Hi everyone,
The Classic that I picked up on ebay for $207 just arrived. I was a bit worried that it would be a wreck, but a quick once over suggests that it might be okay. I dont really know what Im looking for, but there are no obvious leaks, the water and steam seem to go in the right direction without any complaint. So my question is... where do I start when it comes to setting it up, calibrating, modding, etc? It came with both single and double baskets and filters (are baskets and filters the same thing?), no "blind" filter (if thats the right word), and the steam arm is just a short tube with no attachment at all. I dont know how old the machine is, or if that makes much difference anyway.
I havent bought my grinder yet (thats for this weekend), so I grabbed some supermarket pre-ground, just to confirm that the machine will, in fact, make coffee ;-) I imagine that this pre-ground stuff is way to coarse, because after about 10 seconds after pressing the button, the cup is half full and the stream is getting pale. No crema to speak of yet, but until I have some fresh-ground coffee, Im not too concerned.
Anyway, I have read some stuff here about adjusting the pressure for some optimal flow-rate, calibrated using a "blind filter", which I imagine involves a basket with no holes, yes? Would one of those normally come with a new Classic? Ill have to get myself one of those, unless there is some alternative method you could suggest?
But as you see, I dont have any idea what I am doing, but Im keen to learn. THis machine looks like a good simple one, suitable for doing some basic tinkering. My wife, for now, is pleased that it is so much smaller and more classy-looking than the rather vulgar Synchrony.
btw, who is your favourite Gaggia parts dealer for SouthWest Sydney? I had terrible experiences with one I found in the Yellow Pages... they kept my Synchrony for over 2 months while they went off on holiday in Europe, leaving me hi and dry with no apology or replacement.
Forgive the whining...
THank heaps,
LeeBB
The Classic that I picked up on ebay for $207 just arrived. I was a bit worried that it would be a wreck, but a quick once over suggests that it might be okay. I dont really know what Im looking for, but there are no obvious leaks, the water and steam seem to go in the right direction without any complaint. So my question is... where do I start when it comes to setting it up, calibrating, modding, etc? It came with both single and double baskets and filters (are baskets and filters the same thing?), no "blind" filter (if thats the right word), and the steam arm is just a short tube with no attachment at all. I dont know how old the machine is, or if that makes much difference anyway.
I havent bought my grinder yet (thats for this weekend), so I grabbed some supermarket pre-ground, just to confirm that the machine will, in fact, make coffee ;-) I imagine that this pre-ground stuff is way to coarse, because after about 10 seconds after pressing the button, the cup is half full and the stream is getting pale. No crema to speak of yet, but until I have some fresh-ground coffee, Im not too concerned.
Anyway, I have read some stuff here about adjusting the pressure for some optimal flow-rate, calibrated using a "blind filter", which I imagine involves a basket with no holes, yes? Would one of those normally come with a new Classic? Ill have to get myself one of those, unless there is some alternative method you could suggest?
But as you see, I dont have any idea what I am doing, but Im keen to learn. THis machine looks like a good simple one, suitable for doing some basic tinkering. My wife, for now, is pleased that it is so much smaller and more classy-looking than the rather vulgar Synchrony.
btw, who is your favourite Gaggia parts dealer for SouthWest Sydney? I had terrible experiences with one I found in the Yellow Pages... they kept my Synchrony for over 2 months while they went off on holiday in Europe, leaving me hi and dry with no apology or replacement.
Forgive the whining...
THank heaps,
LeeBB

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