So I've been messing around with my PID Gaggia for the past while, I thought I would share some info here - even though the PID is better at temperature control than stock DON'T let your gaggia hit temp while steaming, you'll still see a significant pressure roll off. This is regardless of the tip (I also have both steam tips in this vid and tested with both). The reason why is that the gaggia's boiler is very tiny, as we've all been told, but for steaming there's more to the pressure than just temp. If you let the PID bring the steam to a stable temp it will, just like in stock, stop producing fresh steam, which means once you start steaming you'll surge through a good portion of your steam that even the PID gaggia can't recover.. I found that riding the temperature while steaming, not allowing it to hit temp, provided a far better steam pressure and result, regardless of if you modded the machine with a PID or not. With a PID the timings change and you can just monitor your temp instead - I personally purge the wand at 110C, and then begin steaming once it hits 125-130C, doing this I get proper pressure from either steam wand tip and the expected whirlpool.
Thank you for sharing!😀You're right on point with the temp control for milk steaming, took me some time in the beginning to figure it out. It definitely doesn't matter which wand tip you use, still need to ride on the temp when steaming to get that vortex and good pressure for the whole process. Prior to PID, I'd turn on the steam button and start my timer to know when to purge and steam (before the light goes off). Now with PID, I personally purge at around 140C/ 285F, then go right in to steam. The highest temp it reaches for me is around 150-152C/ 305F
What do you set the PID to, fojr riding the temp while steaming? I just got mine, but haven't installed it yet, so apologies if that's a stupid question.
@@spike443 I have mine set to whatever the documentation for the PID kit says, maybe a few degrees C higher, riding the temp is more about timing when you start. so i purge at ~115C and start my steaming at ~130C so the temp is still climbing while I'm doing the bulk of my steaming
I run an without PID. One can purge the moment one turns the steam switch on. Then, when you're ready to steam, a half second purge (if any) is all you need. On my no-PID machine, I put the steam switch on for 25s, then start steaming. This is on a 120v circuit. Times may be different in the EU, UK and elsewhere. Hope this is useful to beginners and old skool types.
😅glad to hear! When it comes to coffee accessories, it’s hard to tell when you “should” get something to improve your workflow or just a nice to have kinda thing.
This comment thread is just everything good about the internet, haha! I just picked up a GCP/specialita set and currently waiting for it to arrive, but also ordered from Shades the 9-bar OPV, low profile drip tray, “the one” steam tip, and IMS 18g basket, hoping for a great experience straight out the gate. Excited and eager to learn :))))) great videos, looking forward to more from your channel
@@josephstephen2010 I ended up getting both of those you suggested haha! the timemore scale worked well with the low profile drip tray, but even more so now that I purchased a bottomless portafilter to pair it all up
The interesting thing here is it looked like the one wand had more of a velvety/microfoam texture, but the vortex looked a bit better with the stock wand.
I ended up upgrading my GCP to a LUCCA A53 Mini, but based on the video, I think the better vortex of the stock wand would mean a higher skill-cap and with enough practice it's possible to ultimately create better milk/designs but the single-hole is more forgiving, giving more consistent "good" results. I would need to do more research but, personally, I don't think I'd do this particular upgrade. The difference doesn't seem significant enough to be worth extra cost. That said, the GCP is plagued by weak steaming, so the single-hole producing a little extra power is not bad.
@@fsalucard oh wow that's a nice upgrade, jealous! And I very much agree with you on the fact that the single hole generates consistent result and is more forgiving for beginner level. The stock wand can create such great vortex when steaming, but GCP does need some work on the steam power for sure. For someone new to the machine, more likely they'd end up with a lot of unwanted bubble when steaming.
@@QTHomeCafe the trick with the stock wand is to use the same placement almost every time once you find the one that works, single hole is much easier to get consistency from, the main issue is the steam power if you fill the steam up till the light comes on then empty it out, wait about 5-8 seconds after the light goes off, then start steaming, you get the extra time and thus more power created by using the steam as the boiler is still producing steam rather than when it is full, since the very cheap thermostat in the gcp will only start making steam when the tank is 90% empty you can replace the thermostat and add a pid to compensate for gaggias slack
Very much agreed! That’s the biggest reason why I didn’t like the stock wand. It requires such a particular angle to make it work and has to be exact every single time - so frustrating sometimes. And I find the steam power to be at best when I let the temp hits highest on my PID, purge, drops down, then I go in to steam😃
Hello there! Thank you for watching! I transferred steamed milk into the 2nd jug to help with the milk texture. It helps to incorporate all the layers of milk.
Very good video. I just ordered a GCP and 'The One' !! From the video, I can't make out much difference. . On the other hand, 'The One' takes 13 sec extra !! Had I seen this video yesterday, probably, I wouldn't have bought 'The one'. So what's your final observation?
