This manual contains everything you need to operate and maintain your LUCCA Tempo espresso machine.
Please read carefully before operating your single-boiler vibratory pump espresso machine. Check out our website for specifications for the LUCCA Tempo Espresso Machine, including accessories and other details. For setup information, please review the setup guide.
Getting Started:
After reading through the LUCCA Tempo setup guide, test your water. Espresso machines have specific water requirements. There are two primary considerations: filtration and hardness. Please carefully read about the importance of water in espresso to understand how water affects your espresso machine. For further learning, check out Coffee School's Water 101
Note: It's essential to test your water, filter, and soften to obtain 35-85 ppm to avoid scale and damage to your machine. RO (reverse osmosis) or distilled water does not contain enough mineral content and could cause issues with your machine. The SCA Water for Brewing Standards explains what's needed to obtain water suitable for your machine and coffee.
Technical Details:
Please look at the spec table on the product page for a complete list of technical details.
When you're ready to start pulling shots, check out our Espresso 101 section to learn about steaming milk, latte art, our suggested starter espresso recipe, grinder dial-in tips, and much more!
Adjusting the PID:
- To enter the PID menu, press and hold the coffee button for five seconds. The up (hot water button) and down (steam button) buttons will allow you to cycle through each menu option and its adjustable parameters. The categories are as follows:
- Temperature Unit (F°/C°): To change the temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit, press the coffee button to change the unit of measurement [Celsius / Fahrenheit], then press the up and down buttons to make your choice. Press the coffee button for two seconds to confirm the choice. The temperature unit is displayed as CEL / FAh.
- Eco Mode: Eco mode is an energy-saving feature that powers the machine down after your chosen time interval. After changing the temperature unit, press the down arrow key to change the minutes before the machine enters Eco mode. Next, use the coffee button to change the minutes in Eco mode, then the arrow keys to select the minutes between 0, 30, 60, and 90. Press the coffee button for two seconds to confirm your choice. Choosing zero will disable Eco mode. A dot appears on the PID display when the machine is in Eco mode. The LED buttons turn off, and the temperature rises to 60°C/140°F. To wake the machine up from Eco mode, press any button.
- Standby Mode: Unlike Eco mode, standby mode puts the machine into a low-power state after a set period of inactivity. It keeps the machine partially powered on but does not actively heat the boiler, allowing for a quicker start-up when you need to use it again while minimizing energy consumption.
Once in the standby mode category, use the arrow key buttons to select the minutes between 0, 30, 60, and 90. Choosing zero will disable standby mode. NOTE: If both modes (Eco and Stand-by) are enabled, standby mode has priority. Three dots appear on the PID display when the machine enters standby mode, and the LED buttons are turned off. - Pre-infusion: Pre-infusion is a feature that allows for several seconds of gentle saturation of water to the coffee puck before full nine-bar pressure is applied during extraction. Pre-infusion helps mitigate extraction issues such as channeling and can improve your espresso’s flavor.
Press the coffee button to set pre-infusion to ON. Press the coffee button again to choose the duration of pre-infusion in seconds. Use the arrow button keys to choose between 0_on to 9_on, representing 0 to 9 seconds of pre-infusion. Press the coffee button for two seconds to confirm your choice. - Temperature Offset: The temperature offset compensates for the heating element's temperature compared to the supply temperature. It is recommended that the factory-set value be kept as is.
- Steam Temperature: You can change the steam temperature between 130°C and 140°C (260°F and 284°F). Press the coffee button to change the steam temperature, and use the arrow key buttons to choose between 130 °C and 140°C (260°F and 284°F). Press the coffee button for two seconds to save your steam temperature selection.
- Brew Temperature: Press the coffee button to change the brew temperature. Choose between 40°C and 105°C (104°F and 221°F) with the arrow key buttons for the desired value. Press the coffee button for two seconds to confirm your choice. The ideal brew temperature range is between 194°F and 208°F.
TO EXIT THE PID MENU, PRESS THE COFFEE BUTTON FOR TWO SECONDS OR WAIT FOR TEN SECONDS.
Using flow control:
The LUCCA Tempo has a flow-control paddle in front of the steam wand, which allows you to adjust brew pressure in real time during espresso extraction. NOTE: Always ensure that the flow control paddle is in the front-facing position before you press the shot button to begin your extraction. Only turn the flow control paddle when brewing coffee to avoid excess wear and tear.
- Once you have ground coffee loaded into your portafilter and it is locked into the group head, press the coffee button to begin your shot.
- Next, turn the flow control paddle clockwise to work in the lower pressure range (0-3 bar pressure).
- After pre-infusing for your desired amount of seconds, you can slowly ramp up the pressure by turning the flow control paddle counterclockwise and stop your shot by pressing the coffee button once you reach your desired espresso yield.
- Lastly, turn the flow control paddle back in a clockwise direction to lessen post-infusion pressure.
- NOTE: Turning the flow control paddle to the right a full 90 degrees to the right produces max pressure, which is more than needed during coffee extraction and is not advised.
Additional Resources:
If you need help dialing in your equipment or pulling shots, check out the articles below or contact our coffee experts and technicians.