Quickmill Silvano

babybuilder

Hi does any one have a quickmill Silvano? I just received one during the week. Shots were barely extracting from one of the double spouts on the portafilter. Then I noticed that the group head was tilted askew slightly and figured this could be the problem as the shower screen would be affected. So if anyone there has one or has had one I would be grateful if you had similar issues. I used an old gaggia portafilter on the Silvano and same issue arised.
Thanks

cnocbui

I have a Quickmill Pegaso and have had no issues. Sounds a bit odd that the group head should be askew as my understanding of the construction is that the brew head is a pretty large structure so that being askew shouldn't be a thing.



https://www.drtradingshop.nl/en_GB/c-4021297/spare-parts-quickmill-3010-3012-3014/

babybuilder

thanks.
Yes I know. I have photos on my wife's phone showing the amount of tilt using a small spirit level. I'll try and post them. I'd say that the whole group head unit is off. The coffee that I've had tastes fine but why have a double spout portafilter if you can't serve two shots simultaneously. Also the pucks are very wet compared to the bog standard delonghi and Gaagia classic I've had in the past.
The PID was a strong reason for purchasing this machine as well as the ability to descale without having to send in for servicing

I've just done a google search showing one or two similar incidents going back a number of years but no inkling that it's a common problem. This from a machine costing three times that of a classic and six times of a delonghi.

I'm awaiting a response from Quickmill via the seller.

cnocbui

Are you using a single or double shot basket? If the latter try the single. I think a wet puck is a sign there isn't enough coffee in the basket. Ther should be enough coffee that closing the carrier actually compresses the coffee in the basket to the point the hex head of the shower screen leaves an impression in the puck.

Stuff descaling, I've had enough of that lark and am using distilled water in mine as my water is hard enough to trot a mouse on.

babybuilder

cnocbui wrote: »

Are you using a single or double shot basket? If the latter try the single. I think a wet puck is a sign there isn't enough coffee in the basket. Ther should be enough coffee that closing the carrier actually compresses the coffee in the basket to the point the hex head of the shower screen leaves an impression in the puck.

Stuff descaling, I've had enough of that lark and am using distilled water in mine as my water is hard enough to trot a mouse on.

I'm using 17-18g if coffee and I think it's fairly well stuffed but will increase to 18.5 tomorrow and report back.

cnocbui

I have remembered something else that could contribute to a wet puck. My machine was secondhand, but less than 2 years old. I discovered that the previous owner had lost the tiny non-return valve that fits in a spring in the screw that secures the shower screen in the group head. I got and fitted a replacement and that stopped it dripping after the pump was turned off, which was contributing to sloppy grounds in the filter basket.

babybuilder

cnocbui wrote: »

I have remembered something else that could contribute to a wet puck. My machine was secondhand, but less than 2 years old. I discovered that the previous owner had lost the tiny non-return valve that fits in a spring in the screw that secures the shower screen in the group head. I got and fitted a replacement and that stopped it dripping after the pump was turned off, which was contributing to sloppy grounds in the filter basket.

Received an instruction photo and email from the good ol' USA, a well known agent for quickmill. Machine has to be opened up and adjustment made using an allan key. Obviously not an uncommon problem I'd say. Not too fussed in opening a brand new Silvano. Will consider it if all else fails.

babybuilder

Sent my machine back to get fixed. Seems that there was a production error with the group head fitting. Returned yesterday and group head is sitting nice and straight. Extraction is more balanced out of both spouts now. Made excellent shots today. Although pucks still too wet for my liking. Overall happy with machine.

cnocbui

That's good to hear. What pressure is the gauge showing when you run a shot?

babybuilder

cnocbui wrote: »

That's good to hear. What pressure is the gauge showing when you run a shot?

Just short of 10. I know that 9 what a lot of people aim for. I'd be glad of any advice on this.

Planet X

How is the Silvano working out now? Everything sorted out?

babybuilder

Planet X wrote: »

How is the Silvano working out now? Everything sorted out?

Yes working perfectly now. Great machine. I had been getting wet pucks. I've solved this by using 19 -20 g coffee in the double basket. , Tampering well and no dark roasts. I recommend this machine to any one.

Planet X

Alot of coffee.
Using about 13grs in my Gaggic Classic for a single shot.

Actually, confession time........... , Don't weigh anymore, just straight to PF. Grind by eye aswell now........a few clumps seems to get a good fine grind and decent crema. About 5 years at it now and you can tell when the beans loose their freshness by how it grinds.
Up to last month or so it was all weighing etc.

cnocbui

I was asking about the pressure because I originally only had the double basket for my Pegaso, but found it seemed to hold a lot of coffee, and that for the two scoops I was using it would only get to 4-6 bar and would blast the water through in no time.

I then got a single shot basket and now use that as I find it holds enough. I use a grind and quantity so that the pressure is 14-16 bar to get the flow rate down to where I think it should be to properly extract the goods.

I must say, I was never bold enough to use enough coffee in the double basket to get the pressure up and the flow tamed.

I suspected that the wet pucks might have been due to not enough coffee or too coarse a grind to get get compaction, hence my earlier question.

I'm tempted to do a little experiment tomorrow and get actual numbers for how much coffee I am using with the single shot basket and how much it would take to get the double shot basket to draw the same.

cnocbui

The single shot basket holds 9g and the double shot holds 17g - that's with enough coffee that loading the filter holder it compresses the coffee in the basket leaving an imprint of the group head shower screw in the coffee.

The single shot basket I have is described as being 7g and there are 14g and 17g baskets available. I suspect I have the latter.