Ponte Vecchio Lusso - advice please?

Moon · January 2015

on 1421408661:

I prefer a quality coffee, with quality milk myself. You can keep your supermarket brand milk!

I believe we are all in agreement with that.

Brett H · January 2015

I love Maleny dairy... Not far from you L!!

Lacehim · January 2015

on 1421447917:

I love Maleny dairy... Not far from you L!!

Yeah they are great, and it's a great day out for the kids if you visit. You get to see the cows being milked, and take along a picnic it's nice. I mainly buy Cooloola Milk, it's also local and has excellent date life. It's a bit more expensive at $4+ a bottle, but I buy the pasteurised only one and it's lovely to drink on it's own, cook with and drink a coffee with.

Plus it feels good to support a local business producing a quality product!

I don't have a fantastic palete like some like some of you guys, so I don't think the milk overpowers the coffee, it just makes it different.

C-man · January 2015

Cooloola milk is a good one.

Brett H · January 2015

on 1421471262:

Cooloola milk is a good one.

Yep... It's lovely but not as easy to find down our way.

Moon · January 2015

You'd think the best milk available in Victoria would come up from Tasmania. I haven't noticed any. Their dairy should be on par with the high quality stuff that NZ produces.

Moon · January 2015

Well .. I've reverted back to the double shot basket in a glass mug .... and loving it! The pour is a bit sketchy .. and ends up approx 40ml after a full double lever pull. The microfoam on top has bean a little generous for a latte at 2cm .. only the potency benefits from the slightly less milk volume. Rating - 9.25/10 Very nice .. considering I'm using Coles cheap stuff .... psst .. don't tell Lacehim ;P I reckon it would be close to a 9.3 if I was using the good gear. I'm more than happy with the results tho.. Yep .. Moony is kicking arse ...... and loving it! :D

Moon · January 2015

Down to my last 300g of beans so I better start thinking of my next batch. Seeing my last lots have bean blends .. I reckon a change to single origin would be nice. Appears mycuppa have some beauties from reading their latest newsletter, so it looks like I'll be heading that way

mycuppa · January 2015

Moony Ol Chap Time for you to step up to the plate and take a swing at Kenya..........

Moon · January 2015

on 1421837542:

Moony Ol Chap Time for you to step up to the plate and take a swing at Kenya..........

Golly .. too many to choose from by the looks I was thinking Burundi? Guatemala? Rwanda? Indian Tiger Mountain? .. that Jonty roasted up and sent me once. Ultra yummy that one. *Now you throw Kenya into the mix. Crikey .. we've got it good. Spoilt for choice :P

Blends are nice .. only the beans that have blown me away have all bean single origins. Ok .. I'm always up for a recommendation .. so Kenya it is. 500g of that .. and 500g of ?? hmm? Exciting coffee times ahead. Yeah Baby .. I'm certainly up for it!

Done. Order in with mycuppa *Kenya 500g Indian Tiger Mountain 500g *Moony steps up to the plate :D

Brett H · January 2015

I love this one... Make sure you bring your A-game!!

Moon · January 2015

on 1421928926:

I love this one... Make sure you bring your A-game!!

Which one .. the Kenya or the Indian TM? I'll take it you mean the Kenya that mycuppa recommended A-game for sure Brett .. I'll be all out to recapture those 9.3/10 ratings I used to get. I'm counting on single origins and of course some Moon mojo to get the job done .. and deliver!

C-man · January 2015

I have been suggesting Kenyan in my experience it needs a little more rest time, I am at the end of my bag and it has gotten tons better.

Moon · January 2015

on 1421973518:

I have been suggesting Kenyan

Yes you have C-man

on 1416690316:

Moon, something tells me you might like a good Kenya bean, have you tried any?

Apologies C-man. I guess recommendations are more likely to be taken up if made when I'm about to order :P Cheers

C-man · January 2015

Yirgs are another I would recomend

Dry_bean. · January 2015

on 1382223201:

Hi I'm considering purchasing a Ponte Vecchio Lusso 1 group from Italy, and have been reading threads here and elsewhere about this machine. I'm wondering what advice both current and previous owners of this Lever have after owning one? - It appears the batch that Jack at Sorrentina imported had issues with the group which was diagnosed as faulty seals, yet from what I have read .. there has also been a problem with scoring of the piston .. which may have been the cause of the leaking from the group rather than faulty seals? I'm wondering whether the leaking has been fixed by changing the seals .. or whether after a short time the problem has returned .. which would suggest that either there is/was a manufacturing fault with the machining of the pistons or possibly the piston shaft is scoring the surface when the lever is being used? As owners would have probably already changed seals .. has the surface been checked for scratches? I'm trying to find out how prevalent the problem of leaking groups is .. and what owners have done to rectify this? It has been suggested that if the scoring is only superficial, that a 'honing' attachment for a power drill (from Repco) can be used to polish the surface of the piston. Another suggestion was to get the piston chromed. Is this a good idea or would this cause a problem with the lever shaft fitting? Are people generally happy with their PV Lusso regardless of their flaws? I'm wondering whether I should take the risk on getting one .. or save up and get a better lever machine like the Strega or Achilles. Even after laying out the extra $ for a better quality machine doesn't guarantee it won't have a niggle or two of its own. From what I've been reading, the Achilles has a few flaws of its own in the design department? Another suggestion for the Lusso is to use a varnish, say Estapol? on the inside of the cover to guard the metal against rust .. being in a hot .. possibly humid environment? I'm also thinking about insulating the boiler with something like 'Insulbrite' to guard the plastic on the electric cables attached (or in close proximity) to the boiler from melting? I would appreciate any advice on this.. even comments like - 'forget it ::) .. the sooner you aim higher, the better off you'll be.. as in, I had one once and glad I have upgraded to something better. Cheers :thumb:

After 21 pages I'm trying to work out exactly what the current crop of posts has to do with Moons OP? perhaps a new thread in the roasted beans or blends is called for.

Moon · January 2015

on 1422349324:

After 21 pages I'm trying to work out exactly what the current crop of posts has to do with Moons OP? perhaps a new thread in the roasted beans or blends is called for.

That OP was 15 months ago at the start of my coffee journey when I was looking for a coffee machine and grinder Since acquiring My PV Lusso and Compak grinder .. the vast majority of posts have bean about how to get the best out of the coffee beans purchased to make a quality cup of coffee .. where a rating system was introduced as a simple gauge to determine my ongoing progress. As you would be aware .. purchasing new different beans often requires an adjustment to the method used for the previous batch. As mycuppa has pointed out .. even a new batch of the same type of bean varies .. so an adjustment for these is often necessary. Although I've moved beyond seeking assistance from other members on this forum in regard to the actual use of the machine .. which I am most grateful for, the journey has moved on from the issues I was having in the earlier days .. and has moved on to trying different beans in the equipment, and if they are not resulting in the quaility in the cup that I may be expecting .. then it is a matter of altering my method and tweaking the grind. I see this journey as an interaction between the equipment, method used, and beans .. whereby each is dependant on the other .. meaning that when isolating one of these components in a discussion .. it is not going off-topic in my opinion. What would be going off-topic, and admittedly it has on occasions for entertainment value for the many followers of the thread.. is other members discussing their coffee machines. If they happen to be using the same beans as I am using at the time .. then I wouldn't view a rating of the coffee they made on their machine as off-topic if the rating was being compared to what I am getting using my PV Lusso. In the 15 months that this thread has existed .. it has attracted 107,112 views .. I daresay, most likely generating the most traffic of any thread on the forum over the past 15 months. Correct me if I am wrong. Considering that the forum is going through a transition .. and looking for more members .. i would tend not to throw the baby out with the bath water by deterring people from joining in .. as from what I have bean observing .. the forum is very quiet .. and this thread at least provides some much needed activity. I'm not sure how long I will keep this thread going .. as obviously my regular posts keep the ball rolling in here .. although I would much prefer more contributions from other members. Seeing fellow members don't have a Ponte Vecchio Lusso like mine .. or intending getting one .. the interest and participation is limited. If the discussion of beans moves to another thread .. then this thread will most likely go dormant .. and viewers will drop off.. as there would be no new content to catch up on. I understand .. and appreciate that with this thread .. I have bean allowed a very long leash .. and I have benefited greatly from all the contributions i have received over the journey since October 2013 .. only the flip side is that regular contributions are in short supply .. and should be encouraged. I have attempted to start other threads .. only they have not attracted much interest and have gone dormant rather quickly. This one, on the other hand, manages to bumble along and maintains some interest both from within the forum and abroad. Any suggestions of beans .. are for use on my PV Lusso .. and the information that is posted may still be of interest to those interested in one of these coffee machines .. or perhaps considering a lever machine generally.. even if it is of a different type. They are different, and I'm sure people considering one would like to know what they are like to use. I certainly would have liked to follow someone elses journey after they purchased one .. to see what problems they had and what results they got. Many problems aren't PV Lusso specific and are general difficulties regardless of the machine type .. i.e. method used and bean type .. resting, weather, tamp, grind, how the beans are stored etc. Maybe I should shoot off an email to the Coffee Shop in Italy where I purchased mine from .. to see how many orders they've had from Australia in the past year? I have had a few enquiries from people who asked where to get one .. and what was the process is. Crikey .. I haven't posted for a few days .. so I guess this makes up for lost ground Cheers Db and happy posting :D The end

