After complaining about low pump pressure last week, I started thinking that my Gaggia Baby needed a new pump or at least a good service.
I found a good used one on Gumtree so freecycle my old one to @Colm89 (who I actually met at HHV a few times).
I decided to give the 'new' one a good clean, did one too many back flush and end with the Gaggia not passing water through the head at all. Online + @Colm89 advice recommended to check the head plate and screen for 'caking' (both were impeccable) then have a look at the solenoid valve. On my return from an early Champagne delivery, I pulled the solenoid valve out to have a look and found the limescale blockage:
It was actually really easy to pull apart and pull back together, I found a good YouTube video of someone doing it.
Anyway, I remove the blockage and put the Gaggia back together.
The Gaggia is now back in action so I tried to pull an espresso and, as with my old machine, a lack of pressure once again....
Turns out that I ground my new Norwegian hipster coffee too finely with my Porlex Mini and packed the basket too firmly so water can't go through.
I never needed a new Gaggia in the first place... Ah well, lesson learnt and at least I can change the Solenoid Valve on it if it ever packs in!
The Gaggia Baby story continues.
After complaining about low pump pressure last week, I started thinking that my Gaggia Baby needed a new pump or at least a good service.
I found a good used one on Gumtree so freecycle my old one to @Colm89 (who I actually met at HHV a few times).
I decided to give the 'new' one a good clean, did one too many back flush and end with the Gaggia not passing water through the head at all. Online + @Colm89 advice recommended to check the head plate and screen for 'caking' (both were impeccable) then have a look at the solenoid valve. On my return from an early Champagne delivery, I pulled the solenoid valve out to have a look and found the limescale blockage:
It was actually really easy to pull apart and pull back together, I found a good YouTube video of someone doing it.
Anyway, I remove the blockage and put the Gaggia back together.
The Gaggia is now back in action so I tried to pull an espresso and, as with my old machine, a lack of pressure once again....
Turns out that I ground my new Norwegian hipster coffee too finely with my Porlex Mini and packed the basket too firmly so water can't go through.
I never needed a new Gaggia in the first place... Ah well, lesson learnt and at least I can change the Solenoid Valve on it if it ever packs in!