Ariosa grind to fine for my gaggia

Transform

Have popped into town over the last two months to get coffee from the guys in temple bar (Ariosa) and although the beans smell great, when ever i use them in my gaggia classic it simply clogs up and i get next to nothing in the cup.

When i use illy, java republic etc i never have this problem and just wanted to try to step up to the next level of tasting good coffee.

Should i just get a grinder (wife might kill me to have another electrical device on the kitchen counter with the juicer, toaster, kettle and gaggia!!) and if so what beans are best for my machine or should i ask the guys to grind it differently?

I do not drink coffee every day mind as after one cup i feel wonderful and full of well, beans!

jimmytwo

Think you will have to bite the bullet and get a grinder. For espresso machines a grinder is the only way to go - you will be really amazed at the difference!

Grinding your own beans means you can get the perfect grind for your machine and will also discover much more flavours in the coffee.

Have a look at some of the suppliers on the stickies at the top of this forum for some top quality freshly roasted beans.

Gran Hermano

I find Illy and Lavazza preground coffee slightly coarser than the
grind I use myself when I grind my own beans at home.

I haven't used Ariosa ground coffee and am unfamiliar with how
fine they grind but by the sound of it the grind is as you surmised too
fine and it's clogging the machine. You could try tamping less firm
or ask them to grind it a tad coarser.

How is the crema when you use say Illy preground?

As for grinding your own fresh beans at home I'd be surprised
if you can't notice a serious improvement over buying preground
coffee. Coffee is a delicate and complicated substance and you
loose most of the essential oils and chemicals shortly after grinding.
My recommendation would be to purchase fresh beans from where
you're currently sourcing ground coffee and invest in a grinder and
only ground enough beans at a time that you intend to use immediately.

Buying a good burr grinder is equally if not more important than
buying a good espresso machine. As for competing for real estate
space on the counter top, the grinders are not that big
My Iberital MC2 is smaller than my Gaggia. (Note the pricing on
Happydonkey normally doesn't include VAT).

I can highly recommend the Gaggia MDF or the Iberital MC2
at their price point.

Transform

Thanks for all the replies.

The crema on the illy looks soft and a very light beige.
I find lavazza quite strong and bitter.

I will invest in a grinder but for the moment if i want to use java republic which bagged ones you can get from the supermarket (Dunnes) are best for the gaggia?

Gran Hermano

Transform wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies.

The crema on the illy looks soft and a very light beige.
I find lavazza quite strong and bitter.

I will invest in a grinder but for the moment if i want to use java republic which bagged ones you can get from the supermarket (Dunnes) are best for the gaggia?

By bagged do you mean ground coffee? I don't buy ground coffee so am not
fully conversant with the Java Republic range, it's some years since I bought
their products and I don't remember them doing a grind suitable for a Gaggia.
(They mainly had grinds for a French-press or the Monkey espresso beans
which were good if you could get them recently roasted.)

Check the dates on the bag to see when they were roasted.

Transform

Cheers for all the help - wife got an ice cream maker so i think i can push for a grinder!!