Espresso: Espresso Machines Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner Italian Coffee Italian coffee beans, grinds and pods from Kimbo, LavAzza, Miscela d'Oro & Bristot. Qty. discounts! www.espressozone.com   Not Logged in: log in updated topics   new posts   new unanswered   search   faq   sign up   Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Brand new Gaggia...   view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics showing page 2 of 4 first page | last page previous page | next page Author Messages D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso Posted Sun Jan 13, 2013, 5:19pm Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   I am not sure that you have access to a Polder thermometer, a very cheap way to go. Click Here (coffeegeek.com) If not a Polder or similar, then you can buy a PID controller and just use it to read the thermocouple as you suggest, planning ahead.  In that case, you are mostly to PID.  How were you going to read the thermocouple?  You seem handy, so could perhaps do your own wiring. As long as you do not invest much or can reuse the parts it is a good investment, and will really help surfing. back to top D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso Posted Sun Jan 13, 2013, 5:21pm Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   OPV is very easy adjust. Click Here (coffeeforums.co.uk)(over-Pressure-Valve)-Gaggia-Classic back to top _aki Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Hario Skerton Posted Sun Jan 13, 2013, 6:07pm Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   Just bought a 200psi pressure gauge and a reducing bush. Was really cheap off eBay so all good. I noticed that my extraction is way to quick at the moment, maybe 15 seconds for two 1 oz shots so I think reducing the pressure to 10 bar static should help a lot. I do tamp very hard, not convinced about the coffee I got yesterday though... But even coffee I grind myself extracts too fast. Re. thermocouple: I was going to get the Omega wire with a washer to attach to the boiler. Then a K type thermocouple to read it. I guess you just get pull the wire out of the machine and attach it to the thermocouple. I will check out the Polder, thanks! back to top D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso Posted Sun Jan 13, 2013, 9:39pm Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   I am not sure what you are doing for coffee.  You need fresh roasted coffee and freshly ground.  Tamping is not overly important compared to fresh coffee and fresh appropriate grind to affect extractaion and eventually taste.  What is your grinder?  I only bring this up because you are asking about extraction time.  You are doing the right mods, but those will not fix wrong grind or old coffee. Here is a great reference site, start with How to pages #12 http://www.frcndigital.com/coffee/Coffee.html I am not sure what you are thinking about the k thermocouple.  The Thermocouple is 2 wires of dissimilar metal fused to a bead at the end and them often embedded in a holder such as the washer or a proper size and thread bolt the whole unit generally referred to as the thermocouple.  The thermocouple reader is what you are not mentioning.  The PID temperature controller can read a thermocouple or sensor of various types.  Do you have another reader?  Here is a sample cheap reader. Click Here (www.ebay.com) or a PID controller Click Here (www.ebay.com) And no, I am not really recommending for or against any of these, just asking and giving examples of what is available economically.  The Polder is nice is that it is very reasonably priced and will help with surfing. back to top _aki Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Hario Skerton Posted Mon Jan 14, 2013, 6:28am Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   Re. coffee: I have a Hario Skerton that I modded so I can drive it with my Bosch drill. This weekend I went to a coffe shop to get some beans ground for me. I'm pretty sure the beans were a bit old though because I am getting almost no crema. Annoying! I will get an Iberital MC2 grinder next month I think. For thermocouple and reader I am thinking about something like this for the reader: Click Here (www.amazon.co.uk) and something like this for the thermocouple: http://www.omega.co.uk/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=WT Should work right? back to top D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso Posted Mon Jan 14, 2013, 10:23am Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   That is an inexpensive reader and you can probably come close to that price for an inexpensive PID.  The PID could serve as a reader without control, and later have the controls hooked up.  Just a thought. If you are considering putting that thermocouple under a t'stat then you need to know the thickness.  It will elevate the stat off of the boiler a little and could cause difficulty, making the tstat not read well.  