Hello!! The original steam tip was very difficult to keep it consistent for us. It could be our skills or the tip, we aren’t sure. The one has made our latte and latte art more consistent. It’s not perfect but we are able to create more consistent results. We would recommend if you want more from your milk frothing!
Thanks ... just watching / listening to your work is helping me. My shots are fairly consistent even without PID (I plain on building a Gagguino mod as that's well within my technical scope). My struggle to date is microfoam and, someday, latte art. Still, until then, Cappucino it is.
No, thank you for stopping by! Do you current temperature surf? We have been looking into Gagguino too but we we decided to go with dimmer mod and pressure gauge in a 3D enclosing. If we don’t have PID, we might try Gagguino too but it seems a little bit further out of our comfort zone! Steaming milk is really tricky! Some days we get cappuccino and some days we get latte. The angle and the timing is very important. The one hole tip from Shades of coffee has made it a little easier for us to control the milk frothing. Cheers! ☕️
@@QTHomeCafe sort of.. I pre heat with steam switch for 18-20 seconds before brewing. I know others are far more finicky on their surf but that seems to do the trick. For steam, I start streaming 25s after stream switch on. Lots of steam that way.
I'm in pretty much the same boat as yourself although I'm getting a lot closer to the latte microfoam now. The video that really helped me was one by Lance Hendrick. Him explaining that pulling out the wand toward you and nestling it inside the milk jug and tilting it so that the wand points to half way across the jug and a quarter to either side has really helped my milk steaming. Along with stretching until the jug is body temp then rolling until it's too hot to touch. The milk should look like glossy paint and likely won't need to bang out any bubbles if you've done it correctly. Good luck!
@@jasonburden7999 Since then, I've updated the Gaggia with the Gaggiuino mods and steam is greatly improved as is microfoam. I can now get decent art on a routine basis.
Hey there! Thank you for watching :) Just a few reasons - The pitcher I use to steam in is smaller so it works better in getting the wand submerged for aeration without pouring too much milk/wasting it. It's the perfect size when making just one latte. However for latte art purposes, using a bigger pitcher is better as I can get closer to the espresso surface without spilling the milk/accidentally starting the pour early. The spout on the bigger pitcher is also sharper so it works well with certain designs/details I want to try. Another thing for me is I find the transferring step to be very helpful in incorporating/mixing the milk so you get the best texture instead of it being in separated layers sometimes. Hope that helps!
@@QTHomeCafe wow thanks for the detailed response! this was helpful and a great point. Have a great day and keep up the awesome vids! It's cool to see your progression
@@QTHomeCafe Thats a great post. So I'm new to my Gaggia Pro, had it for about a month now, but my milk frothing consistency is still way off. Somtimes I get good velvety milk, sometimes its too thin. That is making me unable to produce any decent latte art. Currently have a 500ml milk jug from Slow Pour Supply. Did you have any other tips from when you got started, to help with milk frothing consistency ?
@@dtsupra08 Hey there! Gonna be honest with you - I almost gave up GCP because I struggled with getting the milk texture right. So you're not alone in this at all. I'm not sure what you've tried so far, but here are a few things I did: - Start steaming before the light on the steam button turns on. This one is very common among GCP users I think. Prior to having a PID, I'd turn on the button and start a timer, then purge + steam when timer hits 15-18secs. That way the steam power slowly builds up as I steam and I don't get that sudden lost of steam power half way through, but too much power during aeration and creates unwanted bubbles. - Find an angle that works for your own setup. Other people might disagree but this is completely my own personal preference - I don't think the milk steaming angle we see on commercial machine works on the GCP. It took me a lot of testing until I found an angle that would give me control in aerating + create that whirlpool effect. Besides those things, I'd say just a lot of practice so you learn to tell the milk texture and the jug's temperature to know when it aerates enough.
@@QTHomeCafe Thank you!. Yes I started doing the 'Steam before the light turns on' technique quite early on. Sometimes I purge 20 seconds into flicking the switch, then start steaming straight away after that. Lately I've been purging before I flick the switch, and wont purge again till I'm done frothing. The angle I'm currently doing is by a tip I saw someone talk about, which is to tilt the wand tip "halfway" to the middle of the jug, then a "quarter" way to the left. Maybe this isn't working for me because I have never seen my milk a nice velvety consistency since I've done this. I've recently got another jug so I can transfer the milk over before pouring. However I think it's still due to my frothing, because no matter how hard i try to get my pouring technique right, I just never get any decent foam. So fustrating!
Great video. I was especially pleased that you muted the music during the steaming! Good call. Question: from where did you purchase the single-hole tip?
Wonderful video, since I went from my delonghi ec685 to gaccia it is a pleasure to watch your videos. I have a query for you, is it a big change to change opv to 9 bar? I have read that yes, that there is improvement, do you say the same thing?
