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I'm not clear why Sage designed these machines to run at a higher pressure than most - it must have been a deliberate thing but I'm not sure what the benefit was supposed to be. Anyway, a few days ago the tank on my BE happened to run dry in the middle of a shot and I lost pressure. I had some bottled water handy so refilled the tank right away - the pressure ramped back up and the shot continued to extract. The result was a much slower extraction for about the same yield. The shot was surprisingly good, so now I'm thinking about reducing the pump pressure by fiddling with the OPV. This was suggested to me a while back but I didn't follow it up at the time. Has anyone done this kind of mod? I think the gubbinry is designed to be adjustable up to a point, but I've no idea how much.

OPV Adjustment for the Gaggia Classic 1. You will need a pressure gauge that has been modified to fit the bottom of the standard domestic Gaggia portafilter. (fig a) This assembly cost me less than £10 to construct and the parts were readily available. 2. Prime and warm up your machine to the normal operating temperature (At least 20 mins). 3. You’ll notice that there’s no basket in the portafilter above, false pressure readings will be given if you leave it in there. Fill the pressure gauge with water from your machine before attaching it to the head. This serves to eliminate the chances of air being trap in the portafilter and primes your machine for the first test. 4. Switch the pump on. As the pressure rises open the steam valve a little, this will hopefully allow any remaining air out of the system. Once you have a steady stream of water from the steam wand close it and allow the pressure to build until it settles. If you’ve never adjusted your OPV before you’ll probably looking at around 14 bar of pressure. These machines are shipped at this pressure for use with pods so if you do use pods don’t touch a thing. Make a note of your reading and switch off the pump. 5. SWITCH THE POWER OFF AT THE WALL AND REMOVE THE PLUG FOR ABSOLUTE PEACE OF MIND. 6. Remove the two screws from the rear of the top plate and lift away. There is an earth wire attached to the cover, remove it but do not forget to replace it on reassembly. 7. It’s hot in there, be careful. Part of the reason for having the machine warm is that it comes apart a lot easier. Locate the OPV (fig b) (fig b) OPV valve Remove the pipe and put it to one side out of the way. (fig c)[/center] (fig c) OPV pipe removed Using a ratchet wrench, extension and 17mm head remove the top of the OPV. I have specified the tool because I have read of people attempting this with spanners or adjustable spanner even pliers. This is a really bad idea. Like I said it’s hot and you will inevitable burn yourself. At best a spanner will slip and you may damage something else such as your solenoid. Once the top of the OPV is removed you will see a small 5mm (3/16) hex head inside. It can be difficult to see sometimes as there will be water on top of it, but trust me it’s there. (fig d 1 and 2) (fig d 1) OPV, 5 mm hex head revealed Insert a 5mm (3/16) Allen key in the hole and turn it anti clockwise approximately 270° or three quarters of a turn. Reassemble your machine in reverse order. Don’t forget that earth wire and re test the pressure. 8. This is known as a static pressure test which means there’s no flow through the portafilter. The pressure you should be aiming for is 10 bar not 9 bar. This is because the difference between a static reading of 9 bar and a dynamic reading i.e. with flow through the head is 1 bar less. Therefore you need to set your machines to 10 bar which will give you 9 bar dynamic. Here's a video of the gauge in action (at this point it's reading 9 bar instead of 10 bar) 9. You will need to repeat this a few times to get it right but it’s worth it IMHO. I am pulling vastly improved shots with much better crema. Disclaimer: I can not be held responsible for any damage that may invalidate any warranty. You should only attempt this adjustment if you know what you are doing and have the right tools to do it. If you do not feel in any way confident then leave it alone.

Hi, So I should have a Gaggia classic in the next week or so (Hopefully less) and I have been looking at the various mods that can be done to the machine to make it run like a more expensive machine. I have seen mentions of countless mods and was wondering if anyone had links to threads on them or if there is actually nothing documented for them. I don't plan on doing these mods straight away I want to use the machine as it is to see how far I can get with it and then see what needs improving. I will list a few I have seen mentioned so far and see if anyone has any link OPV Mod http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?3859-Adjusting-the-OPV-(over-Pressure-Valve)-Gaggia-Classic PID Obviously MrShades for this http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?31342-MrShades-Gaggia-Classic-PID-Kit-(1-32DIN)-Complete-PID-kit-with-full-guide-%A394 Dimmer pressure profiling (I believe this is for pre-infusing)https://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?20575-Gaggia-Dimmer-Switch-low-pressure-pour Automatic shot timer https://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=21171 Brass plate for the boiler to increase its thermal mass to help with temp dropping from cold water being added. http://www.theespressoshop.co.uk/Mobile/MobileModels.aspx?ModelID=1976 Water preheat, or using the OPV to put water back into the tank and warm it up. Warming coil around the boiler To finish this off i have searched however there are so many posts just saying I have done x,y,z mod and its great but no explanation how and I did not want to resurrect a load of old threads instead I thought I would start a brand new one and hopefully have all the information and links in the same place. Thanks in advance!

