@whole Latte Love I love my red refurb! The steam wand was worthless for steam wand eggs! So I replaced the tip with the no burn easy clean silocone nozzle from a Stilosa. Other than that loving it as it sits. But I am positive that warranty will be voided before six months. Many thanks for a great deal. My management is thrilled. Excellent partner acceptance.
Great video. I bought this machine last year and I really like it. But been struggling with slowing down my espresso. It comes out fast. I do get good crema but only with the pressurized portafilter basket. Not sure if it’s cause I have a off the shelf grinder but the grind is between salt and sugar consistency. I love the machine but wish I could get the espresso to come down slower. I will definitely try what u suggested in the video. Thanks so much 🇨🇦☕️
This video is actually a gem for beginners. Really appreciate you walking through the entire process and explaining each step. Other videos gloss over the details because they assume that the audience are all seasoned baristas.
I’ve been using my GCP for months and keep getting spotty results and never could figure out my issue. The temp surfing and tip to let the whole machine warm for a long time- absolute game changer. Thank you!
Lance I have had my GCP for 6 months and I have done most of the mods! I pulled a shot using the temperature surfacing this morning. It tastes incredible this is a game changer! Cheers
@@golfrawe What a useful response! However, thinking about it - surely you get the best out of any machine or process in life "if you know what you're doing".....
The GCP has a 3oz boiler, so if you want to save some water when temp surfing you can drain about that much to ensure the boiler is refilled with cold water from the tank. It takes a bit longer for the reheat cycle to begin, so I usually do it before I prep my shot, then boost the temperature with the steam switch right before I start pulling it.
Great video Lance!. I have a Gaggia classic Evo 2023 and I followed what you have said about the temp surfing, what I discovered is that, after waiting for the first 10 second (for the medium roasted coffee) you need at least 7 to 10 second of boiler heating time before you pull the shot. maybe thats the new gaggia but after waiting 7 to 10 second of steam button time, you will be able to taste the fruity note. for the dark roast, I think that 5 second that you said is enough but most of the time shot is not hot enough, so I would recommend trying 6 to 7 second. By the way, I am your huge fan, keep it up!
I would say yes, my recommendation is to install the PID, then workflow is much easier and only then you can start experimenting. Temp surfing is good, but when it comes to using a rather cheap coffee beans(which we all do, not everybody can spend so much money on regular basis for fresh speciality coffee) and switching between different coffee beans, getting a right temp become pain in the ass. In my opinion, there is no different between EVO and the previous models in temp fluctuation.@@bluemystic7501
I have the same Gaggia at work. My hack to make better espresso is my entry level Rancilio Sylvia. It's by far a better machine for a little more money. The Rancilio pumps espresso better and the hot froth steam is much stronger. The Gaggia can make a drink for 1-3 people, but starts to choke thereafter. So the moral of the story is: if you plan to have a dinner party to make espresso for many people - get the Rancilio.
I've been surfing temps without knowing what I'm doing. This really explained it to me, and I've almost been doing it like this without even knowing. I emptied the brew head a little bit (but not enough) and then I flicked the steam switch (way too much). My first shot doing it properly and I got some really nice citrusy notes with MUCH more body. What a difference it made. Now I can have some consistency at least until I pull the trigger on a full PID and dimmer system. Thank you!!
The steam pressure drops off because of two things: the thermostat kicks in and switches the heat off and the 100ml boiler starts to run dry. Timing the start of the steam is a great hack to solve the first. Another hack is to pulse the pump (i.e. the brew switch) whilst steaming. With the right amount of water coming into the boiler, the thermostat will not kick in and the light will never come on. (Apologies if someone else has already said this - there are about 300 other comments before mine!)
Just got a refurbed Gaggia Classic a month ago as my first espresso machine and learning new stuff every day - this video is another on the must see list for me, or anyone who has a Gaggia. Lots of info, clever ways of using the machine to the max. I've changed my basket for a VST (I'm in the UK) and things have improved a lot. Having to go quite fine for timings but it's a work in progress. Thanks for the video 👌👍
Have Gaggia classic pro with: 1. PID for brewing (no steam PID) 2. 155 C steam thermostat upgrade for higher steam pressure. 3. Shorter brewing pressure spring for ~9 bars pressure (DIY). 4. Cafelat gasket and upgraded shower screen. 5. Bottomless portafilter. PID and 9 bars pressure springs are must have! All the other stuff is optional and it's completely fine without it. With baratza 270 grinder I'm able to get pretty decent shots, but I'm still so bad in latte art 😂
Hey here a bit more less water wasting temp surfing (maybe it just works with newer maschines that auto shut off after a fixed amount of time) : I'll turn on my Maschine let it heat up until it shuts off automatically. I think thats about 20 minutes for convenience stop the time once. When it hast turned of I start grinding my coffe then fill the portafilter and insert it + set up scale and cup before turning on.Then turn the Maschine on. then it just takes a few Seconds until the light turns on. Another Bonus to that ist that the scale and cup are already set up. Before I've done it like that it always was a hassle to get the timing right especially if u got no bottomless portafilter + bulky scale The temp surfing is the same timing wise like here there is just no water waste like to get the light off.
I don't have a GCP nor do I intend on buying one but I really appreciated this video. I love learning about all things related to coffee and you do such a great job of sharing your knowledge and have a wonderful sense of humor. Always ready to hit that like button, man. Cheers.