Hey there, I also started out with a DeLonghi :) what a nice change, right? And yes, OPV 9 bar is definitely a strong recommendation from me. I noticed the change in taste immediately after and it’s quite a game changer to begin with in this little machine.
thanks for the video, really appreciate it just to share my 2 cents thought. single hole is easier to control not because of the quantity of the hole, but more because with gaggia stock 2 hole, they are spraying at different angle! that's the source of frustration for every gaggia owner. Imagine where is the 2 hole pointing at when you tilt your milk jug to create a vortex. it has been a disaster for me
You’re 💯 right! That’s where my frustration was too with the stock two holes. It was so tricky to find the perfect angle to have the silky milk texture consistently every time. The single hole is just a lot less “stress” for me😅
Why are you turning the steam wand knob while pulling a shot? also what are you spraying on the beans before grinding? Great video though! love your gaga upgrades
I think it's to pre infuse the coffee puck. I believe Whole Latte Love did a video in this. Also, spraying water on the beans before grinding reduces static. I do this all the time for single dosing and it works like a charm
Hey there! Just like @JR Mendiola said - it's a trick for pre-infusion on GCP and I usually do between 5-6 seconds🙂 And I was spraying a spritz of water on the beans to reduce the static before grinding. Such a little thing but it's so much better for grinding and my workflow.
Thanks for sharing! Ever since I've learned about the pre-infusion trick and spraying water on beans before grinding - such a game changer to me😄can't stop!
@@QTHomeCafe Sorry for a newbie question, but why the 5-6second pre-infusion? Benefits? Would your shot extraction start counting when you flick the brew button, or when you finish the 5-6second pre-infusion?
@@dtsupra08 Hi! welcome to our channel! Don't be sorry for any questions! We will try our best to help answer any questions. When you pre-infused or pre-wet the coffee puck, it will allow hot water to go through coffee puck more smoothly and provide with a more even extract. It's like when you are cooking, all the parts should be cook evenly for the "best" result. I start counting the shot extraction after the pre-infusion. I hope that helps!
Hi everyone! Hope you’re enjoying the video😊 In order to be objective, we decided to not include our closing thoughts/opinions on the single hole tip in the video. We want to leave it open to hear from you first! What are your thoughts on the single hole tip for Gaggia Classic Pro? What’s your impression after watching this video? Would you buy it? We sure have our thoughts on it and will share with you all later😉
How come you turn on the steam wand again after you’re done frothing your milk? Are you trying to get out all the steam? Did you also do the flow control trick with the steam knob at the beginning of your pull?
Hi there, yes - I do that to make sure I get rid of all the steam built up from steaming. And also yes to the trick😁I try to do 5 seconds pre-infusion for my shot.
Im using Gaggia Classic with 9 bar mod but without PID mod and have best results with stock steam tip so far (couple of weeks) Don't know what im doing wrong with single hole tip but my foam if way thinner and vortex not so good :(
9 bar mod is definitely a game changer. PID is a really nice mod so you don’t have to temp surf. If you are doing great with stock tip, I would just recommend using that over the single hole. It seems that you didn’t aerate your milk enough and you might need to angle the wand even steeper against the jug to find that vortex.
I suggest you start steaming before the light comes on. After around 20 to 25 seconds after switching on the steam switch. The machine will continue heating the boiler resulting in constant steam pressure instead of the result you get now (in which you basically have too little pressure after a couple of seconds of steaming).
Thank you for the tip and definitely a great one for all GCP users😊 I used to do between 15-20secs after turning on the steam button until I installed the PID. So now I start purging when the temp is around 275-280 degree and it goes up to around 305 degree ish before it drops down
I saw a video where somebody suggested turning on the steam switch. Waiting for the light to turn on, then opening the steam valve and letting the steam out until the light turns off. Once the light turns off, wait 10 seconds and then steam your milk. I feel it honestly worked well for me!
Yes I came across that tip as well and did try it. Definitely worked well for steaming. I simply just sticked to what I felt more comfortable with at the time since I was so new to it😅
@@QTHomeCafe have you also made the 9-bar OPV as well? I checked the Shades page and it mentioned that using lower pressure spring will also affect the steaming power, though 9-bar is not in the affected list :D BTW, thanks for your video, it helps people to make decision on whether buying this tip :D
Hi there! Yes, I do have the 9 bar pressure😄I didn’t notice any difference for milk steaming after the 9 bar mod though. And thanks for watching, I’m glad it helps your decision making on this one😉
Thanks for the video. I don't see too much difference between the two tip in term of milk quality but that's just me (I'm still learning how to froth right!). Looking forward to seeing your thoughts. Btw what's the milk jug you used when frothing the milk? Curious on the volume of that jug.
