(Part 2) Best espresso machine accessories according to redditors

Perfect for steaming 2oz of milk, no waste.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E73TG4G/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_Hwd8Cb8WXNZ4W

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LIST OF PARTS/BUILD LIST TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE:

Gaggia Classic: new they come in around $3-$400, but you can pick up a refurb from Whole Latte Love for about $290, or even cheaper on the used market (I picked one up that was basically just out of the box for half a decade but never used for $250. After some cleaning she was in perfect condition)

https://www.wholelattelove.com/refurbished-gaggia-classic-brushed-ss-espresso-machine?source=googleps&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2eCjlYLJ4AIVrr3tCh1zHg6yEAYYBCABEgIaVvD_BwE

Mr Shades PID Kit: £89 - and worth every penny. How to get in touch with Mr Shades to get it I already explained above

https://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?27931-MrShades-Gaggia-Classic-PID-Kit-Complete-PID-kit-with-full-guide-%A389

Baratza Sette 270WI: They come in at around $550 new for the latest, and most updated WI model (that we think is the move for overall durability and ease of use). There are other 270 and W models all available for cheaper, but the most desirable WI model dskot got refurbished from Baratza’s site for $450, but only when they have them available.

https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-270Wi-Grind-Weight-Conical-Grinder/dp/B01G82WTZ2/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?hvadid=267969625121&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12162448283058120052&hvtargid=kwd-470582918388&keywords=baratza+sette+270wi&qid=1550621304&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spons&tag=googhydr-20&psc=1&smid=A302OQK4GZWXCC

20g VST PF Basket: $20 - Competition grade baskets from VST just help to take out another potential layer of uneven extraction, closer examined by having bottomless PF’s. We’ve also noticed this just helps the consistency of shots a little better, but like I said earlier, we’re not certain if it was more due to the PID or the basket, as we put them in at the same time. Not meant to be a scientific review, all you gotta know is this thing will help your extractions.

https://store.vstapps.com/products/vst-precision-filter-baskets

Tamper: $57 (or much cheaper) We would recommend getting a precision tamp to work better within the VST basket, which is precision machined to 58.4mm. Just fits together a lot nicer than a standard 58mm tamp, and will prevent any further potential for uneven distribution, but realistically, you can get just any 58mm tamper. I got the Cafelat precision zebra wood tamp linked below, but recently upgraded to the Eazytamp 5 star pro because I’m lazy and find myself tamping unevenly, but this is just part of my OD nature in doing things. There are cheaper options depending on the wood you choose from them, just look on amazon to whatever fits your preference. Just whatever you do, DO NOT drop your tamper on the floor or counter. I learned the hard way on accident and had to buy another because they will dent/bend and any chance of precision is now out the window, but thats my fault, and not just because of the type of metal they use.

https://www.amazon.com/Cafelat-Zebra-Wood-Tamper-58-35mm/dp/B01MG3ZDKH/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=cafelat+tamper&qid=1550621500&s=gateway&sr=8-6

EVERYTHING BEYOND THIS POINT IS OPTIONAL, BUT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HELPING YOU MAKE GREAT, AND CONSISTENT EXTRACTIONS

Distribution tool: $18 - We both went the cheap route, and got the OCD knockoff tool from amazon. There are a handful of other options from the Pullman, OCD, BT Wedge, and so on, but are all very expensive, and for $18, we didn’t think it could be a bad move. Major differences are the 3 fins vs 4 fins on the OCD, and also very likely any type of precision milling will not be there on the knockoff, but realistically, they do the same thing, and we’ve both been able to get near perfect center streams almost every time within 10-15 sec of extraction. Only reason why it would take longer or wouldn’t go perfect center is bc I’ll occasionally lop side my tamp, or in the beginning when we didn’t necessarily understand how to properly use the tool yet (Once height is dialed, I use 6 counterclockwise turns to distribute, followed by 4 clockwise turns to smooth the top. There are plenty of videos and tutorials online on how to get your tool dialed in if you decide to get one)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bottomless PF (PortaFilter): $35-65 Few different options here - just make sure you get one that will work with the Gaggia classic, or most Gaggia machines as they have different flange positions than most other machines or E61 group heads. Cheaper/simple black version is on the first link, but if you’d prefer to go down the same route I did and get the walnut handle, I bought the one off of ebay from Portugal. I know there are a few other links on the web for a walnut handled PF for the Gaggia, but I only care to include things from experience, and even though I can’t really tell you if it’s legit/high-quality wood or not, I’m more than happy with it and it’s looks.