Dude, I have learned more from this video than any other. I no longer need to install a PID to accomplish what you just demonstrated. Thank you so much for taking the time. Nice dog too.
Great video, i know it takes longer to do but I appreciate that show the techniques multiple times to help the viewer solidify the technique to memory 🙂
Completely new to this crazy stuff, but I wanna try something to simplify. I've got a stock GCP, and I'll have a 9 bar spring soon, and a bottomless portafilter as well, but not yet. the usual starting routine. 1) Start the machine. 2) grind, tamper, put the basket in. 2) Wait 5 mins, wait for light. machine is at high pressure, high temps. When ready : 3) open the steam wand a little, vent some hot water and high pressure, for 3-5 secs. 4) press brew button. 5) close steam wand gradually, until your shot is ready. Should start with slightly lower temp, and lower pressure. Then as the wand gets closed, the pressure increases and temperature equalises. Effectively, use the steam wand knob as a pressure and temp control lever. Think it will be interesting with the bottomless, see if I can make a shot without spurting coffee all over the place, by reducing the pressure at the start.
THANK YOU!!! These first two tips are out there on the interwebs, but this perfectly compiled them into one easy-to-understand, well-explained video. I can't wait to try steaming with the tray out. I wish I'd seen this 9 months ago when I bought my Gaggia. Also, a tip, if I may be so bold: when I purge the group to force the boiler on, I save time and water by only doing a 9-count (instead of waiting for the light to go out). The light goes out a few seconds after I flip the brew switch back off (on mine). I definitely recommend the Whole Latte Love steam hack, also. Don't let the light come on before you start steaming.
@@UncleBenjs simply put it's a better more high-tech machine. I have the Gaggia down perfectly now. but it was quite the learning curve. with a Gaggia Pro there is no way to control the temperature other than manually manipulating the way use the machine. I love my Gaggia pro now but my goodness I did not like it in the beginning it took a while
I’ve just bought a Niche grinder and waiting for my classic pro to arrive. I’d ordered these before I’d watched this video. Great video I’m looking forward to seeing the updates. Cheers from Scotland.
Lance, I really appreciate that you show us your gears. Really love to see professionals in their element even though I make just 2 espresso drinks every day on a simple Breville machine. Stay awesome my friend.
Really cool, the gaggia classic pro was my first espresso machine and I still use it. I'm going to try the temp surfing right now ! Keep on doing such great content I never a miss a video.
Recently got a Gaggia Classic and while I am looking to mod it I want to get the most of it now while I wait for parts to arrive. Thank you for your helpful and informative video, this was just what I needed.
Hi Lance, loved the video on the Classic pro. I'm sitting here in Melbourne , Australia having a brandy and pod coffee and waiting for the delivery of my Gaggia on the 22nd. all i need now is the grinder and about another few hundred bucks worth of accessories ! Thanks for the tips RustyB
Hi Lance, you just popped up on my feed. Thoroughly enjoyed this video. I got a new Gaggia Classic Pro last January and been loving it a lot. Marc at WLL suggested that I go for the GCP. I've seen most of the videos on YT about this machine. Been using these hacks and I'm getting pretty good shots. I did the OPV mod and got a "tune up kit" with a brass shower plate a precision screen and a silicone group gasket. By the way, the silicone lets the portafilter click in a lot more easily. Looking forward to the next video.
Update: I tried your temperature surfing technique with great success. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I finally got the shot I've been striving for. 😊
My hack for steam wands that don’t tilt is by raising the whole machine up by setting it up on a butchers block, or whatever stable platform you have that’s available, safe and raises it at least 2-4”. I prefer the wood block though. Then you’ll have a lot more room for deeper pitchers.
Thanks for the info on steaming, and how to time it. I’m still learning on this machine and have had patchy results from steaming the milk; I couldn’t understand why sometimes I could get excellent creamy milk but then next time get something flat.Now I’ve got a better understanding.❤
btw, the heat up time is not so much for the portafilter and group head heating up, the material of these things has high thermal conductivity meaning it will heat up very quickly... the waiting period is mostly for the water
Great tips Lance! 👍 My single boiler machine has pressure gauge, so when I turn stream knob I can see pressure while pre-infusion, but it is too hard to make pressure profiling on it and so much waste of water. For pre-infusion I normally go with the full pressure for few seconds and turn the steam switch on the machine will cut the water to brew head and all water will go to OPV back to reservoir.
Just bought my Gaggia Classic 2018/19 SB and it will turn off automatically after 15’. I guess it’s for safety reasons. Just mentioning it out because you said we have to leave the machine on for at least 15-20 mins
That was the best shot from this damn machine. I've been trying to get something palatable. This was good in fact. I didn't make a shot with old machine.
