Home > Coffee blogs > sontondaman's blog > fines in the espresso! ...

fines in the espresso!

 
 
 
 
  • Posted by Son Ton
  • Mon, 03/19/2012 - 12:38

Fines in the espresso!

As I'm getting to know my Nuova Simonelli Musica machine better, one minor thing that I'm noticing from the espresso that this machine put out is that there are fines at the bottom of the cup when I would be finished with the espresso; by the way, the espresso still taste very good. This does not bother me too much as the fines particles is at the very bottom and I can avoid drinking it by just being careful; I guess is the same way as I do like french pressed coffee do not mind the fines.However I can't help but thinking there might be something wrong with my machine? For the reference, I used several espresso machines and the most recent one being the La Pavoni Profesional lever machine which was sold to another coffee enthusiast. With the Pavoni, I did not have this issue.

There are several things that I can come up with that might explain this apparent phenomenom. Perhaps there is something wrong with the grinder? This is an unlikely cause as I'm using a very capable Mazzer SuperJolly which still have a very sharp set of burrs in it; but I do have a brand new set up burrs that I can swap and see what happen. Also, I have a Baratza Vario which I purchased new that I sometime use along with the Musica but also yield the same issue with fines. 

Another possibility is the basket which might have been worn out. I'm planning to purchase a new double basket and find out if this is the case. Visually, I can not find anything wrong with the current basket, the holes are uniform and seem to be the same size as the holes in other baskets that I have come across. Possibly there might be something wrong with the pressure while pulling the shot? The Musica does not have a brewing pressure guage but only one that indicate boiler pressure so I think I need to build a portafilter pressure guage to find out.

Therefore I'm wondering if other espresso drinkers are having this same problem? and what step should  I take to correct this problem?

PRODUCTS YOU WILL LOVE!

REVIEWS & COMMENTS

  • ANY REASON THAT YOU AREN'T

    broseph | Thu, 04/12/2012 - 10:49

    any reason that you aren't using the VST baskets, supposedly they significantly reduce fines and also have other performance benefits

    12345

  • CURIOUS

    Wakeknot | Sun, 04/01/2012 - 12:47

    I have not noticed this ever before, b ut I would certainly look at the basket first and see if it were the root of the problem.

    12345

  • YA SAME THING HAPPENS TO ME

    hoonchul | Wed, 03/21/2012 - 00:55

    Ya same thing happens to me too but I never really thought much about it. Its still good to know this is normal.

    12345

  • SAME

    samuellaw178 | Tue, 03/20/2012 - 21:43

    I can't see too clearly form the photo. But definitely, there're some fines in my cup. They're minimal though, maybe 3-8 particle of fines, which I have no problem at all. Another thing, make sure when you tamp your portafilter, don't put it on a surface with coffee grind for tamping, especially when it is wet and is spouted.

    12345

  • AHA

    jbviau | Mon, 03/19/2012 - 22:20

    I've seen this before, too, at home -- good to know that it wasn't just my inexperience that caused the "problem."

    12345

  • CHIMING IN WITH THE OTHERS

    Karrde | Mon, 03/19/2012 - 16:31

    Chiming in with the others to say that I don't think it's too big of a deal unless they are effecting the taste/texture of the drink.

    12345

  • @STEVE

    Son Ton | Mon, 03/19/2012 - 14:36

    Thank you for your suggestion and the explanation Steve. First thing I'm going to do is to order a new basket for this. I think I will head to espresso part to do this!

  • @INTEPID510

    Son Ton | Mon, 03/19/2012 - 14:34

    I'm hoping that it is just as you said the fines are a result of pump driven espresso machine. Thank you for the reassurance!

  • NOT A PROBLEM

    Steve Rhinehart | Mon, 03/19/2012 - 13:52

    It's not the machine, it's the grinder and basket. Grinders, by nature, will produce fines. At this point, there is no way of avoiding that. Baskets are often machined with a particular hole diameter that should retain all but the finest particles. Those particles though, those are the ones that inevitably make it into your demitasse. Nothing to worry about really, unless you have a layer of fines or something.

    12345

  • OVER THINKING

    intrepid510 | Mon, 03/19/2012 - 12:48

    It's something that happens, I even get fines at really good cafes. I think it's probably just more a result of using a pump driven machine as oppose to the light pressure given off by the lever.

    12345