Caporegime
So gaggia baby to descale, Joe Glow for external bits.
Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread
- Thread starter Siliconslave
- Start date
Soldato
Anyone seen the presso machines?
http://www.singleservecoffee.com/archives/012875.php
Might be a solution for me at work where I can't plug anything in.
http://www.singleservecoffee.com/archives/012875.php
Might be a solution for me at work where I can't plug anything in.
i used to have one of these, it was pretty good and did a decent coffee actually - just never, never heat up vodka and use that instead of water to make espressos, its incredibly dangerous (and fun)
Caporegime
You can buy a replacement for a few pound, see if its the wand thats broken ?
Caporegime
it is true, i think there's a thread on that too on here.
UK gaggia distributor website - http://www.gaggia.uk.com/ There are links on there to local stockists. You may find something on there that helps. they do have a helpline, but not always very easy to get someone to answer the phone.
Associate
the Rancilio Silvia steam wand fits on domestic Gaggias as far as I can remember.
IIRC there's a rubber ring on the plastic end? Maybe you could replace that to see if it helps. IMO the pressure shouldn't be enough to push the plastic sleeve off by itself. My advice would be to clean it thoroughly (take the whole thing off and soak in hot soapy water) and replace the 'o' rings. Also, inside the plastic sleeve there is another piece of plastic, make sure that is pressed firmly into the sleeve. After that, look at replacing it with the Rancilio wand - it doesn't have the sleeve and is much less of a faff.
IIRC there's a rubber ring on the plastic end? Maybe you could replace that to see if it helps. IMO the pressure shouldn't be enough to push the plastic sleeve off by itself. My advice would be to clean it thoroughly (take the whole thing off and soak in hot soapy water) and replace the 'o' rings. Also, inside the plastic sleeve there is another piece of plastic, make sure that is pressed firmly into the sleeve. After that, look at replacing it with the Rancilio wand - it doesn't have the sleeve and is much less of a faff.
I've frozen them before - not really a major issue but treat it as if it was slowing the aging rather than stopping it.
Once the beans thaw they will release a load of CO2 which makes the bags expand
If you open a bad don't put them back in the fridge or the condensation causes quick deterioration.
Still best fresh and kept in a cool but not cold airtight box but frozen will work it just ruptures the cells causing them to age quicker (my theory).
Once the beans thaw they will release a load of CO2 which makes the bags expand
If you open a bad don't put them back in the fridge or the condensation causes quick deterioration.Still best fresh and kept in a cool but not cold airtight box but frozen will work it just ruptures the cells causing them to age quicker (my theory).
yer, bean storage seems to be a highly argued topic - the last blind test i saw done basically concluded that unless your planning on keeping for more than ~1 month its better to store in the fridge in and airtight container.
I'm storing mine in a vacuum at the moment for up to a month and its doing pretty well - better than just airtight / frozen, theres always a jump from the old to the new, but its surprisingly little in my current setup.
I'm storing mine in a vacuum at the moment for up to a month and its doing pretty well - better than just airtight / frozen, theres always a jump from the old to the new, but its surprisingly little in my current setup.
Remove it and leave it off.
You don't need it - just get a proper sized jug.
When I was first using my old classic, I had that end come off at full pressure and dented the bottom of the jug I was using.
Sadly, it also sent milk EVERYWHERE! We were wiping it off the ceiling!
You can get a Rancilio Silvia steam wand and fit it quite easily. You will probably need to remove the current wand and then cut it in half to get the nut and washer off - also ensure it's really tight before using it at pressure.
Associate
Evening chaps 
I have just got a hold of a display model cubika for £70 but it's missing a few parts - but I'm not sure what else I need. Basically it came with the machine itself, drip tray and portafilter. I am pretty sure I need a single/double basket and a group seal (judging by the manual) - I have found replacements on Happy Donkey and they are pretty cheap, is there anything else I will be needing?
Cheers,
Craig
I have just got a hold of a display model cubika for £70 but it's missing a few parts - but I'm not sure what else I need. Basically it came with the machine itself, drip tray and portafilter. I am pretty sure I need a single/double basket and a group seal (judging by the manual) - I have found replacements on Happy Donkey and they are pretty cheap, is there anything else I will be needing?
Cheers,
Craig
Caporegime
Get a double shot 58mm basket, a blanking basket, a stainsteel milk jug, and that's about it.
