Re: Gaggia Classic vs Carezza

In <12u485fajeedod9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, on Sun, 25 Feb 2007 15:50:10
-0800, Jim wrote:

... the metal plate
above the head does get warm, and you are supposed to put your cups
there (what's that fancy term for the small demi-tasse?). It will start
warming a cup after about ten minutes. The Gaggia instructions say to
preheat the unit for six (?) minutes before use.

I don't have the manual handy, but last I checked,
it took my Classic 14 minutes for the portafilter/
grouphead interface to come up to temperature. I don't
recall what the voltage was at that house though;
certainly higher than here.

Check the voltage at the outlet; you're probably
not getting as much juice as your sister is.

If she has 10% more voltage, she's got 10% more wattage and heating
power.

Actually, 10% more voltage means 21% more power.
Power varies as the square of the voltage.

Line voltage inside of a house will also drop with the espresso
maker alone, depending on wiring conditions and whatever else is on the
circuit. You could check voltage at the same outlet at both houses
while each machine is working. For kicks, start with the machine off
and notice the drop when it turns on. I just got 122.6 VAC with the
Gaggia Classic off, 119.9 when turned on.

Old house here; 119.6 no-load drops to 116.1 when I
switch the Classic on.
.