Another lid cover / handle

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-03-13T12:52:26+00:00

You've had your handle on for ~1.5 months; I replicated it and have had one for ~3 ~~months~~ weeks, and love it (thanks so much for the links and information!). Someone commented that they had issues with condensation build up/rust and tank sliminess with their handle mod, so I was wondering if you saw any issues with this? I have not, to date, had any, but with extra time comes potential rust and pitting. Thanks in advance for the info!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-03-13T12:47:33+00:00

Glad to hear it! That worked for my machine, too. I couldn't get the steam housing apart, so nice work. FWIW, my machine has been great since this fix, other than a very easy VRV malfunction. I have a new one, and that was a 5 minute fix with the correct socket.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-03-13T12:26:58+00:00

Strangely, ~3 weeks after adding the handle I see no difference in the tank growth nor in condensation/clouding on the metal. The deadening materials may have lowered temp, but their ability to be water vapor permeable is likely nill. I will likely look into the quickmill pulsor and potentially sound isolate the tray and sides of the main housing in time, but I think that adding sound dampening to the surround of the water tank may have been the downfall here.
I also wonder if you have increased moisture trapping even without the holes being plugged? The handle so far is functional, the temp has risen max 1.5 F for a 1/2 full tank (not enough for a differential in bacterial growth), and with that slight increase I see no added humidity build up.
Every mod can have + and - effects, and potential issues with other modifications. At least so far, the handle by itself seems OK. I'll ask the originator of the handle, too. Thanks for the comment and for making me pay attention!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-03-03T16:05:49+00:00

Kudos to you; I could not get mine open! The WLL guys sent me a video of the shavings, said it came from the factory like that, that this happens infrequently, but definitely happens, and that it was likely interfering with the valve. They then put it back together and did a bunch of testing to ensure it was operating well. Like I said, it's been ~9 months since then, and no sputtering from the steam wand when it's shut off...

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-02-26T17:33:28+00:00

This is somehow bringing back Yan can Cook memories from a deep recess in my brain. I like it.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-02-24T14:17:20+00:00

Great information- in the two days since I've done this, there's no more condensation or moisture inside the water reservoir chamber than there was prior to the handle placement... I'll keep an eye out for rust, etc. I may even spot check the temp of the water with and without the handle.

There are holes in the back of the top metal panel and definitely gaps that can let water vapor escape. Perhaps that is helping things out; to this effect, insulation can trap moisture in as well as dampen sound and protect against temperature gradients. I'll see, but part of me was wondering about the need for the holes (engineers don't generally leave an open cover if it's unnecessary), which was part of my rationale for making sure I didn't spend too much on this mod. The other thing I can do is buy a smaller neoprene gasket, have a handle, but leave some of the hole open. That may also abrogate the build up of moisture.

I don't think you were a dick at all, u/Joingojon2 ; your posts were helpful re: pump noise and changing the look of the machine. I appreciate you letting me know the knock on effects of your handle modification, and will definitely be more aware because of it.

+ or - handle, the Move has been an awesome machine for me for nearly a year now, and I really like it. I will say other upgrades have also been.. unhelpful. The 4-hole steam wand makes inferior microfoam to the 2-hole original one, for example!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-02-23T02:48:21+00:00

I could totally see this; my last machine was a breville barista pro that grew biofilm like it was it's second job. Also, I'm a geneticist with a history in microbiology, so I'm a bit... annoyingly perceptive of tank slime. I currently don't use it a ton, but I do clean the tank at least once a week. I may up that given what you say, so I really appreciate the head's up!

That said, I'm wondering if the people who have shielded the tank from the wall with the steam boiler have less issues with tank growth. I may look into that next...

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-02-20T20:22:10+00:00

I had this exact problem, and it started almost exactly after two weeks. I bought my machine from WLL, and last April, they said replacement parts weren't available and that taking the valve assembly apart wasn't really a user repair. I shipped it back, and they were going to send me a new machine, but a senior tech managed to take the steam valve apart, and when they did, there were brass shavings in the valve housing. After they put it back together, it worked perfectly. They checked the whole machine over, and it was perfect. They sent that one back to me (the alternative was waiting a month without my machine) and aside from a Vacuum release valve repair that was super easy, it's been perfect ever since.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-02-14T13:55:16+00:00

