Rocket Appartamento TCA Setup, Quick Start & First Use

[@jpenag]

Happy owner here! Depending on the beans, I usually need to grind really fine to prevent channeling and get a clean stream with a naked portafilter and more balanced flavor. It’s usually 30-37 seconds. Coming from a Gaggia Classic this was weird at first but now I got used to it. I adjusted opv the same way as the older appartamento. Some minor things are different internally but it was pretty straight forward, nonetheless. Absolutely recommended to do.

[@Peekonce1]

What was the opv set at from standard?

[@manish4777]

​@@Peekonce1i think it 9-10 bars only

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey j, thanks for sharing your thoughts/experience!

[@jpenag]

@@Peekonce1 hey russell! It was set at 12.5 bars

[@OMGz1122]

I love these first use and set up videos! It’s tremendous help and advice for people who don’t want the fuss of going through a manual with pictures/diagrams that aren’t easy to identify,

[@thel1zardking]

Informative and concise. Really looking forward to using my new machine! 😊

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey zardking, Thanks for the comment and enjoy your new machine! Marc

[@Maybaby1959]

Come on Marc 15-17 double I’m up to 20 😅. Very nice vid and the upgraded unit is very nice.

[@ElliotHungate]

What about dark roast? The perfect temperature? Also, you don't need to buy espresso beans solely and can use regular beans?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi EH, For dark roast use a brew temperature at the lower end of 195-205F (90.5-96C) coffee brewing range. So 197F/92C. You can use any bean type you like. Though some bean blends are created for espresso there are no specific espresso beans.

[@tatemazer]

Awesome video! I'm curious, why do you recommend opening the steam valve while the steam boiler fills?

[@petes_CE]

This prevents the machine from experiencing vapor lock.

[@tatemazer]

Doesn't the vacuum breaker already take care of that?

[@petes_CE]

@@tatemazer I am not sure. All I know is, once I started opening the steam valve on new machines or machines that have been sitting for awhile, I no longer had issues with vapor lock.

[@manish4777]

​@@petes_CEwhat is vapor lock?.even i didnt open steam knob on my tca while first turning on

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi t, That's what is recommended by Rocket. My guess is it avoids potential issues should the vacuum relief valve is not operating properly, perhaps slightly easier for the pump to prime initially but vacuum relief should prevent that. Also gives an exit should there be an issue with fill level probe causing the boiler to continue filling.

[@sandyd4271]

first! ❤

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey Sandy - yes your are!

[@gosman949]

so what?

[@saocir]

Can you steam milk and brew espresso at the same time with the appartamento?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi s, Thanks for the question. Yes, the Appartamento uses a heat exchange boiler so you can brew and steam simultaneously. Marc

[@manish4777]

I am loving my tca.when i first turned it on .i didnt open my steam knob.does it make any difference? I mean was it abig mistake?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey m, Thanks for sharing your love! Opening the steam knob is what Rocket specifies in their startup procedure. But, I've started 100's of similar HX boiler machines over the years without opening the steam valve in initial fill and never had a problem. The idea is to let pressure escape from the boiler as it partially fills with water. Also a route out if the fill level probe was bad and boiler overfilled. But, there is a vacuum relief valve on the boiler which is open when the boiler is below boiling point so there's already an opening. I'm not saying don't open valve on initial fill but I'm 99.999% confident you're fine so long as the boiler stopped filling on startup.

[@manish4777]

@@Wholelattelovepage thank you so much for clearing the doubt.and yes i have seen that video of yours where you guys unboxed tca and filled water and turned it on without opening steam knob. And i remember when i turned it on for the first time my brew lever was half open and when water started coming out I turned it off.