10 minute challenge #3: espresso, 1x DE1XL (#3)
After doing two challenges with two DE1, now I'm doing two challenges with just one DE1XL machine. The idea is to see how the slowest setup performs, and then critically evaluate each speedup independently, to see what optimization yield the biggest improvements.
Lessons learned:
- Big surprise: I was almost as fast with 1 DE1XL, as I was with two.
- I made 9 double espressos, instead of 10, in the ten minutes. Just under 1 per minute.
- If I were using a double spouted portafilter, like many cafes do, I'd be making 108 single espressos per hour.
- I'm very comfortable with this setup, because it's what I've had in my home for 4 years. Because of that comfort level, my workflow is smooth, unvarying, low stress, and fairly fast.
- I'm pretty sure that the weighing and grinding process is what's slowing me down the most.
- The “please add water” pause on this model DE1XL slowed me down twice. This has been addressed in a recent firmware update, so that water refilling happens transparently in the background without making the barista wait.
- And so, foreshading a bit…. a few days ago I repeated this same challenge (one DE1XL), but with two Niches and preweighed doses in cups. This hugely sped me up, and I managed 17 double espressos in ten minutes. This equates to 102 espressos per hour.
- The next challenge is making lattes, not hands free on this 1 Niche/1 DE1XL setup.
-john
Updated 2021/02/22