HOW TO do the Dimmer Mod on the Gaggia Classic Pro

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Check description for product links. 🔝 Let me know which machine you installed your dimmer on, and what benefits you noticed!

[@brandonquinn130]

Great video! Looking to do this to my old Gaggia Classic (from 2012). Which dimmer and mounting plate did you use? When I click the link it shows a very different looking switch?

[@test4290]

Same question!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi it is this one, but it's only available in Germany. toom.de/p/dimmer-konventionell-designline/9100336

[@edisondaltonmacuriquintana9666]

Hi Tom great video I just bought this machine and is wonderful. I got a question. How could I shit down the automatic shut down of the machine. I'm using this in a business and i don't like this feature. Please help me

[@perldog07]

My Stilosa has no warranty now. The GCP is next. If anybody knows if this part comes in black.

[@SunriseLAW]

Doing this mod today or tomorrow. Got a $3 used dimmer switch from a fan. Your method is too professional :):) I plan to cut the grey wire and put the dimmer switch between cut ends. I don't want to drill my Gaggia. If I don't like the mod (or want to sell the machine) it is super-easy to connect that wire back together with a Wago. I plan to run the wires out of the slots in the top-back of the machine and then work on something to mount it to. My Gaggia has its own water supply now that I drilled thru a wall, ran a water tube directly into the machine. It is super-easy to fill with a temporary saddle valve (I am shopping for a filter-faucet for my new waterline now that I did "proof of concept" with the saddle valve). Next (and probably last) mod will be a pressure gauge using the same strategy... run it thru the vent slots on the back of the machine, figure out 'mounting' when I get that far !

[@espressotips]

I haven't done this mod on my Gaggia but I did use it on an old Breville Cafe Roma and it made it so much easier to control the flow, especially when dialing in a new bean. Like another viewer mentioned, it also helps keep the temperature more stable. Now I'm debating between dimmer, gaggiuino and PID on my GC. Will post an update as soon as I pick one. 😀

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Awesome, have fun modding!

[@2EASY2PK]

What did u end up going with and was there a noticeable difference in shot quality?

[@lukasweck4257]

I was so confused to see you on this Video. You looked so familiar and then I realized you are the one guy from TikTok that makes all this germany content. And btw loved the Video

[@mariusvaidaro]

Same here, first saw Tom on Tik Tok doing US-German stuff comparisons and when i saw it here for 2-3 days i kept wondering from where i knew him 😅 Anyway, great stuff Tom, i learned a lot from your videos, thank you for all your tutorials.

[@whoami724y]

I just installed a dimmer mod on my cheap espresso machine and i can say it already helped with the temperature problem i'm having (usually 70-75°C because of thermoblock) now it's around 80°C ish and maybe even hotter if i'm using low pressure.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hey good news, thanks for the feedback!

[@gerrit-janslettenhaar4252]

Wauw, great video! Clear instructions! This shows your engineering skills, and your affection for great coffee.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Gk2003m]

I did a dimmer mod on a Saeco ViaVenezia. Flow control is IT. Once you are familiar with how to correctly temperature-surf your machine, you can make great espresso from virtually any good beans. Next up: dimmer mod on an old Krups Novo. I think it’s gonna have great results.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for sharing - sounds pretty sweet! I never got very good espresso out of the Via Venezia, but I bet that dimmer helps a lot!

[@Gk2003m]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner I snagged this ViaVenezia at a thrift just a few months ago. Its flow was waaay too much at first. But it has an adjustable OPV. I made that adjustment after a couple days, and was already having good espresso from it. Adding the dimmer has taken it to exactly where I want it. What did you do with yours?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@Gk2003m I ended up selling mine...I alreadz have too many machines! Cheers :)

[@AdriaOliSal]

Hi, I have the same machine but I'm struggling to find resources on mods available, spare parts or so. Is there any community online specific for the machine? Where did you get the instructions/parts for the dimmer mod? Thank you very much!

