Ec155 PF Modification

DeLonghi Ec155 made bottomless by cutting off plastic bottom, filter basket is 607706 two cup from a DeLonghi BAR machine.
Coffee is LavAzza Block pre ground--waiting for Lelit Pl53 from 1st line :(
2 1/2 scoops grounds for 2 oz espresso (not that scientific, but it works) *Edit: Just purchased a used PL53 as I couldn't wait until the end of the summer from 1st line.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• espresso
• delonghi
• ec155
• lavazza

[modz9636]

Do you find that your shot tastes better with this mod? 

[samueII]

@modz9636 In short, yes. But using a bottomless portafilter and depressurized basket shows the quality of the coffee and ability of the barista much more clearly. Many people, including myself, found a drop in taste at first; however, this forced me to really study and know what I'm doing. My current shots are infinitely better then those first few.

Besides your skill, the two most important things are the grinder and coffee. It will be impossible to get a good shot from pre-ground coffee.

[chamito448]

where you got that tip for your steaming wand, the default one is awful :(, I can't get the micro foam to form

[samueII]

@chamito448 The tip is simply the stock tip with the frothing aid cut off. It is still pretty finicky, but I can get an occasional microfoam decent enough for some simple latte art.

Cheers

[modz9636]

@samueII So I finally made the modifications to my EC155 and am working on my technique. With the filter basket, when you fill the basket, do you fill it to the top? I read online that this basket holds a lot of coffee. Thanks!

[NickFlatoff]

@NickFlatoff If you want more info, you can email me through my public email on coffeegeek. Just click my profile and there will be a link in the upper right corner.

Cheers,

~Nick

[NickFlatoff]

@tair001 Hmm... I can say with a bit of certainty that 607706 is the one I ended up with, but I bought quite a few baskets for it so I may be mistaken.

As far as the steam tip mod, I didn't take any while I was cutting it down. If your machine has a similar "frother" attached to it, twist it off and look down the bottom. It should look similar to a cup with a pointy thing in the center. I just cut off the cup part and left the pointy part.

[tair001]

Hi Nick - been reading some of your CoffeeGeek posts. I have the Delonghi ECO.310 which uses the same sump handle as your machine and I'm looking to do the same modifications as you. Just checked the spares website - are you sure its the 607706 you use? The 606438 is listed as the 2-cup filter but from the photo it looks HUGE!

Also, can you show me a picture of how you modified the steam wand? Thanks!

[NickFlatoff]

@NickFlatoff You can check out some of those videos on my current profile, I am the same user who had Samuell. I've moved on to a PID'd Rancilio Silvia V3, but the shots from my Ec155 with a decent burr grinder (Lelit PL53) were very good and compare with some that I pull now. The ec155 is a great machine for the price, but I would really suggest getting a grinder for it (I've heard good things about the Hario Mini Mill). Hope that helps, cheers!

[NickFlatoff]

@soljb Yes, probably a bit longer but the preinfusion makes a noteworthy difference. With the preground I was tamping with an insane amount of pressure, probably 50-odd pounds. I've had a burr grinder for a little over a year now, and I promise you it is impossible to get a good shot from preground coffee. Even a $31 Hario Skerton will serve you better then preground.

[soljb]

Nice shot! Can you confirm that you're doing a 2-3 second pre-infusion? sounds like it. Also, are you tamping with a full 30lbs of pressure with the lavazza preground? Thanks!

[NickFlatoff]

@centeredonchrist Well, kind of. You don't need to make the pf bottomless, but you will need to cut down a screw socket that gets in the way. Really not too difficult, but make sure you've got a file to get it nice and clean.

Cheers,

~Nick