Gaggia Espresso Part Reveal: What's Inside? PID, Pump, Thermoblock

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for watching, comments welcome!

[@gbriank1]

An American in Germany??!

[@WrongButtonWB]

TomsCoffeeCorner is quickly becoming my go to channel. Thank you TCC for another informative video. 👍

[@AS-wi6hr]

Looks a lovely machine, easy to open, well laid out internals {I'm getting obsessed with this and consider it a big plus for designers}

[@giancarco]

Its incredible that such entry level machine has pid and so much clean architecture. Wondereing how much mod is possible to push there!

[@nollys8523]

I’m wondering the same as I’m considering this over the Sage Bambino

[@romanroman563]

Very nice review. Thank you very much, sir. I'm looking forward to seeing the next videos about this espresso machine.

[@oldgarnek]

Hi Tom, thanks for a look inside it :) Can you test how actual temperatures are when brewing?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, I have been doing some testing. I'll probably put out a short video soon. Cheers!

[@Marysart]

It's got an actual pid. Yes!🤩. So far so good.❤️

[@calumrobertson2422]

Great video Tom. Opened mine up and couldn’t figure out all the wiring - your tour was very useful! I just switched out my spring for a 9 bar (spring was marketed for Gaggia classic but they seem to use same/similar OPV) and it worked fine. Only issue is now the on/off light has gone orange which I think is the de-scaling indicator, it’s brand new so shouldn’t need de-scaling, maybe it’s related to the reduced pressure.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It could’ve been that your model was a return. These machines just count the number of extractions, before reminding you to the scale. If it was used before, then that would explain it. Where did you get your nine spring from? I tried a 6.5 bar today, and that made the extraction more gentle, a bit too gentle in fact. I’m going to try nine bar soon.

[@calumrobertson2422]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Ah I see, so if I go through the descaling routine it may go away, I’ll try that. I got the 9 bar spring from PapelEspresso. I don’t have a pressure gauge, but the spring was noticeably lower tension than the factory one so I assume it is achieving lower pressure. I do seem to be getting less channeling with the new spring. Nice tasting espresso from such an affordable machine.

[@pedram.mp4]

I am curious to see how stable the temperature is, especially at the beginning. Having only one temperature probe at the output of the thermoblock means that the PID cannot control the initial temperature very well when the water is not flowing yet.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That is a very good point. I suppose it’s pushed a certain amount of milliliters of water through the thermal block by the time it’s been heated and made it past the sensor.

[@bigwave_dave8468]

Good stuff, thanks for the video. Although folks like the idea of mod'ing the thing, IMO the plastic construction, particularly the OPV may make that difficult. I'd go for an open basket and call it good. Bonus if you can alter the PID settings but I doubt it.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Right on, I don't think the PID temp is adjustable. Although I bet you could change out the spring in the OPV. Cheers!

[@mikecrane2782]

looks like there is another unused connector on the pcb to the left of the PID thermistor

[@espacesX]

Innovative Design and Build...Focuse on the Essentials... Nice Video...

[@zappel52]

Interesting Machine, just lacking a pressure Sensor. The MCU is quite possibly an STM32G0, i wonder which one exactly. The Pump is connected to a Triac which is directly controlled by the MCU, so pressure Profiling would be possible with alternative FW. I bet there will be Mods and FW very soon.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

How do you suppose that the end user would connect to the MCU though? What kind of software do they use for that, and do you suppose it would be user adjustable, or locked with a code?

[@zappel52]

Of course, most end Users will not. I‘ve recently finished an Gaggiuino build, and i‘m super happy with it. Well, now i‘m ruined and need a new Machine with faster heat up time for Office use… After watching this and your MiiCoffee vid i ordered the Gaggia. I will start with the 9 bar OPV spring, non pressurized Basket and the flow restricting Valve (i hope it will not affect the Steam function too much), maybe that‘s all it needs to get a proper Profile. A few questions: Will the large Edesia basket work with the stock Portafilter? And if so, will it work with an 53.3mm Tamper? Nice content, subscribed!

[@gergoeckendorfer8890]

Hi tom! Nice video . how I can tune it?

[@kerbo312]

Hey! nice video. could you please also review the Hibrew H10A? it's at a similar price point with preinfusion and a PID

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I'll keep it in mind. Cheers!

[@HasanBalci-w2x]

Thanks for the review. Gaggia EG2111/01 Espresso. What are your thoughts on this model. Can it be bought?

[@bellaassa4946]

I have a similar machine gaggia carreza deluxe and the two over temp sensor are thermofuse and are not reamrable they have a180 degre limit Also the temp sensor is not programmable it s a good machine but mayne strugle to get good results from preground coffe i use it only with presurised basket

[@miatakiasgr8390]

Quick question , what is the difference between the new Gaggia Evolution and Deluxe (in offcial site i did not notice anything else than colours) .. Which is better entry level machine at 150e +/-, this Gaggia or the mainstream Delonghi Dedia EC685? Thanks!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I don't actually know what the difference is. They look the same to me. I currently still prefer the Dedica.

[@timhanley4396]

How does it compare to the breville bambino

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I like the Bambino better. This is quite a cheaply made machine if I'm being honest.

[@timhanley4396]

I was thinking about the gaggia evo but the boiler issue is making me look elsewhere,@@TomsCoffeeCorner

[@RS-sc2zr]

is it the same as gaggia viva deluxe?

