Don't cram it in there or it will ruin the flow!2

Don't tamp too tightly, it slows down the flow and changes the crema

From one day to the next, this machine went from producing wonderfully flavored expresso with beautiful crema to no crema, bitter flavor, and almost no flow from the boiler

It reached an astonishing 88°F in my 68°F kitchen

This is a small thing, but with my previous, 'cheap-o' machine, I poured in the amount of water for that cup and set the machine, while I took my dog out into the yard for his morning sniffNpee