Very Fast Espresso Extraction on a Nova 128 – Need Help Diagnosing the Problem
Hello everyone,
I have a Nova 128 espresso machine and a uni Life coffee grinder. I’m having a problem with very fast espresso extraction, even though my grinder is set to its finest setting.
Here are the details:
- Both baskets are non-pressurized (single-wall): one single basket and one double basket.
- With the single basket and 7 g of coffee, I get approximately 14 g of espresso in just 10 seconds.
- The grinder is set to its finest setting, and the ground coffee looks very fine, almost like powder.
- Increasing the dose to 16 g improved the initial watery flow and allowed the pressure to build up more effectively. However, extraction time remained around 10 seconds.
- This problem has been present since I bought the machine.
- When I run the machine without the portafilter, approximately 10 ml of water comes out initially, followed by a 1–2 second pause, and then a steady flow begins.
- During extraction, the pressure gauge initially remains low and gradually increases.
My questions:
- Could the baskets be poorly manufactured or have incorrectly sized perforations, causing water to flow through too quickly?
- Could the uni Life grinder be incapable of producing a sufficiently fine and consistent grind for espresso, despite being set to its finest setting?
- Is the initial water discharge followed by a short pause normal behavior for the Nova 128, or could it indicate a problem with the pump or water-control system?
- What tests would you recommend to identify the actual cause?
I can provide photos of both baskets and a video of the extraction process.
I would really appreciate advice from experienced baristas or anyone familiar with the Nova 128.
Thank you!