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Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Need help in...

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D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,223
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 7:45pm
Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

Coffeenoobie Said:

Amazon Grinders:
Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder - Cheapest but hand powered
Baratza Preciso
Baratza Vario
Baratza Vario W (my fav)

Posted November 20, 2012 link

The Baratza Preciso Refurb is probably the best place to start, and as noted above, then Vario or Vario W. All can be found refurb directly from Baratza, when available starting on Thursdays. The Preciso is $239 and about $10-15 shipping. Each available at the time of this reply.

Click Here (www.baratza.com)

The Rocky is difficult to finely adjust, the steps are too large. Many threads searching "preciso rocky" on CG.

http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/551503

qualin
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Jun 2012
Posts: 496
Location: Calgary, AB
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto 3
Grinder: Mazzer Mini Elect. Type A
Vac Pot: Looking to buy
Drip: Manual
Roaster: Considering?

Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012, 11:53pm
Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

BrookNYC Said:

if I can convince my husband to tamp at that time.

Posted November 20, 2012 link

You just need to make tamping interesting and easy.. Get an Espro calibrated tamper. It "Clicks" when 30 lbs of force is applied. Then get a decent tamping stand.

Good luck!

BrookNYC
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Nov 2012
Posts: 36
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 7:25am
Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

qualin Said:

You just need to make tamping interesting and easy.. Get an Espro calibrated tamper. It "Clicks" when 30 lbs of force is applied. Then get a decent tamping stand.

Good luck!

Posted November 23, 2012 link

This would be great if it wasn't $99. For that price he can use the pressurized portafilter on the days we are not up at the same time, when we are I shall attempt to make him a nice cup of tampered espresso.

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,223
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 10:28am Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

A great tamping article here http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/questions/576380 A decent 58mm tamper is useful, vs the plastic that comes with Gaggia and many machines. Several years ago tamping was felt more important than now if you see older articles.

BrookNYC
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Nov 2012
Posts: 36
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:23am
Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

D4F Said:

A great tamping article here

http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/questions/576380

A decent 58mm tamper is useful, vs the plastic that comes with Gaggia and many machines. Several years ago tamping was felt more important than now if you see older articles.

Posted November 24, 2012 link

I plan on using a scale to figure out the weight and ordering this tamper. Click Here (www.amazon.com)

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,223
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:27am Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

That should work well.

BrookNYC
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Nov 2012
Posts: 36
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:32am
Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

D4F Said:

That should work well.

Posted November 24, 2012 link

How about this to store my beans and grinds. I know it's really not the norm but I will have to grind my beans the night before. I am not a patient mommy without a morning latte.

Click Here (www.amazon.com)

JasonBrandtLewis
Senior Member

Joined: 9 Dec 2005
Posts: 6,100
Location: Berkeley, CA
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -...
Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -...
Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup
Drip: CCD, Chemex
Roaster: No, no, not another...

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 12:18pm Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

BrookNYC Said: I know it's really not the norm but I will have to grind my beans the night before. Posted November 24, 2012 link No. You don't. See Babbie's Rule of Fifteens. Grinding the night before will result in a) stale grounds, regardless of how you store it, and b) a time savings of from 10-45 seconds.

A morning without coffee is sleep . . .

D4F
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,223
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID
Grinder: Preciso

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 12:22pm Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

I am not sure that I want to advise, or talk you in to any thing, after reading your other thread :) "OK everyone I have decided to purchase the Gaggia Classic without the warranty from Amazon and the Preciso grinder from SCG. Warning if the Gaggia breaks down within the next two years I will become the most annoying member trying to get it fixed." That said, you do not really want to grind the night before. Get your beans ready and you can even put a single dose in the grinder pre weighed. I do not keep beans in the grinder, but put in a dose at a time. That way, you can grind in the am, about 11 seconds. Works even if you are not patient :) If you did not spend the money yet on the grinder, the Preciso refurb directly from Baratza.com is $239 + about $12 shipping.

qualin
Senior Member

Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012, 12:25pm Subject: Re: Need help in deciding between the Gaggia classic and the Saeco Via Venezia

What I find works well are either Mason Jars or a clip-top jar.. The key trick to using these kinds of jars is that you want to fill them up as much as possible. You want to displace as much air as you can inside of them. When the beans outgas, they'll replace the air inside with carbon dioxide and then as soon as the jar very lightly pressurizes, the outgassing process will stop. The clip top jar or mason jar should be big enough to hold about one weeks worth of beans. What I usually do is keep about a weeks worth of beans in the hopper of my grinder and use that up throughout the week.. I usually keep one or two of these clip-top jars in the freezer and when the grinder is empty, I just empty the another one of these jars into the grinder. That way, when I wake up in the morning, I just grab the portafilter, put it under the grinder and that's it. I grind coffee as I need it, I never store grinds. When I buy beans fresh from the market, the first thing I do is rip open the bag and fill a clip-top jar and put it in the freezer, or into the hopper of the grinder, depending on wether or not I'm buying a Kilogram or a pound of beans.

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