Test:Superautomatic-Blank
From Whole Latte Love Support Library
The is a super-automatic espresso machine .
Manufacturer: |
Model Name: |
Type: Super-Automatic |
Contents
Machine Description
Basic Usage
Getting Started
Bypass Doser
If you plan on using the bypass doser function on the machine to brew with pre-ground coffee there are a few things to consider for the best brewing experience:
- The bypass doser will only accept 8-9 grams of coffee at a time. The scoop that comes with the machine is merely for transferring coffee grinds, it is not a measurement tool. To prevent overfilling the bypass doser we suggest using a level scoop, and then taking a large pinch out of it. A little bit less than a full scoop is the perfect amount.
- If the coffee is ground too coarsely the resulting shot is going to taste sour, weak or watery. Coffee ground for espresso should be slightly finer than table sugar or sand.
- Alternatively it is also possible to have coffee that is ground too fine. Extremely fine grinds can result in little or no flow from the machine, and very bitter shots. Coffee that is ground too finely can cause blockages in the system that can only be resolved through deep cleaning or a repair.
Do not add whole beans, or entire bags of preground coffee into this chamber. It will cause irreversible damage to the machine.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Proper machine maintenance is critical for machine function. Most machine failures are caused by lack of cleaning and many manufacturer warranties do not cover cleaning related breakdowns, so it is important to keep a regular maintenance schedule. Listed below is a suggested maintenance schedule for most super-automatic espresso machines:
Machine Maintenance
Descaling
Descaling the machine should be done on a bimonthly basis using the product recommended by the manufacturer. Descaling is still required even if reverse osmosis, distilled, or zero water is being used. Refer to your machine manual for specific instructions for this unit.
Brew Unit
The brew unit of the machine should be removed on a weekly basis and rinsed of with cold water. Cold water must be used because the brew unit has lubrication on it that will wash away with hot water. It is also important to use plain water, detergents and soaps should not be used. While the brew unit is removed the brew unit chamber should be wiped down with a moist cloth to remove excess grounds and coffee residues.
A complete disassembly, cleaning, and lubrication of the brew unit should be done every 500 cups or every 6 months, whichever comes first. A food safe silicon based lubricant should be used, such as food grade Petrol-Gel.
Recommended Cleaning Products
Milk Carafe Maintenance
Automatic Cleaning Cycle
The automatic carafe cleaning cycle for this machine should be completed on a weekly basis. It is important to keep the carafe clean in order for the carafe to function properly and to be able to produce froth. Unsanitary milk residues can build up in the carafe if it is not maintained properly.
Manual Disassembly & Cleaning
While the automatic cleaning cycle does remove most residues it is not a complete cleaning of the carafe. The carafe should be pulled apart on a daily basis, after you are finished making latte drinks for the day, for more thorough cleaning.
Recommended Cleaning Products
The automated carafe cleaning cycle requires the use of a cleaning solution intended for removing milk residues. The recommended product for this unit is .
Troubleshooting
No Crema or Bad Tasting Shots
Typically, issues with crema or the flavor of the shot do not indicate a malfunction of the machine. Instead, this indicates that an adjustment needs to be made in the brewing process or that different beans need to be used.
The type of bean that is being used is particularly important for super-automatic machines, because the built in burr grinders only accept certain types of beans. Another consideration is the roast of the bean, which greatly influences how much crema can be produced, as well as the flavor of the shot. Super-automatic machines are not compatible with oily, caramelized, or flavored beans. Properly stored and recently roasted beans are best. You can find more information on why bean selection and storage is important for super-automatic machines by watching the video below.
Appropriately adjusting the grinder is also important. Poor shots can also be the result of incorrect grind settings.
- If the shot is too bitter:
- The grind is set too fine. Try adjusting the grind to a coarser setting, typically indicated by a large dot symbol or higher number.
- If applicable, the aroma setting is set too high. Lower the aroma setting so that less coffee is ground per shot.
- The beans being used are over-roasted, and a lighter roast is needed.
- If the shot is too sour or weak tasting:
- The grind is set too coarse. Try adjusting the grind to a finer setting, indicated by a lower number. Whenever moving the grind to a finer setting it is important to make minor adjustments, and to only adjust the grinder while in operation.
- If there is little crema:
- The beans are probably stale and fresher beans need to be used.
- The grind setting does not match the drink that is being made. Smaller drinks such as an espresso require finer grind size; larger drinks such as a longo require a coarser grind.
- Oily or dark roasted beans are being used. These beans are not compatible with the unit, and are not suitable for espresso brewing. The oils and chemicals that are needed to produce a rich crema have been roasted out of the bean. Switch to a drier/lighter roast.
- Keep the machine properly cleaned and maintained for good tasting shots. Your grinder may need to be cleaned or calibrated, or you may need to descale your machine to remove any unwanted residues or flavors.