So I've done all these hacks! Thanks for compiling them all in one video. I've had this machine for about 2 years, and I can just say as a slight adjustment to your comment about pulling a full shot at pre-infusion, the boiler is so small, you really don't want to do that because it will run out of water that is hot enough. I typically do the poor man's pre-infusion for about 5 seconds and then pull the rest of my shot. I do heat up my boiler a bit more than you did (about 10 more seconds, so 20 seconds with the steam button pushed). I have noticed when i Go to about six or seven seconds of pre-infusion, the light turns off mid-shot. Which you don't want. I've noticed that the shot doesn't taste as great when that happens. I think it has something to do with the temperature consistency; But I haven't put a probe in there to check it out. Overall, it really is just guessing and playing. The Gaggia has been a great beginner machine for me for almost 2 years. I've also learned how to get some pretty bomb latte art on it doing a similar hack that you showed! I know this video will help someone. I'll definitely share it with all my GCP owner friends
Your drips also came from the solenoid 🤣 😉 I put a little cup underneath where the solenoid ejects the water from the group to prevent a little bit of that mess
Yeah. Those drips were so little I deemed them inconsequential haha. And I figured all machines would be slightly different with temp surfing. I've found this to be consistent for that 200 range. As for full PI shots, good point. I hadn't tried one and added that on the fly. Should've considered boiler size
@@LanceHedrick thanks for the reply! Overall great content and great quality 😉 I actually posted a reel on Instagram about the steam hack a while back. Give it a shot if you haven't already modded your machine with the PID - instagram.com/reel/CQGjmjShRUZ/
Hey there Quin, quick question re temp surfing - after you've purged the boiler, do you wait until the light comes on before counting 15 seconds and then flick the steam switch for 5 seconds? Thanks !
Lance! Thank you for the video! As a Classic owner I've tried timing how long it takes your Gaggia Classic PRO to cycle between the light being on & off since I had a feeling mine was doing it A LOT faster. Stopwatch says 12-13 seconds, when timing your video. I've got the 1st gen, some 15 year old machine, and I'm also in EU on 220V and I've read in some reviews and/or forum/reddit posts that older machine had a stronger heating element and/or that 220V version heats up faster. Might be one of those things. Might be both. Long story short (and my short versions are as short as yours, apparently), mine takes 5-6 seconds to turn the light back on once it goes off! Interesting.
This was the machine that I considered for my first espresso machine. So deep is the rabbit hole that is home espresso making that I ended up opting for an Expobar Office Leva mkIV Dual Boiler instead. Since replaced that with a Sage (Breville) Dual Boiler (as seen to the left of Lance’s setup) and a Niche Zero grinder (amongst multiple others!).
Thanks for doing this video. I have had a GCP for several months and have been trying to time when I started the brew after flushing the head. Wasn't sure if it was the best part of the temperature cycle for brewing, but I was prioritizing consistency. and it has been pretty consistent. Will be trying your method for sure
Just ordered one. I live at 7200 feet above sea level. Water boils here at 198° F. I am wondering what the implications of this will be on my espresso ☕️ pulls?
Thanks for the helpful video. I'm using distilled water in my machine. Can I just recycle the "wasted" water back into the reservoir once it's cooled down?
Really in depth, I love the detail you put into your videos. And while I haven't purchased an espresso machine yet, watching this makes me further cement my decision to buy manual machine when I do 😆 Flair 58 here I come!
I bought a GCP because it's easy to mod, hack, and a low cost point for espresso. Now I know for sure i'll be doing espresso i'm planning on moving up to the Mara X, P300, or Elizabeth, though i'm not completely sure yet. A really nice thing is if you buy the Gaggia Classic or Pro used, you basically wont lose any money when sell it if you upgrade or decide espresso isn't for you.
Lance. Good video. I have a gaggia classic pro and gaggia classic. I did the opv mods to 6.5 bar. I also did the pid mod. But one mod i did thats rarely discussed is the one that replaces the steam hack for preinfusion. Its only 20usd. Its PWM which connects to the pump. Its a simple install. It works very well to start at very low pressure right like you did with shot you did steam knob hack. If you want to know more let me know as i think it would really help video part 2 as few discuss this on forums though Peter Horvath will have boost box out soon with PWM and gauge. But this is even easier and simple.
I usually just forgo the drip tray thru the entire process and stick a shot glass or espresso cup under the vent tube to catch the purges. A bit messier but it means I have space for pretty much any cup and a scale.
Hmm.. I appreciate the temperature surfing suggestion as it allows everyone to hit the peak on this bang-bang boiler temperature control. Unsure about the poor man's pre-infusion, however. Isn't there a 3-way valve behind guiding water towards (either) outlet coming from the boiler (to the group head OR to the steam wand)- and by requesting flow both directions you are adding (improper) wear and tear onto that valve? Just a thought, in case, no one has thought of it yet... If there are two two-way valves in that flow path, please disregard. THX
Hey Lance you’re the first person on RUclips that actually admitted that they never read their collection of books, but they’re just there to make you look smarter! Brilliant. 😆
The Poor Man's Preinfusion has been my favorite way to make an Americano in the morning. I get a better extraction AND hot water for my Americano! Boom! Then I just pour the rest back into the machine.
Great video Lance. I just bought the GCP and looking to start modding it. I also have the niche grinder. What grind setting did you use in this example please? I'm still experimenting with the niche and my current light roasted beans.
Lance, Do you see a lot of difference between this Gaggia and the Quick Mill Pippa? I have two options: buy the quick mill OR buy the Gaggia and after one year or two upgrade for a dual boiler italian machine… what’s your thoughts?
Thank you for all of the great information and work flows for this machine. I’ve been using the GCP for about 5 months now. thank you for the temp surfing hack, it did wonders for the taste of the espresso. one question I have concerning the stream wand hack is when I remove the tray after pulling my shot, the portafilter drips onto my counter making a bit of a mess, is that normal for my puck to drip so much? or should I be removing the portafilter right after pulling the shot as you did? Thank you again for the wealth of information you’ve provided on this machine.
Great, helpful content. I too like another commenter, have been attempting to temp surf in ignorance. However, I’m not sure what the “half and a quarter” reference is for steaming milk. Maybe there is a video that explains it more clearly that I need to search for.
