Question:
I'd love to see some of your results/observations. I've got a Maestro and Santos too...and I keep fiddling with grind/up north time, etc

Are you using the standard plastic disk filter? I've tried cona rod and spring attached to e-santos filter with varying results.

Pre-heating water in a different container?

Answer: I preheat in a kettle because I saw alot of warnings about using a heat diffuser w/ a gas stove, not turning the flame up too high, etc, or you'll crack the glass. So with the flame turned up to a level I was comfortable with, it took 20 minutes for the water to ascend. With a kettle it takes about 6 minutes to boil 8 cups, and then I set my burner 3/4ths of the way towards 'HI' for the santos jug. 6x 6oz measures of Fiji bottled water (best water I can find) 9tbs Sulawesi Toraja, roasted 4-2-02 Maestro one click below the drip pot image (shorthand: "drip -1")

0:00 start fire under kettle (shorthand: i don't even log this, i just start the clock) 6:02 water boils (shorthand: "boils") 7:26 Water transferred to santos, coffee ground, placed in top jug, top jug inserted, etc, whole assembly placed on heat (shorthand: "grounds on heat") 8:10 the water is quickly heading up north (shorthand: "ascends") 8:38 fast bubbles are heading north and actively churning the coffee (shorthand: "bubbles") 11:20 take assembly off heat and placed on a pot holder (shorthand "off heat") 11:47 coffee begins the descent into the bottom half (shorthand: "descends") 14:40 coffee is in bottom jug and pressure is equalized (very little air gurgling from top into bottom) (shorthand: "equalized")