Thank you for watching and sharing your impression on it😀 I definitely will share mine with you all later. The jug I use to steam is from Breville and it’s about 16oz/480ml. It’s a good size to steam milk in
Hi, thanks for the comparison. I have a similar setup and really love the CGP. I'm curious as to why anyone needs a single hole steam wand. I don't have a PID and I don't have any problems steaming enough milk for two cortados. Takes about 30 seconds and there's still preasure to go. Your tamper looks like the one I have. Is that the "calibrated" one from Normcore? Looking forward to more quality content from your channel.
Hello! Thank you so much for stopping by! For me personally, it gives me a better milk frothing control and it also gives me more pressure. After I installed PID, for some reason it doesn't give the same steaming pressure when it once has. I hope that helps answer the question. That's correct! I'm using a self-leveler tamper from Normcore v.3. I do prefer this more than the palm leveler/distributor.
Your welcome, I though about adding a PID to my GCP but decided to manage temperature with a dual probe guage. The kind that is used for cooking. One probe for the boiler and one for the group head. There's a guy with a demonstration of how he can adjust the temperature one or two degrees by opening the steam valve. Until the device arrives I'll be temp surfing.
Hi, I am using single wand but everytime i froth the milk it will rise and a lot of bubbles with created. I not sure what is the causes. I immersed the tip instead remain on top. It got swirl just that the foam created is alot. How can i creat smooth milk without create foam?
Hi there, it’s a little bit hard to explain so I just uploaded a quick video/Short on the channel to show you. I always immerse the tip while turning the knob on, but then slowly lower the jug to have the tip on top as the knob is fully open. You’d want to really control the jug and create that hissing sound, not constantly. So in that short video, you’ll hear the hissing sound almost on and off throughout the entire aeration process. I do that so it doesn’t blow a bunch of bubbles. Once the temperature feels like your hand temperature, lift the jug up just a little bit and hold it there. Then the milk should keep expanding and sink the tip in a way. I hope that helps!
@@QTHomeCafe hi, in your video i noticed that when reaching the end the sound of the milk will like”thicken” more instead of hissing sound like the beginning. That day i tried it got the sound but i feel like the milk is still watery although can see the silky texture. How do i know if the milk is ready to pour? And can you share with me your best latte ratio? Thank u so much for the help!
Hey! So yes, you’d want that thicken sound towards the end after you stretch the milk. Keep in mind, if you don’t stretch the milk enough/not enough air added, then the texture is watery. But also, if you steam for too long and the milk is overheated, it also causes the watery texture you’re seeing because then it separates the layers. I go by the temperature and use my hand to feel it. When the jug gets hot to the point where you cannot keep your fingers on it for longer than 2-3 seconds, start turning the knob off. In my video, you might be able to see my hand tapping the jug…just how I feel the temperature there :) For latte ratio, to be honest I switch between 200ml and 300ml latte cup. My shot is always between 42-45ml, then I fill the rest of the cup with milk. 200ml is usually my go-to for taste since I like more coffee taste. But 300ml cup is perfect for latte art practice, enough room for milk to pour. If you use a smaller basket, says 18g in 36g out for your espresso, then 200ml cup is nice to pour in.
Not abad effort but you should really hit the brew switch as soon as you put that Portafilter in as the top layer of the coffee puck is touching the shower screen which is very hot which mean s you will be over cooking the top layer.
So I've been messing around with my PID Gaggia for the past while, I thought I would share some info here -
even though the PID is better at temperature control than stock DON'T let your gaggia hit temp while steaming, you'll still see a significant pressure roll off. This is regardless of the tip (I also have both steam tips in this vid and tested with both). The reason why is that the gaggia's boiler is very tiny, as we've all been told, but for steaming there's more to the pressure than just temp. If you let the PID bring the steam to a stable temp it will, just like in stock, stop producing fresh steam, which means once you start steaming you'll surge through a good portion of your steam that even the PID gaggia can't recover.. I found that riding the temperature while steaming, not allowing it to hit temp, provided a far better steam pressure and result, regardless of if you modded the machine with a PID or not. With a PID the timings change and you can just monitor your temp instead - I personally purge the wand at 110C, and then begin steaming once it hits 125-130C, doing this I get proper pressure from either steam wand tip and the expected whirlpool.
Thank you for sharing!😀You're right on point with the temp control for milk steaming, took me some time in the beginning to figure it out. It definitely doesn't matter which wand tip you use, still need to ride on the temp when steaming to get that vortex and good pressure for the whole process. Prior to PID, I'd turn on the steam button and start my timer to know when to purge and steam (before the light goes off). Now with PID, I personally purge at around 140C/ 285F, then go right in to steam. The highest temp it reaches for me is around 150-152C/ 305F
What do you set the PID to, fojr riding the temp while steaming? I just got mine, but haven't installed it yet, so apologies if that's a stupid question.
