Rocket Espresso Appartamento: Adjusting Brew Pressure

[@guitarguy764]

I like that they set the pressure so high from the factory, it gave me a reason to open up the machine, tinker with it, and learn a thing or 2 about it. Now when something goes wrong I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

The more you know - the more you grow!

[@Wyman642]

Thank you, this is a much-needed video, especially about the danger of unscrewing the valve entirely. Mine was around 13 stock, and I reduced it to 10.5. Works great so far.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi S, You're welcome!

[@bensonsarmiento6971]

where do u get the pressure gauge checker?

[@Wyman642]

@@bensonsarmiento6971sorry, I forgot. Not Amazon though. Likely some espresso parts store online

[@back_to_the_bike8820]

I did this a little while ago, I got it down to 9 bar, it's much better. It's very good that you made this video. That said it is not necessary to remove the walls that the sides, which can be prohibitive for some users. If I may say so, for these users, it would be necessary to have a video starting from the assembled machine and remove only what is necessary to show them how to access the OPV. Have a nice day.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi bttb, Thanks for the comment. Brian did mention complete case removal is not required to access the OPV. Removing 2 screws at the front of the top plate and 2 more at the bottom of the reservoir carrier gets you there.

[@solidstream13]

Thanks for the tutorial. I wish this machine had a built in pressure gauge. I just bought a gauge and will use this tutorial to adjust my machine.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

You are welcome!

[@leizerg]

Great tutorial, just finished adjusting mine - walk in the park. Now ive got 9 bars at the portafilter instead of over 12

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi L, thanks for the comment - happy we could help!

[@cengizkamali]

the reason behind the factory set at 12 or more bars is in order to create more foam wtih pre grounded coffe (as most users dont have a grinder) 9 bars is ideal only if you have a grinder and bottomless portafiler.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hin cK, Thanks for the comment. There are other reasons for higher pressure as well like difference in flow rates between rotary and vibration pump machines. I cover that and more in this video on brew pressures in vibration pump machines: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGOnf4ptj7uiosk

[@cengizkamali]

@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Mark, thanks for the explanation, I am enlightened. Honestly I was thinking that high pressure set up is purely because of the machines coming with the already pressurized portafilters in order to push more for creme. Now I know that there are also other reasons. Good clarification about static pressure and brew pressure. I need to re-adjust my machine with your new information. Thanks !!!

[@axelvonbergen2020]

Do somebody know if its The same way to do it on a Mozzafiato V??

[@alexanderbrown9502]

I adjusted the pressure and it seems to be the same if not higher than before. I definitely turned the valve counter clockwise. The boiler pressure gauge is reading much higher than normal now too

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi AB, That's odd. Changing brew pressure should not change boiler pressure. Only way to change boiler pressure is to adjust the pressurestat. The boiler pressure does run in a range during normal operation.

[@alexanderbrown9502]

@@Wholelattelovepage ah yeah I think it was just changing during normal operation. I can’t see any change in flow rate no matter what I set the pressure at. My shots all come out extremely quick. Like 12 seconds max. Obviously want it closer to 25 seconds

[@nicolaspablo4616]

@@alexanderbrown9502Have you tried changing your coffee grind size?

[@3CarOneGarage]

@@nicolaspablo4616 I'm pretty sure he has as I have the same issue with this machine. to get it at the desired grind size that produces the best crema and coffee I need to grind at 2.5 but that means I need 22 grams of coffee to hold it at 9 bars sometimes 22g at 2.5 setting on the grinder means too much coffee and cannot seal portafilter on the group. I wish someone knew the fix for this. I had a professional barista come test it and he was just as confused as I was since he had the same machine and his worked perfectly at 2.5 grind using same grinder.

[@nicolaspablo4616]

@@3CarOneGarage Based on what @alexanderbrown9502 said, his shot is done at 12 Seconds max which is super fast and not normal so I wondered if he tried to set to finest grind and still does the same. What is your grinder? If it’s step-less, try setting it to finest grind setting and indeed 22g is too much, lessen your grind weight by 18g, set your grinder to the finest grind setting and start from there.

