Mini Gaggia parts????

[mogogear]

A 220v Mini Gaggia needing a heating element and a power cord( I can make the cord if needed)
Anybody have any leads on parts for this little old lever machine or seals availability??

thanks

mo

[peacecup]

The mini Gaggia is pretty cute, but I'm not sure I like the aluminum boiler. From the parts diagram it appears that the portafilter locks right into the boiler, but its difficult to tell for sure. I take it you've seen this thread:

http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/inde...e=viewtopic&t=1874

We of the lever machine frat should all pool our resources for the development of a new, technologically simple, affordable, and functional HB lever machine.

PC

[mogogear]

The mini Gaggia is pretty cute, but I'm not sure I like the aluminum boiler. From the parts diagram it appears that the portafilter locks right into the boiler, but its difficult to tell for sure. I take it you've seen this thread:

http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/inde...e=viewtopic&t=1874

We of the lever machine frat should all pool our resources for the development of a new, technologically simple, affordable, and functional HB lever machine.

PC

I agree peacecup- I have way too many hobbies as it is, I design backpacking stoves as a sideline hobby( mogogear.com) and I have fun home distilling- if you think your own home roasted coffee beans are good, try your own single malt scotch...!!!
But... that is why I too have been trying to grab a La Peppina and something like the Mini Gaggia. They are very similar in the respect that they both use gravity feed, spring lever style, which is marginally more appealing to novices and others. The Mini Gaggia is more stable and less likely to "brand their unwary user with a scald mark.
Maybe something that could be a spring lever and switched to manual if the user wanted, Hmmmmm....

A simple "above the group" stainless boiler with no frills, bolt on top. A non pressurized fill cap. 1.5 liter boiler capacity. Shallow and wider in profile. No site glass, but a two probe contact circuit that breaks the juice to the element if the water falls below danger level, just so our new machine will be around longer. We would appreciate the idiot proofness right?? So an unknowing spouse or friend doesn't burn our machine up!!!!

I like the simple ( La Peppina) flapper washer for intake and exhaust stroke ports. Easy to service , just put a stud on and loose the screw, Pop your new one in place!! Same for piston rings, good orings , always available, easy to replace.

No steam- it would be just for espresso- The K.S.S. principle, less to fix and leak .

Maybe a gravity feed water tap- just for easy Americano's......?? Just as a simple accommodation.

On/ off switch

Boiler light

A easy to adjust thermostat just to keep adjustments easy, no knob just a screw driver slot

58 mm portafilter- one thing less to design, off the shelf, feels beefy in the hand, low cost.

Style comments:
( if Ford Mustangs now really do a good job tipping their hats to their predecessors... maybe we should too) but lets get back to the 1950's when home espresso was being born and Chrome was king

A hoop style lever more like the Caravel Arrarex, just to be different.

That cool old fifties Italian style chrome, with simple areas to add or change basic good sports car colors, Black, Red, Yellow, white, Green etc.

A slightly finned group body - a vague heat sink to lose heat so multi shots could be a little easier and consistent, this could just be a strap of chromed or s/s that clamps around the group like a hose clamp. Old cadillac fin looking stuff that could add function and keep the group in the generic category.

So that is why I am wanting some Mini Parts, I have to tool around with a idea,

Shutting up........

[hbuchtel]

Wow, the Gaggia design looks great! About as close the the 'dream machine' as I've ever seen.

Mogogear, do you want to start a new thread about your machine ideas? I'm really interested, hope you get something made!

Henry

[srobinson]

Lino will have that ready by Monday.

[mogogear]

Please Please please, someone tell me they have a old Mini ready to be parted out, or just a heating element??. I can make the missing power cord, but I need something to experiment with.

[mogogear]

Wow, the Gaggia design looks great! About as close the the 'dream machine' as I've ever seen.

Mogogear, do you want to start a new thread about your machine ideas? I'm really interested, hope you get something made!

Henry

Hey go for it . I have already posted this little mental list. I'll chirp in , I'm just having fun echoing what Peacecup is saying- it's fun design what we want- Now.... getting it built is another whole deal. Let see..... HB could sponsor it and market it with it's well earned influence and power ) Dan are you listening??( BTW Happy 1st Anniversary!!!
We could be the co-op machine of the world- Steve R- This could really be the vechicle of the LMWDP! We take the world back from micro circuitry and thermistors. we would be responsible for people really exercising every morning! even if it was just one or two pulls. Earn your caffeine. Wake up call for the engineers and designers in the group, get that CAD system going!!

I need just one more doppio.......

[mattwells]

Mogo gear-

I have used your stove before (and currently use a Gossamer Pack). A friend swears by your stove (I use a Brasslite for more than 1 trips, and a homemade soda can for solo trips).

You should also develop a super light Espresso machine that could be used with camp stoves.

I will give a +1 to the HB Lever idea, I will be in the market for a Lever machine soon, and it would go great with my HB tamper...just saying!

Matt

[mogogear]

Mogo gear-

I have used your stove before (and currently use a Gossamer Pack). A friend swears by your stove (I use a Brasslite for more than 1 trips, and a homemade soda can for solo trips).

You should also develop a super light Espresso machine that could be used with camp stoves.

I will give a +1 to the HB Lever idea, I will be in the market for a Lever machine soon, and it would go great with my HB tamper...just saying!

Matt

It's hard to beat the little Bialetti Moka pot. But remember that I'm an nutty ultralight hiker- so I don't make coffee. I just chew up beans I roast.......

[lino]

Regarding the lever idea...

I wish I could have one ready by Monday...
I started on a lever design last August. Feature creep is killing me.. I do have a working prototype now, but it's not even lever powered right now.

I do like the idea of a simple, "modern", la peppina, or mini gaggia. I've toyed with some ideas for the simple setup.

Open boiler is ideal in my opinion. Though I would add a PID to it so that it makes temp conrol simple and precise.
If the boiler sits right over the group opening, like the MicroCimbali, then there is very little temp loss out the group.
If physical placement of the grouphead, elements, boiler size, and control sensor were "nailed", it would likely be a very stable, simple group.


ciao

lino

[hbuchtel]

I would really like to see a lever machine that was designed especially for efficient home use.

Most people make one or two shots then leave the machine idle for several hours before the next use, so the ability to quickly warm up a small amount of water would be a bonus.

A possible setup is two small (<500ml) boilers and a small fresh water tank all connected in a line, relying on gravity to move the water along. If making just one shot just one boiler could be used (cut off from the others for temp. stability). If making several shots the whole series could be used, cold water flowing into a thermostat controlled boiler, then into the PID'd or constant voltage brew water boiler, then into the chamber.

Henry