Welcome to the CoffeeCrew forum for registered users. - feel free to make yourself at home. This forum is dedicated to coffee and espresso based issues.
Forum spammers, scam artists, confidence artists, crooks and obvious commercial shilling is discouraged. Violation of this one simple rule will result in you and your immediate geographical region being banned from the site so do not post ads here! Capiche?
The coffeecrew guestbook and forum has been alive for more than 10 years! Please consider it your one-stop resource for finding out about all things coffee, espresso, specialty coffee and all associated gear and equipment.
We welcome long posts - there is no word limit in fact. Keep in mind that you can only type for 15 to 20 minutes in the forum-post submit window (session timeout)- so consider composing your posts or responses in a text editor - then cut and paste! Thank you and enjoy the forums!
Gran Gaggia disassembly advice? - 2007/10/09 23:54My trusty Gran Gaggia is having similar water flow problems as have been described by other posters to this forum. I've done a couple of descaling routines which seem to have made the problem worse rather than better... I reckon it's time to do a bit of internal investigation, starting with the grouphead.
I've read Dave's Gaggia domestic grouphead disassembly article (http://www.coffeecrew.com/content/view/291/99/); unfortunately, my group looks quite different – it doesn't have the two allen bolts holding it in place as pictured there.
From the looks of it, I need to take the lid off the machine to get at the grouphead. Seems easy enough, but I'm a bit stumped with the removal of the steam knob, which blocks me from removing the lid after I've taken out the corner screws. The schematic seems to suggest the knob just pops off, but to do that, I think I'm going to have to reef on the thing pretty hard. Before breaking out the pliers, I'm asking for the advice of any current/former Gran Gaggia owners out there. Maybe there's a little trick I'm missing that would make removal of the steam knob much easier...
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 745
Karma: 19
Re:Gran Gaggia disassembly advice? - 2007/10/10 19:24Yea - that top knob is a pressure fit - no set screw. It just pops off -- Try wrapping some cloth around it and PULL.
Do not be afraid of using a bit of force -- these old units can take it.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
I spent a few interesting hours today poking around the insides of my machine. Unfortunately, I couldn't remove the group -- I couldn't budge the internal allen bolts with my meagre home tools. I did notice some "gunk" floating in the tubing between the boiler and pump, though -- cleaned that out and reassembled things.
On the basis of the visible gunk, I'm trying one more descaling. If that doesn't result in an improvement to the water flow through the group, it's off to Espressotec for them to have a look-see.
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 745
Karma: 19
Re:Gran Gaggia disassembly advice? - 2007/10/12 21:38The cool-cats at EspressoTec will treat you right.
Make sure you tell them the Colin-Man sent you.
They might give you a discount -- Oh yea - they are having a major promotion on new rancilio silvias -- drag in any "dog" and they will give you 150$ off of a new silvia.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
Kevin R
User Senior Barista
Posts: 33
Karma: 6
Re:Gran Gaggia disassembly advice? - 2007/10/18 11:51So far, so good with the Gran -- it seems to be back to working properly, and has so for a week. Cross your fingers...
I read about the Silvia deal on a recent visit to the Espressotec website. Pretty tempting, but I'll have to wait until I've saved enough pennies for a new machine.
Speaking of good service, I want to recognize the folks at Baratza for their quick response to a problem I discovered with my less than six month old Maestro Plus grinder. It seems the plastic housing on the upper burr had somehow developed a nasty crack. I sent them a picture by e-mail, and they sent me a replacement part the same day -- no proof of warranty needed. I wish all of my warranty experiences were that painless...
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
Kevin R
User Senior Barista
Posts: 33
Karma: 6
Re:Gran Gaggia disassembly advice? - 2007/11/16 11:36A short update: my Gran Gaggia recently returned to its previous persnickety behaviour. Before I made the trek out to Espressotec, I thought I’d try one last fix: remove the bolt in the centre of the grouphead (onto which the dispersion screen attaches) and go from there.
After a few turns with the socket wrench, I had the bolt out. It’s a spring loaded gizmo with a small rounded gasket at the tip which sits inside the group. I presume this mechanism regulates the water flow from the pump through the group.
I then ran several courses of water through the group, which resulted in a good deal of flaky scale in my pitcher. My unscientific diagnosis? The steaming action must force the scale against the little gasket, blocking the opening and not allowing any water to come through when I go to brew a shot of espresso.
I’ve had to complete this procedure two or three times now, with a little less scale coming through each time. Hopefully we’re soon at the end, and a diet of filtered water and regular descaling will prevent the problem from returning.
If nothing else, this little project has taught me a lot about the inner workings of my machine…
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
Yes, Im actually listing it for my mother who is back in NJ. But she seemed to think it was pretty hard to find, couldnt find anything relative on eBay so we werent sure on price....
Thought you might like to know I found one of these packed up in our basement and we've listed it on eBay. If you have any question please contact me via eBay. Happy bidding!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws...
Every origin arabica coffee has some degree of lemon, citric or bright notes - some more muted, some less. Some of the brightest tasting coffees are classic Kenyan Double-A's - not my favorite. Fruit ...
Does a slightly acidic/almost lemony nuance to a coffee tell a coffee tester anything about what type of bean the coffee is made from? Nothing objectionable, not to me anyway, in fact, I like it espe...
Tell me what you really want to do, and I will give you some suitable tips.
The current rule is: If you are not employed within one hour of trying... in Victoria B.C. Canada - you are lacking a pul...
I'm moving back to Victoria in 2 weeks and thought I'd do some online scouting for great coffee shops before I arrive (I found a couple when I visited this summer, so I knew that there were great ones...
I have been watching the cafe scene in Victoria since the mid-seventies... I know, since before some of my most loyal readers were born.
We are in an interesting time now - there are more jobs than...
Yes - the problem is...
It is a super-automatic machine.
The water for the coffee touches so much plastic and travels through so many tubes... the coffee is brewed in a plastic or composite brew m...
Dear All,
I have Saeco Royal Cappucino, testing it for several type of different coffees from around the world, but the funny is the coffee taste always the same. It has prebrewer function and I di...
Forum 
