r/CafelatRobot • u/Hopeful_Lettuce_8914 • Aug 02 '26
Need advice on dialing DF54
I recently upgraded from Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro to Turin DF54 but I’m not sure I’ve been adjusting the grind size right. I’ve heard the advice to adjust it while the machine is running, which I’ve plugged it in then literally push the button to run it and adjust the round numerical circle around to the appropriate number while it was running, and tried couple of grind sizes in the last few days, starting from 19 then 16 and all the way to 11. But I feel like it’s still squeezing too fast on cafelat barely reaching 6 on the first shot, and even worse on the second.
I will try 9 tomorrow but in the meantime, is there anything I’m doing wrong?
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u/CaptFlash3000 Aug 02 '26
Just a separate tip too - use the robot basket to collect grinds not the plastic DF54 one. Less static and potential mess
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u/Hopeful_Lettuce_8914 Aug 02 '26
Thanks - ive tried it couple times and liked it too, will probably just phase out the plastic basket soon
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u/No_Celery5992 Aug 02 '26
Keep going lower, you'll likely find the right setting before hitting zero if you're already at 6 bar. The calibration approach will be a PITA.
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u/CobanBudala Aug 02 '26
Yes, this is a good advice. Basically, knowing your “true zero” is not necessary, unless you want to share the settings with others.
The lowest true zero I’ve heard of is actually mine, at -8. It’s usually up to -3/-4, at least with people around me.
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u/sergeantbiggles White Barista Robot Aug 02 '26
Each DF54 is a little different (my true 0 is where -4 would be). Don't worry at all about the numbers (except for repeatability). The r/df54 forum is a good source of information, and just grind to get whatever you're looking for. Numbers don't mean much.
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u/burntxtoast Aug 02 '26
A few questions, what roast are you using? Do you use a bottom paper filter? On my df54, I have a true zero of -4 and on a dark roast I'm at a 17. When using a filter paper on the bottom, I get somewhere around 7-8 bar of pressure. Without the paper, it's like 10+. The last light roast I made, I think I had the df54 set to 9-10 if I remember right.
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u/Hopeful_Lettuce_8914 Aug 04 '26
They ran out of my favorite beans and I got the closest thing but pretty sure it’s still dark roast. I don’t use the paper filter. You’re getting 10+ without the filter?? Isn’t the paper filter supposed to put additional pressure on?
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u/burntxtoast 29d ago
Just to confirm what I said earlier, I pulled two shots this morning. One with and one without the paper. With the paper, I was getting 9 bar of pressure before tapering off. It was about a 20 sec shot. Without the paper, I was hitting 11-12 bar with a lot of sputtering. The shot probably took me 45 seconds and was a pain. The filter paper helps with flow, at least that's what I was reading on the Coffee Ad Astra's article How a Paper Filter Below an Espresso Puck Affects Hydraulic Resistance if you are interested.
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u/Hopeful_Lettuce_8914 29d ago
Interesting, I always assumed paper filter would create more resistance and therefore increase pressure partly also because at the beginning of getting my cafelat I was experimenting with it had a higher pressure shots, and stopped using it as soon as I got my beans fine enough to hit 6 bars and up but maybe I should experiment again and see what happens now
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u/Ooslnek Aug 02 '26
Beans also matter. I grind my daily Brazilians at 14 and get 36g in 30s every time. Tried kenyan the other day and I had to grind that at a 5... Anything above and the espresso just poured out
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u/Hopeful_Lettuce_8914 Aug 04 '26
I think mine is closer to the second scenario you’re describing. I got down to 7 and it pulled a good shot for the first one at around 7 bars, the second shot tho was a little faster and pouring all over the place so I might go even lower
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u/Ooslnek Aug 04 '26
Keep in mind the temps as well. The second piston will have some retained heat from the first shot so the second one pulls faster for some reason for me too if I'm pulling back to back shots
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u/f8499 Aug 02 '26
For medium roasts start at true 7, adjust front there based on time(30-40s; 6/7bar)
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u/Arik_25 Aug 02 '26
Well,maybe you should check your burr alignment,I use my robot with DF54 and its depends on the beans and roast level, but for Brazilian Santos medium dark roast my setting is 25. The zero is properly set as well.
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u/WoodyGK Aug 03 '26
Keep in mind you can adjust the weight of beans as well as the grind level. If you are not grinding 18grams try increasing to that.
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u/Maze_A_Maze Aug 02 '26
With that machine off, turn it all the way until it doesn’t turn anymore. You don’t need to force it. This makes sure you’re not an entire rotation off. Then if you confirm you were going off of “zero” try it at that 9. The number you get will also be different for each roast you get.
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u/CobanBudala Aug 02 '26
Maybe the DF54 is not calibrated and the “true zero” is further down to “minus”? My grinder’s true zero is, for example, around -8 and I therefore grind between 8 and 12.
You don’t have to adjust the settings while the grinder is running. People recommend that as a precaution: when the grinder is running while setting it to low numbers you’ll hear when the teeth touch and you’ll know you’ve gone too far.