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Date: 01 Dec 2006 16:00:06
From:
Subject: How Universal Is The Preferred Espresso Temp Setting.
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So, I'm thinking about moving on from Miss Sylvia. She still gives
great head so I thought I'd pass her down to my son. Anyway, after
doing a bit of research on HX machines, I've decided the
flush-flush-water-dance-routine is more than I want to deal with, so
there is no advantage for me. Looks like life with Lady S will go on
as usual. Guess the kid loses.
The point, however, is that in my research I came upon the following:
"In the case of most U.S. espresso lovers, their target brew
temperature is around 201-203°F; for some countries overseas, the
tastes are for a cooler 192°F. " <from Dan Kehn on
http://www.home-barista.com/hx-love.html >. Considering the lengths so
many go to the get within a degree or less of the ideal extraction
temp, can it really be that tastes vary by as much as 11F? Anyone have
any thoughts on what those "some countries overseas" might be?
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Date: 02 Dec 2006 06:27:26
From:
Subject: Re: How Universal Is The Preferred Espresso Temp Setting.
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Rogue wrote:
> So, I'm thinking about moving on from Miss Sylvia. She still gives
> great head so I thought I'd pass her down to my son. Anyway, after
> doing a bit of research on HX machines, I've decided the
> flush-flush-water-dance-routine is more than I want to deal with, so
> there is no advantage for me. Looks like life with Lady S will go on
> as usual. Guess the kid loses.
>
> The point, however, is that in my research I came upon the following:
> "In the case of most U.S. espresso lovers, their target brew
> temperature is around 201-203=B0F; for some countries overseas, the
> tastes are for a cooler 192=B0F. " <from Dan Kehn on
> http://www.home-barista.com/hx-love.html>. Considering the lengths so
> many go to the get within a degree or less of the ideal extraction
> temp, can it really be that tastes vary by as much as 11F? Anyone have
> any thoughts on what those "some countries overseas" might be?
To get consistent brew temps from a Silvia you've either got her PID'd
or temp surf her. I never PID'd my Silvia when I had her but with a
thermocouple at the top of the boiler temp surfing was more consistent.
HX flushing is way, way easier and less of a pain in the a$$ than temp
surfing a Silvia. It's more flexible, more relable and if you're
pulling back to back shots (which you can't do with any kind of speed
on the Silvia if she's not PID'd or if you're frothing) the temp stays
stable without the need to flush. A good e61 group HX is more
expensive than a Silvia and the espresso is a bit different with the
e61 group but consistently much better quality and easier to pull.
Brew temps vary with taste, roast, blend, IMHO. I think anything from
195F-201F is a good general range. Taste and blend I think is the
biggest determining factor I've read about with some blends opening up
at one temp while others are best at another. It's been discussed
whether a 1F difference is noticable and most say it's not. More
noticable is barista skills, grind quality and roast freshness/blend.
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Date: 01 Dec 2006 19:16:52
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: How Universal Is The Preferred Espresso Temp Setting.
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On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:00:06 -0800, Rogue Ja wrote:
Considering the lengths so
>many go to the get within a degree or less of the ideal extraction
>temp, can it really be that tastes vary by as much as 11F? Anyone have
>any thoughts on what those "some countries overseas" might be?
Perhaps Spain or other places where very dark roasts are the norm, and
the standard SOP is to lower brew temps. In Italy, the mass roasters
recommend brew temperatures. Jolly goes as high as 205F for some
machines, Illy goes as low as 195F, yet both are light all-arabica
roasts. Blends with high levels of robusta are traditionally brewed
hot.
Finally, the brew temp varies as the shot progresses or where it is
measured, puck top, bottom or side.
However, despite all that, a cafe wants to serve a consistent cup, and
therefore requires a machine that brews at repaeatable temperatures
and pressures, preferably at the levels best suited for that blend.
Home users can be more adventurous, and explore the enitre range of
extraction possibilities. However, it's still nice if this exploration
is controlled enough so one can get back to the set up that produced a
particluarly brilliant shot.
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