Coffee Makers

I am very sad to announce that after more than two years of reasonable use every day, my Gaggia Classic has, this x-mas holiday, takan a bad turn.

It seems the pump is not pumping. Aditionaly I thought it was an an air block caused by the machine accidentaly runnig dry during de-scaling, but I think the motor has given up.

Does anyone have any experience getting these fixed.

I have had to dst of the caffateire which has not seen the light of day since the gaggia was delivered.

Simon

In need of esspresso.

quote:

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Originally posted by i am simon 2:
I am very sad to announce that after more than two years of reasonable use every day, my Gaggia Classic has, this x-mas holiday, takan a bad turn.

It seems the pump is not pumping.

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Suggest you immerse all the parts (except the motor) in a bath of descaling fluid.

Beer, wonderful beer

I have spoken to Gaggia UK and explained the evends surrounding our machines demise.

I was de-scaling at the time, and I am told that this can clog up the mesh plate at the filter head. I will remove this tonight and try to clear the jam.

If it is no good, it is back to gaggia for a well deserved survice, they colect, service and re-delever for about £50, not to bad at all!

I think 2 years being heated up a couple of hundred degrees and withstanding lots of pressure, and then cooling down every day is not too bad with no maintainace at all, not may cars can do that.

Simon

At the risk of repeating myself, are burr grinders as important for filter coffee as for expresso?

alan

yes

Thanks!

For freshness illy do sealed individual portioned packs about £4 for a few cups, Dereks comment is so true unless you drink copious amounts quickly -the taste just does not last once opened.

Illy is smoother and has more kick, the Lavazza has more flavour, but can be a little bitter.

naheed...

The Krups died this morning - so after all the discussion here I'm off to buy a Gaggia Classic today.

As an update on the Illy/Lavazza debate, although I wasn't initially swayed by Illy - it's the defacto coffee in the house now. Well worth the extra.

We go through one of those small (250g?) tubs per 5 days and even the last bits a re acceptably fresh - however, there is something a little special about the first cup fresh out of a new tin ;:



Mark

Mark

You will love the Gaggia

Its made me into a coffee snob

Regards

Mick

Mick said "Its made me into a coffee snob"

Like you needed much help?

Matthew

Mick,

why not trying a real good coffee machine like the "Jura S9" (Swiss) for about 1400 Euro??
This should be just the right category for you.
Regards

Christian

Matthew

You are most kind.

Christian

We like the Gaggia and it is serving us well. he only downside is that it is only good for two cups ata time. It makes great coffee.

Regards

Mick

Had the Gaggia 2 days now Lurrrrrrrve it!!!

Great Espresso - can't comment on its ability to make any of the milky ones - we don't drink them.

However, here's a few points that may be of interest:

• Whittard have the Gaggia Classic on offer at the moment for £245. Included in this price is 250g of coffee per month for a year (excluding Blue Mountain)
  
• Somerfield have a very special offer on the Illy espresso ground 125g - £1.04 (I have just taken all of their Banbury stock)
  
• If they have run out of the 125g tins then their 250g tins are usually £2.99 (compared to Tesco and Sainsbury at £3.99) and if you get their current magazine (free) - there is a 50p off voucher making it £2.50 - a right bargain!
  

Off to make another cup - I didn't sleep too well last night :/



Mark

We bought the Magimix coffee maker[John Lewis, approx.£400].Makes superb espresso[and does a lot of other types]Only problem is it is usually a lot better than what you get in cafes,so getting quite intolerant of anything other than our own coffee!
Have been trying Whittards Columbian decaffeinated beans last month or so:tastes great and I can now get to sleep.

Simon

This bloody thread has played havoc with my sleep pattern, and as for the headaches.....
malcolm

An update from a sick Gaggia

It took about three weeks, but it came back in perfect condition and is making coffee as well as ever.

For my birthday, my older sister bought me a set of 6 Illy cappucino cups (to add to the 6 esppresso cups we bought in Milan).

We dont drink the milky one, but they are great for double esspresso.

I am glad to see that everyone is falling for Illy coffe, that share purchase was a good idea (only joking).

You must at least think about getting Illy coffe cups, they are not cheap, but they are so good (just like the coffee itself).

You may think I am mad raving about the difference a cup makes, but some people on this forum spend thousands on HiFi stands!

Simon

ps, has anyone tried mana under their gaggia

Mother called round this afternoon. I made my first Cappucino for her - it came out cool. Ho-hum I suppose I should look at the manual now.

She also liked my CD3.5 and said to my father that their 15yr old Technics deck should be replaced. When she asked me the price for one of those then there was a completely incomprehensible look on her face as if she'd heard me say that something similar would about a grand.



Mark

...one little niggle with the Gaggia though - when I put in the (optional) rubber crema device, the head leaks and a lot of coffee is spilt between the 2 cups.

Anyone else experience this?



Mark

I found out today that if you happen to know someone who works at Whittards, they can get 30% off machines, including the Gaggia Classic.

I may have to replace my crappy DeLonghi .

Mark

IMHO the crema device is not needed if you use fresh coffee. In my experiance no crema - stale coffee.

I think you would get a crema on plain water with that thing, my one is at the back of a kitchen drawer somwhere.

On the odd occasion I get this spilage you talk of. I think it is due to goffee grounds getting in between where the filter holder mates against the steam head. I always make sure that the top of the filter is free of grounds before brewwing.

Every once in a while i use a bit of kitchen towl (around a matchstick or similar for rigidity) to clean the rubber gasket on the steam head to reduce the possibility of this leak.


With regard to crema, I belive you can alter the colour of it by waiting for a moment after clamping the filter in place, before turning on the water.

I find a couple of seconds gets the rich colour I am after. Much longer than about 5-7 seconds and it scorches the coffee, resulting in an impresive almost brown crema, but alas it tastes like it has been burnt and is almost undrinkable.

Simon
I am not a geek... honest

I believe you. A geek would be able to use a spellchecker.

Thanks Simon,

The spillage is not due to grounds not making a seal as it only happens when the crema device is in. However, that's a bit academic as I have now relegated it to the back of my drawer too.

Your comments on heating the filter head are interesting as I have had some "burnt" results and I suspect strongly that these are due to me heating the head excessively.

Fresh Illy (it never hangs around long enough to go stale) gives me a great crema; but the stuff that Whittards ground for me on Saturday was immediately disappointing.

Poor crema and a little stale. For my 1st "free" 250g I chose Guatamalan Elephant and After Dinner. I haven't tried the AD yet; but the Elephant is dubious. Not sure I'll bother too much anyway and just stick to the Illy.



Mark

Chaps

We have been guzzling coffee like there is no tomorrow since we bought the Gaggia.

However I would like to share a tip with you.

Make the coffee with the Gaggi but use a held held blender to froth up the milk. We use a Bamix and the milk comes up to a light foam. We drink the coffee with about an inch of foam on top with grated chocolate sprinkled on top. That is coffee to die for.

Regards

Mick

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For my 1st "free" 250g I chose Guatamalan Elephant and After Dinner. I haven't tried the AD yet; but the Elephant is dubious.

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I found the GE and the AD has been dissapointing, although the former makes good vac-brewing.

Try Santos and Java - I find that blend great with my Gaggia, plenty of crema with a nice sweet touch when I get it right.

Andy.

Not being able to comment on this thread in the past due to lack of knowledge, I'm now in the position to add my opinion.

To make the ultimate espresso coffee time after time, taking into account granual sizes, etc... you need to produce the pressure by a hand lever.

The finest machine to do this in the household is the Pavoni Professional. Period.

Congratulations to Brian OReilly, even though he said it was fiddly.