Scorching Water
I really like my americanos, and the excellent news is, the Gaggia Vintage Evo Professional delivers piping sizzling, steamy water for the ones americanos (or for tea utilization). I learn court cases from other people at the espresso boards that they suspect the Vintage is busted quite for decent water supply. “I open the steam wand and run the pump, however water comes out each the steam wand and grouphead! And it’s no longer sizzling sufficient!”.
They aren’t doing it proper. The right kind manner is to turn at the steam transfer prior to drawing water. This electronically closes the drift valve to the grouphead and simplest lets in water to return out of the steam wand when the center pump rocker transfer is activated. Do all of it in an instant to get great 90C water. Need it warmer? Turn the steam transfer, wait 5 seconds, then open the steam knob and run the pump transfer. The water is round 100C popping out of the wand (and sputtering reasonably just a little so be cautious of burning your self from any splashes).
Some other lengthy tale quick, this gadget is in point of fact just right at offering sizzling water on call for, for heating cups, for americanos, and on your tea drinks. However it’ll cool off dramatically when you’re drawing greater than 3 or 4oz.
Steaming Milk
So, I keep in mind the 1998 Gaggia Vintage being terrible for steaming milk; the one manner it beat the Rancilio was once within the shorter time it took to transition between brewing temperatures and steaming temperatures (is sensible – one had a 100ml boiler, the opposite had a 350ml boiler).
Rely me pleasantly shocked to peer the 2023 Gaggia Vintage Evo Professional handles steaming a lot better than I remembered. It takes about 45 seconds to transition from brew to steam able lighting. Then some other 40-45 seconds to steam 180ml (6oz) of milk as much as 65C (150F). In truth, that isn’t terrible. No longer speedy, however the gadget produces steam via a pleasant two-hole tip that during my literal first pass I used to be ready to provide close to highest microfoam with.
However 40-45 seconds continues to be sluggish. There’s a trick, one I keep in mind from the 1998 Gaggia Vintage, to steam so much faster with this gadget. The trick is not to let the steam able lamp activate. When it activates, the heating component turns off. You don’t need that. You need it firing away when you steam.
After the use of the Gaggia Vintage Evo Professional for some time, you’ll get to understand more than a few timings on it. Time for the boiler to cycle in brew mode (about 8 seconds). Time for the boiler to transition from brew mode to steam able mode (about 40 seconds, however longer when you flush the wand of any liquid all through the warmth up, so about 45-50 seconds if so).
So with that during thoughts, I activated the steam transfer, counted to twenty, and flushed the wand. Counted some other 15 seconds, and began steaming the milk. A whole lot of great, robust steam, and I may just get the 180ml milk as much as 65C in round 30 seconds. All with luscious, paint-like microfoam on best. Very appropriate instances and function. I believe the Gaggia may combat just a little with greater milk volumes, however a handy guide a rough blip at the heart pump transfer to refill the tiny boiler with water will most likely come up with longer steaming skill. I’ll quilt that within the complete overview.
Cup Clearance
Yet another factor to speak about with this gadget: cup clearance. It’s beautiful dangerous. You’ll choose to shop for an o.e.m low profile plastic insert to switch the plastic drip tray, or simply pull photographs with out the tray in position, retaining in thoughts the force discharge from the solenoid valve will make just a little of a multitude (you’ll be able to put a small cup below that pipe to gather the release when you like). Should you like brewing into cups which are greater than 10-12cm tall with this gadget, you’re going to be annoyed. And fail to remember the use of a scale, except you take away the drip tray solely.
The Gaggia Vintage has all the time had this factor. It’s like Gaggia expects you to just brew into coffee cups and not anything else. They may simply treatment this with a small body and frame exchange to carry issues just a little, or be offering a decrease profile OEM drip tray.
