I'd been having only decaf for many years but a few coffee shop stuffups that left me with 4 day migraines starting a day and bit after I was given a "decaf" left me avoiding even that. Then a guy I met at the dog park recently suggested Swiss water method decaf made from organic beans as a way of seeing if my problems were caused by various chemicals. I tried it, it worked, and it was good! That was just before Christmas, and I was given some nice SWM organic coffee and an Aeropress by one of my kids. My wife was very supportive of me going out and getting a coffee machine though, as she likes a latte. So I bought a new GCP, which I've been using to make us a morning coffee, and I'm gradually learning to make a better espresso shot. I mentioned to her that I'd like to modify it to standardize the process, and was told that was not going to be permitted! Then I happened to look on Gumtree later that day and saw that a faulty 2012 GC that I had been watching at $200 was now offered for free. I called immediately and was successful. It has the plastic part of the portafilter handle broken off (which I'll replace with redgum and bolt it together) and although the pump runs and makes noise no water comes through the portafilter. Steam is produced successfully through the wand. My question is, what are the most likely things for me to look at to fix this?
I've ordered a full set of O-rings and gaskets so I can service the GC, and hope that if the problem is simply a build up of dirt then my servicing may remove it at the same time. Even after some years I'd not think that it would have much scale, due to Melbourne's very soft water. I've also ordered all the bits for a PID (about $85 total but won't all be here from AliExpress for a month or 2), a Silvia steam arm, a proper tamper, better scales, a bottomless portafilter and an adaptor for under the old portafilter and a pressure guage. The idea is to make it all work and demonstrate a consistent high quality process (and improved skills on my part) on the GC, then sell one or the other, keeping the PID and all the bits & pieces. It's helpful that portafilters can swap between the two machines. And having the GCP without me changing it for now means my wife gets the morning latte in bed that she's sure she deserves!
As I will stay with organic SWM decaf but would like to make a a normal caffeinated coffee for my wife, I have also ordered a 1zpresso K-Plus hand grinder, as I want a high quality of grind with next to no residual coffee left in the grinder especially as I swap from caffeinated to decaf (I can't afford to have a 4 day migraine). They appear from the reviews to be quick to grind for a single dose, and I just couldn't research enough about electric grinders to make a decision to buy one or another, even if I could afford one just now.
I've ordered a full set of O-rings and gaskets so I can service the GC, and hope that if the problem is simply a build up of dirt then my servicing may remove it at the same time. Even after some years I'd not think that it would have much scale, due to Melbourne's very soft water. I've also ordered all the bits for a PID (about $85 total but won't all be here from AliExpress for a month or 2), a Silvia steam arm, a proper tamper, better scales, a bottomless portafilter and an adaptor for under the old portafilter and a pressure guage. The idea is to make it all work and demonstrate a consistent high quality process (and improved skills on my part) on the GC, then sell one or the other, keeping the PID and all the bits & pieces. It's helpful that portafilters can swap between the two machines. And having the GCP without me changing it for now means my wife gets the morning latte in bed that she's sure she deserves!
As I will stay with organic SWM decaf but would like to make a a normal caffeinated coffee for my wife, I have also ordered a 1zpresso K-Plus hand grinder, as I want a high quality of grind with next to no residual coffee left in the grinder especially as I swap from caffeinated to decaf (I can't afford to have a 4 day migraine). They appear from the reviews to be quick to grind for a single dose, and I just couldn't research enough about electric grinders to make a decision to buy one or another, even if I could afford one just now.
