Baby Gaggia; Repair or replace?

Molzer2

Hi everyone, first time poster on this forum, hope someone can advise me.
I've a baby gaggia that I bought 6-7 years ago. I used it most days and was very happy with it until a few months ago when it effectively lost pressure / power and became unable to force the water through the coffee.

Is this something that can be repaired or would I be better off to replace it?

Doodee

Do you perform regular maintenance on the machine such as descaling or backflushing?
You should check to see if the water is being pushed back into the reservoir through the overflow pipe instead of to the group head. This normally happens if there is a blockage causing a pressure build up.
Easiest way toc heck for this is to take the shorter of the pipes going into the reservoir and putting it into an empty jug/tank and then trying to pour a shot.
If there is a steady flow of water through the pipe then you have a blockage.
The Gaggia store / service center can take a look at it if you are unsure. you can contact them through http://gaggia.ie/

As regards upgrading, well that depends on your finances I guess


[edit] Also don't forget to clean your shower screen! This can often cause blockages. The shower screen is the perforated metal piece where you see the water coming out. Try running water through it without the portafilter in place. To clean it simple unscrew the screw that holds it in and then soak it in warm water / coffee cleaning solution and rinsing it clean. If you hold it up to the light you will be able to see any blockages. [/edit]

Molzer2

Thanks for the reply Doodee
I have checked the shower screen but not the pipes, I'll get cracking on it.

Molzer2

Hi Doodee,
I have dismantled the machine, there's only one pipe going into the reservoir, when I turn on the machine the intake pipe from the reservoir is not sucking water in even though it's definitely not blocked.
I think I'm getting out of my depth here! I'll struggle on here but don't fully understand your terms like backflush.
Routine maintenance? Just kept clean the part I could get at.:D

Molzer2

Hi Doodee,

I have now established that the water is indeed being pushed back into the reservoir, there is no blockage between the group head and the pipe feeding it so the problem seems to be in the head not taking the water.
I have taken off the heavy steel ring above the shower plate and cleaned that too.
I'll struggle on for a bit and see if I can contact Gaggia tomorrow.

Doodee

Sorry, I only noticed your replies now.

Water heading back into the reservoir means the blockages is in the grouphead/boiler.
I would start at the shower screen and work backwards.
I wouldn't worry too much about backflushing, judging by a quick google your machine would not benefit from it.
I would recommend de-scaling the machine though. This is where hard water can cause a build up of limescale inside the boiler which effects both taste and waterflow. Using a descaling solution you can purge the machine of this nasty. Would only recommend doing so once you get the blockage sorted and the water flowing freely again.