Moon · January 2015

Have received my new lot of beans from mycuppa .. Kenya and Indian Tiger Mountain. I was rapt that they were both roasted around 9 days ago and have completed their minimum resting period and can crack open a bag straight away. I've removed the remaining 70g from the grinder and into a plastic container which went into my pantry cupboard. I'm taking C-mans advice and resting the Kenyan for longer .. so I'm starting with the Indian TM beans. Had 2 already in a single basket .. and both poured a little quickly .. so I'm gradually adjusting the grind slightly each time to get it about right, then I'll change to the double basket and make my lattes in a mug sized glass cup This way I don't end up having to drink a larger volume coffee that doesn't quite cut it.. you know .. an 8.2/10 *yawn*

Brett H · January 2015

I reckon this thread has to stay as is. It's become an interactive blog and I reckon that's what this forum is all about! Happy 21st Moony!

mycuppa · January 2015

Moony Ol chap, I do wish that just once you would time your order when it's not almost 40 deg and the heat killing the coffee. Feel like it's a constant handicap. Not your fault just bad timing again. Pretty sure there should have been a message on one of your packs to use first. Can't remember which one but if there is, then I would be suggesting perhaps taking that advice as it was from me directly. Of course if there was no marking then I would have gone the Kenyan first as it was roasted darker and would have peaked 2 days ago. Enjoy

Moon · January 2015

on 1422442408:

Happy 21st Moony!

Thanks Brett .. not sure what the 21st thing is .. but hey .. I'll take it :D

on 1422443261:

Moony Ol chap, I do wish that just once you would time your order when it's not almost 40 deg and the heat killing the coffee. Feel like it's a constant handicap. Not your fault just bad timing again.

Yeah .. I realized I needed to get onto ordering some more beans .. and forgot about the weather. I'd say running out of beans trumps weather when I'm about to run out. To make matters worse .. I think I ordered them late on Wednesday night so you'd pack them Thursday .. and of course they'd arrive on Monday .. oh wait .. it's Australia Day. I had to nick out on Tuesday .. and the Postie turned up while I was out .. and left a card not to pick up until the following day. They never turn up that early. So all this time the beans are out being transported in a hot van or stored in a warehouse.

on 1422443261:

Pretty sure there should have been a message on one of your packs to use first.

Nope *Indian TM roasted on Jan 19 *Kenyan roasted on Jan 18

on 1422443261:

Of course if there was no marking then I would have gone the Kenyan first as it was roasted darker and would have peaked 2 days ago.

on 1422443261:

Enjoy

Will do .. and thanks heaps J. I'll keep working on my timing of orders ;P

Lacehim · January 2015

on 1422446474:

Thanks Brett .. not sure what the 21st thing is .. but hey .. I'll take it :D

Your on page 21 mate!

I agree with DB though Moon. I love your journey, but it's time to step out of your comfort zone!

You can still keep us up to speed on your lusso journey even if you do that!

Moon · January 2015

Page 42 on my screen .. your page must be twice as long. Ok .. what's the score? Close the thread 1 Mod (Dry bean) 1 Administrator (Lacehim) Keep it going 1 Mod (Brett) Hmm? 2-1 close *Intermission/Coffee break One double shot latte in a mug please ... no worries, coming up. Would you like it made using a Ponte Vecchio Lusso? You bet ... what a machine .. a little beauty! What beans would you like? Mycuppa's Kenya single origin thanks.

cosmic_couple22 · January 2015

Keep your thread going Moon, all conversations morph somewhat but at some stage come back to point. Like you say, there are only a few of us that are actively growing the forum and your content is appreciated from my perspective. As BrettH says, some threads are more blog like and I can't see why anyone would have a problem with that. Members interacting/sharing isn't that what we are all here for. My project cosmic thread will continue to grow as small additions arrive and members come to visit and live it's life more blog like too. Keep on posting Moon I'm off to pull a 9.6 on the Slayer. Chester

