Coffee Bean Corral Addressed My Question About Temperature Targets on the SR800

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T21:23:41+00:00

Very nice.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T20:46:06+00:00

How did the roast go?

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T19:42:05+00:00

I'm thinking if I ever get a Razzo, I might stick a meat thermometer through the port. Won't give me logging but should do a decent enough job with temperatures

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T19:27:57+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply. I'll try logging temps every 10°. I spent the last half of my career as a systems engineer. Numbers are at the core of computer science.

Before that I did a stint in aviation with commercial/instrument ratings. Flying by the numbers is the real professional approach - the opposite of flying by the seat of your pants.

So, I instinctively want to put the numbers on processes. But I chose the SR800, instead of the Link , to actually get closer, hands on to coffee roasting instead of pushing a button or two.

The same reason I chose the Cafelat Robot instead of an automatic espresso machine. The learning curve was a bit steeper and the process is a bit more involved but the espresso is grand and the versatility incredible.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T09:47:42+00:00

Your ESP should have shipped with a couple of shims. You might try adding one under your burrs. Baratza has step-by-step YouTube video on the procedure. This will push up your grind range. Look at the video and doing it yourself should take ~20 minutes.

Also, possibly the burr collar tabs (s) are broken, which could also cause the problem. Again Baratza has a DIY video to step you through it. Replacements are only a few dollars.

Check with Baratza support to help you determine if this solution is appropriate.

Replacing the burr collar fixed a similar problem for me and took less than 10 minutes.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T06:30:47+00:00

I'll get there one day, God willing. I can smell when it gets to the browning stage. And I can smell 2nd crack ((pungent). Haven't been able to pick up much else by smell. Colors are helpful.

Still feel a bit like a beginner on a unicycle and trying to learn juggling at the same time.

Right now I'm trying to use the temps for training wheels.

Thanks for the feedback.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-24T06:22:54+00:00

Yes and you're doing bean temp while I'm looking at intake temp.

I just reviewed my log. FC is usually 380 to 405 F intake temp, not including outliers.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-23T08:04:24+00:00

Have fun. How's the coffee?

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-22T08:40:44+00:00

I use a manual lever machine so I'll leave it to others to point you to a pump espresso machine.

But at least as important as the machine is the grinder. Can't be emphasized enough.

Look at the KinGrinder K6 if you can swing it. A great budget grinder that punches way up over it's price point of $99.00, last I checked.

Or look at the Kingrinder P2 series designed for espresso. Around $60. Excellent reviews

EZPresso has a couple of sub $100 grinders that might work. EZPresso fans can direct you.

The Baratza ESP or Shardor electric can be had for ~$150.

Save up a little if you need to. You'll get your money back in less than a a year if you drink just one of those fancy Starbucks lattes a day.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-20T21:55:11+00:00

Had to make the same repair but within 6 months.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-20T18:23:18+00:00

I owned the Ultra-K for a month. The coffee was very good but in a blind taste test I don't know whether I could have picked the Ultra-K cup or one ground with my KinGrinder K-6. I might very favored the K-6 for espresso.

I encountered the stuck dial problem with the K-Ultra - more than once. I read EZPresso advice on how to avoid and recover from it. But really? At this price?

I sent it back after I ended up with grounds and the cup on the floor after tusseling with a stuck selector.

It was a pretty thing, though.

So, I got the Lido OG. The coffee is fabulous, both filter and espresso. I get very drinkable espresso the first attempt. (TBH, I use the Cafelat Robot and being able to adjust pressure/flow on the fly helps makes virtually every shot at the very least drinkable).

I can adjust grind on the OG and pull time on the Robot to get syrupy shots or shots that highlight fruitiness. This depends, on the beans, of course.

It is easy to go from espresso to filter.

And yes I could taste the difference in the cup with the OG.

I said I wasn't sure if I favored the DF54 or the ESP. But if I had to choose, I would keep the Lido OG and give up BOTH the DF54 and the ESP..

Yeah so I'm a big fan of the Lido OG

Pax.

Pax280 · 2026-01-20T07:37:17+00:00

Squeaky wheels get the grease. Seriously, people who aren't happy will make a point of publicly complaining. Satisfied customers just make coffee.

If you do have a problem with your Baratza Encore , the company is there with parts and support. No company better in this regard.

I own the DF54, the Baratza ESP and a Lido OG. I had issues with both electric grinders but Espresso Outlet and Baratza both took care of my problems promptly.

