Buyer's Guide to the Gaggia Achille - Page 2

[cpl593h]

Does that lead into the brew channel? You are probably a ways off digging into the machine, but inquiring minds want to know (and want to see someone stick a TC in there...)

[timo888]

Dave,
From your description of what does and doesn't happen when you raise the lever (i.e. no water comes out until you depress the lever) I am tempted to venture an explanation.

Lifting the lever causes water to flow, via gravity, into the brew water chamber in the piston cylinder. But there is a one-way valve, normally shut, that prevents the water from flowing from there down through dispersion screen. Depressing the lever forces that check-valve open, and voila.


Regards
Timo

[cannonfodder]

Does that lead into the brew channel? You are probably a ways off digging into the machine, but inquiring minds want to know (and want to see someone stick a TC in there...)

Nope. The group is two pieces, the lower portion the lugs lock into and an upper that houses the brew chamber and piston. That is the front screw that holds the works together. To appease the parts gods, here is a parts diagram of the machine that I was saving for later.

I have popped the covers and dug a little deeper into the mystery, but I have been enjoying the machine with all the mystery in place. Take a moment to enjoy the butterfly in all its beauty before you stick it under a microscope and dissect it.

[timo888]

Take a moment to enjoy the butterfly in all its beauty before you stick it under a microscope and dissect it.

You may be enjoying the nectar of the butterfly, but out here in e-land we've got to find our pleasures in the design. That no water flows until the lever is depressed suggests some sort of one-way valve. I thought it might be #18 on the parts diagram. A ball check valve?

Regards
Timo

[cannonfodder]

Ya, they have not invented taste-a-vision yet. There is a one way something in there. I will eventually pull some parts to see what is under the covers.

[cannonfodder]

First impressions.

Let me be the first to say that the stock sales photos of the Gaggia Achille do not do it justice. The machine boasts a clear coated brushed stainless steel body and base with a chrome plated group, lever and portafilter with black accents. The handles for the portafilter and lever are made of black plastic and shaped just like Achille Gaggia's first espresso machines. The pearl handles provide a very good grip which is important when you are laying on a lever pulling a shot.


Three features jumped out at me right out of the box. How many times have you read about someone looking for options to secure their lever machine to the kitchen counter? For some reason, most manufactures use a hard plastic bottom on the machine base and these nearly always scoot all over the countertop while pulling shots. The Achille uses the same black plastic base, but on that base are 5 nickel sized sticky rubber feet. These do a superb job of anchoring the machine to the counter top. I even had my wife grab the handle and portafilter and try to wiggle/slide the machine on the counter. It did not budge, and the boiler was still empty.


The second feature is the stainless steel base. The La Pavoni style lever machines have a screw under the drip tray. I always found that to be a curious location for a screw. Any water that splashes over the drip tray will run to the bottom of the drip tray holder, then around that screw and into the base of the machine. I cannot count the number of times a new owner of a used lever machine removed the base to clean the machine just to find out the entire base is rusted to pieces. That should not be a problem with the Achilles seamless stainless steel base.


Case in point look at Vintage Europiccola - pretty, but yikes...


The third was the boiler. Most lever machines use an exposed boiler. You have to be careful not to accidentally touch the machine while it is running. Many of us have burned our fingers and forearms by accidentally touching the boiler while reaching behind the machine. The Achille has a stainless steel boiler, but around that boiler is a brushed stainless steel facade. The machine does not get blisteringly hot, a big plus for those of us with young curious children. After three hours of use, I can still grab a hold of the boiler. Don't try doing this after your Elektra Microcasa a Leva has been on for three hours!


The Achille is also larger than your average lever machine. The machine measures 17-1/2 tall, 22-1/2 long (from the back of the removable cup rack to the end of the lever extended to its horizontal position) and 9-1/2 wide from the steam valve to the manometer using my tape measure. Gaggia lists the weight as 9kg which is just short of 20 pounds dry (19.8 lbs). If you have low kitchen cabinets it could be tight. When sitting beside its little sister (Gaggia Factory), the size is apparent.


The Achille also uses a commercial 58mm portafilter. So if you have a particular basket preference, you can use it. I have used the stock single and double basket, Faema style double and La Marzocco ridgeless basket. Getting a tamper should not be a problem either. I am using a flat bottom Reg Barber 58mm tamper.

Faema, Gaggia Achille, Gaggia Factory/La Pavoni 51mm millennium group

The group on the Achille is massive. It is twice the size of my Factory and probable makes up a substantial portion of that 9 kilo weight. The group is made of chrome plated brass as is the portafilter. The group pivot is held together by two large countersunk flat head screws. Gone are the C-clip retained pins, and good riddance. The group lever is substantial in diameter and the pivot points are noticeably large. The group has a very commercial appearance.


The portafilter locks into the group like most non lever machines. To insert the portafilter on many levers you start with the portafilter handle aimed at you and then twist the handle to the left to lock into the group. On the Achille you insert the portafilter at a 45 degree angle to the left and then twist to the right. That points the handle toward your chest. The group has two small marks on it. The one to the left side is a gray circle. Line the portafilter handle up with that dot and twist to the right until the handle lines up with the gray inverted triangle.