[@aesthriatea5023]

Just going to say, I really appreciate this modification. So many people do the PID and dimmer, but they make it look god awful and destroy the Aesthetics of the unit. Yours is the first Aesthetically pleasing dimmer attachment I've seen. Thank you ;-; I plan on fully modifying a unit, but using the enclosure sold on etsy to hold everything after painting it to match. Debating on replacing everything with a brushed brass for the rocker switches/knobs, or using rosewood instead. I haven't seen anyone customize the rocker switches yet, and it's my only gripe with the units Aesthetics personally.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thank you so much! There are even nicer looking switches than this. I was looking for a slider type switch, but I found this one locally, and it works. Rosewood sounds really nice by the way. You should think about posting a video about it. Cheers! Tom

[@test4290]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Hi Tom do you knwo what brand of dimmer that was?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@test4290 Hi it is this one, but it's only available in Germany. toom.de/p/dimmer-konventionell-designline/9100336

[@octaviop.4870]

( ( ( A E S T H E T I C S ) ) )

[@aesthriatea5023]

So, the past two months a number of people have built and posted short videos on a new gaggia mod. Gaggiuino. It essentially turns the gaggia into a decent DE1. It does the PID and dimmer mod all on one, monitors and adjusts everything in real time. Would love to see your channel do this modification and showcase it, it’s just barely being covered but entirely changes the way the unit could be used and viewed now

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi there, this does look like a great idea! But, it still seems like a lot of work. Between the parts sourcing, the installation, and software, I think I heard something like 40 hours. That would be a humongous video to edit, which I do not currently have time for. But maybe someday...

[@aesthriatea5023]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner shortest I've seen for the build is roughly 14 hours on reddit posts, but that's with working knowledge. It may be a month or more before I buy a new unit and the components needed, but if I do it I can post something up to help out somehow. I just need to make sure it doesn't take away from the units aesthetics. My OCD would never let me use it if it was just unsightly. Hope this finds you well and thank you for all the content mate : )

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@aesthriatea5023 14 hours would be alright, but as a first timer it would probably be more. I must admit however, that I do quite like the design. If I am ever in between jobs, that is when I would do that mod. :) Let me know how it goes for you!

[@Tek-Droid]

Hey Tom, yet fantastic video, thank you. What's the wire AWG rating? Do you think 20 AWG is ok?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well, I mean it's very little current going through that pump circuit, but I would suggest sticking to the gauge used in the machine. Whether that's 16 or 20 gauge I am not sure.

[@ppcfinal]

This is the best mod so far!! Now if you can figure out a way to increase milk wand pressure

[@damhonghai]

hi,can you explain a little bit about the colored dots you marked on the crown and how to control them, thank you so much

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Sure! I just measured the flow at various spots on the dial. Turned all the way down, I get 4.5 ml/s, in the middle is 6.0 ml/s, and turned all the way up is I think 7.0 ml/s. So it's not exactly linear, and there is a minimum threshold that the dimmer provides.

[@danielbodin9388]

Great video and your video edits were great! 😂 thanks 🙏

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thank you! 😁 Have a good one!

[@SangNguyen-bw8vh]

I still don't understand how you wired to the pump. Can you make it clear, Is it similar to install for the delonghi ecp? Thank you so much

[@ppgun5201]

Hi, Can install in gemilai crm3145?, Will there be any negative effects on the pump in the future?

[@zski1]

Does this mod cause the temperature to drop during pre infusing?

[@AL-gi5xj]

Nice! but what kind of dimmer switch? new ones for LED will not work...do I need to rip one out of a 20 year oild house?....Thanks

[@MrRockajill]

Hello Tom! Very nice video! I was wondering about one thing. Does this dimmer mod also control the pressure coming out of the pump? If so, does this mod make the springmod, where you replace the 12 bar spring, needless?

[@dbak629]

BIG thanks for the tips in this video. I ended up installing something similar. The deburring tool was a lifesaver and project wouldn’t have been successful without it so great recommendation! Question: do you worry about or have you experienced any issue with the dimmer components overheating being mounted inside the machine near the boiler? I’ve noticed many kits place the dimmer outside the machine in some sort of housing

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well, heat isn't good for any electronics, but I tried to mount it away from the boiler. Although some components are designed to withstand heat, I am sure these dimmers were not intended for such a purpose. But they're cheap, so... Hope you enjoyed the project!