Lacehim · January 2015

on 1422495924:

Page 42 on my screen .. your page must be twice as long. Ok .. what's the score? Close the thread 1 Mod (Dry bean) 1 Administrator (Lacehim) Keep it going 1 Mod (Brett) Hmm? 2-1 close *Intermission/Coffee break One double shot latte in a mug please ... no worries, coming up. Would you like it made using a Ponte Vecchio Lusso? You bet ... what a machine .. a little beauty! What beans would you like? Mycuppa's Kenya single origin thanks.

Hey where's my coffee???? I miss my lusso too!

You got me all wrong. I don't think you should close the thread. You might need a part 2 if you continue lol, but what I was trying to say is that if your just talking about certain roasted coffee, it might be better off in the roasted coffee section so people can join in the discussion. This thread has been about your coffee journey with your lusso so I don't think it's OT, it's just that I think you can contribute a lot to the forum, you just need to spread you wings a bit. + I'm only a temp admin

Should be back to a regular member soon!

Moon · February 2015

Good golly .. hasn't participation in this forum dropped off to but a trickle. ??? I mean where is everyone? .. 3 members 80 guests .. most online today - 108? Something doesn't appear to be right .. eh? Well .. one thing is for sure ... my beloved Ponte Vecchio Lusso is in good form and cranking out some pretty decent coffees. Cheers to mycuppa for the Kenya beans .. very nice, and seemed to improve with age. I'd definitely rate the coffees in the 9.2s/10 I'm about to get back to the Indian Tiger Mountain .. in fact I'm going to make one right now :coffee2: Hmm .. emoticons back .. which is good :thumb: PF wouldn't lock in .. so I must've dosed a little high. After removing some grinds .. gave it another crack .. still no luck. Hmm? Can't be the dose level .. oh .. the basket wasn't seated in the PF properly .. ok. The pour was way too quick and was gushing out and had to hold back the lever which really doesn't help much. I'd normally sink it and realised I had only enough water left in the boiler for this coffee when the low water level light came on. Decided to go with it rather than top up with water and wait for it to heat up again. Turned out pretty nice .. and then adjusted the grind to a finer setting for the next cup. I've bean alternating between the Woolies Organic milk, Pauls Farmhouse Gold .. and noticed Coles are now stocking their own homebrand organic milk in the 1ltr. They only had the lite version until recently after ditching the full-cream about a year ago. This Coles organic sells for the same price as the Woolies version @ $2.30 ltr .. and smells and tastes like the same milk to me.

Lacehim · February 2015

Well to be honest moon the forum was down for most of the day while we moved it. :angel: How how's the Lusso going? Any hardware issue with it?

Moon · February 2015

on 1423479753:

How how's the Lusso going? Any hardware issue with it?

When you turn on the steam knob after the pressure has built up to max .. did your steam come out gradually as you turned the knob, cause with mine .. when the knob is turned up to half way .. the valve clicks/opens .. which releases the steam forcefully. You then have to turn it off and bring it back on gradually when the wand is inserted into the milk. Is this 'normal' .. as I've always thought the valve was sticking .. and did try oiling it, although it didn't make any difference. I know you suggested the mod to eradicate the false pressure problem .. which is probably the way to go .. only I didn't like the idea of drilling holes in my brand new coffee machine in case I stuffed it up. It's not new anymore .. and even though the false pressure is enough of a pain to want to remove it with the modification .. I'm not sure I'd do it. Strange they haven't sorted this problem at the factory. Other than that .. no problems. I think insulating the boiler and shielding the wiring and other parts from extreme internal heat under the cover was a vital modification. I also don't leave the machine on all day .. maybe for an hour at the most in the morning .. otherwise I switch it off and open the steam wand to release the pressure in the boiler after making my coffee. I think these measures help prolong the life of the machine and avoids problems. I'm yet to have to deal with changing the seals in the cylinder. Seems to be fine .. no leaking.

Lacehim · February 2015

Have you tried a new seal? When it's off and cool, it comes straight out when you unscrew it and from memory it had a little stopper. It's been a while though! lol

C-man · February 2015

Is it a good idea to drain out the steam when turning off my machine? I never heard of that before.

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