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more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

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  • more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

    Howdy all,

    I would like to comment on my slightly frustrating milk frothing experiences with the gaggia classic and have 2 questions answered.

    I am getting okay microfoam with the gaggia, but I do find it a little lack lustre in the pressure department, especially when the light goes off, which is about 20 sec after i begin steaming. Its not that it wont heat milk adequately, its just that it meanders its way up to 65 degrees. HOWEVER, (and this brings me to my first Q) I steamed for the first time today without first pouring a shot and i seemed to get more pressure/power from the wand. Is this logical and if so why? Ive heard a few CSers talk about stopping the steaming and refilling the boiler by pumping hot water out of the wand when the light goes out, but this seems excessive... doesnt it?

    Second Q: should i just get a silvia attachment and be done with it or will this not affect the steam pressure?

    thanks

  • #2
    Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

    Originally posted by 766C7B22242D25150 link=1236595526/0#0 date=1236595526
    Ive heard a few CSers talk about stopping the steaming and refilling the boiler by pumping hot water out of the wand when the light goes out, but this seems excessive... doesnt it?
    I am by no means and expert on this and I would also like to hear peoples responses. However, I have been refilling the boiler after every use of steam (say if I am making a couple of lattes) by pumping hot water out of the shower head and then turning the steam switch back on

    What does everyone else do?

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

      oh okay. And when you pump water through the group head after steaming, is there a large amount of steam that comes out the shower head before the water starts? Do you know WHY you do this exactly?

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

        yer there is a large amount of steam coming out of the shower head. my logic was that i was emptying the boiler and could then get new water into the boiler and effectively start from square one

        any way, i have no real idea about this stuff. there are 1x10^10000 classic users on this forum and we havent heard a peep out of anyone!!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

          bump

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

            I have found my steam pressure is the same (whether I have pulled a shot or not) so I cant really help there..but yes..get a Silvia wand....the Gaggia one sucks (literally...too much air)...my milk heats up pretty quick with a decent swirl going from the steam flow...depends on the volume being heated of course..I have 300ml & 600ml jugs

            after steaming it is necessary to push fresh water into the boiler if pulling another shot straight after steaming...but sometimes Ill do it through the group head to help clean any oils and residue from the screen..just put a bowl under it and it works well enough I reckon with a quick brush scrub..just get a Silvia wand you will have so much more control over how you texture the milk 8-)

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

              I havent used my classic for a while, but definitely put a silvia wand on it, and then follow http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1208179952 as a guide, excellent guide by cremakid that stood me well back then.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                oh thanks guys, this site always comes through with the goods. I hope to be in a position to give others advice one day :-/

                Have read the cremakid thread and have had some success

                thank you

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                  WOW

                  I just went and put the silvia wand on my gaggia and WOW. I dont know what else to say. I am simply blown away by the difference.

                  Special thanks goes to Di Bartoli who were amazing. Despite the fact that Renzo didnt give me the free Isomac I asked for, I was none-the-less very happy with the customer service!

                  So So So So So worth it!!!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                    Originally posted by 79717E78702A2F1B0 link=1236595526/8#8 date=1236932135
                    I just went and put the silvia wand on my gaggia and WOW. I dont know what else to say. I am simply blown away by the difference.

                    Special thanks goes to Di Bartoli who were amazing.

                    ahhh, so this is where i can get a silvia wand yes? I am SO excited by your comments and just CANT WAIT to do this mod, but herein lies my question - CAN i do the mod myself? There are a few postings on the net re this mod, so if i follow them i guess ican do it. I just have no experience whatsoever with machinery, electronics, etc. What do you think Bjeck14??

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                      just ordered the wand and half a kilo of coffee while i was at it. YAAAY.

                      Wish Id seen the excellent deal on the modified gaggia with iberital grinder combo. AWESOME package for the beginner with a $1000 limit

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                        Originally posted by 475D4A13151C14240 link=1236595526/9#9 date=1236981106
                        Originally posted by 79717E78702A2F1B0 link=1236595526/8#8 date=1236932135
                        I just went and put the silvia wand on my gaggia and WOW. I dont know what else to say. I am simply blown away by the difference.

                        Special thanks goes to Di Bartoli who were amazing.

                        ahhh, so this is where i can get a silvia wand yes? I am SO excited by your comments and just CANT WAIT to do this mod, but herein lies my question - CAN i do the mod myself? There are a few postings on the net re this mod, so if i follow them i guess ican do it. I just have no experience whatsoever with machinery, electronics, etc. What do you think Bjeck14??
                        It is so incredibly easy. The advantage with Di Bartoli (I hope I can say this) is that they give you the attachment that you need. Took me approximately 3.2 seconds to do - no previous experience required. The only problem that I have with it (and this is exacerbated by the attachment that Di Bartoli provide rather than the method originally described by Andy back in 06) is that the attachment, although making the job so much easier, lowers the overall height of the steam arm making it very hard to fit any jug under the steam arm without chocking up the gaggia.
                        People may have advice on bending the arm or something else, but apart from that, it is so easy and so worth it. You need a pair of pliers and that is it.

                        The difference is truly phenomenal. Let me know how you go...

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                          The only problem that I have with it (and this is exacerbated by the attachment that Di Bartoli provide rather than the method originally described by Andy back in 06) is that the attachment, although making the job so much easier, lowers the overall height of the steam arm making it very hard to fit any jug under the steam arm without chocking up the gaggia.
                          My machine sits right next to my sink so the arm can swivel around over the sink..allows easy bleeding of the wand & steaming as the jug can drop below the level of the bench..another solution is to raise the level of the machine with either a drawer base or something else. Saves you from having to bend the wand which if over done could stuff it up (crack or fold occurring)

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand


                            Originally posted by 68434E5E4C4B5F442A0 link=1236595526/12#12 date=1236995107
                            .another solution is to raise the level of the machine with either a drawer base or something else.
                            Sink placement wont work for me, but this sounds good. I have quite a bit of paraphernalia now (extra basket, blind filter, cleaning brush for grinder, scoop for...i dunno why i keep that really) so it would be great to store it all in a nicely made drawer under the machine. At the moment an old telephone book seems the obvious way...hmmmm...

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: more steam out my ears than out the gaggia wand

                              Cyn,

                              Let me know if you have any luck with decent priced drawers. I also like the idea of keeping the workspace nice and clean, but at the moment cant really find anything reasonably priced (or within my price range shall we say )

                              Im so high off caffeine at the moment - getting a new tamper and steam arm in the one go is a BAD idea ;D

                              Comment

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