@@spike443 I have mine set to whatever the documentation for the PID kit says, maybe a few degrees C higher, riding the temp is more about timing when you start. so i purge at ~115C and start my steaming at ~130C so the temp is still climbing while I'm doing the bulk of my steaming
I set my brewing temp at 100c and steam temp at 146c. I purge at 120c and start steaming milk at 130c.
I run an without PID. One can purge the moment one turns the steam switch on. Then, when you're ready to steam, a half second purge (if any) is all you need.
On my no-PID machine, I put the steam switch on for 25s, then start steaming. This is on a 120v circuit. Times may be different in the EU, UK and elsewhere. Hope this is useful to beginners and old skool types.
Same here Thankyou for that it’s given me all the information I was looking for. Oh and saved me wasting more money 💰
😅glad to hear! When it comes to coffee accessories, it’s hard to tell when you “should” get something to improve your workflow or just a nice to have kinda thing.
This comment thread is just everything good about the internet, haha! I just picked up a GCP/specialita set and currently waiting for it to arrive, but also ordered from Shades the 9-bar OPV, low profile drip tray, “the one” steam tip, and IMS 18g basket, hoping for a great experience straight out the gate. Excited and eager to learn :))))) great videos, looking forward to more from your channel
haha wow you're really going all in huh! love it😄Definitely a fun journey so far for me and hoping the same for you.
Might as well get a 58.4mm tamper while you’re at it. And I recommend the timemore scale; it’s a good deal, rechargeable.
@@josephstephen2010 I ended up getting both of those you suggested haha! the timemore scale worked well with the low profile drip tray, but even more so now that I purchased a bottomless portafilter to pair it all up
Excellent video. Provided the information I was looking for. Thanks, amiga.
Thank you so much! Sharing what we know!
The interesting thing here is it looked like the one wand had more of a velvety/microfoam texture, but the vortex looked a bit better with the stock wand.
You got it! very well observed😉Do you have a preference after watching the video?
I ended up upgrading my GCP to a LUCCA A53 Mini, but based on the video, I think the better vortex of the stock wand would mean a higher skill-cap and with enough practice it's possible to ultimately create better milk/designs but the single-hole is more forgiving, giving more consistent "good" results. I would need to do more research but, personally, I don't think I'd do this particular upgrade. The difference doesn't seem significant enough to be worth extra cost. That said, the GCP is plagued by weak steaming, so the single-hole producing a little extra power is not bad.
@@fsalucard oh wow that's a nice upgrade, jealous! And I very much agree with you on the fact that the single hole generates consistent result and is more forgiving for beginner level. The stock wand can create such great vortex when steaming, but GCP does need some work on the steam power for sure. For someone new to the machine, more likely they'd end up with a lot of unwanted bubble when steaming.
@@QTHomeCafe the trick with the stock wand is to use the same placement almost every time once you find the one that works, single hole is much easier to get consistency from, the main issue is the steam power
if you fill the steam up till the light comes on then empty it out, wait about 5-8 seconds after the light goes off, then start steaming, you get the extra time and thus more power created by using the steam as the boiler is still producing steam rather than when it is full, since the very cheap thermostat in the gcp will only start making steam when the tank is 90% empty
you can replace the thermostat and add a pid to compensate for gaggias slack
Very much agreed! That’s the biggest reason why I didn’t like the stock wand. It requires such a particular angle to make it work and has to be exact every single time - so frustrating sometimes. And I find the steam power to be at best when I let the temp hits highest on my PID, purge, drops down, then I go in to steam😃
Hi there thanks for the vid! How come you transfer the steamed milk into the second colourful jug?
Hello there! Thank you for watching! I transferred steamed milk into the 2nd jug to help with the milk texture. It helps to incorporate all the layers of milk.
Very good video. I just ordered a GCP and 'The One' !! From the video, I can't make out much difference. . On the other hand, 'The One' takes 13 sec extra !! Had I seen this video yesterday, probably, I wouldn't have bought 'The one'. So what's your final observation?
Hello!! The original steam tip was very difficult to keep it consistent for us. It could be our skills or the tip, we aren’t sure. The one has made our latte and latte art more consistent. It’s not perfect but we are able to create more consistent results. We would recommend if you want more from your milk frothing!
Thanks ... just watching / listening to your work is helping me. My shots are fairly consistent even without PID (I plain on building a Gagguino mod as that's well within my technical scope). My struggle to date is microfoam and, someday, latte art. Still, until then, Cappucino it is.
