Today I received my very first espresso machine. I purchased the Gaggia Espresso from WholeLatteLove.com with a rocky, an accessory kit, and a recipe book. From espressoparts.com i bought some shot glasses, a bumper tamper, and a knockbox, and from SweetMarias, some espresso and cappuccino cups. So i set up the machine and ran a whole reservoir of water through it. Then i finally started pulling shots, the first few were barely potable then i switched coffee, and grind and produced 3 of the best tasting shots i have ever had, the 3rd being the absolute best ever plenty of crema and all. It was even better than the one i had at a highly regarded cafe in the area. This is great im thinking! not too hard to do! but then i got to thinking about some of the discussions ive been in on this site. There is a part missing from the equation.....the grinder has NOT come yet, it shipped separately, and i've been using lavazza blu which came with the machine. im trying to figure out why my preground coffee at home is producing a better shots than a cafe with commercial equipment, im not complaining just thinking its interesting.
-jeff

Congratulations Jeff!

Your first set-up should be a nice one! I wish you the best of luck!

gtrman wrote:m trying to figure out why my preground coffee at home is producing a better shots than a cafe with commercial equipment, im not complaining just thinking its interesting.

You're experiencing an improvement over the usual cafe, which sadly isn't difficult, commercial equipment not withstanding. You will find that your expectations rise dramatically and what you thought was good today would be a sink shot in three months (read Hall of Shame: ''What I did when I was a newbie...'' for my true confession on the subject).

Hi Jeff,

Congrats on the new addition. Just think, it only gets better!

Enjoy,
Peter

OK, the countdown to catching the upgrade fever has started. The over/under is 3 1/2 weeks. Any bets? Thats about when I started with my wandering eye, HA! Good luck with whatever you use.

well...ive already been looking into upgrading the steam arm....its wayyy too short to even touch the surface of my milk without the frothing attachment (unless i fill the pitcher all the way) and i at least want to try steaming the real way...oh well maybe in a little while i'll order a silvia arm.
-jeff

gtrman wrote:well...ive already been looking into upgrading the steam arm....its wayyy too short to even touch the surface of my milk without the frothing attachment (unless i fill the pitcher all the way) and i at least want to try steaming the real way...oh well maybe in a little while i'll order a silvia arm.
-jeff

What size pitcher are you using?

I have no problems with 12oz pitcher whereas my 20oz pitcher was way too big...

yea... i have a 20 ounce...i'm thinking about using a pyrex measuring cup in the interim then getting a 12 ounce and/or a new steam arm ive heard, i think from this forum, that a silvia steam arm fits very well...also the top piece of plastic looks like it comes off....has anyone tried? or am i just imagining it comes off cause i realllllly like to see how things work (read: "take things apart."). i am however going to make sure i dont actually do anything but look inside if its even possible.
thanks
jeff

gtrman wrote:Today I received my very first espresso machine. I purchased the Gaggia Espresso from WholeLatteLove.com with a rocky, an accessory kit, and a recipe book. From espressoparts.com i bought some shot glasses, a bumper tamper, and a knockbox, and from SweetMarias, some espresso and cappuccino cups. So i set up the machine and ran a whole reservoir of water through it. Then i finally started pulling shots, the first few were barely potable then i switched coffee, and grind and produced 3 of the best tasting shots i have ever had, the 3rd being the absolute best ever plenty of crema and all. It was even better than the one i had at a highly regarded cafe in the area. This is great im thinking! not too hard to do! but then i got to thinking about some of the discussions ive been in on this site. There is a part missing from the equation.....the grinder has NOT come yet, it shipped separately, and i've been using lavazza blu which came with the machine. im trying to figure out why my preground coffee at home is producing a better shots than a cafe with commercial equipment, im not complaining just thinking its interesting.
-jeff

ahhhhh...the joys of noo-bi-ness! Jeff, really, it can just keep getting better and better. I have been drinking this stuff for almost 30 years and making it at home for >20 and sometimes tell my wife as we go to bed: "...we only have to wait 8 hours before we have our next espresso".

BTW, I used Gaggia for many, many years and they are great machines for not too much $.

(Here is my "coffee graveyard" in the basement...you can count 3 Coffee Gaggia + 1 Espresso Gaggia)

As Dan said, you will find that your "home brew" beats any but the best available "outside" espresso, and then, only when that outside shop is attended by the 1 or 2 conscientious baristas (if they are lucky enough to have 2).

(I NEVER see this intense tiger striping in a coffee bar!)

Len

thanks for all the encouragement (for some reason that doesn't sound like a proper word) everyone!

well i think upgrade fever has set in...not about getting a new machine...i just want to make my Gaggia Espresso better.
Is it at all possible to add a 3 way solenoid valve to it? or to get inside of it at all?

these are some mods i've been toying with in my spare time (which apparently i have a lot of):
-3 way solenoid valve
-longer steam arm
-rotary pump (external)
-replacing plastic "cup warmer" with stainless steel or something.
-PID

there were a couple others i thought of, but have since forgot oh well

grinder comes tomorrow!

-jeff