This is my first post, so I'll quickly introduce myself. I just received a Gaggia Carezza as a Christmas gift, and it (and subsequent huge amounts of reading) has launched me quickly into home espresso addiction/snobbery! I've been a coffee/espresso addict since undergrad, never quite happy with the shots from local shops, but as a PhD student my pockets are anything but deep. I can't afford a great grinder right now, so to tide me over and at least have SOME possibility of pulling drinkable shots I got myself a Capresso Infinity. I easily choked the Carezza with the 2nd to finest setting, so although I don't have optimal grind control, I can at least get into the right range.

I got myself some local roasted beans (roasted on the 6th), and after some adjustments I've dialed in a decent shot of espresso. Well, at least, tasty and drinkable to my newbie palate. I'm stopping at 26, 27 seconds and seeing the slightest hint of blonding. The crema looks good (like the 'good' photo from Sweet Maria's: http://www.sweetmarias.com/espresso-crema.html) and sticks around even after my cappa is all gone. It leaves me really tempted to lick the empty cup. All that said, I'm curious about the pour. Once it gets going (usually 4-6 seconds after I hit the switch), it stutters a bit on the way to the cup, switching back and forth from a stream of honey to broken up drops. I should try and get a video of it tomorrow morning. I know the first suggestion is going to be to get a bottomless portafilter to see it better, but until I can spare the funds, does anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Is this an indicator of something I could improve, and if so, any idea of what? I'm sure I'm not getting the best from the beans yet, seeing as how this is only my first week.

Well, at least, tasty and drinkable to my newbie palate.

This is the key. If you like it, and it makes you happy, what's the problem? I tell my Folgers/Instant/grocery store drinking friends that they should drink what makes them happy. If that's doing it, why spend the extra money? With the kit that you have, many of are really jealous of you. You are making coffee that makes you smile with a fraction of what us idiots have blown on a morning cuppa! ; >
Look, neither the machine that you have nor the grinder is anything like the pro kit, but you're still pulling better shots than any Black Apron (not to mention Green) so you're ahead of the game. The downside is that the performance of this kit might be less-than-stellar. Don't consider upgrading til you've decided that you're not happy with your cup.

It leaves me really tempted to lick the empty cup.

And what's stopping you? I do it all the time! ; >

LadyC wrote:All that said, I'm curious about the pour. Once it gets going (usually 4-6 seconds after I hit the switch), it stutters a bit on the way to the cup, switching back and forth from a stream of honey to broken up drops. ... I know the first suggestion is going to be to get a bottomless portafilter to see it better, but until I can spare the funds, does anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Is this an indicator of something I could improve, and if so, any idea of what? I'm sure I'm not getting the best from the beans yet, seeing as how this is only my first week.

Hi Erin, and welcome to H-B. This sounds fairly typical. With a bottomless PF, you'll often see espresso beading up at several points on the bottom of the filter basket as the pour initiates. These multiple beads will begin to drip, sometimes starting out as individual streams, but eventually merge (probably due to surface tension of the liquid). Ideally you'll get one smooth stream, but occasionally it will shift back and forth as the water seeks the path of least resistance through the puck. You may be seeing any or all of these phenomena.

As Chris said, it sounds like you're already doing an excellent job with minimal equipment. It's hard to do "real" espresso with anything less. (I prefer the phrase "passionate espresso lover" to "idiot", however. )

RapidCoffee wrote:(I prefer the phrase "passionate espresso lover" to "idiot", however. )(I prefer the phrase "passionate espresso lover" to "idiot", however. )

I use what they call me!

Quite a few folk have looked at the tab for just what I have on the kitchen counters here at the hosue and have walked out muttering things. 'Idiot' is amongst the kinder things!

Yes, 'passionate espresso lover' it is, with apologies.

Many thanks to you, Chris and John, for your replies! I'm certainly not going to call any passionate espresso lovers 'idiots'. Let's just say that when it comes to your equipment, I would if I could. The only new pieces I'll be able to afford any time soon, sadly, are things like a frothing pitcher (I've been using a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup - I'm generally ok unless I use too much milk. Then I'm splashing all over myself and the counter when I get my whirlpool going - sides are slanted the wrong way) and a decent tamper. Little plastic piece of junk + gaggia 58mm basket = big mess. Sigh. I can't wait until next payday...

As for your advice to not worry as long as I'm happy with the taste, you're talking to an over-achiever. Sure, it's drinkable. Sure, it makes me smile ear to ear and wonder why I ever spent 3.50 a cup for a mediocre cappa at the coffee shop, but... I'm forever wondering what better is like, and how to get there.

Psyd wrote:And what's stopping you? I do it all the time! ; >

Oh, I didn't say I DIDN'T. Haha. It's the perk to properly sized and bowl-shaped cappa cups - I can reach without leaving evidence on my chin.

Oh, I didn't say I DIDN'T. Haha. It's the perk to properly sized and bowl-shaped cappa cups - I can reach without leaving evidence on my chin.

And that's why a dog bowl should be considered standard equipment for a espresso lover.

Hmmm, so I was going to post to ask if water falling from the shower screen unevenly (mostly leaving in one big stream slightly off center) was normal or not and if this could contribute to my stuttering pours. First, though, I decided to disassemble the shower screen and make sure there weren't any clogs/problems. I took off the screen and the block, and the water was flowing ok, nothing looked blocked. I did notice, though, that all the screws seemed on the loose side. I just put it back together, and voila! The shower screen puts out water that actually looks like a shower! Think 8pm is too late for a shot or two? I hate to waste good coffee, but I just HAVE to try a shot now that I made what I'm pretty sure was a good/necessary fix.

It's amazing what you'll blindly accept as normal when you have no frame of reference....

I have a Gaggia New Baby, and I have noticed this problem as well. I just upgraded to a Compak K3, so I don't think the grind is the issue - any finer and it would choke the machine. At the beginning of the pull, the stream comes out relatively quickly, only to slow down. About 15 seconds into the pull the stream begins to sputter. I'm thinking that part of the problem is due to channeling, so I might need to to work on the distribution.

However, could it also be due to higher than ideal pressure (i.e. >9bar)? A significantly higher brew pressure might bring about the same result, or at least contribute to it. I have heard that the Baby has an OPV in order to regulate the brew pressure, so I took off the casing tonight. Unfortunately, I couldn't identify anything that resembled an OPV. Does anybody have experience with finding and adjusting the OPV on the New Baby (or any Gaggia for that matter)?

I use a single basket most of the time. As the shot progresses and the flow increases (about mid way through) I get what you may call sputtering. It is simply espresso flowing over the opening of the spout so it kind of bubbles or sputters. If that is what you are seeing I would not worry about it. If the flow starts nice and steady, then suddenly stops then gushes, you probably have a channeling problem. Only a bottomless portafilter will tell.

LadyC wrote: I'm certainly not going to call any passionate espresso lovers 'idiots'. Let's just say that when it comes to your equipment, I would if I could

Well, my espresso kit's MSRP exceeds my Gross Annual Income. I did and I couldn't, and that's where the 'idiot' bit comes in! O'course, if I'd spent anywhere near what MSRP is for the stuff...

I'm forever wondering what better is like, and how to get there.

Warning! Here there be Tygers!