Difficulty Frothing
Flow Issues
The first place to start with any flow issue is cleaning the machine. Before going through these steps please make sure the machine is cleaned according to the Cleaning & Maintenance section of this article.
If you are not able to get water to flow through the machine at all, then something is blocking water flow through the machine. This issue typically indicates the machine is not being cleaned on a regular basis. Review the cleaning & maintenance schedule for this machine, and make sure the cleanings are being done at the suggested interval with the recommended product. Once flow is restored, even if it is minimal flow, a descaling should be done immediately.
- The water tank is not seating properly. Please remove the tank and reinsert it firmly. Make sure there are no beans or debris beneath the water tank preventing it from seating flush with the machine.
- A foreign body, such as coffee grounds, has gotten drawn into the system from the water tank. This kind of debris can get lodged in valves/water circuits and cause flow issues. Try cleaning the brew unit check valve using the instructions here:
- The machine may require a manual prime.
No Flow From Steam Wand
Once the flow issue has been resolved the machine should be immediately descaled with the recommended product. Flow issues and blockages are typically due to lack of maintenance or excessive scale buildup.
- First set the machine to hot water mode.
- You should hear the pump start to vibrate. Once the pump is activated hot water should begin to flow through the wand.
- If hot water does flow through the wand stop the machine from dispensing hot water and switch to steam mode. There may have been a piece of debris in the steam wand blocking the flow.
- If water does not flow through the wand then there may be a more severe blockage.
- Soak the wand in a mixture of descaler and hot water. Test flow using the hot water function again.
- Use a pipe cleaner to manually clean the inside of the wand. Only use a pipe cleaner with synthetic or plastic bristles; do not use one with metal bristles as it can damage the wand. Test the flow again.
Reduced Or No Flow During Brewing
- If there is no flow while brewing specifically, then something is blocked along the brew circuit. Begin by running a descale of the machine using the recommended product. Scale buildup is the most common cause of flow issues. Descaling will most likely resolve the issue.
- If the machine is set to a really fine grind, the grinds can block the flow. Set the grind to a coarser setting and see if flow is restored. Leave the grind on the coarse setting for the remainder of flow testing.
- There may be an issue with the brew unit.
- First remove the unit and rinse it off with cold water. Do not use any sort of detergent or soap to rinse it off or necessary lubricant will be removed.
- Wipe down the brew unit chamber with a damp cloth to remove any leftover grounds. A microfiber cloth is best, to prevent any cloth fibers from remaining behind.
- Clean the check-valve. Here are the instructions to follow.
- Reinsert the brew unit and test for flow.
- This machine allows beverage length to be reprogrammed. Make sure it isn't set to the minimum brew length. If the machine is programmed to the minimum beverage length the machine may not dispense any coffee, or it may only dispense a few drops. Try reprogramming the machine to a longer length drink to see if it resolves the no flow issue.
- Check the brew unit to make sure it is lining up with the spout assembly and connecting with the spout assembly properly.
- If you are noticing a lot of brewed coffee or coffee sprayed inside the brew unit chamber then the brew unit o-ring may be damaged or out of place.
- Remove the brew unit and inspect the large red o-ring attached to the tamping assembly. Make sure it is clean, properly positioned, and not damaged.
- If the o-ring is broken or damaged it should be replaced. A brew unit o-ring can be purchased here.
- Your machine features an e-plus dial which may be blocked. Try brewing a shot and while the pump is activated turn the e-plus dial back and forth. This may clear up the blockage and restore flow.
- The dispensing spout may be blocked. Try very gently cleaning the dispensing spout holes with a toothpick to remove any blockages.
Have Flow But Getting No Flow Error
In some situations you will be able to get flow through the machine for all of the functions, but the machine thinks there is no water flowing through. There is a device in the machine called a flow meter, and it tells the machine when water is flowing through or not. The device operates by having small fan-like blades spin when water passes through it. If those blades get stuck from excessive scale buildup or a foreign body getting lodged into them then they will not spin. As a result, even though water is flowing through the machine, you will get a flow error.
If your machine uses a water filter temporarily remove it from the water tank and add the recommended descaling product to the water tank. The descaler needs to work its way into the system to start dissolving the scale buildup in the flow meter. You may have to keep restarting the machine so that it can keep attempting to prime, which will draw the descaler/water solution into the system. If at any point you are able to clear the flow message then you will want to do an immediate descale of the machine. After you have descaled run 4-5 tanks of plain water through the hot water function for the wand in order to ensure the system is completely free of debris.
Machine Is Leaking
From The Wand
If the steam wand is leaking while the machine is on and/or brewing, the steam valve is open inside the machine. It is likely that scale has built up inside the valve, and the buildup is holding the valve open. Try the following to resolve the leak:
- First begin by descaling the machine using the recommended descaling product.
