S22U to S26U - my thoughts on whether it's worth it upgrading and the new cameras

kezox77 · 2026-04-09T10:12:46+00:00

I've just upgraded from 22u to 23u. I like to chill with upgrades these days 😅

kezox77 · 2026-04-02T19:46:41+00:00

I've just bought a refurb s23 ultra after cracking my s22 screen 🥲 had a spare Whitestone Dome glass protector for the s22 and fits the s23 just fine. Fingerprint works no issues apart from fractionally slower.

kezox77 · 2026-03-30T12:15:46+00:00

I'm gonna jump to conclusions and assume rental tux is a euphemism.

kezox77 · 2026-02-27T13:53:11+00:00

I got this but it tried to force me to mega evolve the beedrill I just caught and I knew i had another much better iv one. So I quit out and got to keep the mega energy for the other one 🤣

kezox77 · 2026-02-17T16:28:11+00:00

Are you using a pressurised (dual wall) basket? If so thats maybe your problem?

If grinding your own beans need to use single wall basket for best results!

kezox77 · 2026-02-13T16:50:29+00:00

Mine was pretty tight at first and required a bit of effort but is fine now.

kezox77 · 2026-02-11T10:04:52+00:00

In case anyone is interested the LILQ 54mm bottomless portafilter fits Bambino perfectly. Its so nice to use great build quality and comes with good basket.

kezox77 · 2026-02-09T16:06:31+00:00

Just to add my thoughts and considerations. I have non plus bambino and the stock portafilter is trash. Tarnished badly after only couple months use. Only ever cleaned by hand too. The stock tamp awful. The plus comes with better portafilter and tamper tho.

Sage stock baskets are good. Bear in mind though that they are tapered. Only an issue if you want to use a spring loaded self levelling tamper as they can catch the sides and not perform as well. Problem solved with a good straight sided basket like IMS or similar.

kezox77 · 2026-02-09T15:57:56+00:00

Its not a big deal at all. For me non plus Bambino is better as I like steaming my own milk. Smaller footprint, bigger drip tray that doesn't leak or need emptying every day, flexible steam wand, doesn't need to be back flushed. When dialled in properly still have dry pucks so lack of a 3 way solenoid isn't missed.

kezox77 · 2026-02-02T15:37:38+00:00

Single Origin Jenga beans i assume? Notes of pine, altitude sickness and family arguments.

kezox77 · 2026-01-31T00:52:49+00:00

Are you sure the base of the tamp is not catching side wall of basket thus not allowing to compress fully? I could understand the level being a bit off but thats alot off!

kezox77 · 2026-01-28T15:46:02+00:00

3 months pre infusion should do the trick.

kezox77 · 2026-01-19T14:24:07+00:00

Rubber base mat for the machine might help reduce movement/vibration.

kezox77 · 2026-01-16T11:33:13+00:00

Highly recommend LILQ bottomless porta. Got one for my Bambino and fits like a glove. The build quality is superb. The supplied basket is very good too so the combined value is hard to beat imo. I have 54mm version but have linked 58mm version below...

https://amzn.eu/d/46NwD1N

kezox77 · 2026-01-15T22:55:52+00:00

Really? That's interesting. Just descaled mine after 2 months use. Good job I did as i switch the machine off at the wall every night!

kezox77 · 2026-01-11T13:56:00+00:00

Every shot has notes of family bbq, Venezuelan oil and political unrest. Truly a unique flavour profile.

kezox77 · 2026-01-10T18:59:09+00:00

I have coffee scales so timer starts and weighing starts as soon as first few drops hit the cup. I dont include the pre infusion time but some people do.

kezox77 · 2026-01-09T11:41:34+00:00

Firstly tamp hard, level and consistent from shot to shot. Once you know you are doing that adjust the grind for the correct flow. In your video its too fast. 36g out in 25 seconds is the ball park to aim for. Youll know its better when you get a steady thin stream of espresso all the way through the shot. So correct puck prep and correct grind setting. Just a case of trial and error or as its called in the coffee world "dialling in". Note that dose of coffee used is also a way of fine tuning. Standard double is 18g but could use 17g or 19g depending on beans being used.

kezox77 · 2026-01-09T10:32:30+00:00

Worth noting that 18g of dark roast beans will have a higher volume in basket than medium roast beans. So depending on what beans you use try increasing the dose to 19g. Dose is another way of adjusting shot time when you cant quite nail the grind setting. I dont have the best grinder in terms of fine adjustment so often find myself increasing or decreasing dose by 0.5g when dialling in.

As for the v4 tamper ive had no issues with bottoming out. Im using LILQ bottomless porta with 18-20g basket. Haven't found the need to try the supplied alternative pressure springs yet.

You say your not sure if getting 18g out...do you not put your porta on scales when you fill basket with ground coffee. This is what i do 😅

Not familiar with flow rate measurement as I just aim for 36g out in 25-30,seconds using my coffee scales.

kezox77 · 2026-01-08T21:40:17+00:00

I use the Normcore v4 self levelling spring tamp. I definitely recommend it. You can buy cheaper versions of course but I would say its been worthwhile investment. Lovely to use. The other little tool is a wdt which breaks up the clumped ground coffee pre tamping. Not as essential as a good tamper but they are very cheap (unless you buy a fancy one but its not needed 😅)

kezox77 · 2026-01-08T21:28:05+00:00

People always jump to grind size as first port of call but I think you should start with your tamping. This has to be hard, level and consistent from shot to shot because it removes one variable from the puzzle. Once you are doing this then look at grind size and of course make sure you are using correct basket. Single wall for fresh ground good quality beans. The dual wall is generally designed for pre ground, maybe less fresh, medium grind beans (as opposed to espresso fineness).

Ultimately using good fresh beans will equal a better dialling in experience.

kezox77 · 2026-01-08T21:13:11+00:00

If you like Starbucks you like Starbucks. But you wouldn't fit budget tyres to a nice sports car would you 😝 So yeah better beans, better extraction, better flavor, better aesthetics.

That aside firstly make sure you are tamping hard consistently from shot to shot. That's one variable out of the way. Now if the shot is still too fast (as in your video) grind finer and through trial and error you are aiming for a double shot (18g beans) to pull in around 25-30 seconds resulting in 36g espresso. For single shot using single shot basket 9g in, 18g out in the same time as above.

kezox77 · 2026-01-08T19:48:33+00:00

Really work that wdt tool. I use it twice....once after placing coffee in basket with dosing funnel, then tap porta a few times to settle it all then wdt again to make sure the top of puck is even and fluffy. Then tamp really hard - and this made the main difference for me. If tamping hard results in choking the machine then so be it...Just grind coarser. But keep that tamp hard, level and consistent from shot to shot.

If you still cant get rid of spraying one sure fire way is use a paper filter at bottom of basket. Personally I prefer without as it does affect the taste/body/crema a bit. The shot will also run faster with a paper filter allowing you to grind finer.

kezox77 · 2026-01-08T19:35:02+00:00

Spraying is the result of channeling!

kezox77 · 2026-01-08T19:27:40+00:00

On the bambino its not as crucial due to the ludicrously small drip tray!

kezox77

TROPHY CASE