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  • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

    Hi everyone,

    Brand new here but think this thread has been amazing!!

    I recently bought a new Gaggia Baby Dose.  The shots are wonderful but in the evening my wife and I love a mug of latte to finish the day.  Talk about Froth Enhancing!!!  Where does it all come from!!   Needless to say I get loads of froth which I have to spoon out as it goes over the edge of the 600ml jug.  It also takes a long time to heat the milk.  In fact, I often have to shut off the valve and wait for a minute before I can continue.  This isnt good because the coffee is getting cold in the mugs!  
    So, 1.  has anyone found a wand that can replace the Baby Dose panarello with (noted earlier in the thread that the Silvia one wont work because these have a swivel ball)  and 2 - how do I get the steam to heat 2 mug fulls of milk!

    Many thanks for your help and fantastic info.

    SK

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    • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

      Eskay,

      Firstly, welcome!! 8-)

      Being a Gaggia Classic user, I cannot help with a replacement wand for your Baby Dose.
      However, the techniques for steaming milk on the previous couple of pages are still applicable for your machine.
      The Baby Dose will have enough steam power to do 2 lattes - you just need to work with it!

      My technique for the classic, after pulling shots, is:
      - Bleed the steam wand with steam switch OFF
      - Turn steam switch on and wait any where from 15-25 seconds (the best way for you to calculate this is turn the steam switch on and time how long it takes for the light to come on. Subtract about 5-10 seconds off this and you have your mark!)
      - And you are away with full steam!

      I vary between using a 600ml and 300ml jug. I find the microfoam a lot more consistent using the 300ml jug, but it does mean that you will usually have to
      - pull shots
      - steam 300ml
      - purge group head to reduce the temperature of the boiler
      - wait for one temperature cycle with steam switch OFF
      - steam second 300ml

      But it definitely IS possible and you can get really good milk.

      Good luck!

      Ben

      Comment


      • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

        Originally posted by 7A4C545E460B0F3F0 link=1126833848/150#150 date=1247107477
        So, 1.has anyone found a wand that can replace the Baby Dose panarello with (noted earlier in the thread that the Silvia one wont work because these have a swivel ball)and 2 - how do I get the steam to heat 2 mug fulls of milk!
        1. I used to own a Baby Class which is a non-volumetric version of the Dose. No, I could not find a steam arm mod as the valve and steam arm are separate - the valve being on top of the machine feeding the steam fed to the steam arm by means of a hose. If you search, you will find info on a mod someone did on their Kitchenaid machine (which is made by Gaggia) using a Wega wand. It might work with a Gaggia Baby.

        2. I would say use smaller cups. I found mine had just enough to steam a 1/2 filled 600ml jug of cold milk. This was OK for latte-glass size ceramic cups I was using at the time. I would guess they hold about 210mL each. If you are talking about large mugs then the only option would be to make one cup at a time.

        Comment


        • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

          Thanks for the welcome and quick responses, guys.

          Ill have a look at that other mod and see what happens. Ill also have to use smaller cups!!

          The frothing is really quite extraordinary. Can you replace the frothing head for one that isnt so.... exuberant!

          SK

          Comment


          • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

            Most people with these remove the plastic sleeve or remove the entire assembly. The problem I found was that the metal part of the wand is too short to reach into a 1/2 full 600ml jug.

            I was exploring ways of getting the best out of the pannarello before I sold the Gaggia. keeping the nozzle deeper into the milk was one technique that had limited success.

            Comment


            • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

              Does anyone know where I can get the o-ring in Melbourne? I emailed DiBartoly and Coffeeparts, but got no response.
              Ideally, Id like to walk into a shop (CBD?) where I can pick up one or tow. Mines bust...

              thx.,

              RJ

              Comment


              • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                RJ,

                Give Ofra or Renzo a call rather than an email at Di Bartoli and I am sure they will help you out!

                Cheers,
                Ben

                Comment


                • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                  OK, so where are the definitive photos and guide for doing the sylvia wand mod on a classic? Ill also have a go at adjusting the pressure valve inside I think...

                  Comment


                  • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                    I am still a rank amateur at all this but have been persevering and can now pull some pretty high quality lattes.

                    The best thing I have done for my Classic was to straighten the wand and drop to a 1 cup jug. The steamer timing tip was then the final bit. I have found my Classic struggles to heat a 2 cup jug well enough and I cannot get the texture right. With the 1 cup it is fine. I have left the plastic nozzle on, with a straightened wand and small jug it comes up really well. It is a bit annoying having to heat twice when doing two cups but have the best success doing one complete cup at a time, if I pull two shots then get the 2 cup jug heated, I lose a significant amount of crema as it takes too long. I just have to make sure I get water back into the boiler to cool it back down before pulling the next shot.

