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  • Gaggia Classic: important questions

    Just received one for my birthday (VERY kind friends). Managed to put it together, prime it, etc.
    1. I dont want to use the black plastic thinggy over the wand to froth milk, as I dont want cappuccino: I just want HOT milk – but the length of the wand is so short that its almost impossible to heat any quantity. How can I rectify this situation?
    2.  I cant get the gruppa handle in if I put the small container in it. What the **** am I doing wrong?

    As you can see, Im as far from being a coffee snob as its possible to be, alas! But Id like to be able to provide myself with coffee as yummy as I used to get from my little Spidem.

  • #2
    Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

    Welcome Marg1e. With a bit of work you will be making good coffee on the gaggia for some time to come.

    You can fit a steam wand from a rancilio silvia to the gaggia, this makes texturing milk a lot easier. Di bartoli sell them, as I believe do other sponsors. If all you want is hot milk, you could just use the microwave for now.

    Not sure what is wrong with the single basket, perhaps it isnt properly seated in the group handle. Can you post a photo? It is generally easier to use the larger basket when starting out anyway as they are more tolerant of problems with technique.

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    • #3
      Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

      Oh! - OK... so I cant get a longer wand thats specifically Gaggia. Sighh... I shall get onto Di Bartoli as you instruct. And thank-you very much! :-)
      Have decided not to bother with the single basket: somewhere in this site it says just put a bit less coffee in the double. Ill do that!
      Obrigado...

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

        Hi Marg1e;

        We are waiting for new spare parts from Europe, should arrive this week.

        Enclose link for Gaggia parts:
        http://www.dibartoli.com.au/cat/Gaggia_Espresso_Machines__Parts

        Regards


        Renzo
        Di Bartoli Home Barista Centre

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

          Hi

          Ive used a classic for 13 years....

          With the steam wand I found it adequate only with certain types of jugs... go buy a smaller jug... itll be cheaper than an new wand.

          I stopped using the smaller basket ages ago as I found the bigger one simply makes better coffees for 1 or 2. You might go through more coffee but in $$ terms its negilgible...

          Cheers

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          • #6
            Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

            Hi Marg1e and Snobs, my first post (been watching and learning for a long time...)

            I am not sure exactly which website I got this little trick / idea from but there is a little mod that can be done to the panarello (the long black plastic thingie) attachment itself which stops it from making giant cappucino bubbles. When you remove the panarello tube you will see a red o-ring that it slides over on the male end. Push this ring down so it sits in the next wrong groove (or even on the last groove). What this does is bypass a little slot at the top of the panarello tube (you will see this little slot if you look carefully) and stops the suction of air / milk into this. Make sure you wet the o-ring before replacing the panarello tube as its a tight fit and this will provide some lube..

            I have had a Gaggia Classic for around 6 months and this was the trick that stopped me from getting the rancilio arm. I still get a fair bit of variability in the quality of the milk (more due to my skill / lack of experience / innability to surf the boiler properly I suspect) but have got a number of very nice milks out of it - sometimes even microfoam!
            For your application - ie just wanting hot milk, I would expect this mod will do the trick -just keep the wand tip nice and deep so you dont create too much foam.

            Im sure there would be a number of more experienced Snobs than me that might know of the above mod and give some more feedback... The rancilio changeover is probably still the best way to go I suspect if you do ever want to get proper texturing....(yeh, you might just want hot milk now, but just you wait... )

            Re. the single filter basket that sounds strange - I assume this is occuring with the basket empty also? if its when its filled maybe youre overfilling and hitting the shower screen...

            Hope this helps

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

              Crikey! - Im really impressed by all these helpful posts.
              1. Am using a small jug already, black peark.
              2. Grazie Renzo! Tutti a Di Bartoli incontrerò la prossima settimana - ho bisogno di un paio di cose.
              3. Thanks, Gojuja; this is MOST interesting - and challenging! I shall give it a burl, as we say Downunder, and see if I can manage. <crosses fingers>

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              • #8
                Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                DAMN! - forgot to add something... Its about the small basket.
                Ive ascertained that it wont sit snugly enough within the gruppa handle, and this appears to be because its very slightly convex on the bottom.
                The double basket is completely flat on the bottom, thus sitting with its rim against the top edge of the gruppa handle.
                I shall do my best to obtain a replacement from my supplier, I think...

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                  And would you believe I forgot something ELSE? - you would, eh? Sighh...
                  Its the black plastic octagonal thinggy that goes somewhere within the drip box: what is it for? Its a mystery to me, and as it sits immediately under the tray with the holes in, I can see no purpose for it, so have removed it.
                  Would someone be kind enough to explain why I should put it back, please?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                    I steam my milk without the long plastic froth enhancer with just the top part, Im using a 600ml jug (smaller jug will be much better but Ive adjusted to make fairly usable foam to make latte art)

                    The trick is, the tip is going along the shape of =|>   (if you imagine it sideway)

                    I place the milk level to cover the tip > and parellel with | , then I turn on the steam knob gradually, the wand is around at the middle of the jug.

                    After that slowly tilt your jug and lower till the milk level is halfway down the tip >  (there is only 1-2mm allowance here) Keep playing around the height until you get air sucking sound without boeing jet scream (if it scream it means its not doing its job)

                    Slowly the milk will start to texturise.

                    But Im guessing if you just switch to a rancillio wand, it would be much easier. 

                    Im still not consistent with my method, but entirely possible. Ive made cappucino foam to silky smooth milk, so its means with better control you can go anywhere in between. This is to show it is entirely possible to do latte art with original wand.


                    EDIT: After re-reading, you mention you just want hot milk, according to my method, continue steaming the milk covering the tip > and parallel with the wide part. This will not have any air sucking sound, no jet screaming but almost silent. This will give you hot milk with minimum foam.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                      Originally posted by 1F3320356337520 link=1311977655/8#8 date=1312073563
                      ts the black plastic octagonal thinggy that goes somewhere within the drip box: what is it for?
                      I removed this and found I some times got splash back when the 3 way valve empties in to relatively full drip tray

                      The steam wand mod is really easy and worth doing was about to buy a new machine after 10 years of frustration with the wand then changed it and learned to temp surf and milk is now textured properly which is not just about the bubbles but makes the milk sweeter as well.

                      This stopped me upgrading for about 3 years at least

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                        Relatively full, eh? - then I shall ensure it never gets to that point. Thanks, Espresso Doc!
                        Yeah, Im going to visit Di Bartolis at the end of this week, as I must have a fitting tamper, too.
                        Hide, this is really interesting. The screaming was enough to put me off forever: seems youve done a lot of careful testi-work. Complimenti!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                          Di Bartoli people not terribly keen on getting in touch. I called em to ask when the steam wand would be in (gotta travel by p.t. and always check in advance), and havent managed to get to speak to anyone who knows anything.
                          Having the stock - or expecting it in - is all well and good: providing simple customer service is VITAL.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                            Lets not start another Site Sponsor bashing...

                            Renzo and Ofra of Di Bartoli are very highly regarded around here and do their level best to help out CS Members. Maybe its something as simple as theyre having a bad day, or who knows what... :-?

                            Give em another try tomorrow or send them an email. Id be surprised if you didnt get a response very soon... 8-)

                            Mal.

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                            • #15
                              Re: Gaggia Classic: important questions

                              Marg1e, Di Bartoli are known for their exceptonal customer service.
                              If they are waiting on a supplier what more can they tell you?
                              Patience is a virtue.

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