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Date: 20 Aug 2006 12:05:32
From: wes
Subject: Gaggia Evolution forcing too much water out the grouphead?
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Hi,
I've had a Gaggia Evolution for about 8 months, only used with purified
water. Yesterday, suddenly the flow through the grouphead seems much
higher- everything looks right when I turn the pump on without a
portafilter locked in, except that the amount of water that is pouring
out seems really high! I took the grouphead apart and cleaned the check
valve, etc., put it back together and nothing changed. I have a Rocky
grinder, and a grind that yesterday would pull a correct 2oz or so in
28sec now pulls 3 oz in 10 seconds- the shot just pours out. Same
beans, same grind, same tamp, etc.
Anyone have experience with this? Can the p-stat or pump go south on
these machines and exhibit these symptoms? I've never had to adjust the
Rocky more than a click or so either direction to compensate for
different beans or freshness levels, etc., so I know it's not the
grinder.
The machine should still be under the 1 year warranty from Importika
(really WholeLatteLove, I think)
Thanks,
Wes
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Date: 20 Aug 2006 13:41:36
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Gaggia Evolution forcing too much water out the grouphead?
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I echo stJs comment
A failing pump NEVER puts out more volume and pressure -- always less!.
Adjust your grind and tamp and quantity.
Dave
Saeco / Gaggia service SE.
877-286-2833
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Date: 20 Aug 2006 16:24:27
From: St. John Smythe
Subject: Re: Gaggia Evolution forcing too much water out the grouphead?
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wes wrote:
> I've had a Gaggia Evolution for about 8 months, only used with purified
> water. Yesterday, suddenly the flow through the grouphead seems much
> higher- everything looks right when I turn the pump on without a
> portafilter locked in, except that the amount of water that is pouring
> out seems really high! I took the grouphead apart and cleaned the check
> valve, etc., put it back together and nothing changed. I have a Rocky
> grinder, and a grind that yesterday would pull a correct 2oz or so in
> 28sec now pulls 3 oz in 10 seconds- the shot just pours out. Same
> beans, same grind, same tamp, etc.
Consider the possibility that the water flow may have been impaired in
some way before, and now it's working properly. Make the grind a bit
finer (to get back to 28 sec), and what happens?
--
St. John
It's like deja vu all over again.
-Yogi Berra
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Date: 20 Aug 2006 22:09:39
From: wes
Subject: Re: Gaggia Evolution forcing too much water out the grouphead?
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daveb wrote:
> I echo stJs comment
>
> A failing pump NEVER puts out more volume and pressure -- always less!.
> Adjust your grind and tamp and quantity.
>
> Dave
>
> Saeco / Gaggia service SE.
> 877-286-2833
Guys, thanks for your responses, that was exactly what I was wondering-
maybe the machine has been plugged up until now and something blew it
open?
I'll grind finer tomorrow and see what happens- it's just that I was
pulling nice shots before on the grind that gushes now.
I'll check in tomorrow with the results. . .
Wes
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Date: 21 Aug 2006 17:30:26
From: wes
Subject: Re: Gaggia Evolution forcing too much water out the grouphead?
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Dave, et all,
You were right! I cleaned my Rocky grinder from the ground up today so
I could dial it down to the burrs touching (I had a bunch of coffee
grounds lodged in the threads, and couldn't spin it all the way down
anymore)
The first thing I did was do a really fine grind and totally choked the
machine! I knew at that moment I was back in business. I ended up at 8
on my Rocky, I had been at 12, so I'm a lot finer than I ever was.
I made the best cappuccino I've ever had today- It's hours later and I
can still taste a nutty smooth sweet aftertaste, really good!
So, I guess my machine was either clogged when I got it, or I did
something stupid early on (I was a *total* newbie) and clogged it then,
so all the "good" shots I was pulling were not as good as I thought.
On another note, I remember cleaning stuck coffee grounds out of my
shower screen and basked early on with a push pin, instead of soaking
it in cleaner. From reading in another thread, I understand that I've
probably ruined both by slightly opening up some holes bigger than
others so that at the high pressure of espresso extraction the pressure
isn't equal on the puck, and it will channel out the bigger holes. I do
notice a "hole near the center of the puck" sort of channeling, from
shot to shot, even when I know my distribution and tamp were good to
go. Should I just bite the bullet and replace the screen and basket?
Anyway, thanks for your accurate advice on my machine. I know I'll be
upgrading at some point, but things are better than they were!
Wes
wes wrote:
> daveb wrote:
> > I echo stJs comment
> >
> > A failing pump NEVER puts out more volume and pressure -- always less!.
> > Adjust your grind and tamp and quantity.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> > Saeco / Gaggia service SE.
> > 877-286-2833
>
> Guys, thanks for your responses, that was exactly what I was wondering-
> maybe the machine has been plugged up until now and something blew it
> open?
>
> I'll grind finer tomorrow and see what happens- it's just that I was
> pulling nice shots before on the grind that gushes now.
>
> I'll check in tomorrow with the results. . .
>
> Wes
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Date: 22 Aug 2006 08:04:34
From: D. Ross
Subject: Re: Gaggia Evolution forcing too much water out the grouphead?
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"wes" <wnance3@rochester.rr.com > wrote:
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