If you look close on 12:34 you mention wait 10 second after the light comes on, however on your demonstration on 26:07, you didn't wait for the lights on before you count for your 10 second
Think I'd love this machine, but as a beginner, I'm not sure I'm interested in doing all these tricks to eek out performance. Thoughts on this vs the bambino plus for a newcomer? I'm planning on pairing it with a 1zpresso J-Max hand grinder.
Thank you Lance. Love this video and so many others you’ve done. I’m pondering *strokesMingGoatie* of either messing about mor with my gagging classic (not even a pro) or bite the bullet and one of those sexy beasts in your vid, The Decent. After this video and the great links you posted it’s certainly a champagne problem. All the best from mizzly Belfast
Hi Lance, very good video. I don't want to have to do this whole procedure every day and I didn't feel confident doing the PID mod. So how do you rate a GCP espresso with just a 9 bar spring? An espresso far from decent?
Thanks for the tips. Does water cool down a bit by the time it goes through the portafilter and into a pitcher? I could never get the temp to above 180F. I had a termometer in the pitcher as I was collecting water...And ive tried multiple thermometer and was getting the same reading. So, I wasn't sure if it just loses temp by the time its in the pitcher or if I just i'm not able to hit that 195+ temp.
Great video as always! Can’t wait for the modded version of the GCP
2 года назад
I live in a city where maintenance for home expresso machines is non-existent. I'm no stranger to tinkering with electronic devices, do you think this gaggia classic is sturdy or easy to repair/find parts online?
Thanks Lance, great videos. I’ve just bought a Gaggia and so far love it. About to buy a grinder but can’t decide between the Niche or Eureka mignon specialita. I prefer darker roasts with a lot of texture. Any thoughts?
TBH both will do well. I prefer the specialita by a decent shot but the niche has superior workflow and dialing in! But tastewise, I prefer specialita for sure.
Thanks for the shout-out on the steam pressure hack! ☕️
Must not live on the east coast, we got enough water to not feel guilty about wasting 10 oz.
@whole Latte Love I love my red refurb!
The steam wand was worthless for steam wand eggs!
So I replaced the tip with the no burn easy clean silocone nozzle from a Stilosa.
Other than that loving it as it sits. But I am positive that warranty will be voided before six months.
Many thanks for a great deal. My management is thrilled. Excellent partner acceptance.
ruclips.net/user/shortsN4KxD4s3T1E?feature=share
Great video. I bought this machine last year and I really like it. But been struggling with slowing down my espresso. It comes out fast. I do get good crema but only with the pressurized portafilter basket. Not sure if it’s cause I have a off the shelf grinder but the grind is between salt and sugar consistency. I love the machine but wish I could get the espresso to come down slower. I will definitely try what u suggested in the video. Thanks so much 🇨🇦☕️
This video is actually a gem for beginners. Really appreciate you walking through the entire process and explaining each step. Other videos gloss over the details because they assume that the audience are all seasoned baristas.
I’ve been using my GCP for months and keep getting spotty results and never could figure out my issue. The temp surfing and tip to let the whole machine warm for a long time- absolute game changer. Thank you!
Lance I have had my GCP for 6 months and I have done most of the mods! I pulled a shot using the temperature surfacing this morning. It tastes incredible this is a game changer! Cheers
Hey Will, how are you liking your GCP?
@@ragej3832you don't need anything more. It pulls like a really good machine if you know what you're doing
@@golfrawe What a useful response! However, thinking about it - surely you get the best out of any machine or process in life "if you know what you're doing".....
Struggling for months now to get consistent Espresso with my Gaggia Classic Pro. With the temperature surfing hack it works now. Thank you a lot!!
The GCP has a 3oz boiler, so if you want to save some water when temp surfing you can drain about that much to ensure the boiler is refilled with cold water from the tank. It takes a bit longer for the reheat cycle to begin, so I usually do it before I prep my shot, then boost the temperature with the steam switch right before I start pulling it.
Yes. I haven’t run out of hot water using this trick even for longer shots
Great video Lance!. I have a Gaggia classic Evo 2023 and I followed what you have said about the temp surfing, what I discovered is that, after waiting for the first 10 second (for the medium roasted coffee) you need at least 7 to 10 second of boiler heating time before you pull the shot. maybe thats the new gaggia but after waiting 7 to 10 second of steam button time, you will be able to taste the fruity note. for the dark roast, I think that 5 second that you said is enough but most of the time shot is not hot enough, so I would recommend trying 6 to 7 second. By the way, I am your huge fan, keep it up!
So you'd recommend temp surfing on the new EVO model as well? My friend just got this machine and I want to give them good tips.
I would say yes, my recommendation is to install the PID, then workflow is much easier and only then you can start experimenting. Temp surfing is good, but when it comes to using a rather cheap coffee beans(which we all do, not everybody can spend so much money on regular basis for fresh speciality coffee) and switching between different coffee beans, getting a right temp become pain in the ass. In my opinion, there is no different between EVO and the previous models in temp fluctuation.@@bluemystic7501
I'm blown away by the difference this pre-infusion hack makes. I'm a bit of a noob to be honest but even I noticed how much better my espresso tastes.