[@richardgoodwin6652]

Most important question is can you pull a decent tasting shot at 12 bars? Probably not.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

12 bar static on that gauge will likely have you close to 9 in the PF during an actual extraction.

[@benbolton1]

Hello, I have noticed a small leak on my OPV valve. The machine was serviced and running at 9. If I tighten the valve so that the machine is running at 12 the leak stops. Would you recommend completely swapping the valve? Or could I get away with loosening completely and running some plumbers tape around the thread and tightening it back up?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi b, If you feel the leak is due to a bad pipe seal I would try to fix that with tape or compound prior to replacing the valve.

[@jpenag]

Tks so much to the WLL team for these videos! Is this the same procesure to adjust the opv for the newer appartamento TCA version? The tca changes the boiler pressure/temp and I don’t know if that would have a negative impact when modifying the opv. Ty for any info on this.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi j, Your welcome and thanks for tyhe comment and question. OPV pressure adjustment and boiler temps/pressures have no relationship so no negative impacts.

[@jpenag]

@@Wholelattelovepage thank you very very much for the reply! You people are the best!!!

[@romascenko]

Friend has same model and has NO pressure, green light turns ON and stayes ON, watter is present, heater has aprox 50ohms... Is it some safety valve problem? its a fact that heater is not heating but why? we also get cold water out so pump works...

[@keremcengizz]

How can we slower the espresso flow it takes 15 second to make double shot of espresso which is so fast ?

[@jameskendall8852]

I just purchased one of the Nero units from your company. Thank you much. Does your team adjust the pressure of these units before you ship them?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi James, Thanks for the question and your patronage. For the Appartamento, we do random QC checks including pressure as set from the factory before shipping. Rocket has been consistent in properly setting brew pressures.

[@kethzamora3158]

When adjusting the brew pressure, it is necessary that the machine is already reached the steam temperature? Coz i tried when it is cold the brew pressure at 9bar but when it is hot it gives only 7bar

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Best to do when machine is hot

[@raunot90]

Hi, what's the wrench size for the OPV adjustment nut? Thanks!

[@3CarOneGarage]

Thanks in advance for your help, I'm frustrated with this issue which is coffee running through too fast. I tried everything and what I noticed is thinner grind = zero crema, slightly larger grind gives me a lot richer crema but flows way too fast even with 20 grams of coffee. In my observation with the same grind setting and the same amount of coffee, the time to extract did not change at all after the pressure adjustment I tried this for 3 months it did reduce the max pressure but made zero difference in terms of the flow since 9psi is still 9psi. so I don't really get the point of doing this? Initially, the problem I tried to solve was still there after the adjustment which was to have the coffee run through slower. Right now I have to grind the coffee so thin to get the 9psi. and when the coffee is too thin I don't get any crema. I'm using high-quality fresh roasted beans from a reputable coffee shop that sources the coffee directly from the farmers. Also over the past 4 years, I've tried many many coffees. Why is it flowing so fast I tamp super hard also. and have gone from a setting of zero on the rocket grinder to 2.5. 2-2.5 is usually the best crema where 0-1 it comes out black. pls help :)

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey 3CC, Crema is not everything and there will be differences in amount of crema depending on coffee used. For instance lighter roasted single origin 100% Arabica specialty coffees usually produce less crema than something like Italian style bean blends which contain some Robusta beans in the blend. Grind size in most cases has a much larger impact on how fast a shot runs than pump pressure. Sure, higher pressure might push brew water through the puck a little faster but very little difference between a few bars of pressure. To be clear we're talking bar of pressure and not psi. 1 bar = ~14.7psi. This may seem counterintuitive, but reducing brew pressure can cause brew water to run through coffee faster. I would set machine to produce 9-10 bar of static pressure at the group. Then work with your grind size and dose weight to produce a flavor you like. Shoot for total extraction timing of 25-30 seconds and a 1:2 brew ratio which means if you dose 20 grams of coffee in your portafilter you stop the shot when there's 40 grams of espresso in your cup. If you are all about wanting crema here's an Italian bean blend with some of the crema producing Robusta coffee in the mix: www.wholelattelove.com/products/lavazza-super-crema-whole-bean-espresso-coffee And here's a video reviewing how to dial in grind size which uses similar coffee: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5-reYelfM-mnqs Also, you can only tamp so hard before it really makes no difference.

