Gaggia Baby Twin

SuperGrover

Hi coffee experts,
my wife (bless her) has ordered me a Gaggia Baby Twin as a pressie.

Anyone got any experience with these? Good or bad. Just wonderin what to expect.

I've been using a Gaggia Evolution the last few years but it's not performing like it used to, so I suppose it's an upgrade at least.

Just curious if anyone's been using the Twin and what to expect.

Thanks.

PPC

We have an evolution in work and i've a non twin Baby at home and there is a huge difference between the both of them.
As far as i know the Twin just has dual boilers for steaming, so should make life a bit easier than with the evolution.

SuperGrover

Thanks PPC. Sounds promising.

donnacha

Nice present! Would definitely be a real step up from the evolution. Some mixed reviews on the baby twin on coffeegeek mind - I'm sure someone on here has a baby twin and can give some real advice. Happy brewing

creaghadoos

ihave my baby gaggia twin since christmas day. i am not great at making coffee but i am an expert at drinking it.

seems to take a couple of tanks of water for them to work right.

can anyone tell me in plain terms how to make a perfect cappucino?

SuperGrover

creaghadoos wrote: »

ihave my baby gaggia twin since christmas day. i am not great at making coffee but i am an expert at drinking it.

seems to take a couple of tanks of water for them to work right.

can anyone tell me in plain terms how to make a perfect cappucino?

That business about needing a couple of tanks of water doesn't sound right. Do you mean every time or initial startup? Once there's water it should work after letting it get to the right temperature.

Re cappucino... step 1 is perfect espresso. Step 2 is well foamed milk with smaller bubbles. Don't just lash the steaming wand into the bottom of the milk at full tilt. Surf the surface more and be patient. That's my 2 cents anyway. Someone else here can explain better than I.

Still waiting delivery on my new machine. Looking forward to it. Have a tamper due separately, supposed to arrive today.

donnacha - I've been reading some of the reviews. Looks like the main thing will be care and attention. Soft water and regular descaling should see me right. I'm going to use bottled water this time round as our supply is very hard, even after filtering.

And it does seem, from reading, that the Evolution is a bit poor so no doubt I'll be happy as the proverbial Larry.

donnacha

Watch out on the bottled water front - I seem to remember something off one of RE*AC*TORs posts somewhere that bottled water can affect boilers - though I could have that wrong.

I've found bewleys online store the cheapest for descaling products and bought myself a cheap brita filter off argos over xmas - it seriously makes a difference to the cup, mind you its probably more noticeable when I'm doing filter coffee.

SuperGrover

I'll read up on the bottled water thing and check if there is a cheap one out there with low mineral levels, otherwise I'll just use filtered.

Just ordered 20 packs of descaler from Bewleys, only 17 lids inc. delivery.

jdburkedjburke

Hi SuperGrover

I would just use a Brita filter as the water in my area is hard and no trouble.

By the way enjoy when you get it sorted

SuperGrover

After much messing re delivery, finally got my Twin up and running last night.

Yes, it is a huge step up from the Evolution. Both from an espresso and a frothing POV. Very rich crema up top and lovely smooth foam from the milk.

Still getting used to it but so far so good.

Thanks for all the advice.

PPC

I'd HIGHLY recommend upgrading the steamwand to the Silvia steamwand.
You can find a guide on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gaggia/ and it will show you how.
Its not half as complicated as you'd think it would be.
I can now do (tho not perfect) latte art with mine.

SuperGrover

Thanks PPC, I'll look into it down the line.

After some starter issues (thermostat fuse died within a few days, so no steam) I have to say this is a great machine. You have to allow for a little fiddliness re purging water from the steam wand etc. but if you're not in a hurry (I'm not) it's the business. Great espresso (Hasbean jailbreak direct from MDF grinder) and good powerful frothing. A little care and attention (and a minute's rest) gets a decent smooth foam.

One thing that I struggled to get the hang of was the baskets that came with it. They are apparently Gaggia perfect crema system or some such. they seem to have a single pinhole and only work with the wee black plastic widget inserted under the basket. I lost the wee bit (bin, sink, who knows?) within a day or two and without this, the basket is useless, coffee sprays everywhere. Luckily had my 2 baskets (and spare portafilter) from my Evolution so I've gone back to using these. Also, i got myself a single spout pourer (sorry, don't know the proper word for it) and use this one my spare portafilter for espressos as the double dispenser (better?) is too wide for my wee cups.

If that's all a big load of waffle, it boils down to this -
1. Gaggia Baby Twin makes excellent espresso.
2. Perfect Crema system seems to be a little silly and fiddly.
3. Atari Jaguar*

* I always see this posted as an option but i don't get it.

donnacha

I believe these perfect crema systems are the solution for people that buy pre-ground espresso as they essentially make fake crema. Its a pity to hear that Gaggia are resorting to shipping them with their machines.

Great however to see you are enjoying the machine and have overcome the challenges - I'd recommend knocking some of hasbeans 2011 crop bolivian's through it
http://www.hasbean.co.uk/categories/American-Coffee-Beans/Bolivia/

The loayza is the best coffee I've tried so far in 2011, the machacamarca is amazing though not quite as good as the 2010 crop IMO.

SuperGrover

Donnacha, I'm going to place a new order soon from Hasbean and I'll include your recommended below.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Must brush up on the fancy taster terminology. Deadly, Sweet, Piss Poor and Wathery are about my level when it comes to reviewing a particular coffee.