I have the same Gaggia at work. My hack to make better espresso is my entry level Rancilio Sylvia. It's by far a better machine for a little more money. The Rancilio pumps espresso better and the hot froth steam is much stronger. The Gaggia can make a drink for 1-3 people, but starts to choke thereafter. So the moral of the story is: if you plan to have a dinner party to make espresso for many people - get the Rancilio.
The pre-infusion hack is really bleeding off water pressure from the circuit. Brilliant. Lance is such a smart guy.
Man, this vid is a gem! 3 years in, and still you just got a fan because of this. thx!
I've been surfing temps without knowing what I'm doing. This really explained it to me, and I've almost been doing it like this without even knowing. I emptied the brew head a little bit (but not enough) and then I flicked the steam switch (way too much). My first shot doing it properly and I got some really nice citrusy notes with MUCH more body. What a difference it made. Now I can have some consistency at least until I pull the trigger on a full PID and dimmer system. Thank you!!
The steam pressure drops off because of two things: the thermostat kicks in and switches the heat off and the 100ml boiler starts to run dry. Timing the start of the steam is a great hack to solve the first. Another hack is to pulse the pump (i.e. the brew switch) whilst steaming. With the right amount of water coming into the boiler, the thermostat will not kick in and the light will never come on. (Apologies if someone else has already said this - there are about 300 other comments before mine!)
How to pulse the pump?
@@mmt8 Switch the brew switch on for half a second every few seconds.
Just got a refurbed Gaggia Classic a month ago as my first espresso machine and learning new stuff every day - this video is another on the must see list for me, or anyone who has a Gaggia. Lots of info, clever ways of using the machine to the max. I've changed my basket for a VST (I'm in the UK) and things have improved a lot. Having to go quite fine for timings but it's a work in progress. Thanks for the video 👌👍
This video is one of the most helpful guides I’ve found for this machine. Excellent content!!!
Have Gaggia classic pro with:
1. PID for brewing (no steam PID)
2. 155 C steam thermostat upgrade for higher steam pressure.
3. Shorter brewing pressure spring for ~9 bars pressure (DIY).
4. Cafelat gasket and upgraded shower screen.
5. Bottomless portafilter.
PID and 9 bars pressure springs are must have!
All the other stuff is optional and it's completely fine without it.
With baratza 270 grinder I'm able to get pretty decent shots, but I'm still so bad in latte art 😂
Are there lower bar pressure springs for the Gaggia? I'm debating moving on from a Flair and like the lower pressure, high contact time on shots.
Very nice! Thank you for sharing!
@@bfilippers there's a kit from Shades of Coffee that has springs 9 and 6.5 bars. So you can get in that turbo shot territory.
What the 6.5 bar spring does?
Hey here a bit more less water wasting temp surfing (maybe it just works with newer maschines that auto shut off after a fixed amount of time) :
I'll turn on my Maschine let it heat up until it shuts off automatically. I think thats about 20 minutes for convenience stop the time once.
When it hast turned of I start grinding my coffe then fill the portafilter and insert it + set up scale and cup before turning on.Then turn the Maschine on. then it just takes a few Seconds until the light turns on. Another Bonus to that ist that the scale and cup are already set up. Before I've done it like that it always was a hassle to get the timing right especially if u got no bottomless portafilter + bulky scale
The temp surfing is the same timing wise like here there is just no water waste like to get the light off.
I don't have a GCP nor do I intend on buying one but I really appreciated this video. I love learning about all things related to coffee and you do such a great job of sharing your knowledge and have a wonderful sense of humor. Always ready to hit that like button, man. Cheers.
Thank you so much, Jeff! I appreciate the support so much
Thank you for the temp surfing trick. Water is perfect for making oatmeal as part of the morning workflow.
Dude, I have learned more from this video than any other. I no longer need to install a PID to accomplish what you just demonstrated. Thank you so much for taking the time. Nice dog too.
I just bought a Gaggia, these videos are super informative! Thankyou so much for your hard work!
I don’t own a Gaggia, but I’m still going to watch how to hack it 😅
Same
Lance posts a new video, I watch regardless! 😁
2:53 “silky milky” didn’t sit well with me for some reason lol
Haha why is that? It's actually a quite common term in the coffee world, especially in Australia
@@LanceHedrick I’ve never heard it before and I guess initially it sounds dirty. I’m afraid to google it to see where it’s prevalent haha.
Great video, i know it takes longer to do but I appreciate that show the techniques multiple times to help the viewer solidify the technique to memory 🙂
Lance,you are the most thorough and clear describer of things
Useful tips + great personality + cute dog + good coffee + perfect latte art = 10/10 video
Completely new to this crazy stuff, but I wanna try something to simplify.
I've got a stock GCP, and I'll have a 9 bar spring soon, and a bottomless portafilter as well, but not yet.
the usual starting routine.
1) Start the machine.
2) grind, tamper, put the basket in.
2) Wait 5 mins, wait for light. machine is at high pressure, high temps.
When ready :
3) open the steam wand a little, vent some hot water and high pressure, for 3-5 secs.
4) press brew button.
5) close steam wand gradually, until your shot is ready.
Should start with slightly lower temp, and lower pressure. Then as the wand gets closed, the pressure increases and temperature equalises. Effectively, use the steam wand knob as a pressure and temp control lever.
Think it will be interesting with the bottomless, see if I can make a shot without spurting coffee all over the place, by reducing the pressure at the start.
When I see your videos pop up I smile, then get that Christmas morning feeling and hit play as fast as possible! Keep being amazing.