[@ПётрНе_первый-00]

Everything is fine! But a dimmer installed on the other side, symmetrically to the handle of the steam tap, looks more aesthetically pleasing!) Especially black.

[@zacharycaron2415]

Any chance you’d make a video of doing this same mod on the miicoffee Apex?

[@connorwatson9946]

What brand is that espresso glass at the end? It's absolutely gorgeous.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Kruve Glasses: bit.ly/3xueKgn :)

[@BogBogBKK]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. I have a question, would restricting voltage to the pump reduce the pressure? If so, can i just use the dimmer with the 12 bar spring to get the pressure down to 9 bar for brewing and lower pressure for pre infusion? Can you experiment to see it would work? Thank you.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hey there, yes restricting the voltage to the pump leads to less water flow, which leads to less pressure being built up. If you think about it this way, there are 2 opposing forces. The force of the coffee puck, and the force of the incoming water flow. The coffee puck acts as a resisting force against the inrushing water. If however you limit the amount of water per unit of time, then consequently there will be less pressure for the coffee puck to oppose. With that being said, I think you can leave the original spring, do this mod, and still achieve the lower pressures you want. Cheers!

[@paetgmeiner3620]

To achieve consistency I personally would make a spring mod. The spring serves as a balancer and put's everything above 9bars back into the water tank. It could be pretty tough to do flow profiling and somehow keep your pressure balanced within 25sec?! Spring mod in combination with voltage regulation is the way to go to achieve good results

[@progmanit]

Hello! Thank you for this video, they are great as always! Please tell me if I understand correctly that using a dimmer can replace the need to install springs with different pressures of 9 bar, 7 bar and others?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

This affects the flow over the whole extraction, while the spring acts as a gate, diverting higher pressured water at a certain threshold. I would still say however, to do one or the other.

[@andyjouas6150]

Hola muy bueno el vídeo necesitaría saber de cuántos amperes es necesario el dimmer para una cafetera como está muchas gracias

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hola Andy! Muchas gracias! Well, the pump is only 48 Watts, so find a dimmer dimensioned for at least that. Most are, to be honest.

[@nikolakpg]

Very nice! Where can I get same dimmer switch? Thank you!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I got it at Toom in Germany.

[@Jason-ky7qm]

Can you install this dimmer switch on a dedica too?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Sure Jason, it would work. Shall I do a video on that?

[@Jason-ky7qm]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner I think it would be helpful since you dedicated so much time and videos to the dedica.

[@cra2yjoker]

Would love to see this

[@mobiledothk]

Hi Tom, just wonder what type of wire is required? AWGx? Thx

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I just found similar gauge wire. I think it was 2.5mm.

[@jarredl990]

I’m confused what about grounding the circuit?

[@kroasana]

Would that work with the Dedica? Is it the same type of pump?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Sure, this should work with just about any espresso machine. You just have to connect the dimmer directly at the pump. I will probably do a video of this mod for the Dedica.

[@kroasana]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks! It would be greatly appreciated. I modded the steam wand on my Dedica thanks to your video already :)

[@SzamBacsi]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner me too I also modded my Dedica following your steam wand instructions

[@matthewgreen8338]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner it will be even more useful for the dedica as the opv mod for pressure control is so tricky this could be a compromise for similar result? Looking forward to the dedica version!

[@Andres-tx4wh]

Really looking forward to the Dedica video!! Would love to see the manometer mod and this one working together on the delonghi. Thanks for all of your great work!

[@alvarobesnier]

does the dimmer need a particularly specification? i live in a 220v country

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, it needs to be compatible with the voltage of your country. Cheers!

[@alvarobesnier]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank for the reply

[@rhythmicstu]

Cool vid, looks easier than I thought. I just open the steam valve to control the flow in pretty much the same fashion

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It is surprisingly easy, and the Gaggia Classic Pro offers a lot of space to work in.

[@Shadowguy456234]

@@CH-yp5by Why is that? Not enough water in the boiler?

