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Hey all, Ive had a good look around and was going to do a basic service on the V. Also, wanting to change the pressure relief valve as it partially stuck the other day. It self resolved but its not the sort of thing I want to keep happening. So, where do we get spare parts, as im struggling to even find a catalogue anywhere. Cheers

I provide below a description of the process I went through to solve the problem of a ruptured brew boiler heating element on my Vesuvius. I’d had the Vesuvius for maybe 2 months when I started to notice the brew water had become very cloudy. When I was sure the water was actually always coming out cloudy, I stopped using the machine and asked for help on the forum. Whilst everyone was helpful, I was convinced the problem was not the obvious: needed a good clean, e.g. start backflushing regularly; what kind of water are you putting into it? The water was just too cloudy for these helpful suggestions to be the cause. After leaving a glass of the output cloudy water for several hours, it would eventually clear leaving a fairly significant residue of fine white powder in the bottom of the glass. By the way, it was only the brew water that was cloudy; water from the steam boiler was clear as a bell. After a bit more pondering, I decided I needed to open up the brew boiler and see what was inside. The only way to do this is to remove the heating element. After contacting @DavecUK to ask advice, he told me I needed a 36mm box spanner, and even gave me a link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KS-Tools-51...DCGAHHHHKNVSNK where they were on sale for £12, pretty good price I thought. The tool selection is pretty crucial. The base of the heating element is recessed by a few inches into the body of the machine. There is no room to use anything like an adjustable spanner - you need a box spanner or socket to get in there with the necessary leverage. To gain access to the brew boiler element, I lifted the machine onto a pair of benches, so I could access it from underneath while I was lying on the floor - front of the machine on one bench, rear on the other. Removing the base plate was easy using an allen key on the bolts. The brew boiler is the smaller of the two boilers. First remove the two push-on electrical leads. Removing the element with the box spanner was not difficult as it is not screwed on hugely tightly. You need to unscrew it carefully and slowly to allow the water to drip out at a controlled flow, so that it just drips out onto the floor, i.e. without soaking anything else near at hand like bits of the machine and electrical contacts. I found the culprit immediately. The element had ruptured and was spilling its contents, magnesium oxide white powder, at a steady rate into the boiler. I contacted Paolo at ACS who agreed to supply me with a replacement heating element. After allowing the boiler tank to dry out for a few days, I used a small brush to remove the remaining white powder at the base of the tank. The replacement element was easy to install using the box spanner again. However, I did find it difficult to know how tightly to screw it in, as the screwing in became tight quite quickly, and, as it turned out, before it was fully secured in place. I then powered the machine up and followed the instructions in the manual on how to fill up the boiler from empty. This worked but I found the boiler was leaking quite significantly, so I switched off the machine and let it cool for a few minutes. I then tightened up the element, which now felt looser and easier to screw in. I then left it to cool for several hours to see if any more leaks occurred, since the tank had now filled up. It did continue to leak in slow drips, so I continued to tighten it up until no further drips, leaving a piece of kitchen paper on the floor under the tank overnight to check. I then proceeded with the instruction manual, drawing 1 litre of water in 200ml amounts through the group head. The first 200ml was a bit cloudy. When I’d got to the last of the five 200ml amounts the water was completely clear - to my great relief. Problem solved! I then replaced the base plate and replaced the machine on the worktop for normal use. I left a piece of kitchen paper under the machine to check for any drips over the next few days. My first coffee out of the machine was delicious, after a five week period without! Whilst this problem was a bit difficult to diagnose initially, I’ve got to thank everyone for chipping in with suggestions. Particularly, I have to say a big thank you to @DavecUK for his helpful advice along the way, particularly the tool selection in this case. We are so lucky to have Dave and one or two other true experts on the forum, who pass on their advice freely and selflessly. Feel free to ask any questions. I’m sure I will have missed out some significant points.

Hi All I bought a second hand mazzer SJ from this forum, which was already bought second hand. Bought in may 2015 and as I use it at home, it sees little use (2 coffees a day MAX, normally just one). My question is whether I need to replace the burrs. I think its close to the lowest setting (finest grind) to make a flat white. I took two pictures as linked to help advise. I have purchased a replacement pair on ebay just now, but just wondering your thoughts on what looks like wear or if they are fine! https://photos.app.goo.gl/o2ddeLsetZ7fnQ6F9 thanks

The magnetically attached cup on my Kinu M47 would sometimes fall off in the middle of a grind when grinding light beans. It didn't always happen but it did happen enough that I was getting paranoid every time the cup would chatter during a grind. I think I even made it fall out once just from me panicking - the motion of me jerking it over to the top of the counter was enough to jarr the cup loose and send it tumbling across the kitchen. After a few exchanges with Kinu support (which included some photos of my current cup for them to examine), they decided to send me a new catch cup, straight from the Germany warehouse. Two business days later... it's here! The new cup has smaller magnets but there are twice as many and they hold VERY well, tho admittedly, a couple of the magnets looked like they'd slipped on my original cup, so it was a problem cup to begin with, but this new one feels properly secure. It looks like there are some changes to the inside, too... there's still a tapered lip near the top, but it's a more gentle taper and will probably be less inclined to trap grounds. The inside edge where the bottom of the cup meets the side walls is no longer a sharp corner but is now rounded; it should also collect less grounds. I'm quite pleased with the level of service I've received from Kinu. They did apparently miss a couple of my emails, but they got back to me almost immediately when I contacted them via Facebook.

