Behmor 1600 Cheap Temperature Mod

One thing Behmor lacks is temperature reading.
This mod version is cheap, easy and quick.

Assuming you have the proper tools/drills:
Thermometer + Thermocouple + PG7 = $10

You will need:

1. Thermodetector Meter + Thermocouple Probe (this is really cheap!)
2. Drill
3. 12½ mm drill bit (31/64") 
4. Smaller drill bit, about 6 mm (1/4") 
5. Screwdriver (small)
6. Torque screwdriver (also small)
7. PG7 Metal Cable Gland

To do:

1. Remove the left (see p.11) and right side panels.3 screws on top, 3 on the bottom (middle one is usually a torque screw)
2. Remove the 4 screws holding the back end of the top panel. 
3. Remove the 3 screws on the inside of the door, holding the top panel .
4. On the rightmost side of the top panel (inside the right side), there's a bent flap locking the top piece. Straighten it out and then pull the top piece out towards you.
   
   Now you have removed all necessary panels for the actual work to begin.
5. Remove the two pins (to minimize hostages while drilling)
6. Mark where the whole should be. Mine is close to the left pin, to be a centered as possible.
7. Start drilling!
   Start with the smaller drill, don't apply too much pressure, you'll get through anyways.
   Then use the big drill to complete the task. 
8. Insert the PG7, use hand pressure to tighten the nut on the inside.
9. Carefully slide the thermocouple probe through the air opening in the back (see picture)
10. Put the thermocouple probe down the PG7 until it protrudes from the inside.
11. Assemble all panels in reverse order.

Pictures

That's it. 

Notable is that I only had a 10mm drill bit but I used a round file to widen the whole to 12½ mm.

I still made it work.

Bottomless portafilters

The idea of using a bottomless (or 'naked') portafilter is to get a view on what's going on while pulling a shot. This is the perfect way to start improving your shots.

Channeling. Blonding. Multiple streams.
Those are some common issues people experience.
Before you even know your shots are bad, you have to get a bottomless portafilter.

Here's more info on the matter.

Even if you don't need more info, just have a look at the pictures.
They make me think of Janice from Friends, because Oh, My, God.

The Rancilio Silvia Screw Mod

One of the first things I noticed with Silvia is that there's a little hole in the puck after pulling the shot. That's the brewhead screw leaving a mark it may cause channeling, if you're unlucky.

Here's a great guide on the subject. That guide is what I relied on, as my very first mod took place.

Degree of roast

Using sight to determine degree of roast is a great tutorial for, well, what the headline says.

Depending on your roaster, it may be hard to see the beans clearly during the roasting process. I usually end my roasts around second crack. Some beans are said to taste great when taken off just before second crack. It doesn't have to be that hard, though. But more on that later.

The guide has a good video guide and pictures on the topic.
Enjoy it, like a nice doppio. I sure will.