Gaggia Factory, the forgotten lever. - Page 2

[prof_stack]

... I've got a real tamper on order right now. Hopefully it'll be here next week. I already pulled a few drinkable shots, and it's only going to get better from here. Oh, the excitement!

I've had my Gaggia for about 3 months and have been using a pre-Millenium 49mm tamper and moving it around the 51mm basket. Made many great shots and the rest were just good.

Looking forward to this coming any day now from Les @ Thor Tampers:


Les did right by me on the tamper for the Sama Export and so another order was in order.

[jamhat]

I've had my Gaggia for about 3 months and have been using a pre-Millenium 49mm tamper and moving it around the 51mm basket. Made many great shots and the rest were just good.

Looking forward to this coming any day now from Les @ Thor Tampers:

I finally got around to ordering my new tamper a couple of weeks ago. Like you, I was using a 49mm tamper in the 51mm basket (mine was a cheapy from a home store). Using the properly sized tamper base has made a noticeable difference in my shots, and the Thor is a masterfully made tool. Plus, it's a plus working with a nice guy like Les.

Prof, what type of wood is that tamper you are getting? Mine is black walnut and looks quite nice.

[prof_stack]

I finally got around to ordering my new tamper a couple of weeks ago. Like you, I was using a 49mm tamper in the 51mm basket (mine was a cheapy from a home store). Using the properly sized tamper base has made a noticeable difference in my shots, and the Thor is a masterfully made tool. Plus, it's a plus working with a nice guy like Les.

Prof, what type of wood is that tamper you are getting? Mine is black walnut and looks quite nice.

Funny, we might be long lost brothers! Gaggia Factory, Trosser mill(s), and using a too-small tamper until we ordered from Thor.

Les has the above photo on his website and marked as Koa, from Hawaii. I'm sure the rare quality of the wood will improve the quality of the shots, right?

[jamhat]

Funny, we might be long lost brothers! Gaggia Factory, Trosser mill(s), and using a too-small tamper until we ordered from Thor.

Les has the above photo on his website and marked as Koa, from Hawaii. I'm sure the rare quality of the wood will improve the quality of the shots, right?

Bro, I am sure that koa will work wonders!

[oofnik]

So, um. For all you Factory owners - and I guess Europiccola folks too - did you ever manage to unscrew the spouts from the portafilter by chance?
It's really, really hard! Downright impossible! Even with leverage.. at least on mine. I don't want to break things. I've never had so much difficulty unscrewing the spouts. I'm trying to fit a cup under there that wouldn't otherwise, and it's not like this machine is ever going to be used to pull two shots anyway. Did you ever successfully unscrew the spouts?

I just got my tamper which fits nicely and a small 12 oz. pitcher. Being used to a HX, this whole overheating thing is getting annoying. But I'll live.

[jesawdy]

So, um. For all you Factory owners - and I guess Europiccola folks too - did you ever manage to unscrew the spouts from the portafilter by chance?
It's really, really hard! Downright impossible! Even with leverage.. at least on mine. I don't want to break things. I've never had so much difficulty unscrewing the spouts. I'm trying to fit a cup under there that wouldn't otherwise, and it's not like this machine is ever going to be used to pull two shots anyway. Did you ever successfully unscrew the spouts?

IIRC, I stuck the spout in a wooden faced vise (or a workmate bench), and used the handle for leverage. They were indeed quite tight. This has been my experience with several different portafilters for various machines.

[Alchemist]

I have taken the spouts off all of my PF and EVERY one I thought I would break. Just know they will come off, that you won't break it and TWIST. I used a pair of vise grips (padded with a towel) on the last one.

[cannonfodder]

I took my spouts off years ago. I had to put them in a vice and put some muscle behind the portafilter handle to get them to break free. There is a thread locking compound on them.

[oofnik]

Ah, alright.
Standard right-hand thread, right?

Man, these shots are just getting better and better. I love it!

[cannonfodder]

Correct. Put it in a vice, portafilter handle pointing at you and then crank the handle anti clockwise.

[oofnik]

AH! Got it. Finally. I poured a bit of acetone on the threads, hoping it would dissolve the thread glue, and it did.
Now I can use my favorite shot glass, yay!

So I think I've noticed that my shots are tastier if I grind finer and tamp lighter (10-15 lbs.) rather than the standard 30. Flavors are smoother and and the feel is more buttery. Anybody notice that?

[prof_stack]

So I think I've noticed that my shots are tastier if I grind finer and tamp lighter (10-15 lbs.) rather than the standard 30. Flavors are smoother and and the feel is more buttery. Anybody notice that?

Your observation seems like the current conventional wisdom with levers, although more true perhaps with the spring levers. Depends too on the freshness of the roast.

Also the tamper, sorta. Just got Thor's latest in the mail. It's the larger one:

The smaller is the 45mm Thor from the departed Sama Export.