- After descaling flush 4-5 tanks of plain water through the system using the hot water function for the steam wand. This will ensure any debris or scale buildup the descaling loosened is fully removed.
- If this does not work then the machine should be sent in for repair since the steam valve may need to be replaced.
Machine Not Heating Or Powering On
No Power
- Make sure the machine is plugged into an appropriate power source.
- Do not use the machine on a surge protector. This machine has a high power draw, more than a typical kitchen appliance such as a refrigerator or a microwave. Surge protectors are typically not rated to handle the amperage this machine requires.
- Make sure the power cord is firmly inserted into the power socket on the machine.
- Try using the machine on a different outlet, and make sure the machine is the only appliance plugged into that outlet.
- Try testing another appliance on the same outlet.
- Make sure the power switches are functioning properly and not broken. If the machine isn't powering on try pressing and holding the power button in the on position to see if the machine turns on. If you are able to power the machine on this way then the power switch needs to be replaced.
- If the machine recently had a leak, had water spilled on it, or any other exposure to moisture then the machine may be shorting out. Try letting the machine sit unplugged for 48 hours to make sure there isn't a short caused by moisture.
- If the carafe works, but the steam wand does not, then do the recommended steam wand cleanings.
- If the steam wand works, but the carafe does not, then do the recommended milk carafe cleanings.
- If temperatures are not hot enough for the carafe there are a few things to try.
- First the carafe may be operating properly. The carafe was designed for use with a room temperature boxed milk. The machine is programmed to produce a temperature rise of 50-70 F°. Typical ending temperatures are around 125-135 F°. This is completely dependent on the starting temperature of the milk though. If the milk is stored in a very cold refrigerator, e.g. a 33 F° refrigerator, the resulting temperature will only be about 100-110 F°.
- There are a few programming options which can be changed in order to increase the amount of steam that is injected into the carafe during frothing.
All three of these issues share the same root cause. The grinder has become jammed with grounds or coffee residues. These issues are typically a result of incorrect beans being used in the machine. This machine is not compatible with oily, dark roasted, caramelized, or flavored beans. Use of these beans can cause permanent damage to the machine that is not covered under warranty. These beans can be identified easily. They will be shiny and feel slippery or sticky. Dry beans that are appropriate for the machine will look dull and feel rough. This machine does not have a user serviceable grinder so it is very important that the correct beans are used. Follow these steps to fix the behavior:
- Remove all of the beans and set them aside.
- Move the grinder adjustment knob all the way to the coarsest setting.
- Use a vacuum to thoroughly clean out the grinder. In particular vacuum down in the chute where the beans feed into the inside of the machine.
- Clean out the dosing chute using the following instructions:
- Add beans back into the machine. The beans must be dry beans, do not add incompatible beans back into the unit. Make sure the grinder is still set to the coarsest setting.
- Test the machine to see if it can successfully brew a shot. If it successfully brews run 2-3 more shots on this grind setting so that we can be sure the system is free of the old coffee grounds.
- Once the machine is functional on this setting you can begin moving the grind to the normally used setting. Make small 1 tick adjustments, making sure to brew shots in between. This will prevent the machine from jamming again.
The machine is sensing that the brew unit motor is working too hard to engage the brew unit. There is a fail-safe built into the machine to prevent itself from damaging the brew unit; instead it will stop and give display an error. This issue is typically resolved through normal maintenance.
- First restart the machine to clear the error message and reset the brew unit back to the home position so that it can be removed. If the machine is in an active rinse cycle do not try to remove the brew unit. The rinse cycle must be completed before the brew unit can be removed.
- When the machine indicates that it is ready for use open the door to the brew unit chamber.
- Try removing the brew unit. If the brew unit does not readily come out do not force it out. The brew unit is stuck in an engaged position and will need to be properly reset. Forcing it out of the machine can break the brew unit and possibly cause damage other parts. Do the instructions in the following video to get the brew unit properly reset before moving on to the next step. If the brew unit won't reset to the home position the machine may require a repair.
- If the brew unit is easily removed then rinse it off with cold water and let it dry.
- The brew unit will need to be cleaned and lubricated.
- Reinsert the brew unit into the machine and try brewing a shot.
Too Much Steam/Milk Boiling
If you think your wand is producing too much steam, or your milk looks like it is boiling, then you may need to make an adjustment to your frothing technique. Boiling milk, or milk that is getting to hot before frothing is completed is an indication that incorrect frothing technique is being used. Review the section of this article that addresses frothing difficulties for more information.
If you have tried adjusting your technique and the wand still appears to be producing too much steam, then a steam test should be completed.If the machine is within the specified steam test range, then the machine is producing the correct amount of steam and an adjustment to frothing technique is necessary. Using a carafe that is chilled in a freezer before frothing is helpful for keeping the milk cooler for longer, allowing for more time to froth before the milk begins to scald.
Diagrams & Manuals
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Specifications