Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

majnu said:
does anyone have these fancy tampers? Are they worth the premium? Or just a lazy mans tool?

http://prima-coffee.com/prima-coffee/prima-tamp
http://www.idrinkcoffee.com/Concept_Art_Technic_Adjustable_Pressure_Tamper_R_p/ca-tec-red.htm
Click to expand...

If you have a dodgy wrist then the adjustable angle one may be useful I guess, but that's the only reason I'd consider getting one, and it is pretty expensive.
The adjustable pressure tamper may be useful if you want an exactly weighted tamp, I think there are some here that use them. Once you have that muscle memory of the tamp pressure, you may not need it. Also remember that different beans/grinds may require tamping with a different pressure, so it may/may not become a nuisance depending on how often you change your beans. I'm not going to say don't get one, but personally I think you can get the right pressure after a couple of practices with a decent normal tamper.

I have one of these lovelies.
 
davetherave2 said:
Disaster strikes.
...
Have run the gaggia decalcification solution through it and still the same. Is there anything I can do or am I going to have to get Gaggia to fix it. (Is it worth it as it is over a year old?)
Click to expand...

not sure on the cost of getting it refurbed by gaggia but my Dad's one had a similar issue recently. Hes pretty handy with things like this, but honestly they aren't all that hard to strip down and clean yourself:
http://protofusion.org/wordpress/2012/04/gaggia-classic-disassembly-and-cleaning/

majnu said:
does anyone have these fancy tampers? Are they worth the premium? Or just a lazy mans tool?

http://prima-coffee.com/prima-coffee/prima-tamp
http://www.idrinkcoffee.com/Concept_Art_Technic_Adjustable_Pressure_Tamper_R_p/ca-tec-red.htm
Click to expand...


1st one is overkill unless your really suffering with tamper's wrist (?!?) the second one looks fancy but tbh pretty pricey. You can get click action tampers for much less than that
 
I've been trying to improve my milk steaming/foaming this week, so I decided to try some full fat milk (I've previously been using skimmed!)

One thing I've noticed, is that for some reason, the 2nd attempt (after drinking the first!) seems to produce pathetic steam... to the point where the ready light comes on pretty quick, and the temp of the milk flatlines until the ready light goes off again. During the whole process, instead of making the normal "tssss" noise, it makes a kind of REALLY high pitched screeching noise (both when I'm stretching and once the steam tip is immersed under the milk when I'm heating it up).

I've tried leaving it on "steam mode" for about 30 minutes before I try the 2nd drink and I've also tried switching it to steam mode a couple of minutes before I steam.. both result in the same screeching, rubbish steam!
 
OCdude said:
I've been trying to improve my milk steaming/foaming this week, so I decided to try some full fat milk (I've previously been using skimmed!)

One thing I've noticed, is that for some reason, the 2nd attempt (after drinking the first!) seems to produce pathetic steam... to the point where the ready light comes on pretty quick, and the temp of the milk flatlines until the ready light goes off again. During the whole process, instead of making the normal "tssss" noise, it makes a kind of REALLY high pitched screeching noise (both when I'm stretching and once the steam tip is immersed under the milk when I'm heating it up).

I've tried leaving it on "steam mode" for about 30 minutes before I try the 2nd drink and I've also tried switching it to steam mode a couple of minutes before I steam.. both result in the same screeching, rubbish steam!
Click to expand...


Silly question, but do you run the machine to refill the boiler after the first attempt?
 
Flibster said:
Silly question, but do you run the machine to refill the boiler after the first attempt?
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Oh.............no! :O

In fact, with my last few attempts, I wasn't actually using the machine for coffee (was making that via my Aeropress).

Is what I'm doing, damaging the machine? :O
 
OCdude said:
Oh.............no! :O

In fact, with my last few attempts, I wasn't actually using the machine for coffee (was making that via my Aeropress).

Is what I'm doing, damaging the machine? :O
Click to expand...