No, thank you for stopping by! Do you current temperature surf? We have been looking into Gagguino too but we we decided to go with dimmer mod and pressure gauge in a 3D enclosing. If we don’t have PID, we might try Gagguino too but it seems a little bit further out of our comfort zone! Steaming milk is really tricky! Some days we get cappuccino and some days we get latte. The angle and the timing is very important. The one hole tip from Shades of coffee has made it a little easier for us to control the milk frothing. Cheers! ☕️
@@QTHomeCafe sort of.. I pre heat with steam switch for 18-20 seconds before brewing. I know others are far more finicky on their surf but that seems to do the trick.
For steam, I start streaming 25s after stream switch on. Lots of steam that way.
I'm in pretty much the same boat as yourself although I'm getting a lot closer to the latte microfoam now. The video that really helped me was one by Lance Hendrick. Him explaining that pulling out the wand toward you and nestling it inside the milk jug and tilting it so that the wand points to half way across the jug and a quarter to either side has really helped my milk steaming. Along with stretching until the jug is body temp then rolling until it's too hot to touch. The milk should look like glossy paint and likely won't need to bang out any bubbles if you've done it correctly. Good luck!
@@jasonburden7999 Since then, I've updated the Gaggia with the Gaggiuino mods and steam is greatly improved as is microfoam. I can now get decent art on a routine basis.
Hi! Great videos it’s very enjoyable to watch! I was curious why did you steam your milk into one pitcher and then pour it into another one?
Hey there! Thank you for watching :)
Just a few reasons - The pitcher I use to steam in is smaller so it works better in getting the wand submerged for aeration without pouring too much milk/wasting it. It's the perfect size when making just one latte. However for latte art purposes, using a bigger pitcher is better as I can get closer to the espresso surface without spilling the milk/accidentally starting the pour early. The spout on the bigger pitcher is also sharper so it works well with certain designs/details I want to try. Another thing for me is I find the transferring step to be very helpful in incorporating/mixing the milk so you get the best texture instead of it being in separated layers sometimes. Hope that helps!
@@QTHomeCafe wow thanks for the detailed response! this was helpful and a great point. Have a great day and keep up the awesome vids! It's cool to see your progression
@@QTHomeCafe Thats a great post. So I'm new to my Gaggia Pro, had it for about a month now, but my milk frothing consistency is still way off. Somtimes I get good velvety milk, sometimes its too thin. That is making me unable to produce any decent latte art. Currently have a 500ml milk jug from Slow Pour Supply. Did you have any other tips from when you got started, to help with milk frothing consistency ?
@@dtsupra08 Hey there! Gonna be honest with you - I almost gave up GCP because I struggled with getting the milk texture right. So you're not alone in this at all. I'm not sure what you've tried so far, but here are a few things I did:
- Start steaming before the light on the steam button turns on. This one is very common among GCP users I think. Prior to having a PID, I'd turn on the button and start a timer, then purge + steam when timer hits 15-18secs. That way the steam power slowly builds up as I steam and I don't get that sudden lost of steam power half way through, but too much power during aeration and creates unwanted bubbles.
- Find an angle that works for your own setup. Other people might disagree but this is completely my own personal preference - I don't think the milk steaming angle we see on commercial machine works on the GCP. It took me a lot of testing until I found an angle that would give me control in aerating + create that whirlpool effect.
Besides those things, I'd say just a lot of practice so you learn to tell the milk texture and the jug's temperature to know when it aerates enough.
@@QTHomeCafe Thank you!. Yes I started doing the 'Steam before the light turns on' technique quite early on. Sometimes I purge 20 seconds into flicking the switch, then start steaming straight away after that. Lately I've been purging before I flick the switch, and wont purge again till I'm done frothing. The angle I'm currently doing is by a tip I saw someone talk about, which is to tilt the wand tip "halfway" to the middle of the jug, then a "quarter" way to the left. Maybe this isn't working for me because I have never seen my milk a nice velvety consistency since I've done this. I've recently got another jug so I can transfer the milk over before pouring. However I think it's still due to my frothing, because no matter how hard i try to get my pouring technique right, I just never get any decent foam. So fustrating!
Great video. I was especially pleased that you muted the music during the steaming! Good call. Question: from where did you purchase the single-hole tip?
Thank you much! I figured it'd help to hear the hissing sound and compare. I got the single-hole tip from Shades of Coffee :)
Wonderful video, since I went from my delonghi ec685 to gaccia it is a pleasure to watch your videos. I have a query for you, is it a big change to change opv to 9 bar? I have read that yes, that there is improvement, do you say the same thing?