Mazza's recent comment about adjusting the OPV got me looking at the various other forums out there, and the mods people have done. In particular, this thread at coffeesnobs goes into a lot of detail. Has anyone tried adjusting an OPV before (on a Classic or indeed any machine)? Would there be any benefit in messing around with the adjustment to see if my machine can be improved? (I don't have any obvious issues at the moment, just an extreme urge to fiddle with anything technical.) Just to be clear, I don't use the single basket, or make ristrettos.

Hi, Recently got a Silvia and really happy with it, though I'm not sure what the brewing pressure is. I'm assuming it's 15bar as it fits the pods, just wondering if there's a link to adjusting the pressure or someone has done it before? I tried to test the pressure with a pressure gauge, but it didn't work and didn't like it as it started to make a hissing house from the boiler! Seems ok now thank god! Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I hope that someone can guide me in the right direction. I've been reading lots of articles and watching loads of YouTube vids about how to make an espresso with my old Gaggia Tebe, that I rescued from gathering dust in the garage. I've had it in pieces (since it wouldn't pump water through the group head when I found it) and have now got it working... well, sort of! I didn't open the OPV since I don't know how to reset it correctly, but think this may be the problem. When I try to make coffee, most of the water goes through the OPV back to the reservoir; I just get drips from the portafilter and it takes ages. I'm hardly tamping at all (using Illy ground, so I don't think it is the grind size) and am wondering if the OPV is opening too easily. I think I need to buy a new portafilter and pressure gauge to check the pressure in the group head, but is there anything else I should do first? Many thanks, Nick

Hi all, I would like to find out if adjusting the OPV on the 2015 model is the same process as the older model, in that you remove the large brass connector thing and then use a 5mm hex to adjust behind? Many thanks in advance for your advice.

I've had a bit of an odd outcome every time I try to check the OPV setting on my ISOMAC Millennium. I have a pressure gauge that I fit to the portafilter. When locked into the grouphead, water somehow flows past the grouphead seal so I can't get an accurate pressure reading. When I do normal backflush routines, this never happens. Always seals. What am I doing incorrectly? Why would this happen?

What pressure should I be reading on the brew head pressure gauge on my Minma? I think it might be a bit high at 9 bar. Where is the OVP and how it it best accessed if I need or want to adjust the pressure. These are probably rather naive questions, but this being my 4th express machine but first E61. I'm loving it and producing great espresso, but there was and is a learning curve. I think the arrival of a Niche in (hopefully) February will be a welcome grinder upgrade.

Can anyone point me to a UK supplier of a OPV (looks like I have a v3 as it's adjustable) OR a refresh kit It would appear the gasket within the OPV is severely degraded, and the hex nut doesn't look great (may be pierced?).

Hi all, I would like to pick your brain as I ran into a dead end here. I have a V3 Silvia (2009) that I pretty much refurbished bit by bit. The problem is that I'm getting water dripping back on the return hose as the machine heats up, steam also escapes there. The first heat cycle is silent, but the second usually comes with the kettling sound. It kind of sounds like a concerto on a Tibetan singing bowl and a kettle full of scale. As all forum threads I've found say it could be simple case of the OPV stuck open or limescale stuck somewhere, but: there is no limescale in the system (took the boiler apart, replaced seal, etc.) and I've first replaced the OPV seat/gasket and now the full OPV since it didn't solve the problem which still persists even with the new OPV. Also the element looks intact. What else can cause these symptoms? The machine is scale free, and the following parts were replaced along the way to refurb/rule out faults: OPV, all thermostats with fresh compound, pump, steam valve + wand I will probably upgrade the Silvia in January, but it would be nice to have it properly functioning for the next owner. Thanks in advance for your help.