If not too thick, it may be fine.  I can't tell from looking.  It will be interesting to hear. Store grind is at best a guess for the correct grind and ground coffee is not fresh for long, 15 minutes. The FRCN article is a great resource and explanation. back to top _aki Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Hario Skerton Posted Tue Jan 15, 2013, 5:08am Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   Hey, Sorry for the late reply. Sounds like a good idea to buy a PID controller instead so I don't double up on the price. Anything I should think about when buying the PID controller? I read that article you sent and it was very interesting, good point that you save money in the long run by buying green beans. I will look into getting a roaster, any recommendations? Best, _aki back to top _aki Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Hario Skerton Posted Tue Jan 15, 2013, 8:29am Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   Do you think something like this will work for the PID controller? Click Here (www.amazon.co.uk) I guess after that I just need the thermocouple from Omega and a SSR control. Cheers, _aki back to top D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso Posted Tue Jan 15, 2013, 11:02am Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   I think that the controller will work.  It seems like it has one PID controlled output to the SSR and one alarm output.  I think that is described that way, and if I look at the blow up of the pictures, I can see the terminal labels on the side.  That is similar to what most, not all, of the smaller 1/32 din controllers have.  I am using PID control for the idle/brew temperature, one alarm for steam, and then a second alarm to add heat with the pump.  It helps stability of intrashot temperature, and temperature recovery for a second shot.   http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machinemods/571792 Standard setup is idle/brew temperture, and then steam is an option.  I do not see clear instructions about setting up the alarm, so I cannot be totally clear that the alarm will work for steam, but at worst, you still would get idle/brew temperature, the most important of the functions. 25 amp SSRs are cheap.  You can decide about thermocouples and placement.  On Gaggia, placement is almost always at the brew 'stat, or under it if you use a washer type.  I am using the Auber RTD sensor for the Gaggia, but more expensive. When you are ready to set it up, you will still need wiring and connectors.  You can get an idea here. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055389457 And here, though specifically for Silvia, the components are essentially the same. http://www.flickr.com/photos/81832954%40N00/2330218796 I do not roast, so cannot comment on that.  Time and money equate somewhat, so I am not sure that roasting is my best option.  5 lbs of Redbird Espresso lasts me about 10 weeks and the cost per double is fairly small to try to recover roaster cost and time.  Your situation could be different. back to top _aki Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I love coffee Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Hario Skerton Posted Tue Jan 15, 2013, 12:34pm Subject: Re: Brand new Gaggia Classic leaking from the bottom left corner   Great, lots to read up on there! So should I look for a PID controller with two alarms? back to top showing page 2 of 4 first page | last page previous page | next page view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Brand new Gaggia...   updated topics   new posts   new unanswered     search   faq   sign up   Not Logged in: log in Discussions Quick Jump: Select Espresso Discussions --Espresso Machines --Lever Espresso Machines --Grinders - Espresso --Espresso Mods and Restorations --Espresso Blends --Questions and Answers --Latte Art and Etching --Barista Jams Around the World --General Discussion Coffee Discussions --Machines and Brewing Methods --Home Roasting Talk --Questions and Answers --General Discussion Columns, How-Tos, and Reviews --Holiday Gift List Feedback --CoffeeGeek Columnist Feedback --Detailed Review Feedback --Products First Look Feedback --Quickshot Review Feedback --Guide Article Feedback --How-To Article Feedback --CoffeeGeek Podcast Feedback Members Forum --Bug Reports and Suggestions --Buy, Sell and Trade --Retail Coffee Jobs Offered / Wanted Ads --Coffee Recipes --Cafe and Bean Reviews --CoffeeGeek Site Info and News --General Off Topics World Regional --United States West --United States Central --United States East --Western Canada --Eastern Canada --United Kingdom --Western Europe --Eastern Europe, Nordic Countries, and Russia --Central and South America --Australia, New Zealand and Asia Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit      = No New Posts since last visit     = Newest post Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. 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