Why is decaf coffee clogging my espresso machine?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “best decaf coffee for espresso machine“
Why is decaf coffee clogging my espresso machine?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “best decaf coffee for espresso machine“
You will almost always need to adjust your grind for decaf vs non-decaf. Decaf has a different bean structure due to the decaffeination process. Grind a little coarser and the problem should go away.
When coffee beans are decaffeinated the fibers in the beans swell up to release the caffeine and never regain their original shape. When the beans are roasted and ground the grounds are not the sane shape and have a different structure, sort of splintery or harry if you magnify them. This cause them to clump together when they are pressed together for espresso. Even by the steam. Grinding them a little larger should eliminate the clumping somewhat but it will always be there to some extent. I haven’t found a decaf espresso that works well yet.
Thanks for the A2A Mathieu Martineau
The decaffeination process causes beans to roast and grind differently. You will definitely need to adjust your grind for decaf espresso. Each new batch will need to be dialed in for your machine. I would try some different brands if varying the grind is still resulting in clumping and clogging in the machine. You should be able to grind coarse enough with any coffee, however, to get the right extraction.
If you’re buying preground, try different brands or get your beans from a shop where they can vary the grind for you. It will still be hit or miss with preground.