Day 1: espresso ~ mas o menos

[scubadoo97]

You should try to measure the temperature of the water as you pull a shot. Many methods have been used but one common method is to cut a Styrofoam cup to form a smaller cup, ~2-3 oz, that will just fit your group head and insert an instant read thermometer near the base of the cup. Pull the the shot and measure the water temperature. Low temps result in sour pulls, too hot can produce a bitter espresso. 205F is a good number to shoot for. On my machine if I hit the steam button for about 5 seconds prior to brewing I can get my SL70 up to correct temperatures. Some beans do well at higher temperatures than others. Also make sure all is clean. The dispersion screen can get pretty dirty underneath and is easy to remove and clean.