[@jeekim1212]

@@CH-yp5by hmmm I haven't tried that yet, but I doubt that it affects the brewing temperature.

[@cameronf2894]

​@@Shadowguy45623480ml boiler capacity I believe so very little room to play with before cold water enters it.

[@MultiBabo1]

Hi Tom Is that second white cable included when buying the dimmer switch? Thanks alot!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hey Fabio, no there is no wire. But any decent copper wire should do, 2.5mm would be ideal. The wattage flowing through the pump is only 50 watts. Cheers!

[@MultiBabo1]

Thx for the info! Cheers

[@OneAnonymous-l6t]

Hey Tom, fixing a dimmer to a pump, would it reduce the lifespan of the pump? How well has it been holding?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Good question. The dimmer has started dying on me, to be honest. I don't know if it will affect the pump, though.

[@OneAnonymous-l6t]

Thank you for being honest. Where I am from, we don't have that going around here. Soon, I'll migrate to Germany in a couple of years.

[@henningk.4236]

Hey Tom, I really appreciate the work you put in your videos. Do you think such a mod is possible in the Lelit Grace and Victoria? Cheers Henning

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hello Henning, sure, it's super easy. Just follow the same steps. But I would suggest buying a high quality dimmer. Mine is already going kaput (not working linearly).

[@steelski01]

is it possible to mod the delonghi dedica in this way?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes. I will do a video about it someday.

[@saocir]

Amazing mod an looks super easy to do! I really want you to get a Silvia and see how you can mod it :D

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Maybe one day! I do know someone with a Silvia...maybe she'll let me mod it for her. Cheers!

[@dennispronk6403]

Is this dimmer mod also possible on the ecp delonghi ?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes sir.

[@Swivelsonwheels]

Awesome Tim, thanks

[@MrKelemen]

Hi Tom, I most certainly think that pressure should be decreased during brewing due to the fact that the puck will erode throughout the extraction. To keep the flow rate constant one should decrease pressure. Great mode and informative video as always. Thank you

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Great point, Sandor! This mod allows you to compensate for that, and lower the pressure a bit when you can see that the puck is starting to break down. It also makes less of a mess then, when you are using a bottomless PF like I do. Cheers!

[@VC-jf4nw]

Hi Tom, Do we need to change OPV spring mod to 9 bars or we should keep OEM 15 bars if we install Dimmer mod? Anyway thanks for all your great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hello there! The 9 bar mod is great if you want to do a an easy swap. But if you do this mod instead, then you have dynamic control over the water flow, and therefore the pressure applied to the coffee puck. Anyway, the OEM spring allowed a maximum of 12.5 bar before shunting off water, but that is with a blind disc. It will be less than that with a coffee puck. Long story short, I think the dimmer mod makes the spring mod superfluous.

[@surfacepro5519]

Tom, you seem to understand the engineering really well, so I rely on your expertise. I have read that the dimmer switch can shorten the life of the Ukla pump and it should be avoided. However, the mod seems to be something most people apply for pressure profiling, including me. I have modified my Gaggia based on your input and get great shots as a result. So the question I guess is, in your assessment, does a dimmer switch severely shorten the lifespan of the pump ?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@surfacepro5519 Well, the dimmer is a leading edge phase cut dimmer, meaning that it brings the voltage down to zero at the leading edge of the up and down swings of the sine curve. Of course those little pumps were not designed for that. It may very well affect the lifespan of the pump, although I’m not really sure. Either way, the pump itself is quite affordable, around $20-$30. Hope that helps! Tom.

[@surfacepro5519]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Yep thanks for the reply ! I am getting great results in my drinks. I have replaced the pump once before so I am not concerned about doing it again.

[@halalbarista]

Hallo, ich hab’s mit dem Dimmer in der Beschreibung versucht.. hat leider nicht geklappt, was ich mir aber absolut nicht erklären kann. An dem PID das ich zuvor verbaut habe kanns nicht liegen oder?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Man muss direkt an der Pumpe anlegen. Es darf nichts zwischengeschalten sein. Gruss!

[@martinkulik9466]

Do you recommend installing dimmer on delonghi 3420? Opv spring mod seems like it's contrapriductive, right? Dimmer makes more sense

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Dimmer would make more sense, yes.

