Temperature Control without PID: THE MAP for your Gaggia Classic!

I this video, I show how to control the temperature in your espresso machine without a PID.
Surfing the temperature is trying to understand the temperature fluctuation in your machine and start brewing in the optimal point for that bean.
However, you need to map the temperatures to do that. And many people use the temperature in the boiler. But I measured the temperature in the puck for a Gaggia Classic, I show how you can do it in any machine, or if you have a Gaggia Classic, just use my numbers as a reference.
Surfing will not be as precise as having a PID, but it's an extra hack to improve your cup if you don't have one.
In this test, I left the machine heating for 30 min with the portafilter locked in the group, prepared a puck as if I was making a regular espresso, brewed circa 40g in 25s, measuring the temperature with a thermocouple type K in the puck and a cheap thermometer from Aliexpress. Despite the cheap device, it has been consistent in my experiments in the last 3 years.
Thermometer and thermocouple that I used in this video:
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Playlist: 3 main mods for your espresso machine, including PID, Theory and Practice:
• 3 main mods for your e...
And if you want to prefer written tutorials, check also my website:
espressohacker...

[@peterraj256]

Underrated channel. Keep up the good work, mate.

[@EspressoHackers]

@@peterraj256 many thanks!

[@dominater]

When I first got my Gaggia Classic, I found that the easiest way to temp surf is to attach a cheap thermometer to the front of the boiler. Instructions: Buy a cheap cooking thermometer. Just disassemble so that the wire is exposed. Attach the bead at the end of the wire somewhere against the flat middle/front part of the boiler. Use a piece of heat tape. You then wedge a piece of wood between the inside front housing of the Gaggia and the bead. Thread the wire to the outside of housing so that the digital display of the thermometer sticks out in front of the Gaggia and attach using double sided tape. Now you can monitor the boiler housing temp. When the temp is at a desirable level for a good espresso (determined by experimentation) you pull the shot. To raise the temp you can use the steam button. I find one second can raise it by 2 degrees F. So, for example, if the boiler temp is reading 187, you can trip the steam button for 4 seconds. That eventually gets the temp to about 195, or so. Then wait for the temp to drift down to 192 for a dark roast and then pull a shot. Lighter roasts will require a higher temp. I had great luck with this technique and found it quite easy to do. A PID, which I soon installed, just makes things much easier and more convenient, but not any tastier.😀

[@EspressoHackers]

@@dominater great tip! Thanks for the comments!

[@catalinnicolae4443]

Your rationale and explanation is at academic level, very well done.

[@EspressoHackers]

@@catalinnicolae4443 many thanks!