You can burn out the boiler and heating elements that way. It can damage the seals and cause leaks.

Once you've steamed some milk, flush the steam wand through with a quick blast of steam and then I use the brew switch to fill the machine while the steam button is still on but the steam wand closed *you will hear the note of the pump change as the machine fills up - only take a few seconds* then with both brew and steam buttons still on, opening the steam wand until water and not steam comes out.

Ensure something is under the steam wand, otherwise it gets messy. ;)

Thats the method I use, some people flip the brew switch with the steam switch off to flush the steam out of the group head. Which is cool to look at. ;)
 
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Ahh gotcha. Oopsie! :D

Talking of leaks, I've noticed that I get drips coming through the group head in between the time I've pulled a shot, and when I'm waiting for the boiler to come up to temp for the steaming. Is that normal? It's usually accompanied with a small amount of steam initially, and some gurgling sounds :o
 
molinari said:
If you have a dodgy wrist then the adjustable angle one may be useful I guess, but that's the only reason I'd consider getting one, and it is pretty expensive.
The adjustable pressure tamper may be useful if you want an exactly weighted tamp, I think there are some here that use them. Once you have that muscle memory of the tamp pressure, you may not need it. Also remember that different beans/grinds may require tamping with a different pressure, so it may/may not become a nuisance depending on how often you change your beans. I'm not going to say don't get one, but personally I think you can get the right pressure after a couple of practices with a decent normal tamper.

I have one of these lovelies.
Click to expand...

Siliconslave said:
not sure on the cost of getting it refurbed by gaggia but my Dad's one had a similar issue recently. Hes pretty handy with things like this, but honestly they aren't all that hard to strip down and clean yourself:
http://protofusion.org/wordpress/2012/04/gaggia-classic-disassembly-and-cleaning/




1st one is overkill unless your really suffering with tamper's wrist (?!?) the second one looks fancy but tbh pretty pricey. You can get click action tampers for much less than that
Click to expand...

Cheers. I just saw something called a tamping mat
http://www.coffeehit.co.uk/espresso-gear-attento-click-tamping-mat#product-tabs

I might go for this instead as it's much cheaper.
 
Siliconslave said:
not sure on the cost of getting it refurbed by gaggia but my Dad's one had a similar issue recently. Hes pretty handy with things like this, but honestly they aren't all that hard to strip down and clean yourself:
http://protofusion.org/wordpress/2012/04/gaggia-classic-disassembly-and-cleaning/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

I suspect it may be a physical fault with a component so if that's the case it may require a new part. What I'm not sure.

I had to send my gaggia in around june last year to get it repaired as the unit wasn't heating up so I am suspecting it may be a similar fault (although it is heating up fine for the espresso shot). I'm not sure how long warranty repairs last for on gaggia's but if it is related I'm hoping it's covered.

Is gaggia's warranty 12 or 24 months for the classic?

edit: Looking at the warranty it states the default is 12 months, but for domestic appliances it states 24 month warranty. So hopefully this will still be covered under warranty. Guess I will have to wait and see once Philips get in touch.


edit 2: Well it seems that after being off for almost 24 hours the steamer has started to work again properly and getting up to proper temp (hot to touch). I'm currently monitoring the situation and waiting to see if this continues to work or decides to break again.
 
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Siliconslave said:
cold brew, anyone doing it, done it, opinions etc?