Just to share my experience, after reading in a lot of places that there was no possible OPV adjustment on the 2015 Classic, some advice here from Jumbo Ratty and jimbojohn55 set me straight. Finding out that I could adjust a nut on the new OPV, I decided to give it a try. Here is the new style OPV in question (picture courtesy of Jumbo Ratty): Others have reported that their new Classics hit 10 bar out of the box. Attaching a pressure gauge to the portafilter, my 2016-made Classic was reading around 11.5 bar. I simply eased of the 10mm nut around one full turn to achieve a 10 bar reading at the portafilter. No other adjustments. So far, it seems stable with no leaks, but I'll keep an eye on it. Not sure yet whether to seal or fix the nut in place (I'm not too experienced with modding electrical equipment or pumps) but it seems okay. I'm not expert enough to recommend the mod to anyone else, but it seems to have worked for me so far. Thanks to everyone here for the advice!

Hi, I've tried searching but not finding the info I need. I've got an Isomac machine that uses the E61 group head. I'm in the process of an overhaul and need to replace the OPV (expansion valve) so need to adjust it to the right pressure once all together. I have a pressure gauge but need the right joint and thread. Can anyone advise what the thread size on the spout of the portafilter is likely to be? Thanks.

£150, collect near Sheffield. Lovely, regularly serviced, pre 2009 (12/2005) original Milan made machine. Some minor marks, but otherwise great condition. Mods: - Rancilio Silvia wand (original also included) - Brass dispersion plate - IMS Precision shower screen - OPV adjusted New Parts: - Complete new boiler - New 3 way valve Extras: - Blind basket for back-flushing. - Bottle of Gaggia de-scaler All usual parts included, portafilter, plastic tamper, single basket etc. Also available separately - Naked Portafilter (with wooden handle) and 58mm Motta tamper. £40 for both. Could do a deal if purchasing the Gaggia. May consider a courier, but don't have much faith in their reliability.

I've been watching eBay for a suitable Baby as a project, and the model I wanted was the one with 4 square buttons across the front, which should date from around 2004. So bought one and waiting for it to arrive. I wanted a Baby since the top comes right off and it's easier to work on than a Classic, and this model should also have the larger solenoid. I'm planning to swap in a Classic type OPV to get the pressure to 10 bar, though when it comes I'll put my pressure gauge on it and see what it has at present. Any other ideas for what to upgrade on this model Baby? Hopefully it all works fine already. It'll be a second machine if ever I have to work on my Classic.

All, trying to get my head around the reason for adjusting the OPV on my new to me Gaggia Classic. I've done a whole bunch of searching, but nothing that exactly answered my question. Closest I got was here. Right now I am trying to dial in the tamp/grind/dose to just get flow through the machine (a different thread I have). Am I correct that even if you have a machine that has the OPV setting at 12bar, if you have a puck that will flow at 9bar that OPV won't come into play/matter. So if I can't get flow through a puck at a 12bar setting, changing the OPV to 9bar won't change anything for me. I need to dial in my tamp first to allow flow at that 9bar. I'm assuming too dense of a puck needs a higher pressure to get flow through the puck vs a lower density (courser grind, less tamp, less dosing) puck needing more? So does the lower setting just set the high limit for when you will get flow. It basically forces you to adjust your puck density so that it flows at the lower pressure and then you adjust how to balance the other parameters to get the taste you want? Is that right or am I still turned around? Thanks in advance, Andrew

2003 Pre Phillips Gaggia Classic with PID Rancillio Steam Wand I.M.S Shower Screen MyPin PID OPV set @ 9 Bar 2 x group handles various baskets & cleaning basket Good condition, descaled regularly, no expense spared, recent new seals, Comes with various spares £180 Collection preferred from SO22 (Winchester, Hampshire) but will courier @ buyers expense & possible risk

NEW PRICE: £100 if picked up by the end of this weekend! I am moving to the 120V USA, so I'm selling my beloved Gaggia Paros. The Gaggia Paros is effectively a Gaggia Classic internally with a built in grinder, in a compact unit. It was a perfect starter kit for me in terms of price and counterspace. The grinder has worked well for me, and Mark (gaggiamanualservice.com) said they are 'quite good'. The Paros is easily modifiable, just like the classic, although the internal layout is different. I installed the Rancilio steam wand and adjusted the over-pressure valve to 9 bar. I also installed a PID with a sensor from MrShades; the controller sits beside the machine, so I didn't have to alter the case at all. Included: portafilter, double-shot non-pressurised basket. If you need a tamper, I can throw in my 58mm aluminium one, but it is not in the best condition. In the interest of selling this before I leave for the US, I'm asking £100 collected from London (near King's Cross), but I can pack it securely and deliver it at buyer's cost and risk. History: Bought on ebay in 2015 in good condition 10 doubles per week Fed 95% bottled water (Saka) Gasket replaced in January Decal with citric acid in January (and every 2-3 months prior)