https://www.amazon.com/Bottomless-Portafilter-Gaggia-Filter-Basket/dp/B00KRR4K2K/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=176952831569&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4233166420998163957&hvtargid=kwd-46401287557&keywords=gaggia+classic+bottomless+portafilter&qid=1550622553&s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bottomless-Portafilter-Gaggia-6-6-mm-Wings-Walnut-Wood-Handle/222827423587?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Rancilio Silvia Steam wand: $25 - a very easy mod (just an unscrew and trade of the nut to connect it to the machine, (don’t use the extra washer from the Rancilio wand)) to upgrade the machines milk steaming capabilities. Also plenty of videos online how to do so. I decided to go with the Silvia wand instead of the pannerello for the extra durability (full metal wand vs plastic part trade off) and also easier to keep the Silvia wand clean and sanitary. Up to your personal preference, I get good results with the Silvia wand but have heard and seen good things from the pannerello alternative.

Acaia Lunar: $225 - will probably put you over the top of the $1k range, and isn’t directly necessary, but is a very useful tool to time your shots accurately, as well as have a very accurate scale setup to weigh everything out. Great for logging your shots and helping to develop recipes for different beans. You can essentially do the same thing with a normal scale sensate down to .1 grams, and then either a timer or your phones timer, but if you have the bread for the lunar, it’s definitely well worth it with it also being water resistant (they say in a video you can’t list something as waterproof unless it can operate under water, and you obviously can’t get an accurate reading of coffee weight while the thing would be underwater).

And finally, if you care to go down the exact same route I did with wrapping it, you can basically buy any type of automotive 3M wrap (color and finish of your choice) and just take off all the components and wrap the front facade. Little tedious, but if you like the look it’s well worth it.

That should basically do it for the full writeup of where we’re at with our home setups, and hopefully can aid in giving you some insight to what you might want to do with yours. Might be a lot to digest, but hopefully we included enough detail and info to get you started. If not, feel free to ask either of us any questions, or if you’d care for any of our suggestions on if any piece of this caffeinated puzzle would be worth it or not, just shoot away in the comments.

Outside of that, happy extracting :)

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Thanks! Here you go!

Vario 886 Grinder

Pocket scale

Distributor

Dosing Funnel

Espro calibrated tamper VST 58.35 Flat

Grindenstein Knock box

Presto timer

18g VST portafilter basket

IMS E61 shower screen

E61 thermometer

49mm is not commonly available.

I don't think you can ask for much more than the stainless model on Amazon in 3 colors for under $15.

I used a bottomless portafilter and I am getting much less channeling and an even extraction. Maybe it wont help you as much as it did me because I'm relatively new to this, but it made my shot pulls much more uniform. That, in turn, has helped me dial in my grinder better and pull good shots almost every time I want to.

This is similar to the one I bought. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MS4883G/ref=twister_B01NCSHK6B?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Probably not exactly what you're asking but...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHOUI86/ref=twister_B00D6D4ZPE
That is THE best thermos you can buy. Nobody that ever bought it regretted spending the $ on it. It'll keep your coffee hot (I mean hot, not warm) for at least 8-12 hours easily. Just don't burn yourself. It'll also keep any ice water ice cold for about 24+ hours. Won't fit an aeropress though...

http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-EP-20-Stainless-Frothing/dp/B0002VJM60/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406072420&sr=8-2&keywords=frothing+pitcher

To solve the aeropress issue, you can push into that and pour into the thermos.

Ey! Welcome to the Gaggia fam! Check out r/gaggiaclassic

A couple of things I bought to help my espresso game a little easier

This is the frothing pitcher I use. I've found it to be simple to use. Although look up videos to learn how to properly steam milk if youre like me and dont know.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016ZOFTGY/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I found a calibrated tamper to help with tamping at 30lbs pressure. I'm thankful for this guy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N977TNG/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also use this distributor to help level my grind before tamping
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Gonna need a good tamping mat too. This is cheap and works well
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077C41TJS/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A knock box is really convenient. I found a decent priced one that gets the job done
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FHYFP6N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Also, if you have the Classic 2015 model. I'd suggest replacing the steam wand with the Rancilio Sylvia model wand. It fits, and people mod their classic to get better performance with steaming.
https://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-Silvia-Version-Steam-Wand/dp/B018F88X34/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rancilio+silvia+steam+wand&qid=1569554756&s=home-garden&sr=1-1

r/gaggiaclassic has more if you really wanna get crazy! I've enjoyed my gaggia for the 8 months that I've had it. Just keep up with the maintenance and its said to last years. I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever

I use one similar to this (not this exact one) https://www.amazon.com/CREMA-PRO-Milk-Thermometer-Accessories/dp/B01JAHSXEI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518812241&sr=8-3&keywords=coffee+thermometer

because its your first machine, a height adjustable palm tamper will help your consistency, and this matters a lot! They are cheap at amazon, this one seems excellent as it has a leveler: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MMD3795/ref=psdc_13397451_t4_B01LAGBM90

Also, research the Weiss Distribution Technique (WDT) if you want to avoid frustrations.