THANK YOU!!! These first two tips are out there on the interwebs, but this perfectly compiled them into one easy-to-understand, well-explained video. I can't wait to try steaming with the tray out. I wish I'd seen this 9 months ago when I bought my Gaggia.
Also, a tip, if I may be so bold: when I purge the group to force the boiler on, I save time and water by only doing a 9-count (instead of waiting for the light to go out). The light goes out a few seconds after I flip the brew switch back off (on mine).
I definitely recommend the Whole Latte Love steam hack, also. Don't let the light come on before you start steaming.
Can you help me decide between Gaggia Classic Pro and Breville Barista Express
@@kb4koolboyz get the Breville Barista Express I wished I had.
@@ImACarbonCopyWhy?
@@UncleBenjs simply put it's a better more high-tech machine. I have the Gaggia down perfectly now. but it was quite the learning curve. with a Gaggia Pro there is no way to control the temperature other than manually manipulating the way use the machine. I love my Gaggia pro now but my goodness I did not like it in the beginning it took a while
@@ImACarbonCopy ah ok makes sense. How about with the Gaggia mods? I'm about to order a Gaggia classic pro and mod it
I’ve just bought a Niche grinder and waiting for my classic pro to arrive. I’d ordered these before I’d watched this video. Great video I’m looking forward to seeing the updates. Cheers from Scotland.
Lance, I really appreciate that you show us your gears. Really love to see professionals in their element even though I make just 2 espresso drinks every day on a simple Breville machine. Stay awesome my friend.
Really cool, the gaggia classic pro was my first espresso machine and I still use it. I'm going to try the temp surfing right now ! Keep on doing such great content I never a miss a video.
Thank you! Means a lot. Thanks for the support!
Really helpful intro to the machine and some useful tips. Awaiting delivery of ours in the next day or so. Thanks!
Recently got a Gaggia Classic and while I am looking to mod it I want to get the most of it now while I wait for parts to arrive.
Thank you for your helpful and informative video, this was just what I needed.
Hi Lance, loved the video on the Classic pro. I'm sitting here in Melbourne , Australia having a brandy and pod coffee and waiting for the delivery of my Gaggia on the 22nd. all i need now is the grinder and about another few hundred bucks worth of accessories ! Thanks for the tips RustyB
Make sure to invest I a grinder with high quality burrs.
Oh yes! I recently had bought one as my first espresso machine. I love this machine! Thanks for the amazing video, Lance! Keep up the good work. ;)
Me too! Love the GAGGIA Classic Pro!
Thank you for giving the celsius conversion!!
'the machine's an idiot' - actually laughed out loud. Great video
That latte art at the end. So beautiful!
Hi Lance, you just popped up on my feed. Thoroughly enjoyed this video. I got a new Gaggia Classic Pro last January and been loving it a lot. Marc at WLL suggested that I go for the GCP. I've seen most of the videos on YT about this machine. Been using these hacks and I'm getting pretty good shots. I did the OPV mod and got a "tune up kit" with a brass shower plate a precision screen and a silicone group gasket. By the way, the silicone lets the portafilter click in a lot more easily. Looking forward to the next video.
Update: I tried your temperature surfing technique with great success. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
I finally got the shot I've been striving for. 😊
Idk how I missed this one till now but this ep gets me all excited! :) Thank you!
Awesome! Just modded the GCP and will be doing the follow up vid soon!
Just beautiful episode and informative yet I need the grey sweats back please.
My hack for steam wands that don’t tilt is by raising the whole machine up by setting it up on a butchers block, or whatever stable platform you have that’s available, safe and raises it at least 2-4”. I prefer the wood block though. Then you’ll have a lot more room for deeper pitchers.
That's pretty inconvenient ngl
@@rustycolon9368 It worked well.
@@rustycolon9368lol how
I just got this machine. Using only those tricks from this video i got great shots. Amzing.
Thanks for the info on steaming, and how to time it. I’m still learning on this machine and have had patchy results from steaming the milk; I couldn’t understand why sometimes I could get excellent creamy milk but then next time get something flat.Now I’ve got a better understanding.❤
That's great! So glad you found the video helpful ;)
btw, the heat up time is not so much for the portafilter and group head heating up, the material of these things has high thermal conductivity meaning it will heat up very quickly... the waiting period is mostly for the water
Great tips Lance! 👍 My single boiler machine has pressure gauge, so when I turn stream knob I can see pressure while pre-infusion, but it is too hard to make pressure profiling on it and so much waste of water. For pre-infusion I normally go with the full pressure for few seconds and turn the steam switch on the machine will cut the water to brew head and all water will go to OPV back to reservoir.
Nice video
Just bought my Gaggia Classic 2018/19 SB and it will turn off automatically after 15’. I guess it’s for safety reasons. Just mentioning it out because you said we have to leave the machine on for at least 15-20 mins
Removing the drip tray is a G A M E changer. Thanks Lance
Haha thanks! Glad it's helpful!
That was the best shot from this damn machine. I've been trying to get something palatable. This was good in fact. I didn't make a shot with old machine.
Great vid, Lance!
I appreciate the way you have presented this material. Thank you.