Has anyone used one of these? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portafilter-Pressure-Gauge-Tester-Gaggia-Classic-Coffee-Machine-Espresso-Maker-E/161207195351?epid=1769635886&hash=item2588b296d7:g:kf4AAOSwabhUX2RF My portafilter is the type with two holes underneath and no spouts, so I'd need to buy a new portfilter anyway to do the mod, as well as all the other parts. So it seems easier just to buy this pre made one. if anyone has any experience of these please let me know. Thanks

So, i've been reading a lot about pressure profiles for espresso and had been having issues with my Oscar II shots, so decided to purchase an OPV. (I can post a guide if anyone else is interested, and yes, I do realise the Oscar can't pressure profile..) Before installing I took a reading of my machine, though - which indeed was running super high - at around 15 bar or so. I installed it late last night and took a reading at about 9 bar, or so. Happy with that. I should have taken multiple readings, as today I checked again multiple times, which was now showing my OPV at 8 bar. The question is now do I keep it at 8 and see how I go? Or should I increase to maybe 9-10bar? Opinions?

I was in the middle of what I thought was an easy reduction in pressure on the OPV when I found that after inserting the 5mm Allen key and trying to turn anticlockwise, nothing moved. Totally stuck. The machine is a little warm - do I wait for it to be cold and try again, or is this limescale or something and requires more thought?

I've been having some trouble with my Classic where there's limited flow out of the group head but lots out of the OPV. I thought maybe something was in there holding it open so I've taken it apart (I've got a pressure gauge so I can set the pressure correctly again afterwards). When I unscrewed the adjustment screw all the way out (13 turns, for my own reference when I put it back together...) then took the spring out, there's a little "bolt with a hole in and rubber on the bottom" - I've no idea what this part is actually called. Anyway, the rubber on the bottom is all perished and falling off, does anyone know if am I right in assuming this isn't quite right? Does anyone know what the name of this part is and where I could buy one? I've tried searching around but not had much luck... Cheers

Hi All - I have a 10 year old Gaggia Classic and did the OPV mod a while ago. I am getting decent shots however I want to figure out what bars I am really putting out. I tried the volume of water method (blank portafilter, putting a class of water under one of the tubes) and I am getting no returned water? Does this mean my machine is still set to too many bars and I need to turn the OPV nut more. I am getting decent shots, about 32g out in 30s when my Fiorenzato grinder at a 1.8 setting. A few questions... 1.) there are two tubes in the water reservoir, which one is for the water supply and which is for the OPV overflow? 2.) Is the general rule of 170-180ml in 30s from the OPV tube mean the machine is roughly 9 bars? 3.) I tried alternating with the left and right tube in water and it didnt seem like either was drawing water.....strange since my machine does work when both are in Thanks everyone in advance!

Hey peeps, I'm going to adjust the opv valve on my Classic tomorrow, I've watched a few vids & been through the forum & it all seems pretty straight forward but I've seen conflicting info re a couple of things Whether to have the steam wand opened (which doesn't seem to make any sense to me, wouldn't that let some of the pressure out)? Whether to fill the portafilter with water before starting (wouldn't it just fill up during the start of taking the pressure anyway)? Sorry to ask about a topic with so many posts but finding it difficult to find anything concrete. Thanks in advance

I have a Rocket R58 and for the past couple months I have been experiencing the following problem: When turning the machine on after about 15 minutes the steam pressure continues to rise past the 1-1.5bar green zone on the dial to around 2.25bar, this is the point where the OPV releases, the OPV activates and releases the excess pressure, initially this was intermittant but now it occours every time the machine is turned on (I have now turned off the steam/service boiler). The heater doesn't shut off and the water in the boiler is continued to heat, so my initial thoughts were that its a sensor issue. I suspected a relay problem at first, but this didn't fix the problem, I have taken apart the temperature sensor to check if it was scaled up but it all appears OK. If anyone has any ideas of have experienced similar problems please let me know.