                    One final thing, I may have straightened the wand too far, I have to sit the machine on the edge of the kitchen bench when in use or I cannot get the milk jug off the wand without spilling it.

                    This forum is great, makes me want to get keen....

                    Cheers
                    Ben

                    Comment


                    • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                      Wildman Ben,

                      If you are frustrated by the lack of ability to steam 2 cups of milk, then I would highly suggest doing the modification discussed in this thread. It is a cheap and easy mod, that will allow you to achieve well textured milk for 2 cups.

                      Otherwise you can improve the performance of your steaming by tricking the thermostat, as described:

                      Originally posted by 5E56595F570D083C0 link=1248792044/6#6 date=1249535981
                      The best way to achieve this is to work out average timings for your thermostat. So, have a stopwatch ready and turn the steam button on, and time how long it takes for the light to come on. Do this a few times, bringing the boiler back to temperature after every trial. Then, you should have an average of the time it takes for the light to come on - subtract between 5-10 seconds and that is the time at which you should start steaming!
                      Let us know how you go!
                      Cheers,
                      Fellow snob Ben

                      Comment


                      • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                        Ok well I finally figured out how to get the tank in and out of my Cubika easily - in fact I wish I had figured this out before, even before I added the new wand.

                        The trick is to rotate the tank 90% anti-clockwise before removing it, when you do that the thin edge is at the back and its easy as pie to tip it back and pull it straight out (and reverse when putting it back in). Plus when the tank is tipped its easy to get the hoses in and out as well.

                        In fact Im sure this is the correct way to do it however I dont remember it being documented anywhere.

                        cheers to all,

                        sam

                        Comment


                        • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                          Hi all. Newbie to the site with a few questions. I have a gaggia cubika (stop laughing) and I know they cop a bit of a flogging on every site,however it has served me well for 7 years. Its very sensative to grind,bean freshness and tamp pressure but I like a challenge. Anyway, my machine has always (from new) taken ages to heat up to steam milk ( 2 - 3 mins) from brewing temp, is this normal? I find it easier to heat the machine to steam the milk then flush water through the boiler to re prime it and drop the temp, then pull a shot. anyone else do it this way? are there any mods to improve the cubika ( apart from binning it). I had real drama getting a group head seal for it ( 74x58x6), is there anyone in Brisbane who actually stocks parts for theses cubikas? or do I have to go online and risk it ? Cheers

                          Comment


                          • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                            So did the wand mod. Finally got the leaks sorted, steamed the jug with great expectations and no perfect microfoam. On fact bugger all foam at all. In fact flat whites all round!

                            So short o putting the old gaggia wand back on snd having the mix of bigger and micro bubbles, what do I do?

                            First attempts, with lots of steam leaks gave me hope, but now am full of dispair. Help please.

                            Comment


                            • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                              So, to confirm, there are no more leaks?

                              What is your method for bringing the boiler up to temperature for steaming?

                              Are you following the:
                              Originally posted by 2B232C2A22787D490 link=1126833848/151#151 date=1247108195
                              My technique for the classic, after pulling shots, is:
                              - Bleed the steam wand with steam switch OFF
                              - Turn steam switch on and wait any where from 15-25 seconds (the best way for you to calculate this is turn the steam switch on and time how long it takes for the light to come on. Subtract about 5-10 seconds off this and you have your mark!)
                              - And you are away with full steam!
                              There is a reasonably good youtube clip on the classic with silvia steam wand here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJxE2bPOOdU

                              I am surprised that you got bugger all foam at all because as soon as I did the installation of the silvia wand I was blown away with the amount of steam.

                              Any way, let us know how you go.
                              Cheers,
                              Ben

                              Comment


                              • Re: Gaggia Steam Wand Replacement Mod

                                Thanks Ben. I use the 20-25 second rule to do the steaming, although usually purge when steam building rather than before. Tried your way, after tightening things a little more, crossed my figures, touched wood and held my touch to my left cheek and IT WORKED! Lovely smooth micro foam, like I have never made before. Still some practice to perfect the style. Using this wand is the first time I have ever had the milk swirling just from the steam and I need to work out where to put the wand tip compared to where I held the plastic "log" on the old Gaggia thing.

                                But I am now an official convert to the Silvia wand mod cheer squad. ;D

                                Andy

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