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Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Gaggia Classic...

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westrg
Senior Member

Joined: 2 Jan 2002
Posts: 8
Location: Oxford, UK
Expertise: Aficionado

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Gaggia MDF

Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 6:13am Subject: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

I've had my Gaggia Classic about 3 years - suddenly it has stopped passing much water through the brew head and all the water is going back into the reservoir instead. I presume there is a blockage somewhere - is that correct? Should I just descale it or is there some other option for resolving the problem?

CoupePlus
Senior Member

Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Posts: 289
Location: Little Rock
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Pulser/Classic/EPC8
Grinder: Mini/SJ/Virtuoso
Vac Pot: Yes
Drip: Technivorm
Roaster: GC/Behmor

Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 9:15am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

Assuming you have cleaned the dispersion screen recently, it sounds like a problem with the three-way solenoid valve. At least that is my first take on it. Luck, Larry

kingseven
Senior Member

Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 208
Location: London
Expertise: Professional

Espresso: Synesso Cyncra
Grinder: Mostly Anfims
Roaster: Probat UG15 and others

Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 9:35am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

Have you descaled it in the last three years? Whats the water like in Oxford? It might need a descale. The boilers tend to cycle the water back into the reservoir as a way of maintaining temperature, so thats normal. Still, it might be worth giving Gaggia a call on 0870 442 0300 during working hours. Jim

www.jimseven.com www.squaremileblog.com

westrg
Senior Member

Joined: 2 Jan 2002
Posts: 8
Location: Oxford, UK
Expertise: Aficionado

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Gaggia MDF

Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 10:43am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

I've descaled it once before. I use a water filter, but the water in Oxford is quite hard. With another descaling I have managed to get water out of one of the openings in the brew head, so it looks like it is just badly scaled up. Anyone know if it is possible to take it apart and clean?

Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 10:46am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

They say its worth descaling every 6-8 months in hard water areas even using filtered water. (its down to 3-4 months with London tap water!) It is possible to take them apart, though most people don't go much further than the shower plate. I am guessing the machine is out of warranty, so opening it up won't cause problems that way - just remember how to put it back together! I've taken a couple apart (a bit) and it wasn't tooo complicated. Jim

www.jimseven.com www.squaremileblog.com

CoupePlus
Senior Member

Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 11:56am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

I tend to forget that not everyone has as soft of water as we do in Little Rock. It sure couldn't hurt to try descaling once again. Clean the dispersion screen. Take off the part that the screen mounts to, and clean it. If doing all of the above doesn't fix it, I would still suspect the solenoid valve and call the number listed earlier--or even WLL. Luck, Larry

gor
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Mar 2002
Posts: 4
Location: Melbourne
Expertise: Professional

Posted Wed Feb 18, 2004, 2:08am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

Hi there. I service the domestic Gaggia machines at the coffee shop I work at, and yes, it will be a problem with gunk blocking your 3-way solenoid, shower screen, dispersion plate and even sediment in the boiler as well! If you have some tools at home then it is not a hard thing to pull it apart for cleaning. The only thing you will need is a replacement boiler o-ring and group head gasket. Let me know if you go down this path because I could provide you with detailed instructions via email. Regards. Gor.

ducati
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Feb 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Australia
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Cimbali Jnr, Bezzerra...
Grinder: La Cimbali Cadet

Posted Fri Feb 20, 2004, 9:48pm Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

I also pulled my unit apart after the same thing happened at 5yrs. The boiler is pretty easy to open up and put back together. Before you do this though, give the unit a good backflush just to see if you can de-lodge the scale. Use a cleaning agent when you do this to dry and break down the scale.

Jabes
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 71
Location: Atlanta
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Isomac Tea
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky/ Maestro Plus

Posted Sat Feb 21, 2004, 6:57am Subject: Re: Gaggia Classic problem - very little water coming from brew head

I cleaned a Gaggia Espresso that I had purchased on eBay a while back. The boiler was lined with scale. If the scaling is really bad, a chemical descaler will no longer do the trick and you will have to take it apart and clean it manually. Here a a link to some instructions that helped me when I cleaned mine: How to overhaul your Gaggia

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