Might give this a go in a bit (if my new coffee turns up today) - http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/do-it-yourself/2011/08/how-to-make-cold-brew-coffee/
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I haven't done it myself but I have tried it at Ozone Coffee in London. It certainly was an experience and gave a different flavour profile to the coffee I tried. The flavours were a bit too intense for me and not my usual fair "more boozy than I like" but I think trying something that is more akin to my flavour profiles may be a better experience.
 
molinari said:
Not done it before, but might give it a try this weekend. A good article, but you have to log in to see how much coffee and water to used :(.
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good point, although the comments give it away (or use a temp e-mail) anyhows for your convenience:

Makes about 2 cups of coffee concentrate

I like to make cold-brew with a medium roast, as I find it tastes more like coffee and less like the roasting process than dark or French roast. Light roasts tend to be too acidic. As with any kind of coffee brewing, it’s best to grind the beans yourself just before using them. The ratio of water to coffee is 1:1 by volume and roughly 4:1 by weight, so feel free to scale the recipe to suit your needs. If you don’t have a French press you can make the coffee in a pitcher and strain it through a fine-mesh strainer, and finally through a coffee filter, as in step 2.

3½ cups finely ground medium roast coffee (see note)
Kosher salt (optional)

1. Stir together coffee and 3½ cups room-temperature water in large French press. Allow raft of ground coffee to form, about 10 minutes, and stir again to incorporate. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours (an hour shorter or longer is fine).

2. Using French press plunger, press firmly on grinds to separate them from concentrate. Pour coffee concentrate into coffee filter-lined fine-mesh strainer set over large measuring cup. Let sit until concentrate filters through, up to 30 minutes. (You should have about 2 cups of coffee concentrate; concentrate can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days).

3. Combine ½ cup coffee concentrate, ½ cup cold water, and pinch Kosher salt (if using) and pour into glass with ice. Drink.
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I'm going to give it a go now with a small amount... be right back :)

well that was exciting, using the rest of the rubbish monmouth espresso beans for one experiment that made about 100cm3 of coffee + 100ml of water (in the pint glass) and 250cm3 of a Squaremile Rwandan Red Bourbon i had lying around (in the cafetiere) so now the wait begins...

Xzljws9.jpg


Although I could do that without an actual coffee so time to crack into the sweetshop (freshly roasted yesterday, so a little early!) plus a bit of dark chocolate :)

wo0B4kg.jpg
 
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Oh just to let other gaggia users know. The classic comes with 2 years warranty as standard. Philips confirmed that too me over twitter.

Lets hope my gaggia holds out, but if not then at least I still have a few months before it is out of warranty.
 
Hi all, interesting reading the last few pages after stumbling across this thread.

I've bean :p enjoying my new Gaggia Classic for about a month now using a retro Pede hand grinder which has coped admirably, but am looking forward to getting my new Iberital mc2 which is being delivered tomorrow (next day delivery! Thanks Scott@ happydonkey), can't wait!

I have thought about my warranty on the classic and didn't realise it has 24 months, thought it was just the 12, so thanks for that.

I know it's a bit pedantic maybe, but i upgraded the steam wand to the standard upgradeable rancilio and wondered if I ever needed to send it back under warranty whether it would invalidate it?
 
BeanieBailey said:
Hi all, interesting reading the last few pages after stumbling across this thread.

I've bean :p enjoying my new Gaggia Classic for about a month now using a retro Pede hand grinder which has coped admirably, but am looking forward to getting my new Iberital mc2 which is being delivered tomorrow (next day delivery! Thanks Scott@ happydonkey), can't wait!

I have thought about my warranty on the classic and didn't realise it has 24 months, thought it was just the 12, so thanks for that.

I know it's a bit pedantic maybe, but i upgraded the steam wand to the standard upgradeable rancilio and wondered if I ever needed to send it back under warranty whether it would invalidate it?
Click to expand...

Any physical modifications will invalidate the warranty. Believe it or not so does heavy calcification according to the warranty documents online. ie not being looked after and maintained.
 
davetherave2 said:
Any physical modifications will invalidate the warranty. Believe it or not so does heavy calcification according to the warranty documents online. ie not being looked after and maintained.
Click to expand...

Well, fortunately I live in a soft water area so shouldn't have an issue with calcium buildup.

I've kept the stock foamer wand so I'll whack it back on if it ever comes to returning it (hopefully not).

Thanks for the quick reply.
 
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