Tuning a Gaggia consumer espresso machine for proper brew pressure & temperature

[Tex]

Brewing, or group, pressure is one of two espresso machine variables that needs to be managed, and requires an OPV be mounted on the machine. OPV = adjustable pressure release valve

For Gaggia's with aluminum boilers that don't have an adjustable OPV (Classic & Baby do, Espresso, Carezza, Evolution, Coffee, etc, don't) the OEM water inlet can be replaced with the Gaggia Classic OPV.

Once installed, an OPV is adjusted using a group mounted pressure gauge, often mounted on your portafilter.

Here's a great article on coffee: http://tinyurl.com/Complexity-Of-Coffee

[milowebailey]

Ok, so I keep reading about replacing the Gaggia steam wand with a Silvia.

Before I do that explain to me why?   What is the difference between the Gaggia steam wand and the Silvia?

thanks

New Gaggias owner - milowebailey

[Tex]

Ok, so I keep reading about replacing the Gaggia steam wand with a Silvia.

Before I do that explain to me why?   What is the difference between the Gaggia steam wand and the Silvia?

thanks

New Gaggias owner - milowebailey

How about a demo Larry?

OEM wand with PID for brew & steam.

PID'd Carezza steaming with old-style OEM wand

Silvia wand w/PID for brew & steam.

2011-09-13: Gaggia Evolution steaming

Notice the size of the bubbles in the steam? The larger the bubbles, the larger the bubbles in the micro foam.

[mp]

Hmm ... better for those frou frou drinks then?

 

[grover]

I got sick of waiting for a Gaggia to turn up in our local CL market so I bought one off of ebay (from whole latte love?) From the initial post here I thought the "baby" would have the adjustable OPV but now looking at the parts diagram for the "new baby" I see it may not....Darn it! Which OPV would I replace it with? I think it has a plastic valve.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400111035328&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123 

I think it would have been a decent deal if it would have only needed to be PID'd....I don't do the milk thing so I don't need the silvia steam wand.....at least for now.

[Tex]

I got sick of waiting for a Gaggia to turn up in our local CR market so I bought one off of ebay (from whole lotta love?) From the initial post here I thought the "baby" would have the adjustable OPV but now looking at the parts diagram for the "new baby" I see it may not....Darn it! Which OPV would I replace it with? I think it has a plastic valve.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400111035328&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123  

I think it would have been a decent deal if it would have only needed to be PID'd....I don't do the milk thing so I don't need the silvia steam wand.....at least for now.

Replace this part:                             with this part:
                   .

Simple swap out of OEM parts.

[grover]

Thanks Again Tex!       Should I remove item 60 (the plastic 11 bar valve) or just leave that there?

[Tex]

Thanks Again Tex!       Should I remove item 60 (the plastic 11 bar valve) or just leave that there?

I'd leave it in place, "Ain't broke, don't fix it."

[Tex]

And to kick things up a notch, let's throw in temp management.

[mp]

That is incredible ... you are Mr. PID!

 

[grover]

http://www.shop.partsguru.com/B0147-A-BK4-Gaggia-OPV-and-water-inlet-fitting-for-pump-kit-B0147-A-BK4.htm

Before I read your reply I found this......deals with the "new" baby OPVs. So I take it that these Gaggias need the pressure tuned down more often than not and leaving the 11 bar valve in is not a restriction in the line.

[img][img]

[Tex]

http://www.shop.partsguru.com/B0147-A-BK4-Gaggia-OPV-and-water-inlet-fitting-for-pump-kit-B0147-A-BK4.htm

Before I read your reply I found this......deals with the "new" baby OPVs. So I take it that these Gaggias need the pressure tuned down more often than not and leaving the 11 bar valve in is not a restriction in the line.

Correct!

[John F]

What's this 11 bar valve thing?

And if they could why not put in a 9 bar valve?

 :icon_scratch:

[Tex]

What's this 11 bar valve thing?

And if they could why not put in a 9 bar valve?

 :icon_scratch:

Something to do with Illy & their ESE pods. To get their certification requires 11 bar pressure, which is OK for most users. For picky dudes though, an adjustable OPV is required.

[Tex]

The cause of so many problems, the Gaggia self-priming valve (SPV) is one of Gaggia's worst ideas; right up there with the Baby Twin. Simply stated: The valve doesn't work; it leaks, robbing Gaggia's of steam and brewing pressure.

I developed a simple fix: http://tinyurl.com/Gaggia-SPV-fix