In praise of the classic

TKK

A couple of weeks ago while attempting to track down a classic water inlet valve to fit to my Gaggia Evolution I came across and purchased a non-working Gaggia Classic on ebay. It's one of the gold ones which had been packed away and upon being unpacked was unable to pump water through the group head according to the seller who turned out to be a really sound honest lad.

I reckoned at the time that for the money it would be worth it as it wasn't a huge amount above the cost of the parts I wanted for the Evolution and if it couldn't be fixed I could use those parts and maybe sell some of the others.

When it arrived I set about opening it up and first thing I spotted was the water inlet pipe from the reservoir had parted company with the pump. This wasn't the full extent of the problems though as, once reconnected, the machine was still showing much need for some more tlc. I reckon it was packed away without ever having been properly cleaned out. I completely dismantled it and cleaned each part before reassembling to test. The result - it worked perfectly. I completed the fitment of the Silvia wand I've had on the Evolution for a while and adjusted the OPV with the help of the pressure gauge I also picked up on ebay and the results are just stunning. Instantly, even using beans that were a couple of weeks old, I could get less bitterness and more flavours than ever before.

I'm one happy camper at the minute

My fiance has even started using it, so impressed was she, despite not having even expressed an interest in making coffee prior to this.

Victor_M

Result!
Well done, sounds like you got a bargain there, with a bit of satisfying self maintenance thrown in too. I'm going through the same Coffee euphoria as yourself with my classic, only problem is that I'm drinking wayyy too much coffee at the moment.

If you feel like treating yourself order up some of this (the espresso blend) if you haven't tried it already, I had it recommended to me a few weeks ago and it was delicious.

Khannie

Nice. I love it when a plan comes together.

stimpson

Happy days. Glad to see a classic restored to it's former glory...and a Gold one too - talk about bling! :cool:

All this talk of backflushing makes me think I need to order more kit. I hate to think what's hiding up there in the pipes after 2 years...

TKK

The good thing is that the gold is not overpowering...I thought the silver Silvia wand would look right out of place but it's grand.

That Ristretto espresso blend is exactly what I'm using at the moment and it is good.

tom frost

Well done TKK but that's got me wondering about my Classic which I have had for about 18 months now. TBH I am happy with the coffee (also using Ristretto espresso blend) that it makes but am pissed off about the frothing. I have the turbo-frother off which makes quite a difference. Sometimes I do get good froth but I think it depends on which milk I am using. Anyway, I have never modified the OPV nor cleaned the machine (other than screwing off the little plate on the group).

My questions are these....
Is the pressure guage necessary to do the OPV
Does anyone have a ctalogue number or link for where I can get the Silve wand

Mr Magnolia

tom frost wrote: »

Is the pressure guage necessary to do the OPV

If you want to do it with any sort of accuracy, then yes.

Does anyone have a ctalogue number or link for where I can get the Silve wand

You can get it here, they also do pressure gauges afaik.

Khannie

tom frost wrote: »

Anyway, I have never modified the OPV nor cleaned the machine

Have you descaled it at all? You really should. Even I do and I'm a lazy b****x at the best of times.

TKK

tom frost wrote: »

Well done TKK but that's got me wondering about my Classic which I have had for about 18 months now. TBH I am happy with the coffee (also using Ristretto espresso blend) that it makes but am pissed off about the frothing. I have the turbo-frother off which makes quite a difference. Sometimes I do get good froth but I think it depends on which milk I am using. Anyway, I have never modified the OPV nor cleaned the machine (other than screwing off the little plate on the group).

My questions are these....
Is the pressure guage necessary to do the OPV
Does anyone have a ctalogue number or link for where I can get the Silve wand

There are some posts on the coffee forums detailing a method using a blind filter basket and the flow from the return pipe but by all accounts it's a bit off on the accuracy front. Using the pressure gauge would be best.

The most annoying part about the opv mod is that you have to keep taking the valve apart to adjust it if you're not at the correct point. Easy but annoying...

Changing the steam wand is a very simple job once you get the part really.