[@3CarOneGarage]

Thank you, for anyone out there who’s actually looking for the answer to my question look up flow control on E61 group heads. While it’s true, there are a lot of variables, such as the type of roast age of the beans etc. sometimes the flow is still an issue no matter what on these machines, I've been struggling with this for 3-4 years now. Yesterday being a little more determined I found out about the flow control kits for e61 group heads.

[@RelatedHook8]

Hey, thanks for a great tutorial! I made this OPV adjustment down to about 9 bars. I have noticed a louder sound now when pulling shots. It almost sounds like the OPV opening and closing really fast. Is this normal?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey RH8, You are welcome. I have occasionally run into machines that make some extra noise when the OPV is run at a lower system pressure. So it can be normal and perhaps annoying.

[@RelatedHook8]

@@Wholelattelovepage That's great news. I've been loving the shots I've been getting at a lower pressure, so I can live with the sound. I wanted to make sure the sound wasn't abnormal or an issue. Thank you!

[@Wholelattelovepage]

@@RelatedHook8 NP!

[@ficokan]

hey Whole Latte Love, question regarding the measuring the pressure with blind basket. I did it like that and I when I set it to 9bar with blind basket, I also have 9bar when doing real extraction. How is this possible, if you claim that setting it with blind basket, it will result in lower pressure when performing real extraction? Very appreciate your answer in advance 🙂

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey FR, I link a video below which goes deeper into why pressure in the group during an extraction is typically lower (especially in vibration pump machines) than what is indicated on a machine's pressure gauge. The simple explanation is where the pressure is measured. In the Appartamento and most other machines the gauge pressure is measured near the pump. After pressure is measured there water travels through a bunch of pipes, a one-way valve, small jet in the mushroom valve and more. with every turn in pipe or restriction the pressure on the other side is a bit lower. Here's that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGOnf4ptj7uiosk

[@ficokan]

@@Wholelattelovepage hello again 🙂 yeah I saw the video, but the thing is that I am measuring the pressure on the group head on Apartamento, because the machine doesn't have it installed on the pump. So I was expecting when measuring it on the group head with blind basket to be little higher than when performing real shot extraction with 18g dose in 25-30s. But it isn't. The pressure is literally the same with blind basket and during the real extraction. So I am very confused 🙂 I suppose that measuring with Scace device and during real extraction is the same thing, so it should definitelly be at least minor but visible difference when compared to blind basket. But it is not the case on my Apartamento 😔 and to add this strange thing also, when I set it to original pressure (on this machine that I have it was 11bar measured on group head), it will not drop down during extraction. It stays 11bar. Maybe baromether is not good, I don't have any other clue 😂 but it ia that standard one that people are using it on YT videos 🙂

[@johnlocke3481]

what is the portafilter pressure gauge attachment he’s using?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi John, this: www.wholelattelove.com/products/brewpressureportafiltergauge

[@danl4160]

Thanks for this, my brew pressure has dropped from 9 down to 4 bar - can this occur on it's own? Assume it's normal wear and tear for a 1 y.o. machine?

[@Nikita-gr5th]

I have the same issue and can’t seem to find any answers online. Did you ever figure out the problem?

