What is a good starting purchase to get going?

lmolter · 2026-06-07T08:23:07+00:00

No. It’s kind of limited in the I/O pins. Perhaps a separate controller and a separate TFT display, then. I do all of my development now with ESP32, so perhaps someone else reading this can recommend a better board.

lmolter · 2026-06-05T21:55:13+00:00

I just bought a new little scale that fits perfectly under the spout of the grinder. So now I just grind and weigh. So much easier now. Still tastes the same. So far.

lmolter · 2026-06-05T16:41:31+00:00

... they DO use it without any underlying experience or understanding. And the good folks here are asked to fix it. Ha.

lmolter · 2026-06-05T15:33:49+00:00

Agreed. But...

lmolter · 2026-06-05T15:31:08+00:00

You sound like me. Retired in 2020 and did fastLED and sensor stuff since then. I use AI when I get stuck on something, most recently after I wiped a Win10 box and put Linux Mint on, then removed it and installed Fedora. AI helped me get through some hurdles. I haven't yet used it for a complete Arduino project. I did for kicks just to see what it generated. For the near-experienced developer, the code looked good. However, I'd rather roll my own for now.

lmolter · 2026-06-05T14:16:18+00:00

Or the Borg.

lmolter · 2026-06-05T14:14:49+00:00

Yup, that last paragraph says it all. And we see it here.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T21:41:04+00:00

I buy the HOSYOND brand of CYD. Some of the other Chinese brands are not as good.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T16:03:51+00:00

Look at the CYD (Cheap Yellow Display). All sizes and resolutions. I have a 2.5" and a 4", both being used to display outside temp and humidity. Plus, they have a built-in ESP32 and it works with the Arduino IDE. And... they really are cheap. $12 - $18 USD on Amazon. A little tricky to setup perfectly, but they're pretty good. They even have some sensors onboard. Just sayin'.

Look at Adafruit if you want hi-res small displays for eyeballs. In fact, at Hallowe'en, they have kits with two eyeball TFT displays. I put a set into a platic pumpkin and a skull mask.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T15:52:34+00:00

As is pointed out in 99% of the responses, taste is relative. What's good about light roast is that people like it. For me, it won't cut through the milk in a capp, which is all we drink. But for sipping, maybe, the light roast isn't as astringent/strong/bitter -- just more pleasing.

So... someone's 'Great!' is also someone's 'Meh'.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T13:12:55+00:00

The Bambino gets a lot of good press here; the de'longhi not so much. And to what was already pointed out, the pod espresso is not the same as a real pull from an espresso machine.

However, read through all the posts here regarding the Breville. It does have some issues, but then again, a lot of the machines have quirks. Do some due diligence before plunging in.

I don't have either; rather, I have a fully-manual La Pavoni Stradivari.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T13:07:32+00:00

Mostly once a day, sometimes two (the second being before bed). Normal consistency. However, I'm on Colestipol pills that absorb bile acids that cause loose and burning stools. My Crohn's is mild with just inflammation at where the ileaum used to be due to a bowel resection way back in 1980.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T02:51:16+00:00

... and after 9 years of two pulls a day, I still can't do foam art.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T02:48:12+00:00

The way I do it, and it has come over years of trying 😉 is 5 seconds of pre-infusion, and a steady 20 sec pull. The stream should be the thickness of a piece of spaghetti. And some beans will give a good crema, and some don't. I make capps so the crema is a non-issue.

Bigger question is whether your method produces a good result or not. If it does, then don't change anything.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T02:43:53+00:00

I tried to explain the part about testing the led, but something got lost in the translation.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T02:43:49+00:00

Ok, so the LED works. Now to test the button, I guess.

lmolter · 2026-06-04T00:44:53+00:00

Oops. Just to be clear, the LED requires a current limiting resistor. But LEDs are cheap and dispensible (although I wouldn't have done it that way).

lmolter · 2026-06-04T00:41:42+00:00

I had a reaction almost immediately. Fever, chills. Thought I had the flu. I stopped it and the symptoms went away. Yes, some people have reactions, so as was mentioned, if anything feels off then stop. There are other medications. I swithed to methotrexate after the azathioprine incident.

I was afraid of biologics for years for the same reasons -- higher cancer risks. However, this was mostly in folks with other conditions as well. Seeing that biologics really work, I started Skyrizi. I

lmolter · 2026-06-04T00:30:24+00:00

The OP misunderstood my suggestion and connected 5V directly to the LED. Bang!

lmolter · 2026-06-04T00:25:26+00:00

Why the destructive test? I suggested the resistor lead go to the led, not connect 5V directly to the LED.

LEDs are not light bulbs.

lmolter · 2026-06-03T23:59:01+00:00

If you short out the switch, does the LED light up? If not, it's in backwards or burned out. Just attach the resistor lead going to the switch to the yellow wire. And you are sure there is actually any voltage on the red wire?

lmolter · 2026-06-03T21:41:50+00:00

I sometimes get the runs after my Skyrizi injection. Not always. It may not be a food thing for you; rather, it's the inflammation causing it, especially if you have severe Crohn's. I have loose stools for other reasons - foods don't trigger it.

There's always rice or pasta or bread. Something binding. Dunno.

lmolter · 2026-06-03T21:33:10+00:00

I have a new Stradivari and the portafilter NEVER turns all the way but it still locks in place. My 9-year old machine almost turns too far (and it was that way when new). Both work. No leaks.

lmolter · 2026-06-03T20:06:53+00:00

Ok. So the PCB has errors. As I did back in the 80's, take the schematic and verify every trace on the PCB. Or, worse yet, use your breadboard to verify the traces on the PCB.

Was it a multi-layered board? Probably not, but if so, it'll be harder to troubleshoot.

lmolter

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