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Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Solenoid valve...

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flips
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Norway
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Coffee
Grinder: Nivona CafeGrano 120
Drip: Bonmac #2 Single Hole...

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 2:02pm Subject: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

Hi! I recently got myself a machine called Gaggia Coffee. I'm trying to figure out the difference between this and the Gaggia Classic. Am I wrong if I guess that the main difference is this solenoid valve? (That the Classic has this, and that my older version doesn't.) I noticed that solenoid is not mentioned in this review/summary: http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/gaggia_coffee And also the Classic seems to have a small tube or something on the left, down into the drip tray. And if I don't have this valve, is there anything I shoud be aware of when making espresso? (I'm trying to figure out the correct grind, pressure when compacting the grinds in the portafilter, and I try to stop the water flow before the foam turns to bright. Then I take out/away the portafilter quite quickly, so that I don't get over-exposed coffee slowly slipping through. If I understood it correctly, the solvenoid valve to make the portafilter dryer at once?) Sorry if this has been thoroughly discussed before, I'm quite new at this, feel free to redirect me to some nice articles/posts/FAQs etc. :)

flips 8-)

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,225
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 2:58pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

Welcome to CG. I hope that we can help. I am not sure which machine that you mean. Look around at this Parts site and see which machine you have. It may be this? Click Here (www.partsguru.com)

flips
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Norway
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Coffee
Grinder: Nivona CafeGrano 120
Drip: Bonmac #2 Single Hole...

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 3:09pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

Yes, it looks like the black one (Coffee 1998) here: http://www.partsguru.com/GaggiaModelCoffee.html And I guess this is quite accurate: http://www.partsguru.com/user/ER0077-01.PDF

flips 8-)

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,225
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 3:44pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

So the Classic had a 3-way and an easily adjustable OPV. The tube to the drip tray on the Classic is from the 3-way to drain. The OPV makes pressure adjustment to 9 bar easy, and the 3-way a dry puck. Brewing is very similar except you may be at higher pressure, up to about 15 bar. That makes the grind a bit more critical. Tamp is less important, but should be about 25 -30 lbs and reproducible. You need a grinder that is capable of grinding fine enough to choke the machine and stepped fine enough to keep grinds in the apropriate range. You should work on doubles at about 25 seconds. Singles are difficult, better to learn and perhaps stick with doubles. Spend time here www.EspressoMyEspresso.com, check out this article: 12 - EASY GUIDE TO BETTER ESPRESSO AT HOME and most of that whole site as a start.

flips
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Norway
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Coffee
Grinder: Nivona CafeGrano 120
Drip: Bonmac #2 Single Hole...

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 4:51pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

Yes, thanks for great explanation and link to very interesting articles! It seems my greatest challenge is my grinder (A Nivona coffee grinder, not real espresso grinder). I've been able to make a few really good espresso shots (singles, actually), but also some terrible ones. I tried saying to my wife we should get a new grinder, but so far the WAF* is very low of me having "yet another coffee thing/gadget/machine" occupying precious space in the kitchen ... So I guess I will have to practice tamping to match the missing fine steps of my grinder. (It's able to make it too fine grained (choke the machine), but sometimes the next step seems a little too coarse.) Anyway, I'll continue reading those articles. :) WAF = wife acceptance factor :)

flips 8-)

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,225
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 5:07pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

Changing the dose may also help. You have a little more room to adjust with doubles. Are you using the nonpressurized basket? Forgot to ask that. I got a single and double pressurized, and a double nonpressurized basket. A note included made it sound like the nonpressurized basket was only standard in US. If your grinder is not up to the task, pressurized may be helping you, but you will need to work on WAF :)

flips
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Norway
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Coffee
Grinder: Nivona CafeGrano 120
Drip: Bonmac #2 Single Hole...

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 5:18pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

I assume by pressurized, you're referring to the "perfect crema" filter. I've assumed I have the regular single and double filters, as the other is listed as optional in the users manual. The pressurized filter probably looks quite different? Yep, gotta work on the WAF ... :-)

flips 8-)

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,225
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 5:21pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

yep, pressurized = perfect crema as far as text, or how it is described, but in reality the opposite is true.

flips
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Norway
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Coffee
Grinder: Nivona CafeGrano 120
Drip: Bonmac #2 Single Hole...

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 5:35pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

So, if this pressurized filter looks like this: Click Here (www.shop.partsguru.com) ... then I have the regular filters :)

flips 8-)

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,225
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 5:42pm Subject: Re: Solenoid valve (Gaggia Coffee vs. Gaggia Classic)

Sounds like you have the regular. Try doubles and adjust the grind for as close to 25 seconds for 45-60 ml as you can get, and then play with dose and tamp. What grinders are you thinking of when WAF is reached? Acceptance is price, looks in kitchen...?? Many of us go down that road.

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