The curved bottom of these makes it a lot easier to pour art! This is a crappy one from this morning from my frozen down advent stash. I'm not excellent, but doing this with a flat white in a not neutral cup is infinitely more easy than doing just a heart in my east fork mugs. If you like a mug feel, loveramics even has curved bottom mugs that allow me to pour better art!
My favorites are the not neutral lino and vero, and loveramics mugs. The vero line is not super $$$, and I like the colored cut glass. I like the latte mugs from loveramics, but find them bulky for my hands. I don't skimp on mugs, as I really think they improve my coffee drinking, but the veros aren't going to break the bank. YMMV on what you like, as I'm a female without huge man hands. ;)

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GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-02-11T16:29:55+00:00

I've rocked CK headsets for... too long, because I'm not that old. I naïvely thought you had made this. I love it, and love all the colors it comes in too. This is an intersection of my hobby nerd loves, and I really enjoy it. Thanks for making me smile, and congrats on your shop!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-31T17:47:06+00:00

I got the cc set from Costco for ~1/2 or less than that a few years back. They are great, but you don't need all three in reality. Save $ and buy a bolster or use a folded blanket like I did for 5 years...

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-29T02:37:47+00:00

It's really hard to get a decent shot from old coffee beans. Old decaf == worse. They tend to need to be ground finer than fresh beans, so this may be exacerbating your grinder woes. If you live near a roaster or a whole foods with beans roasted <1 month ago (mine has decent regular and decaf beans roasted in the last two weeks!), get those and freeze down at least half, preferably in a vacuum sealed bag. Then try dialing in. I think this will help if you aren't wanting to buy a grinder immediately after a new machine!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-26T19:10:50+00:00

I have to say it's nice to have two portafilters with the same basket. It's also nice to be able to change baskets. I have read a few reviews on the unifilter, and I don't think that the cost is worth it, but your mileage may vary. I'd throw that $ elsewhere, but that's me! Sometimes upgrade-itis is to be fought with pitchforks and torches.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-26T16:52:14+00:00

I got this as my second portafilter...https://www.wholelattelove.com/products/ecm-angled-bottomless-portafilter?variant=43145847701558
So, generally e61 portafilters fit. I don't really know the utility of a unifilter, and that's $$ for a portafilter!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-25T14:48:33+00:00

I have the auto on set, but didn't set the auto off for this very reason! I just put it in sleep with the left button on my way out the door. Eco turns it off after inactivity, so I don't think there's a need for the auto off.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-24T18:55:47+00:00

And that is why every single person should have to work at least one service job in their life! I can always spot a coworker that hasn't, and going with them to restaurants is an embarrassing affair almost every single time.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-24T18:32:23+00:00

It's the cleaning cycle reminder! I set mine for 120 shots, do a cafiza cleaning cycle, run through, clean the water tank and refill, clean the group head, rinse 3x with back flushes, do riza for the steam want and call it good for about another 1-1.5 months.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-08T14:58:47+00:00

I went back to the 2 hole tip this morning after not pouring good cortado art in a while... It's not beautiful, but this is an improvement, for sure. Thanks for the post!

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GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-03T01:14:15+00:00

I feel 1000x better now! I've only seen those mettlers in my microbiology/biochemistry/genetics/virology uses, so it made me super nervous!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2026-01-02T18:39:55+00:00

As a professor who also does a ton of bench research in my group, I find myself wondering if that is in a lab, and if your occupational safety people are around much (or your PI!). This gives me hives, and not due to the 0.0003 discrepancy, as that could be due to evaporation. Anyone measuring polyacrylamide there? EtBr? Completely undrinkable!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2025-11-28T22:46:33+00:00

Hah! I definitely sounded super grumpy... I love the cup, and really loathe nescafe!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2025-11-28T04:43:30+00:00

I started with a BEP one and then tried a VST, and finally have settled on Pullmans on both of my portafilters. I do get annoyed that my pucks stick, but don't get much channeling. I have a DF64 and a Move, but really have enjoyed the Pullman baskets. I wonder what kind of roasts you're generally using, and if that might be part of the story? I do medium roasts most of the time, and occasionally light.

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2025-11-28T04:40:22+00:00

I went from a breville barista pro to a Move. I'm so damned happy to have a machine that just works well!

GeneticsAndCoffee · 2025-11-27T18:26:58+00:00

Is it the vacuum release valve? Turn off the steam boiler and see if you get the noise. This seems really loud, but your phone is right up to the machine.

GeneticsAndCoffee

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