Exploding Gaggia!

baybike

Hi All,
The past two days my little gaggia machine is really acting up. When I turn it on to get the coffee flowing nothing happens! It makes all the right noises but I'm lucky to get a couple of drips out of it. And this morning, I turned it on and after a minute of gearing up the whole thing started spitting coffee:eek:

I've just changed the type of coffee I use, but it's specifically for espresso, so I presume it's not the problem.

Should I be packing in the coffee in a particular way?(I do tend to stamp it down quite firmly) or should I be cleaning the machine in a specific manner?(currently just washing all the bits that come off the machine - the little coffee bowl, the arm the bowl sits in and the trays)

Didn't get to drink my coffe this morning, and resorted to instant when I got to work:mad:

the beer revolu

This may seem stupid but I'm a big fan of looking at for the obvious things first:

Is there water in the tank?

Gran Hermano

Is the water flow normal if you just use an empty basket? My first check would be whether the coffee grind is too fine and/or you're tamping too firm.

Before taking the machine apart and wondering whether it's the pump/grouphead try
a slightly coarser grind.

zagmund

Yeah, I would second that - just run water through with no basket at all and have a look at the way it is flowing (or not). Does a little bit appear from one side, or does a little bit appear from all sides ?

z

baybike

@beer revolu; because that question is directed at me it doesn't sound stupid at all:Dbut I do have water in the resevoir everytime I make it!

I'll try running water through the machine without any coffee first and make sure it's not bolcked up in any way. Then I'll go back to my old coffee and see if that works.
If that all fails then I'll have to change my new coffee(I hope not cos it cost me €30 and tastes lovely!

Thanks for the help guys...

Gran Hermano

baybike wrote: »

If that all fails then I'll have to change my new coffee(I hope not cos it cost me €30 and tastes lovely!

If the machine works fine with no coffee in, try adding the new coffee and
tamping very lightly.

baybike

Seems like it's the coffee that's the problem! Did all the above suggested and the same thing happened when I tried to make a cup with the expensive coffee, even though the regular stuff worked fine!:rolleyes:
So, I'll have to get back on to the company that I bought it from and see what they can do!

Can I use this finely ground coffee in a french press?

the beer revolu

baybike wrote: »

Seems like it's the coffee that's the problem! Did all the above suggested and the same thing happened when I tried to make a cup with the expensive coffee, even though the regular stuff worked fine!:rolleyes:
So, I'll have to get back on to the company that I bought it from and see what they can do!

Can I use this finely ground coffee in a french press?

It's not ideal - the coffee will be a bit murky but should taste alright.

And you tried tamping it very gently?

faigs

Out of interest are these machines good for espresso and worth the money? Is it the 'Baby' one that you use? Probably a noticable difference from a moka pot? Where's the best place to buy one from? Might request a Christmas present

baybike

I find them great! But I'm new to coffee so I can't compare. And it was a present so I don't know where it came from...not much good to you really!

the beer revolu

faigs wrote: »

Out of interest are these machines good for espresso and worth the money? Is it the 'Baby' one that you use? Probably a noticable difference from a moka pot? Where's the best place to buy one from? Might request a Christmas present

I love my Gaggia Classic.
The Baby is similar but with more electronics.

Beware of cheaper Gaggias that don't have the chromed brass porta filters - not the same ticket at all!!
You'll know by the look and weight (the cheaper models have aluminium porta filters which are light and fiddly to fit in place and don't keep an even heat)