[@danl4160]

My espresso grounds were too coarse, and did not allow for any pressure to build up. Try grinding your beans finer - the brew pressure should automatically increase

[@Nikita-gr5th]

@@danl4160 thank you for responding. Sadly in my case I’ve gone as fine as my Faustino grinder can go and it hasn’t helped (plus it tastes awful 😅)

[@danl4160]

Sorry to hear - might be worthwhile to ensure an adequate dose of ground coffee (e.g. try fresher beans between 18-21g). Alas, if the pressure gauge does not go up even with a blank portafilter, then the issue may be elsewhere. Reddit has some good information

[@jkim972]

I dont have pressure gauge. So i marked the opv valve with a sharpie and made exactly 1 turn lower. Which I suspect that it maybe around 10 bars. But my shots are already way less bitter than at 12 bars

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi T, Thanks for the comment. Short of having a gauge let taste be your guide! Heads up... it's likely more than 1 turn to drop pressure by 2 bar. Also know when you reduce pressure you are lowering the flow rate during an actual extraction which may result in your grind being a bit coarser for similar timing. Much depends on the coffee used but perhaps that is why your shots are less bitter.

[@lepepus]

Do you have a recommended pressure based on your experience with the Appartamento? Mine is at around 11 and I tried to turn it down closer to 9 and ended up finding that I was having difficulty getting great steam power.... ended up turning it back up? Is this a possible side effect with HX machines??

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Phil, Thanks for the question. Brew pressure and steam pressure ar controlled separately so adjusting brew pressure should not change steam pressure. It's the pressurestat which controls steam pressure.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

For pressure we recommend using as set from the factory. But, do experiment if desired with other pressures.

[@SASmiley]

How many turns did it take ?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi S, unfortunately I do not have a turns per pressure change rating.

[@piranhaa2]

Mine was 12-13 bar from the factory and took 2 full turns to get down to 9 bar at the puck. I marked the top with a sharpie so I knew when to stop. 1 full turn took me down to 11 bar, and 2 full turns took me to about 9. Each machine may be different, but that was my experience.

[@miguelcorreia7034]

Is 9 bar safe ?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi MC, Yes it is.

[@markkreisberg360]

Where can one purchase a pressure gauge like the one you used?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Mark, Available here but currently out of stock: www.wholelattelove.com/products/brewpressureportafiltergauge Hope to have more in stock soon - popular item.

[@yanghe3255]

Rocket should refine their machines more to make the best pressure, just like other brands.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi y, Brew pressure is adjustable to your preference.

[@SASmiley]

I don’t know why they make it that high like why ? There is no reason for that

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Smiley, Brian did discuss the reasons in the video. It's the pressure where Rocket finds the best results and flow rates through the machine. Know that static pressure readings as shown in this video - measuring pressure with a portafilter gauge with no water released do not represent the pressure within the group during an actual extraction. Real pressure during an extraction is always lower than static pressure measurments. The difference varies by machine. A Silvia Pro X for example can indicate about 12 bar on the machine's pressure gauge when producing ~ 9bar in the group. Here's a video talking about brew pressure readings and misconceptions in vibration pump machines: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGOnf4ptj7uiosk

[@wizzpet6562]

Not sure why Rocket thinks 12 bars is ok when most of the world espresso community seems to think 9 bars at the puck is the way to go. They should at least inform their clients about this since I find it odd that we learn about this over the web. Most probably, many sellers don’t even know they are factory set at around 12 bars.

[@jfgad]

Lol! Mine was set at 15 bars from factory

[@jayaychare7318]

yup

[@emadelkhedr1829]

Where the pump

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi EE, Here's our video with a complete internal tour of the machine with component locations and ID: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4THm59miqqUerc

[@solidstream13]

This method is testing static pressure not brew pressure. You need to have water flowing to adjust brew pressure.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi ss13, yes you are correct. But, one can usually infer max brew pressure from static pressure. In vibration pump machine it's typically a drop of ~1 bar from static pressure to brew pressure in group during an extraction. Demonstrated this way as very few home users have a Scace device or similar group pressure measuring device with adjustable flow output.