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  • Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

    Until recently, Ive been steaming milk quite sufficiently with the Carezza but recently, it seems to run out of steam before the milk hits the right temp. I might have done something differently in the whole process of preparing the latte too and I dont know if theres soemthing Im doing in that process thats depleting the boiler of water for the steam:
    1. I fill the reservoir with filtered water and switch on machine.
    2. I insert the portafilter into the grouphead to heat it up as well.
    3. After leaving it alone for 10 minutes or more (in "On" mode, I hit the brew button to run hot water into an empty cup (without coffee) to "prime" or heat up the whole thing.
    4. After I run about a latte glass full of water I remove the portafilter to dry excess water and add coffee ground.
    5. Pull a shot of espresso into the latte glass and I wait a few seconds before removing the portafilter. I also switch on the steam button.
    6. While waiting for green light to come on, I clean the brew head, basket, portafilter etc (Im a bit anal that way).
    7. Green light comes on and I open the steam knob to release moisture into empty glass for 3-5 seconds. Then i close the knob and pour milk into pitcher.
    8. Then i do the steaming thing with the wand (no turbo frother) first submerged deep before opening knob.
    9. As I open knob I hear the screeching noise upon which I lower the jug so the the wand tip is just below the milk to get a Sssss shhhsssss type sound and I monitor the thermometer.
    10. Jug starts to get hot in my hands as the temp shows 40 degrees and at that point I raise the jug so the wand is deep to steam the milk and hopefully get a whirlpool going.

    Heres where the problem starts. Previously, Ive had no problems to the point where if Im not careful Ill burn the milk. Now, shortly after, as i reach 55 degrees, a screeching sound starts up again, though softer than the initial one when I first start. I look at the thermometer and notice that the temperature either rises at a much slower rate or doesnt rise at all and all the while the screeching sound starts getting louder.
    When I remove the jug, I find that theres hardly any steam coming out at all.
    Is there something Im doing wrong in the lead up?
    Should I be releasing more moisture/steam at the beginning before inserting the jug? Or less?
    Should I wait longer from the time I release moisture to the time i steam the milk?

  • #2
    Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

    Good ol Gaggia Too Small a Boiler Syndrome! Put simply, the Boiler is running out of puff, literally.

    One of the main reasons I dislike Gaggia machine is this! I used to have a Gaggia Espresso Deluxe and it would drive me mad all the time.. makes great espresso.. but the steaming is a shocker!

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    • #3
      Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

      I think you need to start steaming before the green light comes on when in Steaming mode... that way the boiler will reheat while steaming...

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

        Another question...

        Has the boiler been descaled recently? Scale build up on the heater element can reduce its efficiency and cause the machine to "run out of puff" in the steam department..... and this would me most noticeable on a machine which barely has enough to begin with (like the Gaggia).

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        • #5
          Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

          Thing is, until the last 2 days, I never had that problem before. Ive used this for about 2-3 weeks now. One other time I had that problem was 2 weeks ago when I attempted to froth milk for 8 people to make hot chocolate. It ran out of steam during the second jug of milk, but this time its my first jug.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

            Dont wait for the green light to come on after activating the steam switch. Purge water after 10 to 15 sec and then start steaming. If done correctly, the green light should not come on the entire steaming process.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

              Originally posted by JavaB link=1181004219/0#3 date=1181004785
              Another question...

              Has the boiler been descaled recently? Scale build up on the heater element can reduce its efficiency and cause the machine to "run out of puff" in the steam department..... and this would me most noticeable o a machine which barely has enough to begin with (like the Gaggia).
              Ive just descaled it last weekend.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                Another variable is ambient temp... of late, the temp has dropped.... so the steam has to work harder to get the milk upto temp... thats my logic anyway ;-)

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                • #9
                  Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                  Originally posted by RonTheMan link=1181004219/0#5 date=1181005093
                  Dont wait for the green light to come on after activating the steam switch. Purge water after 10 to 15 sec and then start steaming. If done correctly, the green light should not come on the entire steaming process.
                  Doesnt the green light indicate that its ready to start steaming?

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                  • #10
                    Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                    Yes, but the Gaggia doesnt keep heating the water when the green light comes on... if you trick it into submission and it thinks its not heated yet.. itll continue heating and your steam supply is more continuous!

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                    • #11
                      Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                      Would it work the same if I open the knob at the start after the green light comes on and release a whole lot of moisture and steam until it switches off and then start the steaming thing?

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                      • #12
                        Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                        Can someone explain how this boiler thing works...
                        When I first switch on the machine, I take it that it heats up the boiler, grouphead etc. At which point does it start pumping water into the boiler? Does it pump water into the boiler when I first switch the machine on or does it only fill the boiler when I hit the Brew button?

                        In steam mode, does the boiler need to be full or empty for steam?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                          When you switch on the machine no water flows into the boiler until the brew switch is operated..... cold water is forced in which forces the hot water out.

                          When you operate the brew switch with the steam valve open.... the same thing happens but water comes out of the steam wand.... and that is used to fill the boiler. This is also used to deliver hot water.

                          When producing steam only the water in the boiler is heated (no water is added to the boiler).... so make sure it is full to get the maximum possible volume of steam. Bleed off excess moisture... and steam away.

                          The machine only has a 100ml boiler - generally considered to be too small.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                            *BLINK!!!* *Light bulb above head lights up!!*

                            Maybe thats what I will do. After pulling a shot, I will then hit the brew button again and release the steam/ moisture. After that I will off the brew switch, hit the steam switch and when it goes green, steam the milk.

                            i was aware that the boiler is small on the carezza, but I never had problems with 1 latte before and now I seem to have. Was just getting concerned if I needed to get it checked out by the service centre or whether this is normal and I just need to work around it.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Gaggia Carezza running out of steam

                              I am new to the Gaggia Deluxe as well, just had it two days, so all this steaming stuff is new to me too. However, I seem to get plenty of steam. Procedures are similar to what has been described so far. I pull the shot, fire up the steam switch, bleed a bit till dry steam comes out, close valce. stick SS jug under wand, and steam away, gradually opening valve till I get a good frothing action happening. Have not run out of steam when doing frothing small amounts of milk for one or two cups.

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