Alexia Espresso Machine
8
Brewing Espresso
The grind -
Adjust your grind so that when you activate the pump, the flow of coffee
coming out of the portafilter spout looks like the tapered tail of a mouse. It should take
approximately 25 seconds for a 2 oz. double shot. If it is coming out quicker then the grind
needs to be adjusted finer, if it is coming out slower or not at all then the grind should be
adjusted coarser. The grind particle size should look in between powder and salt. Not as
fine as powder, but not as coarse as salt. Getting the right grind is crucial to making
delicious espresso with thick rich crema.
Consistency -
The quantity of ground coffee and tamping pressure should always be the
same. Using more or less coffee or tamping lighter or harder will greatly affect the outcome
and timing of the shot. If the shots are not coming out properly then the only variable that
should be changed is the grind.
Cleaning Tip:
Get into the habit of disposing of the spent grounds immediately after
brewing espresso. After disposing of the grounds, return the portafilter to the group head
and raise the brew lever for a few seconds to rinse away excess oils and loose grounds. By
regularly following this procedure, you will greatly reduce the tar-like buildup on the shower
screen that occurs if you allow coffee oils to dry and bake on the hot group. A cleaning
brush has also been included to clean the group screen and gasket.
Setting Coffee Brew Temperature
The Alexia is equipped with an adjustable dial
thermostat for the coffee brew temperature.
To adjust the temperature, unplug the machine
from the outlet and remove the outer shell.
The thermostat dial is shown to the right. There
is a black plastic notch on the right side of the
thermostat to indicate the current temperature.
Turn the thermostat dial to the desired temperature setting and then install the outer
shell before plugging the machine back in.
Each line on the thermostat dial represents 5° Celsius. The recommended brew range
is between 90-96° Celsius. You need to set the dial approximately 10° higher than your
desired brew temperature due to the loss of temperature between the boiler and group.