Hello - new user here. Does anyone happen to know the technical specs for the replacement seals etc for la pavoni groups, steamer and so on? The prices charged by the official suppliers for a few rubber seals and brass washers seem pretty outrageous (north of £30) so I was wondering if it were possible to buy generic equivalents separately? Also is there a way of getting the horseshoe washer out without wrecking it in the process? (even with needle-nosed pliers!?)

Hi guys, I've often wondered how to tell when the burrs in my Rocky are wearing out or need replacing? Any tips / things to look out for?

My Silvia is six months old. On average only about 10 espresso per week. I do clean the seal after each brew with a brush but when is the seal due to be replaced?

Hi everyone, Would anyone happen to have a spare replacement steam tap knob lying around? (wood preferable as that would match my current one). My current one gave in to the high demands as per the below picture: Thank you, Raman

Hi all, I've been looking around here for a little while, but this is my first post... I recently lost my old faithful Saeco Magic Cappuccino coffee machine, and am now in need of a new replacement. However I have no idea where to start as there seem to be so many machines available at the moment! My needs are simple, 90% of the time I drink espresso so mainly need it make a good one , with the occasional requirement for steam. Budget would be around £300 or so. And ideally it would be available in the UK, for warranty/service purposes, but this it not necessarily a deciding factor. The Magic Cappuccino uses the pressurized portafilter and has always given me a good brew and crema but I'm not tied to it. I would really appreciate some suggestions and guidance as to what machines to consider! Many thanks

So.. I've been debating whether to get new set of burrs for my F5 (SJ ones fit apparently!) and wanted to get some advise on how to assess when this is recommended, knowing that I'd need to put several kg through new set to season them.. When I got the grinder I checked and the set Im using now looked sharp and I certainly don't get issues grinding at the moment. Having said that, the distance between adjustment dial and the upper surface of the body is only in a region of ~2mm maybe which sounds a bit on a low side. My set of etched dials from @timmyjj21 is only partially on as the 'needle' plate that normally fits under the ring simply does not fit there even though I got a special thinner one made. Any thoughts? Cheers!

Hi all Just ran the Gaggia descaling fluid through my classic, as my routine cleaning schedule. I happen to notice that the 'longer' tube that hangs down into the water reservoir has some slight discolouration inside it, toward the top (above the usual water level), before going up into the machine. Out of the two soft rubber tubes (one long, one shorter) I'm not sure which one directly feeds the boiler cylinder, but thought it best to replace it, if it's possible. Anyone done this before, knows how, and/or even knows if it's possible to obtain new tubes!? Or does anyone know if they can be taken off and cleaned through with anything safely? Thanks guys Bri..

Well whilst chatting and resetting (to make sure I was on) my little Porlex Mini I over tightened it and just cracked the bottom ceramic piece lol....... What a tw**!!!! Ah well that leaves me using the metal bladed grinder attachment on our blender. Not good! Can't see me finding the part in Bristol tomorrow while my boys at party being Sunday and all pfffft. Be warned so you don't do it....gutted 😞 [ATTACH=CONFIG]11732[/ATTACH]

It about time to renew my Versalab flat burrs. In the past I've ordered the replacements direct from Versalab. I have read some other burrs are suitable for the M3. Versalab replacements would cost approx £110/£120 including postage & HM customs duty etc. In the past I have escaped import duty but nowadays everything seems to get caught. I have read that some La Cimbali 68mm burrs fit the Versalab. Anyone know about this?

Hi All, I've recently been having a mare with my Gaggia Classic only to find out that it was probably my porlex handgrinder that was the issue all along! I've lost the inner spring that sits directly above the burrs. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement? if not, can a porlex owner take a picture of the spring and post it on here with the dimensions so that I can try and source one from fleabay

I got a spare portafilter from Eyedee (fine fellow) which I have nakedized problem now is the configuration of the Briel basket. It will not work with a naked portafilter! I was wondering about using one from a different manufacturer but Happy Donkey said it had to be a Briel one! Anyone know why? The internal diameter is 55mm. Surely if a basket fits in the PF is there any other reason why a basket wouldn't work? Stuggling to understand!

Hi New to this forum (although not to decent coffee) Santa brought me a cuisenart bean to cup machine and over the intervening period an idiot guest managed to bin the filter basket. D'oh. Cuisenart have been no help and as far as I know the replacement is a GTF-2 but where do I get one. Thoughts on replacement paper filters also useful Many thanks

Hello All, My gaggia platinum vogue is starting to leak slightly on brewing. Pucks are dry, coffee tasting great but small amount of water leaking. I thought perhaps O ring replacement would be good. Any ideas would be very welcome please and also if anyone can supply parts please?

Is anyone aware of a how to replace the Gaggia Classic steam wand with the Rancilio document I have one arriving from happy donkey today and want to get some good advise before I start tinkering Thanks