So I've done all these hacks! Thanks for compiling them all in one video. I've had this machine for about 2 years, and I can just say as a slight adjustment to your comment about pulling a full shot at pre-infusion, the boiler is so small, you really don't want to do that because it will run out of water that is hot enough. I typically do the poor man's pre-infusion for about 5 seconds and then pull the rest of my shot. I do heat up my boiler a bit more than you did (about 10 more seconds, so 20 seconds with the steam button pushed). I have noticed when i Go to about six or seven seconds of pre-infusion, the light turns off mid-shot. Which you don't want. I've noticed that the shot doesn't taste as great when that happens. I think it has something to do with the temperature consistency; But I haven't put a probe in there to check it out.
Overall, it really is just guessing and playing. The Gaggia has been a great beginner machine for me for almost 2 years. I've also learned how to get some pretty bomb latte art on it doing a similar hack that you showed!
I know this video will help someone. I'll definitely share it with all my GCP owner friends
Your drips also came from the solenoid 🤣 😉 I put a little cup underneath where the solenoid ejects the water from the group to prevent a little bit of that mess
Yeah. Those drips were so little I deemed them inconsequential haha. And I figured all machines would be slightly different with temp surfing. I've found this to be consistent for that 200 range.
As for full PI shots, good point. I hadn't tried one and added that on the fly. Should've considered boiler size
@@LanceHedrick thanks for the reply! Overall great content and great quality 😉
I actually posted a reel on Instagram about the steam hack a while back. Give it a shot if you haven't already modded your machine with the PID - instagram.com/reel/CQGjmjShRUZ/
@@QuinCarter I tried to follow your reel, but it was too fast for me.
Hey there Quin, quick question re temp surfing - after you've purged the boiler, do you wait until the light comes on before counting 15 seconds and then flick the steam switch for 5 seconds? Thanks !
Lance! Thank you for the video! As a Classic owner I've tried timing how long it takes your Gaggia Classic PRO to cycle between the light being on & off since I had a feeling mine was doing it A LOT faster. Stopwatch says 12-13 seconds, when timing your video. I've got the 1st gen, some 15 year old machine, and I'm also in EU on 220V and I've read in some reviews and/or forum/reddit posts that older machine had a stronger heating element and/or that 220V version heats up faster. Might be one of those things. Might be both. Long story short (and my short versions are as short as yours, apparently), mine takes 5-6 seconds to turn the light back on once it goes off! Interesting.
Excellent information. I appreciate the amount of content covered in this amount of time.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
This was the machine that I considered for my first espresso machine. So deep is the rabbit hole that is home espresso making that I ended up opting for an Expobar Office Leva mkIV Dual Boiler instead. Since replaced that with a Sage (Breville) Dual Boiler (as seen to the left of Lance’s setup) and a Niche Zero grinder (amongst multiple others!).
I love it! The hole gets so deep! Haha
Thanks for doing this video. I have had a GCP for several months and have been trying to time when I started the brew after flushing the head. Wasn't sure if it was the best part of the temperature cycle for brewing, but I was prioritizing consistency. and it has been pretty consistent. Will be trying your method for sure
Just ordered one earlier for Christmas 🎄 gift to myself and my partner. 🤗
Love this video! Not just because of the content but when your counting down at 22.40 mins I couldn't help but dance my head side to side 😅
This guy has improved my espresso game a lot.
Thanks for posting this; looking forward to the rest of the series!
Thank you for watching and supporting!
Just ordered one. I live at 7200 feet above sea level. Water boils here at 198° F. I am wondering what the implications of this will be on my espresso ☕️ pulls?
Thanks for the helpful video. I'm using distilled water in my machine. Can I just recycle the "wasted" water back into the reservoir once it's cooled down?
Really in depth, I love the detail you put into your videos. And while I haven't purchased an espresso machine yet, watching this makes me further cement my decision to buy manual machine when I do 😆 Flair 58 here I come!
Lance: “Can you speak? Speak!”
Doggo: *yawn*
😂
He was a tired doggo
I bought a GCP because it's easy to mod, hack, and a low cost point for espresso. Now I know for sure i'll be doing espresso i'm planning on moving up to the Mara X, P300, or Elizabeth, though i'm not completely sure yet. A really nice thing is if you buy the Gaggia Classic or Pro used, you basically wont lose any money when sell it if you upgrade or decide espresso isn't for you.
Oh for sure! Exactly right. Lots of potential with GCP. Have fun with the upgrade!
Lance. Good video. I have a gaggia classic pro and gaggia classic. I did the opv mods to 6.5 bar. I also did the pid mod. But one mod i did thats rarely discussed is the one that replaces the steam hack for preinfusion. Its only 20usd. Its PWM which connects to the pump. Its a simple install. It works very well to start at very low pressure right like you did with shot you did steam knob hack. If you want to know more let me know as i think it would really help video part 2 as few discuss this on forums though Peter Horvath will have boost box out soon with PWM and gauge. But this is even easier and simple.
Shoot me the info to buy at kylelancehedrick@gmail.com
Hi jeffrey nester, could you please give a little more info on the PWM mod.? Sounds like something I would like to try
I emailed you info
I usually just forgo the drip tray thru the entire process and stick a shot glass or espresso cup under the vent tube to catch the purges. A bit messier but it means I have space for pretty much any cup and a scale.
Lance you counted 10 seconds for the temperature surf BEFORE the brew light came on the last segment (at 26 seconds of your video)
Hmm.. I appreciate the temperature surfing suggestion as it allows everyone to hit the peak on this bang-bang boiler temperature control.
Unsure about the poor man's pre-infusion, however. Isn't there a 3-way valve behind guiding water towards (either) outlet coming from the boiler (to the group head OR to the steam wand)- and by requesting flow both directions you are adding (improper) wear and tear onto that valve?
