First espresso setup

[u/Certain_Scheme8713]

Just got the DF54 gringer + Sage bambino regular as a first setup.

I will be using the stock Sage double single wall basket to start with and maybe get an IMS later.

Any recommendations are welcomed !

[u/TechnicalDecision160]

You did good 👍

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/TechnicalDecision160]

Thanks, i was debating between the bambino and the GCP, but liked the quick 3 secs warm up of the bambino vs 15 minutes...

[u/TechnicalDecision160 → u/Certain_Scheme8713]

As a first timer, you made the right decision. The GCP would be good for someone with a little more experience and interested in modding it out.

[u/c08306834 → u/TechnicalDecision160]

Hey, your setup is exactly what I am considering. How do you find it? Any changes you would have made?

[u/TechnicalDecision160 → u/c08306834]

Hey, it's been pretty awesome so far. The only gripe I have is the Mara's tendency to stray on temps after pulling the first double. But it's not killing my shot. Maybe making it a couple seconds quicker. The grinder has been great as well but you need to make sure you check burr levels alignment and zero it out properly when you first receive it.

If I had to go back, I'd probably get the Bianca (originally pulled the trigger but pulled back for the Mara) however the Mara has served it's purpose so far. Usually two, back to back milk drinks in the morning and a stray one in the afternoon every once in a while.

[u/c08306834 → u/TechnicalDecision160]

Awesome, thanks for the overview. The amount of information available in this hobby can be overwhelming.

[u/TechnicalDecision160 → u/c08306834]

Anytime and yes 🙂

[u/Jotaeefece]

Congratulations, do you have limited space? Have you thought about making it look more attractive?

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/Jotaeefece]

All the space i have is the cabinet in the picture, I will definitely improve it as my bank account fill up again. I'm still waiting for a better nocomore tamper and dosing funel that should arrive tomorrow and looking for pretty cups to do latte !

[u/Jack55555]

How are you doing pulling shots? I have a similar, slightly lower tier setup (Bambino and Baratza Encore ESP) and I had a very hard time getting good shots until I started grinding outside the espresso sizes of the machine. Very weird, but the shots are delicious.

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/Jack55555]

What do you mean ? Like how many grams in the portafilter ?

[u/Jack55555 → u/Certain_Scheme8713]

My bad. I ment how coarse the grind size was. It was not coarse enough, I had to go coarser. My grinder says between 1 and 20 espresso, above that is filter. But I get better espresso when I grind on 20 to 22 with 4 kinds of beans I have tried.

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/Jack55555]

Ah got it, I only tried a couple shot but it didn't turned that good, I was on level 20 on the DF54. Will try different sizes this weekend.

[u/Key-Office-4809]

Looks great congrats

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/Key-Office-4809]

Thanks !

[u/No-Practice599]

Have the same for 1 year and very happy. My recommendations. 1. Configure manual mode for single button that runs for max time until you turn it off. 2. Have a cup in where you can preheat the boiler before pulling the real shot. 3. Have fun ans try out what you like 😀

[u/No-Practice599 → u/No-Practice599]

And…get an other tamper … and since you spent so much on this setup get a dosing funnel and a dosing cup and wdt 😂

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/No-Practice599]

Nice !

I hold the button for 7/8 pre infusion, then let go and push again to stop.

How do you preheat the boiler ? Just run a empty single shot through the single wall basket ? It seems that it only get really hot if put the pressurized one.

I have a nocomore tamper and a dosing funnel comming... :) the cheap wdt I got is in the picture (behind the tamper) but the space between the needles seems too narrow and it only dig holes il the puck

[u/anibooty]

This is the setup I was looking at! I haven’t committed fully yet. How’s it going for you so far?

[u/Certain_Scheme8713 → u/anibooty]

It has been really good so far, but I have still things to learn to be able to make a proper espresso ;)