Hey there, I also started out with a DeLonghi :) what a nice change, right? And yes, OPV 9 bar is definitely a strong recommendation from me. I noticed the change in taste immediately after and it’s quite a game changer to begin with in this little machine.
thanks for the video, really appreciate it
just to share my 2 cents thought. single hole is easier to control not because of the quantity of the hole, but more because with gaggia stock 2 hole, they are spraying at different angle! that's the source of frustration for every gaggia owner. Imagine where is the 2 hole pointing at when you tilt your milk jug to create a vortex. it has been a disaster for me
You’re 💯 right! That’s where my frustration was too with the stock two holes. It was so tricky to find the perfect angle to have the silky milk texture consistently every time. The single hole is just a lot less “stress” for me😅
Why are you turning the steam wand knob while pulling a shot? also what are you spraying on the beans before grinding?
Great video though! love your gaga upgrades
I think it's to pre infuse the coffee puck. I believe Whole Latte Love did a video in this. Also, spraying water on the beans before grinding reduces static. I do this all the time for single dosing and it works like a charm
Hey there! Just like @JR Mendiola said - it's a trick for pre-infusion on GCP and I usually do between 5-6 seconds🙂 And I was spraying a spritz of water on the beans to reduce the static before grinding. Such a little thing but it's so much better for grinding and my workflow.
Thanks for sharing! Ever since I've learned about the pre-infusion trick and spraying water on beans before grinding - such a game changer to me😄can't stop!
@@QTHomeCafe Sorry for a newbie question, but why the 5-6second pre-infusion? Benefits? Would your shot extraction start counting when you flick the brew button, or when you finish the 5-6second pre-infusion?
@@dtsupra08 Hi! welcome to our channel! Don't be sorry for any questions! We will try our best to help answer any questions. When you pre-infused or pre-wet the coffee puck, it will allow hot water to go through coffee puck more smoothly and provide with a more even extract. It's like when you are cooking, all the parts should be cook evenly for the "best" result. I start counting the shot extraction after the pre-infusion. I hope that helps!
Hi everyone! Hope you’re enjoying the video😊 In order to be objective, we decided to not include our closing thoughts/opinions on the single hole tip in the video. We want to leave it open to hear from you first!
What are your thoughts on the single hole tip for Gaggia Classic Pro? What’s your impression after watching this video? Would you buy it?
We sure have our thoughts on it and will share with you all later😉
How come you turn on the steam wand again after you’re done frothing your milk? Are you trying to get out all the steam? Did you also do the flow control trick with the steam knob at the beginning of your pull?
Hi there, yes - I do that to make sure I get rid of all the steam built up from steaming. And also yes to the trick😁I try to do 5 seconds pre-infusion for my shot.
Was wondering if you have modded the OPV spring for your gaggia to a lower pressure spring?
Yes, I did! It’s probably one of the most needed mod for Gaggia.
I changed it to 9 bar. Haven’t try the 6.5 bar yet so maybe one day.
Im using Gaggia Classic with 9 bar mod but without PID mod and have best results with stock steam tip so far (couple of weeks)
Don't know what im doing wrong with single hole tip but my foam if way thinner and vortex not so good :(
9 bar mod is definitely a game changer. PID is a really nice mod so you don’t have to temp surf. If you are doing great with stock tip, I would just recommend using that over the single hole. It seems that you didn’t aerate your milk enough and you might need to angle the wand even steeper against the jug to find that vortex.
Do you know the diameter of this hole? Could be interesting to DIY a fix. Thanks!
I don't know for a fact but after a quick Google search it's listed as 1mm diameter. It would be really cool if you have the capacity to do so!
I suggest you start steaming before the light comes on. After around 20 to 25 seconds after switching on the steam switch. The machine will continue heating the boiler resulting in constant steam pressure instead of the result you get now (in which you basically have too little pressure after a couple of seconds of steaming).
Thank you for the tip and definitely a great one for all GCP users😊 I used to do between 15-20secs after turning on the steam button until I installed the PID. So now I start purging when the temp is around 275-280 degree and it goes up to around 305 degree ish before it drops down
I saw a video where somebody suggested turning on the steam switch. Waiting for the light to turn on, then opening the steam valve and letting the steam out until the light turns off. Once the light turns off, wait 10 seconds and then steam your milk. I feel it honestly worked well for me!
Yes I came across that tip as well and did try it. Definitely worked well for steaming. I simply just sticked to what I felt more comfortable with at the time since I was so new to it😅
@@QTHomeCafe have you also made the 9-bar OPV as well? I checked the Shades page and it mentioned that using lower pressure spring will also affect the steaming power, though 9-bar is not in the affected list :D
BTW, thanks for your video, it helps people to make decision on whether buying this tip :D
Hi there! Yes, I do have the 9 bar pressure😄I didn’t notice any difference for milk steaming after the 9 bar mod though. And thanks for watching, I’m glad it helps your decision making on this one😉
Thanks, I was looking for this comparison. I will not get the single hole tip, with better techniques I think I can improve the quality of the milk.