[peacecup]

Enjoying the butterfly...

I do like the retro look, and the whole thing appears to be well thought out. It's possible that its too well thought out, and that it will lose the simplicity of operation that makes lever machines so rewarding. We'll see how that goes once you've had a chance to get up to speed on pulling shots.

The boiler cover is a must in my opinion - I wonder who, at La Pavoni, ever decided that 230+ degree brass should be exposed - it's a wonder they're legal in the good old USA (where coffee cups are required by law to have "this beverage is hot" disclaimers).

Not sure about the clear coat - I've had some issues with it discoloring in the past. Why not just leave it stainless steel?

Removable plug - A++

How about stability? I've read that the Factory/La Pavonis are a little squirrelly when pulling shots (but not the eminent threat of the Peppina!). Does Achille keep his feet (and heels) firmly planted when one wants to push the crema envelope?

Basic dimensions would be of interest - height and weight.

Looking forward to more!!!

PC

[peacecup]

AH..., while I was writing, you posted answers to nearly all of my questions!!! BTW, the sticky feet are standard on the 30+yr old Ponte Vecchio/Sama desigh (as is the boiler cover) - I've also seen them on the old Amore lever machines.

PC

[cannonfodder]

middle of the above post.

The machine measures 17-1/2 tall, 22-1/2 long (from the back of the removable cup rack to the end of the lever extended to its horizontal position) and 9-1/2 wide from the steam valve to the manometer using my tape measure

much more coming tomorrow.

[cannonfodder]

Gaggia lists the machine specs as...

Power supply 230-240V 50Hz 1250W
Heating system Stainless steel boiler
Water tank Removable
Water tank capacity 0,8 lt.
Continuous refill tank Yes
Visible water level Yes
Cappuccino accessory Pannarello
1-cup filter and/or pod, 2-cups Yes
Makes two cups simultaneously Yes
Group and Filter holder Chromed brass
Cup plate Stainless steel / Removable
Other Boiler safety valve, manostat, professional manometer
Accessories Measuring spoon, Tamper
Dimensions cm. (LxHxD) 24,7x55,4x45,3
Weight 9 kg
Bodywork Stainless steel

So for those of you (Timo) that wanted metric, Dimensions cm. (LxHxD) 24,7x55,4x45,3

[cannonfodder]

The cup holder is large enough to hold 3 demi cups. Notice the phrase 'cup holder'; this is not a warming tray. The shelf is held away from the boiler on plastic hangers. Heat is not transferred to this shelf so any cups placed on it will remain at room temperature.

Confession time. I put the machine together, hung the cup holder and stood there thinking 'that is stupid, your cups will just fall off'. If you bump a cup, there is nothing to keep it from sliding off the shelf. Two days later, I realized I had the shelf on upside down. There is a vertical edge that runs all around the edge to prevent things from sliding off.

It still does not heat, but it makes a nifty place to keep your baskets and tamper. I just pull a flush into my demi cup to heat it.

[timo888]

Gaggia lists the machine specs as...

Power supply 230-240V 50Hz 1250W
Heating system Stainless steel boiler
Water tank Removable
Water tank capacity 0,8 lt.
Continuous refill tank Yes
Visible water level Yes
Cappuccino accessory Pannarello
1-cup filter and/or pod, 2-cups Yes
Makes two cups simultaneously Yes
Group and Filter holder Chromed brass
Cup plate Stainless steel / Removable
Other Boiler safety valve, manostat, professional manometer
Accessories Measuring spoon, Tamper
Dimensions cm. (LxHxD) 24,7x55,4x45,3
Weight 9 kg
Bodywork Stainless steel

So for those of you (Timo) that wanted metric, Dimensions cm. (LxHxD) 24,7x55,4x45,3

Thanks. The metric measurements I'm most interested in are for the smaller things like pins and screws and piston diameters and such. Once we get over 100mm, I revert to an inches man myself.

Is there a 110V version?

Is the boiler-level sight-glass enclosed in an unbreakable acrylic?

Regards
Timo

[timo888]

Dave,
I'm trying to get a sense, through the numbers, of the heftiness of the Achille's lever and the anticipated brew pressure that it, the fulcrum, and the piston are optimized for, assuming the barista will bring 40-50 pounds of force to bear.

What's the diameter of the Achille's lever arm? The Cremina's, by comparison, is 12mm. This thickness doesn't get fed into any formulas for computing mechanical advantage, but it will tell us something about the forces the designers were reckoning with.

The Cremina's pins are 27mm apart, on center. You said the Achille's pins were an inch apart on center, but I don't know if you were estimating. A few mm do make a decent difference here. If the pins on the Achille are closer together than 27mm, that would give the Achille's lever greater mechanical advantage than the Cremina's--which it would need if its piston has the same diameter as its basket.

Regards
Timo

[timo888]

Is there a removeable tray beneath the drip grate, or just the stainless basin?
Regards
Timo

[King Seven]

Looking forward to your review of this - it's been a couple of years since I used one of these and I thought it was great, having hated (due to a complete lack of skills) the Factory. Found it a very easy machine to work with.

