Hi, I have been making french press coffee for the last 2 years. Recently got my hands on Aero press. Now planning to get Gaggia Classic Pro Evo (metal series).
As of now I have a hand grinder (burr) and have option to procure pre grounded coffee from local roaster.
Just wanted to know your thoughts. Which was your first espresso machine? How was your experience? What’s few things I should look out for as a beginner? What’s your favourite recipe?
That strongly depends on the coffee. For the Silvia the community recommends temperature surfing, meaning to release enough water through the brew head to trigger a heating cycle.
Then you’d brew your coffee when it just finished heating. This way you get a relatively predictable brewing temperature and heat curve, despite having no PID.
I figure the same might be advisable for other small machines without PID, like the Gaggia.
Beyond that you’ll just have to play with your parameters (amount, grind size, packing pressure, brewing duration) and possibly compensate for environmental variables (temperature, humidity, age of coffee) and find a configuration that produces coffee you like.
Figuring that out it’s half the fun.