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  • Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

    Hi folks, I’m looking for some advice I hope someone can help me with. I have a Gaggia Classic and Sunbeam EM0480 grinder set on the finest setting and between the two of them I just can’t get a shot to pour anywhere near slowly enough. Timing it just now, I’m getting 30ml in 8s which seems to be running about 3 times the ideal speed.

    Admittedly I’m a novice with manual machines but going through the info on this site I think I’m getting the grind and tamping right, is there something I should be looking at with the machine or somewhere else? Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks!

  • #2
    Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

    Hi Troy

    This will get moved to a more appropriate forum shortly (Coffee Machines >$500 probably), so the people helping you probably have more experience with the particular machine, however in the meantime...

    What beans are you using - ie; where bought from, how fresh are they, etc. This can play a huge part in coffee extraction. If Supermarket beans, I would say that is probably the majority of your problem. If they are fresh beans (ie; from a local roaster, roasted yourself or through BeanBay...not from a cafe that may have had them on the shelf for three months), then Ill let people that own or have experience with your particular machine take over...

    Cheers
    Di

    Cheers
    Di

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

      Thanks Di, fresh beans from a local roaster. Same result seems to be had trying different beans from different roasters so I suspect thats not the cause.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

        Sounds good - the other thing I have some experience with is the 0480 grinder. I didnt have a problem at all with mine, but some are known to have an issue with not grindinng fine enough, even on the lowest setting.

        Have a look at this thread:-

        http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1266623346/9

        You might find some more tips on that.

        Cheers
        Di

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

          are you sure the top grinder burr is seated correctly? try to take it out, give the unit a brush clean, and re-seat it, making sure the burr turns and clicks in snugly.

          is the machine clean and clear behind the shower-screen? i recently saw one of these jetting water and channeling through the cake very quickly due to build up of oils in the holes behind the screen (yucko). a bit of scale could cause the water to jet too, rather than diffuse nicely.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

            So Ive tried pre-ground beans from a roaster and had the same result today. Interestingly though, if I use the single shot basket rather than the double I can get the extraction timing just right and a very smooth flavour. It seems to be that the double shot basket is flowing too quickly.

            Does this sound feasible? Is locating a different double basket a worthwhile exercise?

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

              Hi Troy,

              Not sure but it could sound like a dosing issue. I have the same combo as you and generally my grinder setting sits around number 10-12.

              And as said by Zane - probably check your burr but if you can pull a single shot and not a double shot then maybe it is not that.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

                A friend of mine told me that his EM0480 was incorrectly assembled so that he couldnt get anything but a gusher until he took it apart and reassembled it properly. This was with his EM6910.

                Unfortunately, I dont remember what he said was wrong but he said it was obvious as soon as he removed the upper burr.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

                  Hi Troy,

                  It could be that you need to get an extra washer for the emo480 to get the grind fine enough. I have the emo450 and found I could not get a fine enough grind for my classic. I got an extra washer from sunbeam which you place under the bottom burr to bring the burrs closer together. Check out the linked posted by Di, it should sort you out.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

                    Originally posted by 51574A5C4D504B51250 link=1270342068/5#5 date=1270510355
                    So Ive tried pre-ground beans from a roaster and had the same result today. Interestingly though, if I use the single shot basket rather than the double I can get the extraction timing just right and a very smooth flavour. It seems to be that the double shot basket is flowing too quickly.

                    Does this sound feasible? Is locating a different double basket a worthwhile exercise?
                    I think its the beans.

                    Using the double basket i normally only have to move my EM0480 no more than one click to adjust adequately.

                    Pre-ground beans go off incredibly quickly. Smell them after grinding and then ten minutes later. It will be different.

                    Your problem is that the beans dont generate enough resistance. Stale grounds are like sand, they simply dont generate resistance.

                    Could be the grinder fault, but its just as likely to be the beans.

                    1) Do you know exactly when the beans were roasted?
                    2) How much space is there between the basket rim and the coffee after youve tamped?

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

                      Troy,

                      I have a Gaggia and was having the same problem. The 3 major things I found to fix it were:

                      1) Fresh beans (already covered here)
                      2) Correct grind - mine is set very fine (already covered)
                      3) Lots of coffee in the double basket. I usually get 22g in there and really give it a good tamp. The basket might be difficult to get in...but it does go in!

                      I read somewhere on this forum that the Gaggia basket needs to be overloaded. It works for me. give it a shot.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Gaggia Classic expressing too fast

                        Ah, Im so glad I found this thread... now I should be able to get the grind on my Sunbeam sorted out to be fine enough again!

                        Thanks

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                        • #13
                          Just wanted to boost this old thread for any new Gaggia Classic users, the third point in TimG's post was exactly what I needed to extract silky smooth espresso with fantastic crema!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I'm amazed you can get that much coffee into a standard gaggia double basket. I can fit about 17g before it hits the shower screen. 21g would have to be massively over filling it and tamping incredibly hard. Although TimG said he was grinding fine, in my experience a gaggia classic would have choked with 21g of finely ground coffee. Considering the sunbeam grinder discussion in conjunction, I don't think the Gaggia Classic was at fault here!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Yeah overdosing the basket on a Classic to the point you struggle to get the portafilter in is a bad idea. The whole group head area will be filling with coffee grounds and the machine will need extra cleaning and maintenance. Much better to grind finer dose at around 17g.

                              Comment

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