It is easy to use. Fill tank with water. Grind beans. Put grinds in coffee basket and tamp. Put basket on the unit and tighten down. Put cup underneath basket and turn the knob once. Wait for the green light to come on. Turn the knob again to dispense. Turn off when done.

And here is the tamper I use. It is excellent IMO. Cheap and useful AND sturdy. Can't beat it.

EDIT: Well here is the rest of what I use as well. Grinder. This is a bit cheap, you could do better but also do worse.

And the milk pitcher for frothing. It may seem silly to spend that much on a metal pitcher but I highly recommend it.

So for about $120 $140 plus shipping you can be all set up!

EDIT 2: Buy decent whole beans and keep them tightly rolled in the bag and put the bag in something like this. Grind just enough to make a cup when you are wanting one.

Help you learn. You can see exactly what's going on with your shots. Also, it's just cool.

I have this tamp but I'll probably upgrade to a precision. It's a solid cheap option, though:

Tamper - Espresso Tamper - mm... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NJ8MGWZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And then this leveler:

Coffee Tamper Coffee... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M986PM7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Since I'm in Amazon, you're gonna want to pick up some descaler. There's probably a cheaper option but this is what's recommended by Gaggia:

Gaggia Decalcifier Descaler... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IABPSNY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Then some cafiza to back flush:

Urnex Espresso Machine Cleaning... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001418KNS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

If you're buying used, I'd highly recommend pulling the boiler apart to make sure it's not super gross and just soak it in descaler.

It sounds like you're entirely starting new, so I can give you some pointers I hope will be helpful. I also run a Breville Infuser, but I have a Ceado E6P.

• Maintenance and cleanliness. (More of general kitchen tip, but applies doubly here)
  
  When was the last time the grinder was cleaned? When was the last time the machine was descaled and back flushed? Consider this to be like brushing your teeth: you do it regularly so you don't get cavities and dental disease. You do not want to wait until things get funky. I clean my stuff about once a month. I also descale once a month because I have hard water; but I used to live somewhere where I only needed to descale once every 6 months.
  
  On cleaning your grinder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVVsTAUzVzM
  
  Grindz tablets: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY
  
  Descale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1TiwoJbWA
  
  Our machines do not have a descale mode, but that doesn't matter, you can follow the steps anyway. Also, just buy citric acid, you don't need Breville's stuff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNBHPAS/ I always backflush after I descale, so I stop following this guide at roughly the 2 minute mark.
  
  Backflush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1N8HLoW6ew
  
  Cafiza: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L8RTEM/
  
  
• Beans:
  
  You need fresh beans. There's no two ways around this. You can play with this if you like. Old beans are monumentally difficult to dial in, and often it's impossible. I find beans last nearly a month after the roast date, but there's a noticeable drop off after the second week. There's a lot of room for experimenting here, I recommend you do. Also note, that some beans cannot be dialed in. I don't understand the roasting and processing factors, but there is a lot of variation here.
  
  
• About the Infuser:
  
  Our machine can be programmed such that it will dispense a fairly precise volume of water with the press of a single button. My 1 cup button is programmed to purge the group head, and my 2 cup button is programmed for a regular pull. I want you to know that this a really a good approximation, but Breville has a "smart" feature where it will try to "save" the shot if it thinks the pressure is too high. This has ruined a few cups for me, so I only have this programmed for those bad mornings, but otherwise I don't use it.
  
  Edit: I'm an idiot. If your pressure gauge is "bouncing" or fluctuating during a shot, most likely your pump is going bad. You can try to service it or replace it, I bought one of these off amazon and it is working: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMNA138/. I got this because it arrived the same day. This is the actual pump: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZRP3GD.
  
  I only use the 2 shot single walled basket, and I have also modified my portafilter to be bottomless. I generally find a good shot is just after the second screw in the pressure gauge, but that gauge is not very helpful.
  
  
• 
  
  I bought a few toys to help me out. These are not necessary, and in fact some people will tell you that you don't need them at all. Those people are probably right, but I like my toys anyway.
  
  A funnel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N693YSS/ A cut yogurt cup can work. It doesn't need to be fancy, I just wanted something fancy.
  