[@Reaper8520]

Would like to do the same mod, what is the lowest watt it should be rated to work?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

The Ulka EP5 is only 48 Watts, so choose a dimmer that can handle at least that amount. Most dimmers will have higher power ratings though.

[@KOZ-k1p]

Please Tom (or someone) share the link to the dimmer switch. when I search I either find plastic ones or others that say for LED (not sure if LED ones work)

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You have to look in your country. Cheers!

[@anthonyzwierzchowski5736]

Where did you find this exact dimmer? Looks great.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Anthony, I found that one at Toom in Germany. It's a hardware store. Cheers!

[@guilhermefalk916]

Hi Tom! The GCP have power input of 1200W. Do you know how much W the pump consumes? It seems the dimmer you linked has the maximum power output of 300W, how that worked?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Guilherme! The GCP's pump takes 47 watts, so you just need a dimmer that can handle that wattage. Most are dimensioned above that. This one works fine for the GCP, although sometimes I feel it doesn't work as linearly as I'd like. Cheers!

[@guilhermefalk916]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you!

[@guilhermefalk916]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Almost forgot to ask: Do you know if this dimmer will work onthe Dedica? Do you know how many watts it's pump takes?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@guilhermefalk916 Hi! Well they are all Ulka pumps, so I am guessing 50 watts. So yes, this dimmer would work.

[@wikipeterv556]

Hast du evtl. eine schwarze Version des Dimmers parat? Ich habe nicht rausfinden können, was genau für einer benötigt wird. Danke. Schwarz und klein wäre gut, ähnlich wie der Shades of C. Dimmer wäre gut.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Servus! Den könnte man mal ausprobieren: amzn.to/3PgQ6Z6 Der geht bis 100 Watt, ist klein und schwarz. Die Pumpe braucht 48 Watt. Gruß!

[@espressomatic]

Tom, you need to (eventually) cover the Gaggiuino mod (touch-screen graphs and control, PID temp control, pressure profiling via pump control, etc.) IMO, it looks like the best of such mods available.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi! Yes I have seen it, and I would really enjoy doing the mod, but it looks very time consuming. Maybe in the future, if they start selling a kit with all the parts, and the finished code, I could do that. Thanks! Tom

[@tonygibbons5]

Did you click the dimmer off completely there early in the shot??

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes I did. Trying to emulate a pre-infusion pause. Cheers!

[@tonygibbons5]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner nice!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@tonygibbons5 Yeah, it's pretty sick to have complete control over the pump...finally!

[@sitestore]

thx! Just installed it

[@rinoldix]

Hi Tom, awesome video! Tom, the link you posted for the dimmer on Amazon shows a completely different dimmer from yours, it doesn't look so nice, do you think it would work the same?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Art! I tried posting links for each region. This one was found in Germany. Which market are you in?

[@rinoldix]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks for replying Tom, I am in United States

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@rinoldix Hi Art! I think this one would look nice, as just the black knob would protrude from the housing. amzn.to/3pVo61s Otherwise, just have a look for dimmers on Amazon...👍🏻

[@rinoldix]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks again Tom, I did but couldn't find one as nice as the one you used. I will eventually!

[@antonios.1597]

Hi Tom, I plan to do the dimmer mod to my Dedica (along with the installation of a manometer like you showed in your other video). But honestly, I am hoping to find a dimmer that is a little smaller and has a knob that will fit the machine's style better. What are the specs I will have to keep an eye on (living in Germany (220V)) so it will work safely with the Dedica? Thanks a lot!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hey Antonio, the pump is only 48 watts, so I am thinking most dimmers will be dimensioned high enough. Just check the specs. Cheers!

[@hoqpus]

Hi Antonio, were you able to find a smaller and cheap dimmer in Germany?

[@jmat46]

hi Tom, very good video, could it be done at the dedica?

