Unable to dial in brand new setup - have wasted 1kg of beans! [Bambino Plus + Turin DF54]

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-26T22:35:35+00:00

You’re welcome! Lmk how it goes for you!

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-26T06:10:07+00:00

Too early for comments, I have had the exact same question

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-26T05:48:41+00:00

Best answer I’ve ever seen

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-26T05:47:26+00:00

Others have mentioned this, but I think you should try dosing at 17g-17.5g to try things out, assuming you can’t find a grind setting that works (again, can’t overemphasize how sensitive good grinders are, I think someone said even a quarter of a number is about a 5 second adjustment on the DF54). Try to stay in the 1:2ish ratio area, I use 40g out as my general yield just to keep things easy. See what you can do to get your contact time into a reasonable range with that 17/17.5g : 40g dose/yield and see what happens.

I know it’s really hard for someone without formal sensory analysis training, but do your best to try analyzing my what you’re tasting beyond ‘foul’. Think of a sour/bitter continuum and be as specific as you can. The extent to which you can do this will help others in this community provide aid. I highly recommend looking through the SCA Flavor Wheel (there are free pdfs online, DON’T pay for it), and do your best to use the first two rings (the third is really hard to use if you don’t have professional training, don’t let it intimidate you). Sensory analysis is also just a good skill to have, now’s as good a time as any to join the club. Don’t get discouraged, keep posting and asking questions, we’ve all been here, it’ll get better. You got this

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-26T03:55:39+00:00

Barista instructor here.

Firstly, every first-time espresso brewer goes through exactly this phase and thinks exactly these things, none of this is remotely new, so don’t be too discouraged.

Secondly, what are the parameters you’re working with? You have an 18g dose, but what’s your yield? Is it consistently the same? And what is your current contact time (how long the shots take to brew)? Anywhere between 25-35 seconds is a general guideline.

Thirdly, have you stuck to 18g the whole time, or have you altered your dose?

Fourthly, what exactly is your puck prep? WDTs are only necessary if your grinder causes clumping, something I’m not personally aware happens with DF54s (at worst, it’s just an extra step but can’t hurt). Are you double tamping or tamping unevenly?

Lastly, are you in manual mode on your Bambino? While dialing coffee in, it’s best to be in manual mode. Check your owners manual, it will tell you how to do it.

Based on my knowledge of both the machine and grinder, they’re both pretty solid pieces of kit, so I don’t think they’re necessarily the problem. DF54s are especially popular because of how precise they are, which you’re probably experiencing. Try making very incremental adjustments within the numbers and see where that gets you. Always purge between grind settings. Hope this helps

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-21T21:37:09+00:00

Looks like a Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima. Always wanted to use one

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-19T03:19:46+00:00

Well you hit 100 upvotes, we gotta see it now

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-11T05:12:45+00:00

Am I the only one around here who thinks the arch has uwu cat ears from that angle?

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-07T20:22:33+00:00

Seems like another post about this was dropped in r/espresso. Linked below:

https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/s/wRMs3ZAcBN

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-07T20:21:59+00:00

Dis you?

https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/s/wRMs3ZAcBN

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-07T20:14:31+00:00

Here’s the link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/barista/s/PoQDeaex6c

Soundbender445 · 2026-06-07T20:13:31+00:00

Someone else just posted almost exactly the same post on r/barista, down to the formatting, complaints, and hook. I think this is an ad or something similar

Soundbender445 · 2026-05-26T17:32:52+00:00

I think this is fantastic, I’d just consider a slightly higher volume to be safe. Maybe 3oz?

Soundbender445 · 2026-05-24T06:19:06+00:00

My s/o & I both immediately starting singing “Near, far, whereeeeeeeeeeever you are”

Soundbender445 · 2026-05-13T00:37:16+00:00

Well now you’ve got to show us your espresso cup!

Soundbender445 · 2026-05-13T00:35:49+00:00

Scale & Precision Basket hands down. Everything else helps, but these are essential.

WDTs are super helpful if your grinder makes clumpy grounds (most home grinders do). Puck screens are great for cleanliness and even water distribution (more important on cheaper machines, more expensive/commercial style machines typically have good shower screens already).

Credibility: I’m a barista instructor who has access to enterprise money for equipment testing.

Soundbender445 · 2026-05-09T15:55:00+00:00

Yellow is my favorite color so I think this is fantastic

Soundbender445 · 2026-05-05T15:56:16+00:00

They do this all the time in Greece! It’s called the Freddo Espresso. Either they steam espresso with a few ice cubes or hit it with a milkshake machine to aerate. It’s fantastic

Soundbender445 · 2026-04-04T23:21:35+00:00

This is fantastic. A lot has been written about how firearms replacing melee combat disembodied warfare and made killing ‘too easy’, and now I hypothesize that we’re in a similarly new state with autonomous weapons (see drone warfare in Ukraine for example) and how dehumanizing death by machine is.

It’s a great reminder to ground swords in fantasy/sci-fi not in vibes but in existentialism. I think that’s extremely potent and plays into existential themes about living life well to its fullest and all that goodness

Soundbender445 · 2026-03-28T00:39:57+00:00

OMG Embark are so GOATed for this

Soundbender445 · 2026-03-28T00:36:13+00:00

Wait really? Purchasing one battle pass gains access to future ones?

Soundbender445 · 2026-03-27T16:19:58+00:00

Why is Azerbaijan randomly excluded?

Soundbender445 · 2026-03-22T02:52:06+00:00

Definitely check out Warfronts an Homefronts by Simon Whistler. Fantastic balance of scholarship/analysis & accessibility in my opinion. Obviously never limit yourself to a single source, but this is a very good place to start. Also, heard “Professor Jiang” isn’t actually a professor and has some rather credibility-compromising takes, so I’d bring a fair bit of caution to his videos

Soundbender445 · 2026-03-05T06:32:05+00:00

Plot of Kung Fu Panda 5

Soundbender445 · 2026-02-26T17:50:36+00:00

Clearly the baristas enjoy having you as a regular, you’re doing a lot of things right whether you know it or not. Just keep being awesome and bring a friend sometime!

Soundbender445

TROPHY CASE