Not Building Pressure

Possible Solutions

Understanding the pressure gauge

The Pressure Gauge is easy to read, so you can monitor it and ensure it hits the sweet spot on every shot. Change the amount of grounds or your tamping force to secure the pressure you like best.

• Ideal Espresso range: Indicates you have the right amount of pressure for your Espresso extraction.
• Under extraction range: When the needle has not reached the ESPRESSO RANGE, this indicates the ideal pressure range has not been achieved. This happens when the water flows too fast through the ground coffee, resulting in a watery, flavorless shot with little to no crema.

Check the Grind Size 

Coffee is ground too coarsely. Use a slightly finer grind.

Check the Portafilter 

Coffee was tamped too softly. Use a slightly firmer tamp, between 15-20 kg or 30-40 lb of force. When you tamp the ground coffee, you need to do it firmly and uniformly for the best results, creating a bed of coffee with an even density. This allows the water to flow evenly through the entire mass of pressed coffee to make the best taste. The portafilter on our Espresso machine has a unique flat base, which promotes a level tamp and minimizes water channeling. 

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