[@hoqpus]

Can I simply use a guitar poti as dimmer?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Good question, Felix. Short answer is no. Long answer: a dimmer is not a potentiometer. I originally thought they were the same thing, too. But a dimmer is different, in that it uses a rectifying diode, to cut off certain segments of the sine wave of voltage. So a leading edge dimmer will allow for example the first 90 degrees of the positive sine wave, then cut off the rest, and do the same on the negative downswing. So you see, the dimmer abruptly cuts off voltage. A pot limits current in a circuit, as it is a variable resistor. Hope that helps. And if I am wrong on any of these points, someone feel free to correct me. College was a long time ago.

[@hoqpus]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you very much. Sounds legit to me. My inner me already knew the short answer so I ordered a dimmer last night. I noticed 2 things: not all go down to 0V. Which means you would always have some power applied even if the dimmer is shut. Further I saw there are versions where the actual knob (like a guitar poti) is attached to the platform via cable. This makes it easier to mount I guess as you can put the platform anywhere and the screw in the housing just holds the knob. I'm just watching your spring mod videos. Is this mod still required with the dimmer mod? And if yes can I modify my stock spring to be at ~9-10 bars?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I would say that since you can adjust the flow with the dimmer, the 9 bar mod is less significant. And yes you are right that the dimmer does not seem to completely cut off the voltage, at least the cheaper dimmers. The one I used was a cheaper model, and it does not seem very fine in its adjustment, or rather is lacking over time. Hard to explain, but I think a higher quality dimmer will work better in the long run.

[@Redboxstud]

Amazing! ❤

[@tellarshout7273]

what are the specs on the wires ??

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Use wires of the same guage as the currently installed ones. I cannot remember if they are 1.5mm or 2.5mm.

[@roytromb_strength]

I was looking for this question@@TomsCoffeeCorner

[@Oklums]

it is necessary to try on a funnel for a coffee filter

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

No, it just makes dosing easier.

[@dennispronk6403]

If you do a 3.3k resister parallel with the pump you can use the entire scale of the dimmer now the pump start on the half of the dimmer I see

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That's interesting, will have to keep that in mind. Have you tried it?

[@iamdihan]

Please do a Gaggiuino mod

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I know it would be cool, but I'd need some time off of work for that. Maybe someday...

[@Johnnybananass-_]

You should actually show how you got the grey wire off abd what you connected back on , you jump over quite an important step that involves household voltage haha

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

All I did was put a dimmer between the return wire and the pump terminal. Of course one should always be careful, and make sure the machine is off, unplugged, and discharged of electrical and steam power, and at room temperature.

[@mortenroedfrederiksen3393]

Should the dimmer be grounded to the chassis as well?

[@TomJones-tx7pb]

Really pretty mod. I like it. I would want a manometer also, set the over-pressure valve to 10 bar (or leave it at 12 bar), and use the dimmer to keep the pressure at 9 bar and below (then I know all of the flow is going through the puck and not being dumped by the OPV, and the grind is not too fine). Right now I do a gentle pre-infusion under gravity pressure for 15-30 seconds until the flow decreases (nothing coming out of the portafilter at this point), indicating the puck has expanded. Then a ramp upto 2 bar in a few seconds and a couple of more seconds for coffee to be coming out of all the holes in the basket. Then a quick ramp upto about 6-9 bar (depending upon the flow rate) until about 2:1 extraction, followed by a gentle drop to 0 bar over about 10 seconds which adds about another .5:1 extraction. I foam using a nanofoamer which adds no water to the milk, so the amount of water in the coffee is about the same as someone using a semi-automatic dual boiler for a 2:1 extraction. I really am confused why people think there is a "lever pull" profile, as I can create pretty much any profile I want with a Flair 58.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Totally agree with you, Tom. I would like to add a manometer too, but I need a bigger stepped drill bit, or to find a manometer that is smaller than 40mm in diameter for the guage. Thanks for sharing your workflow...that sounds pretty awesome. I try going for gravity pressure too, for a pre-infusion pause. You can do that by pressing the button in slightly on my dimmer model. Cheers!

[@TomJones-tx7pb]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner wow that pre-infusion is really cool for a semi-automatic.

