Your Sanremo D8 is a powerful, user-friendly espresso machine. This guide will walk you through the essential steps for daily use, including setting your coffee dose, performing cleaning, and navigating the settings menu.
Getting Started
To power up the machine, use the on/off switch located on the left-hand side. Once switched on, the machine will begin heating up. Depending on the room temperature and your group head settings, it can take 10–20 minutes to fully reach temperature. You’ll see a live readout of the group head temperature on the display when it’s ready for use.
Programming a Coffee Dose
Out of the box, your D8 will have preset buttons for espresso shots. However, to ensure consistency across your team, we recommend reprogramming these buttons based on your chosen recipe. Here's our recommendation:
Start by preparing a traditional double espresso dose of 18g. Lock the portafilter into the group head and place a scale underneath your cup. With the scale tared, hold the middle Sanremo button until the screen displays D5 — this puts the machine into calibration mode.
Begin the shot by tapping the dose button you want to calibrate, and monitor the weight of espresso in the cup. For a standard brew ratio, aim for 36g out. Once you’ve reached the desired output on the scale, press the same shot button again to stop the shot and save the dose. The machine will now dispense the same volume of water through the group each time that button is pressed.
For simplicity, we recommend programming all four top buttons with this standard double espresso dose. The lower row of buttons can be left as they are, these are purge functions designed to rinse the group head between shots.
Hot Water Dispensing Amount
The D8 has a hot water tap that is programmable by time, letting you set the perfect amount of water for your specific cup size. To preset your hot water volume (ideal for Americanos or tea), place your serving cup under the hot water spout. Enter programming mode again by holding the middle Sanremo button until you see D5 on the screen.
Press the hot water tap button to begin dispensing. Once the cup reaches the desired level, press the same button again to stop and save that volume. You'll see on the right hand side group head that the D8 has recorded the time, in seconds, to dispense water. After about 15–20 seconds, the machine will automatically exit programming mode and be ready for use.
Daily Cleaning (Backflush Procedure)
At the end of each day, the D8 should be thoroughly cleaned using its built-in automatic backflush cycle. Like the rest of the Sanremo machine range, the D8 has an automatic cleaning cycle to aid the user.
- Remove the portafilter and swap the basket for a blind filter (no holes).
- Add about 1 teaspoon of cleaning powder to the blind filter.
- Lock the portafilter into the group head.
- Hold the Sanremo button and press the top left shot button to begin the cleaning cycle.
The machine will automatically activate the pump in cycles to clean the group head. After a few minutes, the cycle will complete. Purge water through the group to rinse out any remaining detergent, then repeat the process on the second group head.
Once cleaning is complete, you can switch the machine off for the day.
Navigating the Settings Menu
To access the settings menu, hold the Sanremo button on the left group head and press the hot water tap button at the same time. You’ll enter a menu interface that allows you to customise several machine parameters.
Use the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the menu options. To select or adjust a setting, press the Sanremo button, then use the top left/right buttons to change values.
Key settings include:
- Steam Boiler Temperature and Pressure: Three options 1, 1.2 and 1.5 bars of pressure. 1 bar is sufficient for strong steam performance in our experience, but you may need to adjust.
- Group Head Temperature: Adjustable between 90–98°C. Standard temperature of 92c is a good starting point, but lighter roasts may need higher temperatures. On the D8 Pro, each group head can be set independently.
- Pre-Infusion: Toggle on to enable a short, low-pressure water flow before full extraction — helpful for improving shot consistency.
- Dose Settings: Choose between 5 or 7 dose options. For simplicity and ease of training, 5 is recommended.
- Group Purge Function: Leave this on to rinse the group head after each shot.
- Cup Warmer: Enables heating of cups stored on top of the machine. Can be turned off to save energy if not needed.
- LED Lighting (D8 Pro): Enables undergroup and side-panel lights for visibility and aesthetic.
- Eco Mode: Set a timer to automatically put the machine into standby during periods of inactivity.
- Date, Time, Cleaning Counters and Shot Counts: Useful for tracking usage and maintenance.
Once you’ve finished making adjustments, press the bottom left purge button to exit the menu.
Drip Tray Adjustment
The D8 comes with one of two drip tray heights, Tall or Standard.
Standard: Perfect for smaller takeaway cups and ceramics.
Tall: Better suited to larger takeaway cups with additional clearance.
We would typically recommend businesses go for the tall option for the additional headspace. However, if you feel you made the wrong decision, you can swap between both heights if needed. You'll need to purchase the other version of the mounting legs for the drip tray and follow and quick swap/installation process.
Final Tips for Baristas
- Always purge and wipe steam wands before and after each use.
- Keep a scale at hand for checking shot weights throughout the day.
- Rinse group heads between shots to maintain cleanliness.
- Keep portafilters locked in place when not in use to retain heat.
If you need any support, whether it's training, servicing, or troubleshooting, don’t hesitate to contact us at Bridge Coffee Roasters. We're here to help you get the most from your machine.
Sanremo D8 / D8 Pro
Purchase your D8 with Bridge coffee roasters to receive:
- Free installation and site survey
- Initial complimentary training session
- Ongoing support, remote assistance and service packages
- High quality specialty coffee and ingredients
- Industry leading customer service
