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Gaggia Classic - Poor brew pressure

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  • #16
    So do you think we can rule out the 3-way?

    Dose and grind are pretty good. I have a Super Jolly and can consistently achieve a good espresso with a 2x yield recipe: 20g in 40g out in ~30seconds. Previously it would be about 3-4 seconds until first drop, and give a good looking extraction throughout (using a naked PF).
    However with this poor flow it's now about 12 seconds until first drop and then quite a watery extraction.

    Todo:
    - double check the OPV overflow tube and see if it's still dripping out water, both during extraction and flushing without a PF.
    - Look for any leaks or water internally

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    • #17
      OK this is interesting: I turned on the machine from cold and was watching the OPV overflow tube. As it heated up, the water in the tube kept creeping up. When I switched on the brew switch it started a steady drip out of the overflow.

      This would suggest the OPV is set (way) too low?

      Update 1:

      So I've tighted the OPV valve (should be set much higher now) to try to rule out the OPV.
      I'm no longer seeing any water creeping out of the OPV overflow tube anymore.

      However, bafflingly, the flow hasn't improved and I'm not seeing any leaks or water escaping via the 3-way valve seals or outlet.

      Update 2:

      I put a blind basket in the PF and the first and second flush attempt didn't work.
      On the 3rd go it give a big gush and a few scale particles came out!
      Now, the flow out of the brew head is back to normal! I'm sure tightening the OPV valve helped otherwise I wasn't able to get the necessary pressure in the brew chamber to backflush the junk stuck in the 3-way valve.
      Last edited by cyclonite; 7 February 2016, 02:53 PM.

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      • #18
        There you go. No matter how much it doesn't make sense it almost always comes back to the 3-way. It sounds like you've cleared it this time. If it happens again it probably means you've got scale in your group head that's making its way back into the 3-way so look out for that. Good luck, hope it's all plain sailing from here.

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