Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Want to discuss your Atomic?
Maybe you have an Atomic and you would like to know more about it. Or you would like to get an idea of what it is likely to fetch on eBay or TradeMe. Or it needs fixing. Bring your problems here. Someone will have an answer for you.
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8 comments:
I recently bought a second Atomic this time with the rod through the group. My problem is some black gunk in the resevoir. The steam pressure is low, insufficient to froth effectively, in comparison to my old faithful. I have removed the tip of steam spout and allowed some residue out - no better. I have used vinegar in tea kettles to remove scale build up but I am hesitant with my atomics. I believe vinegar discolours aluminum. Any suggestions for internal cleaning or improving steam? I would love to get it operating as good as my old one. Susi
The general way to clean the inside of your Atomic is with food-grade citric acid. About 3 tsps in a jug (0.5 liter) of water - just run a normal brew but without any coffee. This will clean out any mineral salt buildup. Then run a couple more brews with plain water and no coffee before you resume normal service. But black gunk is a new one on me. Corrosion usually shows up as white or gray powder or paste, not black.
Hello sir,
i am the proud owner of 2 Atomic. i am a techinician specialized in steam production, but i tried to wonder what was the use of the tiny hole on the water pipe which can be seen opening the black knob ...without answer.
can you give me a serious answer ?
nice blog, mine is http://caffettiere.blogspot.com/
regards
Lvx
I can offer you a serious answer, but I am not certain it is true. How can one be sure about anything Atomic? But my theory is as follows: The position of this hole ensures that, in the event of the steam pipe becoming blocked, or the user putting too-finely-ground coffee in the filter basket, excess steam will be concentrated right opposite the pressure relief valve in the filler knob.
i believe you are right.
however i must clarify something which is a typical mistake(as well for me since few years ago): the pipe you are referring is a water pipe. steam should never came in contact with coffee ground, that was the early '900 way of extraction but coffee became too bitter in that way.
maybe the tiny hole was a little helper to force the relief valve in the opening position.
the "serious" answer was a joke since i already have done it to an Atomic "expert"... but the answer was ..incredible!
thank you very much.
Of course you are right. It is a water pipe. One of the cleverest features of the Atomic is the "heat sink" created by the mass of metal in the head, designed to drop the water temperature down to the 90-94deg range, so that the coffee doesn't get scalded. Other similar coffee makers generally lack this thoughtful touch.
Mik said... Funny i read about this now... here is a thread i found recently: http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/hi-my-name-is-otto-who-is-going-to-buy-me-t11683.html
So and second: a friend of mine gave me a old atomic robbiati recently; it reads on top: Atomic (A) brevetti robbiati .... it is much smaller than the Atomic (B) i possess. i read on a sorrentina homepage, the B one is the smaller but i have the proof not. Anyone has a (A) please get in contact with me.... especially if you have a spare Jug!!! ;.))))) Ps: of course it's flatheaded! Greetings ,mik
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