Associate
Bit of an update on the espresso machine front 
The Cubika was dead, the pump didn't pump water - it just made a very loud noise! Sooooo... I managed to talk the salesman into selling me the display Gaggia Espresso Pure (boxed with all accessories, a bit scuffed though) for £120, plus another discount of 20% for taking out a store card (which is going to be cancelled as soon as the plastic card comes through the door). A bit of a bargain even if I do say so myself. What do you lot think of these machines?
Anyway, I have a few questions...
1) Following Siliconslave's guide on how to make an espresso my machine takes an age to pour anything out of the portafilter, the only way to get a steady 25-sec shot is to not pack the coffee very tight at all - pretty much just use the weight of the tamper (it's a wooden/metal tamper, not the rubbish that comes with the machine so it's a fair weight). Is this normal? I really don't want this one to be faulty too
2) Cleaning. Can you back-flush the Gaggia Espresso Pure? It didn't come with a blanking disc so I don't want to give it a try and break the machine - the manual doesn't help on this matter either.
3) Milk frothing/heating. It takes ages to get the milk up to temperature from cold, the froth comes up nice and quick but the milk stays cold unless I steam it for about 60-80 sec. Is this just me being a newbie and using fridge temperature milk?
4) The coffee comes out faster from the left hand portafilter spout (not sure what this is actually called...) compared to the right one, resulting in one espresso being finished before the other - is there a way to combat this?
Apologies if I am doing it compleatly wrong, we all have to start somewhere and I have read the manual several times
Cheers,
Craig
The Cubika was dead, the pump didn't pump water - it just made a very loud noise! Sooooo... I managed to talk the salesman into selling me the display Gaggia Espresso Pure (boxed with all accessories, a bit scuffed though) for £120, plus another discount of 20% for taking out a store card (which is going to be cancelled as soon as the plastic card comes through the door). A bit of a bargain even if I do say so myself. What do you lot think of these machines?
Anyway, I have a few questions...
1) Following Siliconslave's guide on how to make an espresso my machine takes an age to pour anything out of the portafilter, the only way to get a steady 25-sec shot is to not pack the coffee very tight at all - pretty much just use the weight of the tamper (it's a wooden/metal tamper, not the rubbish that comes with the machine so it's a fair weight). Is this normal? I really don't want this one to be faulty too
2) Cleaning. Can you back-flush the Gaggia Espresso Pure? It didn't come with a blanking disc so I don't want to give it a try and break the machine - the manual doesn't help on this matter either.
3) Milk frothing/heating. It takes ages to get the milk up to temperature from cold, the froth comes up nice and quick but the milk stays cold unless I steam it for about 60-80 sec. Is this just me being a newbie and using fridge temperature milk?
4) The coffee comes out faster from the left hand portafilter spout (not sure what this is actually called...) compared to the right one, resulting in one espresso being finished before the other - is there a way to combat this?
Apologies if I am doing it compleatly wrong, we all have to start somewhere and I have read the manual several times
Cheers,
Craig
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Anyway, I have a few questions...
1) Following Siliconslave's guide on how to make an espresso my machine takes an age to pour anything out of the portafilter, the only way to get a steady 25-sec shot is to not pack the coffee very tight at all - pretty much just use the weight of the tamper (it's a wooden/metal tamper, not the rubbish that comes with the machine so it's a fair weight). Is this normal? I really don't want this one to be faulty too
This depends on the age of the coffee being used, the machine and the also the type of shot.
An example, to get the same flow rate using fresh beans I only have to use a small amount, press down without needing to put my body weight on it; but with old coffee I have to lean into it until my weight is on it.
Question for the other folks. Mine doesn't have a solenoid.
No - the technique you have using fridge temp milk is correct, even cool the jug too.
This sounds like the bubble widget on your wand if you have one.
If you haven't read it I would thoroughly recommend this thread:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/frothingguide
It will teach you all you need to know about milk temps, using a steam wand (or surfing with a widget) and will really help.
This, young pedawen, is caused by an imbalance of the flow through the puck. It may take years for you to get the puck preparation correct so the water flows through all areas of the puck uniformly.
Just don't get sucked into the dark side with Puckology and Tampology in the search of the god-shot. Just find what is good for you..
If you've not looked: http://www.home-barista.com/resources.html is a great resource.