Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Damnit, my coffee shop has closed down :(

I'm stuck with Lavazza Oro as a stop-gap.

Curiously the Coffee Republic on the high street seems to have closed down too. I know there's a bit of a glut on the high street but surely the chains would be the last to go :confused:
 
Jonny69 said:
My Classic is starting to drip when I switch it on. Descaling time? What were the recommendations for descaler? One of them you couldn't use citric acid in or something because of the boiler material.
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http://www.pulymilk.com/pulybaby.html
I use Puly baby for general descaling, however if you are in need of some heavy duty descale, calcinet is superb. It would lift the paintwork off the bonet of your car :D

Puly can be found at a lot of online retailers, expect to pay approx £12 for general puly cleaner for backflushing, and under £10 for calcinet and puly baby.
 
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This has made me depressed.
My crappy Krups machine is rubbish, the milk frother is broken, and I can't grind fresh beans for lack of a grinder.
I'd kill for a good coffee like I had at the local italian resteraunt the other day.
 
Natima said:
This has made me depressed.
My crappy Krups machine is rubbish, the milk frother is broken, and I can't grind fresh beans for lack of a grinder.
I'd kill for a good coffee like I had at the local italian resteraunt the other day.
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You can get fairly decent pods to fit most machines like that. Some are better others. Best way is to try them out and see how they work. If they taste ok, you can get filter basket accessories which helps suit pods better and gives u a better crem. It's a more expensive way of doing it, but for some it does the job.
 
Maverrick said:
You can get fairly decent pods to fit most machines like that. Some are better others. Best way is to try them out and see how they work. If they taste ok, you can get filter basket accessories which helps suit pods better and gives u a better crem. It's a more expensive way of doing it, but for some it does the job.
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Thanks I'll check it out!
In the mean time I'll go make a coffee :)
 
Maverrick said:
http://www.pulymilk.com/pulybaby.html
I use Puly baby for general descaling, however if you are in need of some heavy duty descale, calcinet is superb. It would lift the paintwork off the bonet of your car :D

Puly can be found at a lot of online retailers, expect to pay approx £12 for general puly cleaner for backflushing, and under £10 for calcinet and puly baby.
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I always understood that you had to be careful what you used to descale gaggias, because their boilers are aluminium. Plus, I've used Puly to soak my group & shower screen - and it's not actually a descaler and shouldn't be used inside the machine. (and Jonny, you can't (or shouldn't) backflush gaggias either)

If I was Jonny69, I'd be looking for the magic words "suitable for gaggia" ;)
 
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there is a different in the two cleaners i listed. puly caff powder is for backflushing and soaking your equipement. It is ineffect a de-tanner. Puly baby is a descaler which is not particularly harsh. I have taken this info from one of there safety sheets.

"CHARACTERISTICS: PULY CLEANER BABY for electric coffee machines for home use.
This product is based on the company’s experience over many years as a market leader in the area of special detergents and decalcifiers for espresso coffee machines. It is specially designed to remove calcium and magnesium deposits from boilers, pipes and brewing units. Periodic use of this product will ensure that coffee produced by the machine preserves its taste. The product does not corrode metal or rubber seals, and leaves no traces or odour behind. No special care is required for use."

I see no reason that you would have any issue with using puly baby on a domestic gaggia, but I will chat with there main service engineer if i can get hold of him later and ask the question for you. I will post back here this evening if i have a definative answer.
 
domino said:
ah - I think I was getting mixed up - obviously not enough coffee yet! ;)

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hd0588-puly-baby.html

Puly Baby isn't apparently citric acid based, which IIRC is what the problem is with descaling Gaggias. I have to admit, when I had a gaggia a million years ago, I didn't know enough about them so I always got the Gaggia baby cleaner, which is formic acid.
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What about this ?

https://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/Joe-Glo-Cleaning-Powder-706g.html

Is that safe to use in the Gaggia ?
 
Raymond Lin said:
ah

I have some Gaggia Baby cleaner too for that. :)
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Gaggia Baby & Puly Baby - descalers. Puly Caff - cleans external bits.

I think this is why I stuck to Gaggia Baby descaler when I had a Gaggia - there's so many things out there, and sometimes It's not that clear what they all do.

Speaking of cleaning - I used good old fashioned FIRE! the other day to clean my shower screen. The Rancilio ones have a screen that has two layers, and it's always bothered me that even after an overnight soak in Puly Caff, there's still been crud. So, I held it over the hob (with some long nosed pliers of course) and burned it all off. Worked like a charm. (not that I'm advocating anyone setting fire to their coffee machines, just in case you try to sue me ;) )
 
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