Took me 3 whole months to realize my espresso machine pressure was off

I kept getting sour shots no matter what I did with grind size or dose. After 12 bags of beans and a LOT of frustration, I finally borrowed a pressure gauge from a shop downtown. Turns out my pump was pushing 11 bar instead of 9. Fixed it in 10 minutes. Has anyone else dealt with a hidden machine issue that made you feel like you forgot how to make coffee?

2 comments

2 Comments

henrygrant17d ago

That part about "12 bags of beans" hits close to home. I went through a similar stretch where my grinder was leaving static-caked grounds everywhere and I blamed my technique for two months before realizing the anti-static screen was missing. It's wild how the smallest mechanical hiccup can make you feel like a complete beginner again.

king.kevin17d ago

Oh come on, it's just coffee not brain surgery.