fransg schreef:It is worth the try.

If the water seems too hot still, then maybe the boiler is set to be hotter than necessary.

What is the boiler pressure?

1,15-1,25 range.

i got it from here, so HX temperature would be ~94-95 for light roasted beans: http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/2272" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My Londinium-R boiler is at 1 bar max and the boiler of my la Pavoni is around 0.7 bar.

If you need a long cooling flush then it may be advisable to make the water less hot. Logical. Why overheat with the aim to cool it?

I did not read the info on the website you link, but if the advice they provide was any good, you would have had no problem

i did try to lower it to 0.8-1.0, but the milk steaming was kind of bad, this is why i tune it up a bit.
now i have no problems steaming.

maki schreef:i did try to lower it to 0.8-1.0, but the milk steaming was kind of bad, this is why i tune it up a bit.
now i have no problems steaming.

that is the trade-off, but i imagine you find priority in the taste of espresso, not the power of the steam (which says nothing of the quality of the frothed milk). I have lowered my pressure of my HX as well, for the good of my espresso, sacrificing some steam power.

that makes sense, surely.

too bad Erics thermometer costs 100+ dollars, it would help me a lot.

for now, i found this guide. will try this too, sounds good:

Keeping the boiler at a 1,1 max on the top of the cycle should give a nice balance for steaming and espresso.

lowered the pressure, now it holds 0.9-1.1 bar

let's see.

by the way, don't remember if i asked, my OPV is set now at 12bar brew pressure.
would it be wise to lower it to 9bar?

Yes, it would.

You might want to have an extra pressure gauge to see if the one on the machine is correct.

On the other hand, set it on 9 and taste the coffee. If it's less "hard" and more subtle, you're good.

well, i don't have one on the machine.
i used one installed instead a spout on the portafilter