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Fwiw (and I know this misses the crux of your post), I found 6 bar awful on mine, went back to 9 after a month of trying and started pulling lovely shots straight away again.
Ptown-
I've got a very small basket (deliberately) so am only running something like 13g doses. Really suspect that increasing the pressure will just increase my problems, but I'll keep it in the back pocket in case buying a blind shaker, shimming my grinder, getting a levelling tamper, walking into the ocean, etc don't solve it.
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I am firmly in the "no home espresso"
I'm definitely in this camp
That is not to say that the engineer in me does not enjoy all writing about techniques and modding.. I'm just in no place to conduct it myself.
I like to geek out on all the stuff people are doing, but to actually do it is insanity. You've also got to really love espresso based drinks and while I like them, it's not nearly enough to get that involved.
When ever I'm in a coffee shop, a macchiato or flat white feels like a treat, whereas I'd never order a v60.
Edit - sorry, replied to the wrong person. Meant for @MisterMikkel Had too many beers during the football.
Belagerent
Gewürzt
I got given a non functional Gaggia for free. I had nothing to lose so took it apart, replaced some bits, modded it to 6 bar etc. I got it going relatively easily but trying to get it to deliver high quality espresso is extremely humiliating and an incredible faff. I can't really recommend it unless you love pain/spending money/fiddling/drinking espresso without leaving the house.
Now considering getting a PID for it, but if you're getting a PID kit you may as well just get a dimmer mod whilst you're at it, and if you're getting a dimmer mod it's more economical to just do a gagguino build.
Stick to clever dripper or at worst, pourover.