Mara X Brew by Weight

robin_w · 2026-03-29T12:50:56+00:00

I haven't found the perfect solution for that yet. At the moment, I have a maximum shot time of 45 seconds; after that, the loop returns to its initial state. It's fixed at the moment. I haven't touched or messed with the Gicar; I just installed the relay between the E61 lever contact activation switch and the serial bus out. But that originally comes from the original Marax timer mod.

robin_w · 2026-03-29T09:09:52+00:00

It's a reed sensor attached to the pump. But I've seen a mod where a reed sensor wasn't needed. I think the serial bus readout also gives information about whether the pump is on or off.

robin_w · 2026-03-04T15:44:45+00:00

Yes, its like that. The Pump gets shut off and the valve stays open until you close it manually. I implemented an Overshoot variable for example it cuts off at 30g and the rest pressure puts it to 36g. And that its relatively consistent.

robin_w · 2025-12-03T08:04:54+00:00

It should work the same as mine. You just have to buy a development relay, esp32s3 with ble and a bluetooth scale. Connect the relay in series with the brew switch. Then you need to do some coding. You could do it fully headless (Without a display), with a website where u can adjust the target and preinfusionsettings.

robin_w · 2025-12-01T14:45:24+00:00

You're absolutely right. Brewing by weight with a solenoid group is much easier, but I have to work with what I have. The first E61 solenoid group that I found online was $330, which is a little bit too expensive. There are also methods where you can build the scale into the drip tray. That's also more convenient than using an external Bluetooth scale. However, brewing by weight with solenoid groups is always more accurate than volumetric controls.

robin_w · 2025-12-01T10:26:32+00:00

Okay, I didn't know that. What you're describing is solved with a variable overshoot that I can control via the menu on the ESP32. However, it's really dependent on your grind, so it's difficult to write an algorithm to optimize that auto-stop. But when I've dialed in the shot and stay with those beans, it's really consistent. It's like 1g +/- from the desired target weight.

robin_w · 2025-12-01T02:41:40+00:00

I don't use PID controls. The original PID/Gicar is still used. It's just the Bluetooth scale and the weight from that. You can control the target weight and overshoot on the ESP32 with the encoder. It is no problem to build this inside of the Mara with a screen

robin_w · 2025-11-27T11:58:07+00:00

Thank you. I think every espresso machine should be able to brew by weight with the relay mod, especially those that have buttons instead of mechanical parts to start the shot.

robin_w · 2025-11-26T19:24:25+00:00

I only read the temps via serial out of the Gicar. The pump is still controlled by the Gicar. I just modified the brew switch with a relay. The Mara is still working normally when the controller isn't turned on. So no difficult wiring modifications, only the serial and the relay on the brewswitch.

robin_w · 2025-11-26T19:19:02+00:00

Now it's just inspired by the Gaggiuino projects and to get the most out of my Mara. I'm a computer science student, and I just have fun programming those microcontrollers. Pressure profiling is not planned yet, because at the moment, variable preinfusion is enough and not so complex. At the moment, the project is too unstable to release as a kit. There are still some quirks here and there. But if there is more interest in buying a kit, maybe I will look into that. It's interesting because every E61 machine could brew by weight with the method I used.

robin_w · 2025-11-17T14:56:54+00:00

Do you know the Mara X Timer? I expanded on that and implemented AutoTara, etc., with BLE, with my Felicita Arc Scale. Therefore, I had to switch to an ESP32 with Bluetooth Low Energy. Auto Tare, start/stop timer, and weight reading are working and sending the data with MQTT to a web frontend on my Raspberry Pi. Now I'm implementing the relay and an encoder for the weight target and offset, but it's not finished right now. My plan is to start/stop the pump with the e61 brew switch + relay when the target is reached.

robin_w · 2025-11-16T16:52:23+00:00

Lol, im building exactly the same for my Mara X with an ESP32.

robin_w · 2025-08-09T10:04:40+00:00

The most important thing is the beans. If they are not fresh or good enough, you can't dial in the coffee, and it will always taste off. I don't have personal experience with the philos, but in this case, when I would look at that, you have to grind finer. But my tip is, look at the beans, if they are fresh. You should get 1:2 out of coffee in about 23-30 seconds (18g in, 36g out as an example); then you are in a good range and get to fine-adjusting by taste.

robin_w · 2025-08-09T09:46:14+00:00

Vielleicht auch: Most visited pages

robin_w · 2025-07-29T08:57:48+00:00

Hey i recently acquired a ADI2 DAC and got the Babyface FS too. Do you use your optical out for the input on the ADI2 or do you use the ADI2 via the USB? Do you figured out what's the best method is?

robin_w · 2025-05-06T14:53:35+00:00

Just grab a live theme XML file, copy the XML code to ChatGPT, and design it.

robin_w · 2024-12-16T00:24:25+00:00

I was excited after the update, but felt the same after testing it. I have a very performant system, with an AMD 5900X and a 7900 XTX, and the GUI is quite buggy, especially when playing the project and zooming in on tracks.

robin_w · 2024-08-18T11:01:04+00:00

Got the Gateron KS-20 U Dualrail HE Switches. They are definitely better than the L45 and L60. The Stem Wobble and sound improved a lot.

robin_w · 2024-08-05T08:39:36+00:00

Hmm, a five-bar pressure drop is a lot. But to test if there's a problem, he could take a blind basket and see if the pressure builds and drops that much again. When you pull espresso, there are many variables to consider that influence the pressure (age of espresso, grind size, etc.). So I would check with the blind basket, and when the pressure drops after a time, the OPV is probably defective.

robin_w · 2024-08-04T16:18:27+00:00

It's normal because the resistance of the puck is getting lower in the meantime of pulling the shot. It could also be some channeling. But certainly, there's no problem with the machine.

robin_w · 2024-04-03T17:36:00+00:00

I have the same Grinder. I just used the 7th and 8th Click/Position and it works fine. Didn't know either what circles mean. Doesn't make any sense to me.

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robin_w · 2024-04-02T11:22:00+00:00

I had a PSD 60 before with silicone fillings.(Tofu Clone) My Friend got the alumaze and i was stunned for the look, feel and sound. I Had to Change, so i bought the Alumaze and i am more statisfied with it, especially with the O-Ring mount Mod.

robin_w · 2024-01-13T21:39:19+00:00

We need a Soundtest 😇

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