  A pick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E48EWA/ A toothpick or anything pointy can totally suffice. Again, just wanted to be fancy.
  
  A leveling tool. I have a 51mm because that's what I could find cheaply at the time, but it looks like 53mm are also available now. 51mm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BTN1S2C/ 53mm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S4Q179B/
  
  A tamp: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUXN53U/ This tamp has a spring inside it. I only bought this because I had a nasty habit of over tamping.
  
  I found this video that I like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMldWhQVMQA I would not tap the filter after the distribution (where he's stirring the grounds), and I tamp gently. I don't twist or turn the tamp.
  
  
• 
  
  Dialing in is a trial and error type deal. In general, you want ~16 grams in the portafilter, and want to pull ~32 grams of espresso in ~30 seconds. These aren't hard and fast rules, and there's a lot of wiggle room here.
  
  Find a coin like a nickel or penny and clean it. After you've tamped your portafilter, place the coin directly on top of the grounds, then lock the portafilter in the machine. Remove the portafilter and then carefully remove the coin from the grounds. (Do not pull a shot with the coin in there)
  
  Is there an indentation in the grounds? If so, then you have overfilled the portafilter. If not, you might be good, or the portafilter might be underfilled. A scale will really help here.
  
  To pull a shot, I have my portafilter locked in, and place my mug on top of my scale underneath the portafilter. I will hold down the 2 shot button (doesn't matter, you can hold down the 1 shot button), and keep it depressed for roughly 10 seconds. This is the preinfusion stage. Low pressure water is being introduced to the grounds. I chose 10 seconds because this is when I first start to see espresso appear at the bottom of my basket. You can experiment here. I then release the button to allow the full extraction. I press the button again at ~30 grams to stop the extraction.
  
  I want to emphasize that these are rough guidelines. You may find something entirely different that works. I apologize if I came off as rude or condescending, I'm a bit of a turd by nature. Please ask if you have any questions.

Get one of these:


https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Knock-Box-Espresso-Stainless/dp/B07BDK71TR?crid=1Z3T0I4IL4R5&keywords=espresso+knock+box&qid=1539718515&s=Home+%26+Kitchen&sprefix=espresso+knock+%2Cgarden%2C310&sr=1-4&ref=sr_1_4


I use one similar at home for my set up

This is the absolute best scale for the price. Very very accurate. An absolute must for dosing and measuring shots by volume. It’s the perfect size to fit under the spout as well.

My grind setting sits just under a 2. But, it will differ based on what coffee, how old, each machine individually, and so on. I’ve never had a shot time correctly courser then a 4.

The cone + toothpick this helped my shots 10 fold. It’s called re-distribution. Doing this help break up the clumps in the ground beans and makes sure that everything is more evenly distributed. Getting rid of the clumps helps + even distribution help fight against channeling.

The tamper feels much more comfortable in my hand and has a better weight to it. I feel like I can control it better then the cheap plastic tamper the machine came with.



scale

cone

tamper

Looks like this one.

Yolococa Corner Tamping Mat Pad Tool Made For Baristas With Non-Slippery Food Safe Silicone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XYZ8R4V

Yolococa 58mm Calibrated Espresso Tamper 30Lbs Pressure Stainless Steel Calibrated Pressure Tamper For Coffee And Espresso,Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XQVG6GJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_F6htDbMAAHA5P

Buy this tamper:
Apexstone Coffee Tamper 49mm,Espresso Coffee Tamper 49mm,Espresso Tamper 49mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZNTLH9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xY-4Cb1BFJQYD

I use one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KDULEDS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I can try to get a video soon. It does it on pretty much every extraction, though to varying degrees. Sometimes a little, sometimes horribly bad, but enough that I hold the cup up every time so that it catches most of the espresso.

Here's my method:
I use a gaggia mdf grinding at 6. I'm using a scale to measure 7 grams for now until I get an eye for how much I need. I'm using the single shot pressurized basket because the other two seemed to be clogged up and I need to clean them. I pour in the measured grounds into the basket and get my tamper. I bought this one since it did not come with one. I put the front end of the portafilter (opposite of the handle) on the ledge of my counter for stability, hold the tamper as level as possible, and then just push and turn. Then I put the portafilter on the grouphead and turn on the pump and wait for it to produce an ounce or two. Or often times it just sprays everywhere.

If you can get a 49.7, that'd be the best fit, but the RSVP 49mm works well enough.

Towards the end of my usage of it, I got a custom one from Reg Barber for the above specs, but that was a bit pricey of an investment.

Milk steaming pitcher