Sage Dual Boiler | 9 Bar Hack

[@intermarer9145]

Very interesting concept of using the preinfusion to brew the whole shot to control the pressure! Looking forward to playing around with my Dual Boiler some more! This machine just keeps on giving 🤗

[@SteveHowkins]

Wouldn’t use the machine any other way now! If you have light roasts, want 7 bar shots. This is the way to unlock the flavours without messing with opv and potentially voiding what warranty you have left.

[@damienhull6497]

I need to try this. The pressure gauge on my machine never moves during preinfusion. Maybe I need to make some adjustments.

[@SteveHowkins]

Give it a try! Regarding pre infusion, either grind finer or adjust the PP higher or up the time. That should get the pressure gauge moving.

[@BrevTech]

Interesting idea. I'd be interested to know if it tastes any different from one using regular pressure with a slightly finer grind tho for less time. Afterall, this is just reducing the voltage to the pump thus reducing the flow of water through the coffee. A finer grind should in theory have the same affect. Coffee can be a dark art tho, so who knows.

[@SteveHowkins]

Lighter roasts definitely benefit from lower pressure taste wise in my opinion. Also I believe there is a study that a courser grind increases extraction and going finer and finer becomes counter intuitive to the desired result. All subjective mind.

[@helipilotwannab]

I'm not sure if this is correct but I read recently that 10/11bar measured at the pump is equal to 9bar at the group....... I get why you're chasing the mystical 9bar though :) but as far as I can research there's no way to know where the original 9bar measurement was taken, and it's an average pressure taken from a spring lever machine shot profile

[@SteveHowkins]

True. I guess a scace device or similar would give accurate group pressure. I prefer 7-8bar shots and I guess trial and error for personal preference is best and use the gauge to reference that. Yes not sure either. Probably some Italians haha.

[@helipilotwannab]

How do you like the machine in general? I've got upgradeitis haha which is how I came across this video. (Currently using a Gaggia Classic with pid and pressure gauge with dimmer, so I'm thinking other than the dual boiler aspect and I'm drinking espresso 99% of the time this could be more of a sidegrade) @@SteveHowkins

[@SteveHowkins]

@@helipilotwannab from having a classic previously I would say if you only plan to drink espresso then yes better machines for that. The profetic go I think for example but again price comes close to the sage. Back to back shots are very good, can mod if you want, steam power is not overly strong but workable unlike the classic which runs out of puff. It’s a great machine for the money I really do believe. People have had issues with quality but none so far for me after 9 months and sage cs seems good if you do have an issue.

[@arpurba_]

I was thinking to give it a try. The first trials seemed to be promising. A question: Since the hack uses the preinfussion menu to get the pressure you’re aiming like a “normal” shot, can you still do preinfussion, or the preinfussion itself is totally gone through this hack?

[@SteveHowkins]

There is still a pre-infusion element at the start of the shot while pressure ramps up but you can’t control the time of pre-infusion as we are using it for the while shot and not just 10 secs say before the machine reverts to full pressure.

[@latenightinterview291]

@@SteveHowkinsSo it still ramps up slowly creating a kind of pseudo pre-infusion is that fair to say? What is it like 5 seconds?

[@SteveHowkins]

@@latenightinterview291 yes I would agree with that. Depending how fine/course your grind is it may vary a little.

[@adi2082]

It ends up a bit like a spring lever profile where it starts at a high pressure and gradually reduces. Might give this a go on my machine.

[@SteveHowkins]

Yes that’s a great way to describe it. Give it a try let me know what you think! Super easy to change settings around if it’s not to your taste.

[@xenotype_au]

I've been doing this and I've noticed that my first short seems to be shorter on the bar than my second shot pulled. Not sure what to do to make it good on the first.

[@SteveHowkins]

How much variation are we talking? I’ve noticed on the same grind setting, same puck prep, shot to shot can be 1 bar difference sometimes. Will be the puck prep because the pump is delivering the same power every time. The variation is a negative of the hack. Adjusting the OPV to your desired pressure would resolve it.

[@BrevTech]

probably because there will be more air space in the pipes on first try. Does running a blank shot first solve this? good practice anyhow to help stabilize temps

[@goldfish8196]

Thanks

[@full_metal2452]

Not supposed to RDT with the niche zero.

[@SteveHowkins]

I’ve read that niche don’t recommend it but won’t hurt at all. Same thing with they don’t recommend ssp burrs in the duo but people will and have done it. No issues.