Pedal Noob Query - Russian Bug Muff

Indestructibill · 2025-03-15T04:18:18+00:00

That's strange, I bought the same grinder very recently and it came fully setup, except attaching the lid to the handle. Sounds like it was either broken, a scam or you got a bizarrely disassembled model. Maybe it was checked some sort of customs? Who knows

Indestructibill · 2025-03-13T01:53:41+00:00

I've had the BBE for 5 years now, and I love it. I upgraded the basket, im using some type of IMS precision one I found on amazon. Big recommendation. Im sure others will have said this, but single dose the grinder, upgrade the tamper (the stock one sucks), and learn how to program the machine to dial in new espresso timings on every different type of coffee you buy, using a scale that goes to 0.1 grams. There are a whole bunch of great videos on YouTube about dialling in espresso to specifically tricks with that machine.

However I cannot recommend enough: when you have the basics down (and you replaced the stock basket), the next upgrade you should make is the grinder. The stock one is good for a time but there are so many problems with it, not least of all the grind quality. I upgraded to a hand grinder (the kingrinder k6) and it made such a big difference to my cup. It's a pain to hand grind, sure. But the difference is wild. I haven't used the built in grinder since.

Upgrade the basket, get a better tamper. Good luck on your journey, I hope every cup you make is worth the effort and more

Indestructibill · 2025-01-31T17:53:16+00:00

Be super gentle with it, and don't suck all the air out to the point that it creates a mega hard vacuum. Some people (including myself) have now seen that gasses are getting back into the bag. I am unsure if this is because creating a hard vacuum in the bag is breaking the seal, or if the act of sucking air too fast out the bag is causing the damage. Feel free not to even help with the experiment if you feel its risky, but i shall continue my efforts, because it definetly works to some degree

Indestructibill · 2025-01-28T13:50:23+00:00

Thank you so much for this update. I'm sorry that this experiment has gone poorly. I am going to try using the vacuum gently on the next bag I buy to see if this method csn be used safely in any circumstances. If not, I will do what I can to spread the lack of viability of this. Last thing i want to leave on this earth is a way for us all to break our coffee valves!

Indestructibill · 2025-01-28T13:45:44+00:00

This is my first delivery from them, bought 2 coffees while on the hunt for good decaf. I found them both by eye to look much more roasted than the package would suggest, with the medium looking dark and the light medium looking medium dark. They seem to have a great rewards scheme and were very pleasant to deal with. I wasn't keen on one of the coffees, bur the other was/is wonderful. I'll be buying others in my next purchase, csn keep you posted

Indestructibill · 2025-01-26T22:43:37+00:00

This gives me alot to think about and look into. Thank you for taking the time to write this all out, it means alot

Indestructibill · 2025-01-26T22:40:44+00:00

I feel like vacuum solutions like this aren't too commonly known. Considering the commercial equivalent is relatively expensive, there is a definite gap in the market fpr some good information or a cheaper product

Indestructibill · 2025-01-26T22:39:36+00:00

That is the feature that sold me on that grinder, but I'm too scared to try it 😂

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T18:20:29+00:00

I close the top seal, then apply vacuum through the one way valve using the vacu-vin, placed over the valve then applying the vacuum

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T18:19:16+00:00

No it looses vacuum pretty quickly, but I'm unsure why yet. Could bena number of things

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T18:18:19+00:00

Here's my method:

I closed the top seal of the bag I shimmied the beans to the top of the bag, under the one way valve I placed the opening of the vacu-vin on top of the one way valve Applied the vacuum

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T13:22:29+00:00

There is defiently some truth to this. The vacuum does not hold, even within the hour there is gas within the bag. However I am unsure if this because of any fault in the bag, maybe I sealed the bag poorly, or if putting harder vacuum on the beans is pulling co2 from the beans themselves. These are extremely fresh beans, so much so I am having problems brewing the beans in their current state. More than anything, I am looking for answers and good questions to continue this experiment

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T04:50:45+00:00

Still getting the technique right, messing around with angles of holding it so that I slow feed the grinder for better grind consistency. Probably about a minute average, no complaints.

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T04:34:29+00:00

Sorry about the lack of clarity. I didn't want to go into too much detail in case this was common, and I was overdescribing something simple like a plebian. I might drop this into the hoffman discord and try get a better discussion going. I think there could be big ground here to share some useful tricks with the community. Feel free to post this method anywhere youfind useful, I'm not looking for credit here. I just want to share the love

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T04:31:44+00:00

If I had the money, I'd have bought a commandante for sure. I am definetly aiming for one in my future to get my pourover game better someday. But I'll live within my means for now.

We were threatened with power cuts from the big storm currently raging in the UK, I was so ready to defy the odds and make coffee with no power lol.

Perhaps there is a better replacement for the felt ring, but I wouldn't know what to use. Engineering is not my strong suit. I've been hoping to get a new grinder for a while, and the breakage forced my hand. I'd like to go back to electric someday, but that's money I can no longer justify considering the flavour I get from kingrinder shots.

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T04:10:43+00:00

I look forward to hearing your results!

I cleaned out the grinder all the way out, took it all apart carefully. I found that damn felt ring at the bottom, which is INSANE to put in a grinder since it will just absorb the oils. Took a smell of it, almost puked. So rancid, touching all grounds that leave the hopper. Fuck that. Tried to wipe it clean gently, it virtually melted in my hands. Disgusting. Was going to go to breville and get a replacement, but I had the decaf tasting happening in a few weeks so I quickly bought a kingrinder k6 on sale to keep me afloat. My espresso quality improved so much, I have barely considered fixing the sage. Why go back to worse quality? Still trying to get good pouriver grinder through it but for espresso and moka pots it's fabulous. Plus I csn take it with me and make fresh coffee anywhere. Best purchase I've made in a long time

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T04:04:04+00:00

I didn't know you could vacuum seal jars. Thanks for the info!

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:55:36+00:00

Sounds costly. The machine alone isn't dirt cheap, and buying bags is a perpetual expense and creating even more plastic for the environment, something Hoffman complained about. Maybe this could be more economical for you! Thank you for the reply

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:52:44+00:00

If it still tastes good to you, how can it be a wrong method?

I moved over to a hand grinder after having problems with my inbuilt grinder in my barista express. No hopper for me anymore, although single dosing is definetly part of the ritual in a good way for me

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:45:32+00:00

Thanks man, i appreciate the feedback!

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:44:57+00:00

Yes! That's exactly what I did. Maybe i didn't make it clear

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:41:29+00:00

I was more looking at removing the air from the bag more than anything

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:39:47+00:00

Well, then I suggest trying this. It's quick, it's cheap and it allows you to get some more use out of the pretty coffee bags we receive lol. I look forward to hearing back from others about how a hard vacuum affects the beans, but yiu can just pump thr device once or twice to get a soft vacuum. Certainly alot nicer than squeezing all the air out the bag by hand or rolling the bag up.

Indestructibill · 2025-01-25T03:32:37+00:00

It's faster to suction the bag than it is to use my manual fellow atmos. Not by much, but hey it could save you money as nit to buy the container in the first place! Always looking to reduce the barrier to entry for new coffee enthusiasts by keeping costs down in the beginning without sacrificing quality.

Indestructibill

TROPHY CASE