[@JuanChT]

Thanks for the video! Do you think this machine is easy to repair?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, definitely. Simple to take apart, and everything is easily accessible.

[@tatemazer]

Awesome teardown Tom! one question, since it looks like there's no solenoid valve, how does it block the stream from exiting out of the group when the machine is in steam mode?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Tate, thanks for your question - it's a good one! This seems to work like the Dedica. If you look at 0:50, there is a white plastic valve that sits on top of the brew group. When you when you rotate the dial for steam mode, it seems to block the path off to the brew group, and allow it only to the steam wand. I've never taken one of these valves apart, so I am not sure how the valve switches mechanically. Here's a good view of the one on the Dedica for reference: www.juraprofi.de/DeLonghi-Ersatzteile/Ventile-und-Schalter/Dampf-Heisswasserventil-fuer-DeLonghi-EC::16324.html

[@geomcl]

Does that mean that you can't open the stream wand to do a low pressure pre in Fusion at the start if brewing?

[@valeo1988]

Thank you for what you do. Great youtube channel with great value. I have a delonghi ec685. But soon I will be traveling and working in Germany. I'm already looking at the second hand ads and there are some good deals on accessories. My question to you is, which are 4 top machines for you, from the cheapest options and the most expensive. At home, which machines do you use for coffee? Your opinion is important to me because you have VALUE.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for your comment! My suggestions: For €150: Delonghi Dedica or ECP3420 (35.31 in Europe) For €500, I would probably lean to the MiiCoffee Apex over the GCP For €1200, for sure the Sage Dual Boiler Above that, I have not done much testing...

[@valeo1988]

Thanks:)))

[@D.H.-em3nc]

Hey Tom that OPV looks similiar to the Gaggia Classic OPV, you think the same 9 bar springs would have a similiar effect?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, they fit. I've already started doing some experimenting with them...

[@maninmach]

What was that about?

[@frodehokholt3944]

Is the brew group made from plastic?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes sir.

[@frodehokholt3944]

Thank you very much for the information. I was on the brink on pulling the trigger on this maschine, but I think this is a dealbreaker for me😢

[@jannusj]

Can you modify this machine with Caggiuino?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I wouldn't be surprised, but I am not sure if the thermoblock doesn't have too much hysteresis to be honest. I think boilers react more quickly.

[@ben3561]

Hi Tom! Nice vid, great content as usual. Quick question: the dedica also has NTC probe attached to its thermoblock...so that is also considered as a PID? I always thought that is more like a hysteresis controller

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I think you're on to something. I will have to double check the Dedica, as I don't remember a temperature probe. But Gaggia's website claims to have a real PID, to "allow a precise control of the boiler temperature during the brewing process and while frothing milk, for optimal results" Check it out here: www.gaggia.com/manual-machines/espresso-deluxe/ Delonghi Makes no such claim.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Of course their nomenclature already has an error in it - it's not a boiler, but a thermoblock.

[@ben3561]

Sure, it's always the first step, define some base to understand each other. I'm often confused, what's the difference between thermocoil, thermoblock, thermojet, whatever... As you pointed out, stainless steel tubing is great, heat on demand systems like this can work alright, but the actual bottle neck will be the volume can be heated simultaneously or in a controlled manner. I believe, Decent espresso machines have also some coiled up tubing heaters.

[@ben3561]

I also saw some Chinese monstrosities with many thermoblocks inside, Ascaso machines can also achieve great results with thermoblocks. I loved my Dedica, tweaked it a lot, but the ECP series is much better by having an actual boiler.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Agreed. I am not sure how Decent or Ascaso get such accurate results with their thermoblocks, but I am guessing the design is different. And I know the Ascaso Steel Duo PID takes its reading at the grouphead. But yes, I like the ECP better than the Dedica, and overall I prefer boiler espresso to thermoblock.@@ben3561

[@d4rk_entityy]

Yessssss

[@supertaj1800]

how do I buy this in the States?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I don't think it's available stateside yet...

[@geomcl]

Excellent first inside demonstration of this interesting machine. Looks that changing OPV to 9 bar or less may be possible?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It might even be set at 9 bar, but I don't know for sure. But yes, the brass fitting could be unscrewed, and a different spring could be inserted. :)

[@geomcl]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks. I appreciate your expertise and informative and entertaining channel.

[@paetgmeiner3620]

It is pressurised and set to ,15bar

[@lenso010]

lets remove that pid and install to gcp

[@WTF_Slowbar]

temperature?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, I have been doing some testing. I'll probably put out a short video soon. Cheers!

[@ChristopherMichaelR]

Thats the same exact OPV from the Gaggia classic. I bet you can take the 6/9 bar spring and install it the same way

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I think I'm going to try that, because the pressure seems to be too high for the non-pressurized baskets.

[@spb4900]

It's probably me but, I'm struggling to get a hot coffee from this machine..😲

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Are you using the included pressurized baskets, or a non pressurized one? Did you measure the temperature of the espresso?

[@spb4900]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner hi. I didn't take the temperature, I have tried both baskets, maybe it's me getting up to speed with coffee making....

[@espacesX]

@@spb4900 Do you compare the Café Out of a portafiler machine with a Bialetti Coffeemaker?