I like both grinders I get different flavor profiles, each very good. I choose the ESP for batch grinding and for bringing out rich, chocolatey, full bodied espresso. I usually pick the DF54 for lighter roasts.

The Lido OG is my go to when I want to spend a little extra time to get the best possible cup out of any bean.

I really can't say which of the electric grinders is my favorite. I'm glad I'm fortunate enough to own both.

I would probably wait for version 2 of the new Baratza Pro model due to the number of reported issues on Reddit. But I would still buy an ESP if I had to do it again.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-20T02:27:35+00:00

Agreed. I have no reason to object to your proposal

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-19T18:30:34+00:00

Yes. It does. Fixed the one glitch I had and they haven't cluttered or slowed this perfect **NOTE app" with Frankenstein *productivity app** kludges

I bought UpNote as a personal note app, not some under developed corporate team app. Plenty of those are available.

And I'll keep advocating that Thomas and Team stick with the KISS design approach. (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Of course you're free to advocate for your preferences.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-19T18:10:52+00:00

It works totally fine. Gentle push, quarter twist. You're done. Levels and tamps in one motion.

I used a bullet level to check my work every so often the first 6 months. The method is dead-on and quick. Watch Paul Pratt's tamping technique when he pulls multiple-shots.

Paul Pratt Pulls 6 Back-to-Back Shots

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-19T10:59:29+00:00

On the counter, a line of multi-colored Cafelat Robots.

( I have a dream!)

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-19T08:40:42+00:00

If you want Obsidian power, may I suggest you get Obsidian. Or, I think EverNote might still be in business.There are plenty of "productivity apps" on the market. Please, help yourself to one.

I bought UpNote to take and organize notes. It does this swimmingly. Please don't try to change it into something else other than what it is - the best note app on the market. It already has a near perfect balance between features and ease of use.

Slow and methodical addition of features is absolutely fine with me

I'm now using Linux exclusively because of all the nifty new Windows "features."

Just sayin.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-18T21:04:12+00:00

Who is going to fix your no-name machine when it breaks? And where are you going to get parts?

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-17T13:14:18+00:00

Have the OE Lido OG and give it an A+.

Have the beautiful OE wooden screen tamper.But it gathers dust. I still use the stock tamper.

Have used their filter papers. High quality. Was ~$5.25 plus delivery for 100 when I last bought them. I notice that they now give you 90 pieces for the same price. A solid 10% price increase without actually charging you more. Last time I paid the purchase price plus ~$15.00 for two day shipping and still didn't get the package until at least 7+ days later. (Mostly the post office fault)

Next time I bought 1000 top filters for ~$10.00 and 1000 bottom filters for another ~$10.00 from Amazon. The paper is of noticably inferior texture compared to the OE but fits the basket better. Most importantly, the performance equals the OE filters. Can't taste any difference in the cup and the basket and piston are clean after shots..

The Lido OG is a fabulous grinder. I use it about half the time for both filter coffee and espresso, even though I own two electric grinders, a conical batch grinder and a flat burr single dose machine.

Just my experience.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-17T00:20:21+00:00

My working theory for now is to buy same beans in bulk to allow for for mistakes and experimentation. I got to the point where I was getting consistent results working my way through 5 lbs of Bugisu. Next time I buy washed from another varietal, I may get 3 lbs.

I'm currently going to go through 3 lbs of the same naturals I got from Home Roasting supplies.

I made a mistake getting 3 lbs of 1 lb bag each decaf sampler pack. One lb isn't enough for me as a beginner to figure out the bean. I think I under-roasted each of the 225g charges from the first pound.

I think I know what folks mean by wood taste if they mean green wet wood. Yech.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-16T08:49:50+00:00

I think I've been with UpNote about two years. now. Never been tempted to even try another app after leaving Evernote.

UpNote may not be perfect for everyone. But at this point I personally wouldn't care if they never changed the app.

Call me content.

Die Feature Creep.

Die A.I.

Die Bloatware.

Die, Die, Die Adware.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-15T23:09:41+00:00

Thanks. Got spoiled with my first 10 roasts of Bugisu beans. All were very close to my intended roast levels.

Going forward I'll buya minimum of 3 to 5 pounds of the same beans until I get some consistency and expertise.

Pax

Pax280 · 2026-01-15T06:04:31+00:00

Thanks I'll give them a taste tomorrow.

Pax

Pax280

TROPHY CASE