All I can say is... more more more!

[cannonfodder]

Evening Timo, a few last posts before I shut down for the night.

The sight glass is encased in plastic, may be acrylic but I will not be home for another couple of days to verify. I can say that it is substantially clearer and stiffer than the Factory sight glass cover. If I had to guess, yes acrylic, but most definitely not glass over glass.


The version I have is 110v for US distribution.

I can tell you that it does take more heft to work the lever. Even empty, the lever has some resistance in the up and down stroke. That may be due to the mystery HX mechanism (one way valve resistance?).

I have some precision calipers at home, I reload my own ammunition. But they are imperial not metric. They are good to a hundredth of an inch. I will measure the lever diameter (it is hefty) and get a more precise set of lever measurements for you. I have a couple of weeks off work so I should have plenty of time to get up close and personal with the machine.

[hbuchtel]

Dave, are you missing the 'automatic' pre-infusion of pressure-fed levers? Or have you been doing it manually?

Henry

[cannonfodder]

Dave, are you missing the 'automatic' pre-infusion of pressure-fed levers? Or have you been doing it manually?

Henry

The machine does not produce any water until you pull the lever down. Unlike the La Pavoni, where water is forced out of the group once the piston raises above the water outlet hole. The Achille does not produce any water until the lever is pulled. You can raise the lever to the top of the stroke, it will simply hang there until you pull it down.

All preinfusion is manual. I do a quarter pull, just until I get some lever resistance, raise and pull the full shot.

[cannonfodder]

Is there a removeable tray beneath the drip grate, or just the stainless basin?
Regards
Timo

It is a removable plastic basin, and small as all levers are. I am working on a post detailing the drip tray this morning, my first nit pick of the machine.

[cannonfodder]

Fill it up

The Achille has two water tanks, but one boiler. Gaggia refers to it as a 'continuous refill tank'. Being a heat exchanger lever machine you have to have water to feed the HX. Gaggia has put a separate clear plastic removable water tank on top of the boiler. This allows you to pull shots all day long. After some cooling flushes and shots you get low on water. Simply lift the top off of the cold water tank and add more water. You do not have to power down the unit and wait for the boiler to depressurize to refill your boiler.

I started to wonder what happens if you need to refill the main boiler, which is located under the HX reservoir and your HX reservoir is full? Thankfully Gaggia had the forethought to address that. You do not need to pump the water out, simply lift it off. The reservoir has a spring loaded plug that opens when set on the boiler and seals when lifted.



I measured the heat exchanger reservoir at .85 liter if filled to the very brim. A more realistic level would be .8 which provides enough water for quite a few shots before needing refilled.

The boiler is constructed of stainless steel and is filled via the boiler cap on top of the boiler. As I mentioned above the main boiler fill is hidden under the heat exchanger reservoir.

The boiler sight glass has a min and max indicator line. These serve a purpose and are not merely suggested fill levels. Since the heat exchanger is located in the top of the boiler, overfilling can affect the shot temperature. The steam wand is also lower on the boiler than some other machines. Over filling will result in a wet spitting steam, so keep it between the min and max.

I measured the steam boiler capacity (to the max line, not maximum boiler capacity) at .83 liter using a liquid volume measurement (two cup Pyrex measuring pitcher).

One quick side note here. The basic design reminds me a lot of Jim's Elektra Semiautomatica. The brew water and boiler water are in two separate containers. The boiler water is never used for brewing and the machine does not have a water tap. You could fill the boiler with distilled water and never have a scale problem. The heat exchanger would be incredibly simple to descale because your water tank is on top, but more on that in another section.

Once filled it is time to power up. The Achille uses a simple up down toggle switch on the back right side of the base. By that switch are two lights, one red, one green. Red is for power, green is for temperature, or more appropriately the heating element. When the green light is off, it is heating; green light on, the heating element is off.

Power on the machine and a couple seconds later you are greeted with that 'pop, bubble, pop' you get from a turbo charged heating element. Once again I will make a reference back to Jim's Elektra.

Imagine espresso machines were cars. They would go from subcompact little home machines to Mack truck 4 groupers. The Elektra Semi doesn't fit anywhere along this continuum, because it's a motorcycle. It's too light, too overpowered, too outrageous

If the Elektra is an Italian motorcycle, the Achille is a turbo charged Suzuki Hayabusa. The Achille uses a 1300 watt heating element! 1300 watts of power for .8 liters of water, can you say instant recovery and non stop steam.

Gaggia and WLL boast of a ten minute heat up. Sorry, that is a little ambitious. From a cold start with the boiler filled to the Max indicator on the sight glass, I get an initial heat cycle of 8 minutes. After 10 the group is only warm to the touch and the portafilter is stone cold. A more realistic time from power on would be 20 minutes. Gaggia is unclear if that 10 minute heat cycle is from power on or 10 minutes after the initial heat up. If they are using the later measurement, than I will agree with the claimed heating cycle.