I have a Dedica and made mediocre to bad coffee for a while until I decided to hone in what I was doing. Now I make coffee that's better than Starbucks but not quite as good as most local coffee shops so I'm pretty pleased.
I would definitely say get freshly roasted beans from a local shop. There likely isn't a single bag at your grocery store with a roast date on it, so find a coffee roaster. That's how you get good crema.
10g sounds like so little. I do 15g in, ~32g out in maybe 25 sec. It's a little different from standard, but whether it's my preference or this weird machine I found what works for me. Almost no bitterness is what I'm shooting for. I have a spring-loaded tamper for consistent pressure. I also use a puck screen, it makes the puck less sloppy and delivers more consistent water coverage. Both of these are cheap on Amazon and have made a noticeable difference.
Run a blank shot before you make your real shot in order to heat everything up. When cold, it's hard just putting the portafilter in. After a blank shot, it slides effortlessly as the heat expands the slot. Then just hone in, start a little coarse and then grinding slightly finer until you get a shot that tastes good to you. Use the ratios and times as a guide but ultimately follow your taste buds.
I have a Dedica and made mediocre to bad coffee for a while until I decided to hone in what I was doing. Now I make coffee that's better than Starbucks but not quite as good as most local coffee shops so I'm pretty pleased.
I would definitely say get freshly roasted beans from a local shop. There likely isn't a single bag at your grocery store with a roast date on it, so find a coffee roaster. That's how you get good crema.
10g sounds like so little. I do 15g in, ~32g out in maybe 25 sec. It's a little different from standard, but whether it's my preference or this weird machine I found what works for me. Almost no bitterness is what I'm shooting for. I have a spring-loaded tamper for consistent pressure. I also use a puck screen, it makes the puck less sloppy and delivers more consistent water coverage. Both of these are cheap on Amazon and have made a noticeable difference.
Run a blank shot before you make your real shot in order to heat everything up. When cold, it's hard just putting the portafilter in. After a blank shot, it slides effortlessly as the heat expands the slot. Then just hone in, start a little coarse and then grinding slightly finer until you get a shot that tastes good to you. Use the ratios and times as a guide but ultimately follow your taste buds.