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Created April 2, 2017 23:31
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Operating the Gaggia Classic
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gaggia.md

Gaggia Classic

Buttons

  • Left: POWER
    • Lights up when ON.
  • Middle: ESPRESSO/STEAM MODE TOGGLE
    • Up is espresso mode, down is steam mode.
  • Right: BREW
    • Will light up when the machine is ready/warmed up enough to perform the operation that the MODE button is in. The light does not mean that it is "on" or doing anything per-se, but rather "ready".
    • Pressing this ON will brew espresso or turn on the steam wand, depending on the mode of the middle button.

Making Espresso

  • Remove the basket from the portafilter (the "handle").
  • Place portafilter into the machine.
  • Plug in machine and turn it on by turning the POWER button ON. All other buttons should be OFF.
    • Optimally it should warm for ~10 minutes for total temperature stability, but whenever the BREW button's light turns on, it's technically ready.
  • Ensure the grinder's coarseness is set to espresso (left-most).
  • Measure two almost-filled red scoops of beans (~20g) and grind them directly into the basket as you hold it.
  • Level off any extra coffee grounds with your finger so the mound of grounds is level with the top of the basket, then take the tamper and press down hard for a few seconds to compact it.
  • Take out the portafilter.
  • Switch the BREW button to ON, then OFF after a few seconds, to drain some water through the shower head (gets the pipes ready).
  • Snap basket in the portafilter, and place it back in.
  • Place cups underneath both spouts of the portafilter.
  • Switch the BREW button to ON to brew.
  • Right before you get a roughly a full glass of espresso, switch the BREW button OFF to stop brewing.
    • Ideally this takes around 20-30 seconds, but I haven't got the grind, etc. hitting this number perfectly yet. Too long means sour, too short means weaker taste.
  • Either continue below to "Frothing Milk" or "Finishing" section.

Frothing Milk

  • Fill pitcher with milk.
  • Assuming you made espresso already, press the middle TOGGLE button to toggle from espresso to frothing mode. Wait for the BREW button to light up again, which indicates that the machine has warmed up to milk frothing temperature.
  • Hold pitcher of milk up to steam wand.
  • Switch the BREW button to ON then roll the knob on the right side of the machine counter-clockwise slowly to open the steam wand and froth.
  • Switch right-most button to OFF and let the steam wand finish, then close the knob.
  • Go to "Finishing" section.

Finishing

  • Take the portafilter out and knock the puck into the trash.
  • Switch the BREW button to ON, then OFF after a few seconds, to drain some water through the shower head (cleans out any leftover grounds).
  • Clean the portafilter and basket.
  • Wipe down the shower head (where you plug in the portafilter).
  • If you frothed milk, clean the steam wand.
  • Turn POWER button to OFF and unplug the machine.
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