chemist and not as a coffee expert, but occasional exposure to vinegar won't substantially damage a piece of aluminum. Also ingesting traces of aluminum isn't toxic.
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6
votes
Accepted
Espresso machine fish tank smell
You've got colonies (of bacteria, and perhaps algae.)
I'd be looking for something a bit stronger than vinegar or citric acid in the sanitizing line, though either of those might be a good place to ...
- 841
5
votes
Espresso drips out slowly
I Googled "how to disassemble delonghi ec155" and found a website that said to:
Take the screen off (the one above the coffee grounds). I have done this when I descale, but there is a brass screw you ...
5
votes
How to properly use the Bialetti Brikka
I think you gave a good overview of everything. Here's a few comments on your list that I find is most important from my own personal experience, and from this Bialetti guide.
"Moka" grind is ...
- 8,535
5
votes
Steam-Powered Espresso Machine: Crema?
You are doing everything perfectly to spec. The problem is neither with your machine, nor with your use of it. It is with the nature of your expectation. Steam espresso machines simply do not produce ...
5
votes
Accepted
What's the basket/tamper size for Gaggia Classic?
Actually the most common and widely used basket/tamper size is the 58mm. It also seemed, from a quick Google, that the Gaggia Classic does indeed use a 58mm portafilter basket so you'll want to find a ...
- 1,301
5
votes
How can I improve this latte?
I've steamed milk on my friend's Saeco Aroma, which seems to be in the same class as your Delonghi, and was able to get good microfoam. Aside from getting some pointers along the way, the key is ...
- 458
5
votes
What can I use to clean my machine as a substitute for original cleaners?
In case you're still searching for alternative cleaning materials, I would recommend citric acid. You can easily find it pretty cheap on Amazon. Its the same concept as vinegar, but without the smell -...
- 190
5
votes
Accepted
When the espresso begins to pour it takes about 3-5 secound to reach the right presure, what can I do?
This is completely normal, this is the pre-infusion phase.
Pre-infusion is used to wet the grounds before starting ideal espresso extraction. Wetting with hot water helps the grounds to release ...
- 7,678
4
votes
Moka pot induction heater
You can actually get all-in-one moka pots that plug directly into the mains, e.g.:
http://www.amazon.com/Delonghi-EMK6-Alicia-Electric-Espresso/dp/B00009W5F0
I've used one similar to this before, ...
- 7,045
4
votes
How Much Should I Spend When Investing In An At-Home Espresso Machine?
It's important to note that you should be thinking of your entire espresso budget (i.e. Machine, Grinder, and Accessories) when trying to find the "right" price. If you were to buy a $1000 machine, ...
4
votes
What are alternatives uses for an espresso machine?
Sterilizing smaller items (pacifiers, bottle nipples, toothbrush
heads, etc.)
Loosening threaded bottle and jar lids for honey and other sticky substances
Cleaning small items (watchbands, rings, ...
4
votes
Accepted
How can I produce better espresso shots with my Gaggia Classic?
The standard parameters of producing a decent espresso is previously discussed here: What are the standard espresso parameters (dose, mass/volume, time, etc.)?
As you can see from this answer, ...
- 7,678
4
votes
What is going wrong with this Espresso shot?
I don't think anyone can really give a definitive answer to this but I'd like to chime in to try to help. It's almost impossible to find your answer because of how many different variables are at play ...
- 1,301
4
votes
What can I use to clean my machine as a substitute for original cleaners?
I have had multiple Breville products, and according to their recommendations, a good substitute is half white vinegar and half water. I've been using my current espresso machine for 2+ years, and ...
- 41
4
votes
What can I use to clean my machine as a substitute for original cleaners?
After a while, I have managed to receive the products themselves. Therefore, it is better to mention what sits inside these products, directly reading from the packages.
The descaler is mostly citric ...
- 7,678
4
votes
Delonghi Dedica rubber wand is propelled into milk pitcher
I think the panarello is keeping the inner rubber tube in place, so it's normal for the tube to pop off under pressure. You can hold the tube in place by using a cable tie as can be seen in this video:...
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