ECM Synchronika 2022, Niche Zero and Normcore: Improved workflow with better accessories

[@0d34dh34d0]

I have a Niche and a Synchronika myself but ,honestly...I couldn't wait that long for a coffee 😉

[@lacaffetteria1894]

I enjoy the process and I’m curious to how good an espresso can get. Even though I know, in theory, how to make a good espresso, I’m still struggling a bit to get my pretty lightly roasted beans to not make a sour espresso of 1:2 ratio.

[@1943vermork]

Same, I don’t use OCD. I just WDT, small tap on the counter for grind collapse, tamping and puck screen. If the grind after collapse is not leveled, I WDT again.

[@lacaffetteria1894]

I've just stopped doing the tap on the counter because I've noticed that it creates a little gap between the coffee and the inner side of the basket. You can actually see it in the video on the right hand side of the basket. But I haven't really noticed a difference yet of doing it and not doing it.

[@adcampo7601]

boy, that's one hell of a puck.

[@lynxy5242]

I almost always get the same perfect puck with the screen. With the screen I can get it perfect down low-to ~16g in 18g basket. So I can grind finer and get it without channeling. I like 1 mm screen, with 1.7 I have to grind 0.5 coarser. I prefer 203 F vs 200F. Even if you warm up screen it gets cold very fast.

[@cjgetreal]

I'm new to espresso and got the same combo. Have fun!

[@lacaffetteria1894]

I’m new too. Just started two months ago. You too 😀

[@Youtuber-ku4nk]

Great workflow and nice calming music :)

[@kiliantimm9837]

great flow! but you can try to just hit the counter after leveling out! all the work and then touching the precious bed 😃 if the funnel is still on everything will fall into the basket

[@MrGalaktick51]

not sure if it was for the video but you may need a tamping mat and a knocbox lol. Also that extraction look kinda weird, they must have been really "light roasted".

[@lacaffetteria1894]

They are medium to medium-light roasted. If I used a knock box I would throw out my puck screen every time 😂 and it would just take up so much space. I really don’t see the need for a tamping mat/station although I would look more pro if I used one 😂

[@victormoreno2767]

Hopefully by now you get more crema!

[@jmesa69x1]

perfect!

[@hinze55555]

Sooo schön! Espresso 🧘‍♂️😉👍

[@lacaffetteria1894]

Danke 😊

[@nemanjastanimirov2684]

If you hit the portafilter to the kitchen kabinet before leveling with your finger, you wouldnt need finger leveling at all.

[@lacaffetteria1894]

I have changed my dose to 17gr so now it isn’t a problem. Since this video I have actually stopped doing the knocking to the cabinet because I can see that the coffee disconnects from the inner walls of the portafilter thus making it necessary to WDT again.

[@jl234]

How’s the Normcore compared to the stock ECM?

[@lacaffetteria1894]

The big difference is that with the Normcore you are certain of tamping at a correct angle and get a flat bed of coffee every time. Also you tamp with the same pressure every time. There are three different springs that comes with it - I use the one that was already installed, which is the middle size spring. I tried the smaller size spring, but it felt insuffucient. In short... Consistency :)

[@Warrendiehl]

I have a Breville bambino and after I pull my shot and remove the portafilter (ims 18-22g basket) I still have water sitting on top of my puck. I usually do 18-18.5g of beans, do you think I should get a smaller basket or is the extra water not an issue?

[@lacaffetteria1894]

I don’t think it’s an issue, but I’m not 100% sure. The important thing is the taste. If it good then it’s fine. You could first try and dial in for 22g and see if the taste is better or worse. But I’m sure the puck would then be just damp and firm.

[@kiliantimm9837]

think so too, water is no issue if it tastes fine. seems to depend on the remaining headspace. you can work around with a Puck screen. then it's more likely to get those nice pucks as shown in the video. cheers

[@mr.t7740]

what scale you are using?

[@lacaffetteria1894]

All gear used is in the description :)

[@ATM015]

Where did the crema go between 2:41 and 3:51? How long did you rest the espresso?

[@lacaffetteria1894]

Due to filming and repositioning camera it toke a few minutes.

[@lynxy5242]

Great shot. Perfect video. When you work with a screen it is better to go 1-2 C° up. I like your patience with single dosing. My Eureka Atom 75 gives plus minus 0.1g so I ok with that. Is your basket ridged or ridgeless?

[@lacaffetteria1894]

Thanks ☺️ good info. I did pre-heat the screen. I’ve had problems with the taste being acidic, so I have been experimenting with higher temps and now I’m all the way up at 98 and ratio at 1:2.5 and now its getting very close to a good balance. Since I bought the Niche I’ve seen some video where “experts” say that there better grinders, so I’m pretty curious to try another, but don’t know which. The basket is ridgeless.

[@lynxy5242]

@@lacaffetteria1894 To my taste 1:2.5 is better than 1:2.0. As far as heard Niche is a very good grinder. I do not think we can feel the taste difference if we buy 3000+ grinder. Same idea with wine. I know a very good sommelier and once he honesty told me that if the bottle is 30-35+ then the “art of words” starts. :-) I like my Atom 75 . It gives me consistency and I do not need to play with a single dosage.

[@stavrosvardakis5966]

Das ist kein guter Kaffee…😅😅😅😅

[@priroda8836]

Эспрессо уже остыл.

[@lacaffetteria1894]

That was because I was busy filming 🙂

[@priroda8836]

@@lacaffetteria1894 Ok.