Glad it can help! In my opinion, you don't need single hole tip if your GCP is not PID. If it is PID, I like the single hole tip wand better.
Thanks for the video. I don't see too much difference between the two tip in term of milk quality but that's just me (I'm still learning how to froth right!). Looking forward to seeing your thoughts. Btw what's the milk jug you used when frothing the milk? Curious on the volume of that jug.
Thank you for watching and sharing your impression on it😀 I definitely will share mine with you all later.
The jug I use to steam is from Breville and it’s about 16oz/480ml. It’s a good size to steam milk in
Hi, thanks for the comparison. I have a similar setup and really love the CGP. I'm curious as to why anyone needs a single hole steam wand. I don't have a PID and I don't have any problems steaming enough milk for two cortados. Takes about 30 seconds and there's still preasure to go.
Your tamper looks like the one I have. Is that the "calibrated" one from Normcore? Looking forward to more quality content from your channel.
Hello! Thank you so much for stopping by! For me personally, it gives me a better milk frothing control and it also gives me more pressure. After I installed PID, for some reason it doesn't give the same steaming pressure when it once has. I hope that helps answer the question.
That's correct! I'm using a self-leveler tamper from Normcore v.3. I do prefer this more than the palm leveler/distributor.
Your welcome, I though about adding a PID to my GCP but decided to manage temperature with a dual probe guage. The kind that is used for cooking. One probe for the boiler and one for the group head. There's a guy with a demonstration of how he can adjust the temperature one or two degrees by opening the steam valve. Until the device arrives I'll be temp surfing.
Do you think it would be wise to instal the single hole to my gaggia without having a PID??
For us, we would say yes. It definitely gives us more power and control for our milk frothing. How are you currently steaming your milk?
How many milliliters is your coffee cup ? Thanks !
That one is 200ml from Loveramics 😊 I got from Amazon: rstyle.me/cz-n/fa2aw6c7y3f
How many grams I can fit in stock basket?
Hey there, I used to do 18g for light-medium roast. With dark roast, I had to lower it to 16-17g 🙂
When You add subtitles i will subscribe
Hi there! I'm not sure what you mean, we do have captions on the screen. Regardless, I appreciate you stopping by and leave us a comment!
this video doesnt have any words lol
Hi, I am using single wand but everytime i froth the milk it will rise and a lot of bubbles with created. I not sure what is the causes. I immersed the tip instead remain on top. It got swirl just that the foam created is alot. How can i creat smooth milk without create foam?
Hi there, it’s a little bit hard to explain so I just uploaded a quick video/Short on the channel to show you. I always immerse the tip while turning the knob on, but then slowly lower the jug to have the tip on top as the knob is fully open. You’d want to really control the jug and create that hissing sound, not constantly. So in that short video, you’ll hear the hissing sound almost on and off throughout the entire aeration process. I do that so it doesn’t blow a bunch of bubbles.
Once the temperature feels like your hand temperature, lift the jug up just a little bit and hold it there. Then the milk should keep expanding and sink the tip in a way. I hope that helps!
@@QTHomeCafe hi, in your video i noticed that when reaching the end the sound of the milk will like”thicken” more instead of hissing sound like the beginning. That day i tried it got the sound but i feel like the milk is still watery although can see the silky texture. How do i know if the milk is ready to pour? And can you share with me your best latte ratio? Thank u so much for the help!
Hey! So yes, you’d want that thicken sound towards the end after you stretch the milk. Keep in mind, if you don’t stretch the milk enough/not enough air added, then the texture is watery. But also, if you steam for too long and the milk is overheated, it also causes the watery texture you’re seeing because then it separates the layers. I go by the temperature and use my hand to feel it. When the jug gets hot to the point where you cannot keep your fingers on it for longer than 2-3 seconds, start turning the knob off. In my video, you might be able to see my hand tapping the jug…just how I feel the temperature there :)
For latte ratio, to be honest I switch between 200ml and 300ml latte cup. My shot is always between 42-45ml, then I fill the rest of the cup with milk. 200ml is usually my go-to for taste since I like more coffee taste. But 300ml cup is perfect for latte art practice, enough room for milk to pour. If you use a smaller basket, says 18g in 36g out for your espresso, then 200ml cup is nice to pour in.
@@QTHomeCafe Thank you for the good tips! 🤍🤍
Is the steam wand SUPPOSED to make such an awful noise, I makes me not even want to use it. Might need earplugs for mine I guess.
Not abad effort but you should really hit the brew switch as soon as you put that Portafilter in as the top layer of the coffee puck is touching the shower screen which is very hot which mean s you will be over cooking the top layer.
That's right! It's a bad habit sometimes, especially when trying to film at the same time ^-^
that low battery on timemore is trigger me lol
It’s even worse when it died during the process. Sometimes we like to live life on the edge.