Just a thought, in case, no one has thought of it yet...
If there are two two-way valves in that flow path, please disregard.
THX
So you don't count the pre - infusion as part of your extraction time?
Really I don’t know how to thanks you ❤. Just after this video love my gaggia and my espresso.
Hey Lance you’re the first person on RUclips that actually admitted that they never read their collection of books, but they’re just there to make you look smarter! Brilliant. 😆
Oh I was totally kidding lol. I've read half of them. The other half just came in last week lol
@@LanceHedrick haha all good mate. Keep up the Aussie style humour please. 👍
Oh absolutely. Hugely affected by Aussie coffee culture.
The Poor Man's Preinfusion has been my favorite way to make an Americano in the morning. I get a better extraction AND hot water for my Americano! Boom! Then I just pour the rest back into the machine.
Oh nice! The water for an Americano! Didn't consider that
Great video Lance. I just bought the GCP and looking to start modding it. I also have the niche grinder. What grind setting did you use in this example please? I'm still experimenting with the niche and my current light roasted beans.
Awesome Lance, great tips! I'll see if I can use some of them in my Ascaso Dream
Do it! If any work, report back!
i did the milk shake, broke the cup, broke the counter top, broke the tile on the floor but the milk held it self pretty well. thanks.
Watching this I can’t help but think it makes the breville barista express seem like a really good value
It is an incredible value! ONe of the best "out of the box" values out there, imo
Lance, Do you see a lot of difference between this Gaggia and the Quick Mill Pippa? I have two options: buy the quick mill OR buy the Gaggia and after one year or two upgrade for a dual boiler italian machine… what’s your thoughts?
I was excited and got a Gaggia Classics in the hope of being able to repair it took me a whole year lol had to then put my hands up
Oh no! Sorry that happened!
Pressed the like button immediately upon hearing the word «celsius»
Thanks from a new Gaggia Owner : )
Thank you for all of the great information and work flows for this machine. I’ve been using the GCP for about 5 months now. thank you for the temp surfing hack, it did wonders for the taste of the espresso. one question I have concerning the stream wand hack is when I remove the tray after pulling my shot, the portafilter drips onto my counter making a bit of a mess, is that normal for my puck to drip so much? or should I be removing the portafilter right after pulling the shot as you did? Thank you again for the wealth of information you’ve provided on this machine.
Yeah the PF will drip some, for sure. I'd recommend removing it and just leaving it on the tray you remove!
Just an FYI. That water can be poured back into the reservoir and "reused." Unless it's being caught in a dirty container is perfectly fine. :-)
If u want oily water with ultra fine coffee grounds.. sure.
I agree with Ash here
@@ash2joker Why would it be oily?
Great, helpful content. I too like another commenter, have been attempting to temp surf in ignorance. However, I’m not sure what the “half and a quarter” reference is for steaming milk. Maybe there is a video that explains it more clearly that I need to search for.
Why do you say the water is wasted when doing the pre-infusion? Is there any problems in throwing the water back into the machine?
If you look close on 12:34 you mention wait 10 second after the light comes on, however on your demonstration on 26:07, you didn't wait for the lights on before you count for your 10 second
Think I'd love this machine, but as a beginner, I'm not sure I'm interested in doing all these tricks to eek out performance. Thoughts on this vs the bambino plus for a newcomer? I'm planning on pairing it with a 1zpresso J-Max hand grinder.
You had me at “the machines an idiot” 😂😂
Little bit geeky; I’ll try these hacks. Thanks!
Thank you Lance. Love this video and so many others you’ve done. I’m pondering *strokesMingGoatie* of either messing about mor with my gagging classic (not even a pro) or bite the bullet and one of those sexy beasts in your vid, The Decent. After this video and the great links you posted it’s certainly a champagne problem. All the best from mizzly Belfast
Hi Lance, very good video. I don't want to have to do this whole procedure every day and I didn't feel confident doing the PID mod. So how do you rate a GCP espresso with just a 9 bar spring? An espresso far from decent?
A must video for every Gaggia owner
Great video, thanks for your informative take on the GCP. I'm over here wondering what cups you're using for the espresso?
Thanks for the tips. Does water cool down a bit by the time it goes through the portafilter and into a pitcher? I could never get the temp to above 180F. I had a termometer in the pitcher as I was collecting water...And ive tried multiple thermometer and was getting the same reading. So, I wasn't sure if it just loses temp by the time its in the pitcher or if I just i'm not able to hit that 195+ temp.
Great video as always! Can’t wait for the modded version of the GCP
I live in a city where maintenance for home expresso machines is non-existent. I'm no stranger to tinkering with electronic devices, do you think this gaggia classic is sturdy or easy to repair/find parts online?
Is there a hack for changing the aluminum boiler on this machine to one that's safe for regular use?
How does pre-infusion affect dialling in your shots?
Would you still aim to pull 36g for a double shot in 27-30 sec, or something a big longer?
Thanks Lance, great videos.
I’ve just bought a Gaggia and so far love it. About to buy a grinder but can’t decide between the Niche or Eureka mignon specialita. I prefer darker roasts with a lot of texture. Any thoughts?
TBH both will do well. I prefer the specialita by a decent shot but the niche has superior workflow and dialing in! But tastewise, I prefer specialita for sure.
@@LanceHedrick thank you for the advice!
Ooooh! You have a Husky! 💕