[@MetalDoraemon6]

Why doing the 9 bar mod then? Why not th dimmer straight away?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

To be honest, my dimmer ended up taking a crap. The spring just always works. But they work differently. The spring is essentially a gate, only having an influence above a certain threshold. The dimmer limits the flow dynamically, as you want.

[@BigBenAdv]

I'd not recommend to pilot with a regular drill bit if you have a step-bit; regular drill bits actually have their point a little off center due to the geometry and the ground edge. This doesn't affect the step bits due to the specific geometry.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for that tip. I will have to have a closer look at my drill bits. I assumed they were conically symmetrical, but I could be wrong. Cheers!

[@BigBenAdv]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner If your drill bits are not specifically 135' split point then they'll tend to actually not have a centered cuting tip. Depending on which flute's cutting edge engages first, the bit will shift very slightly to that side. Just look directly top-down and you'll see that the tip is actually a curve due to the 118' angle of grinding of the flutes. That's why machining operations always use a specific center drill to spot pilot for regular twist bits. To be clear, there's nothing really wrong with what you did since it's not a critical dimension. I just found it amusing that you used a regular HSS bit that's not self-centering to pilot for a step-bit that's self centering. 😅

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@BigBenAdv Haha, well I am not a mechanical guy, and I didn't know that the step bit was also self centering. Now I know. That's what these comments are good for - I learn from you guys. Thanks a lot, and have a good one! Tom

[@BigBenAdv]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner I'm not a mechanical guy either. Just been a handyman and tinkerer all this time. I used to be annoyed with the regular bits shifting even after I center punched the material to drill and discovered that the average bits sold in hardware stores just simply wouldn't center properly. One fine day I was rummaging through the neighbourhood hardware shop and found an old stock Unibit (probably about 15 to 20 years old by then) and that was a life changer for me. Being able to add a slight chamfer and deburr at the same time was a great bonus too.

[@paetgmeiner3620]

Great!

[@jasonlee9566]

Add a pressure gauge and it would be perfect

[@mohamedmajer1954]

Machine , GASTROBACK PICCOLO ❤️

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Haha, what about it?

[@DNA2000-8bit]

You could have drilled the hole with the unit positioned upside down. Voila, little to no metal debris inside the machine.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That's true - good thinking. Cheers!

[@frankstone8930]

Buying a nice black knob was just to much 😂😂😂

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

?? Do you mean that I bought a silver colored dimmer?

[@srupp9271]

Dimmer does not control the voltage. It controls the resistance.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You're thinking of a potentiometer. A dimmer does in fact alter the voltage via triacs, which are like transistors.

[@bonzaibush4391]

mmmmm silky smoooooooth 😂😂

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

😎

[@peterpeter5666]

Great vid but if making an espresso is going to be that complicated, it kinda takes away from the enjoyment. I'd rather pay more for a machine that doesn't need mods.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Just think of the dimmer as a throttle. You get to adjust the gas dynamically.

[@peterpeter5666]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner I understand. But I'm not looking for the perfect cup of espresso. I just want to hit the button and have a good esspress. Just too busy .... And lazy lol

[@showmak]

Get a Nespresso machine then, lol.

[@peterpeter5666]

@@showmak nah got a jura e6 instead

[@jamesmac6102]

Your espresso shot was under-extracted. This is a common problem with dimmer/flow control. It is very hard to maintain consistency. Another problem is the ULKA pump is heating too much.

[@guiwood]

What do you mean by the pump heating too much?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Do you mean the pump gets too hot? Because it cannot heat the water. I haven't noticed any pump side effects up to this point. Cheers!

[@mohamedmajer1954]

👍👍👍👍

[@doznanie]

like for Knipex :)

[@manliogebbia3596]

interessante

[@tom_nuyts]

one more fine mod - you already did this with an external Dimmer for the Dedica - here another similar (alternative) solution (in German), using a small(er) and perhaps cheaper voltage regulator : kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6LTonuZqquGZqM ,

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That's a cool video!

[@salocin911]

😅

[@cristim9779]

I hate this machine. It makes super bitter and woody espresso. I got rid of it.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

What did you get instead?

[@cristim9779]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner La Specialista Arte

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@cristim9779 Oh nice! How are you liking it?