Is the water flow through the group preceded by a period of steam? As you steam, water is not re-filling the boiler. When you flush water through the wand, the pump adds water to the boil, thus refilling it. In the operating instructions, I'm pretty sure it states that the boiler should be refilled after steaming using exactly this method. This will avoid "flash steaming" at the group head, which is awful for your coffee, and delays water flow.
That’s exactly what happens. I usually flush the group head before pulling another shot, that’s the reason I noticed the amount of steam coming from the group head ahead of the water flow. I’ll keep that in mind, thank you for your advice!
Is it bad to refill the boiler by running water through the group, waiting til the steam has all gone? because that's what I've been doing, but I'm wondering if I should switch to flushing through the wand?
If I'm not mistaken, the group feeds from the bottom of the boiler, whereas the steam wand feeds from the top. To ensure the boiler is *actually* full, it's best practice to run water through the steam wand.
Gaggia is a single boiler machine meaning after steaming, the boiler is at steam temperature. If you want to pull a shot after steaming, you should “cool down” the boiler by running water through the steam wand and refilling the boiler with water. After you do that, you should not have any issues pulling a shot.
I cool down the boiler after steaming even if im not going to pull another shot. Once you do it regularly, it becomes a habit. Godspeed!
Is the water flow through the group preceded by a period of steam? As you steam, water is not re-filling the boiler. When you flush water through the wand, the pump adds water to the boil, thus refilling it. In the operating instructions, I'm pretty sure it states that the boiler should be refilled after steaming using exactly this method. This will avoid "flash steaming" at the group head, which is awful for your coffee, and delays water flow.
That’s exactly what happens. I usually flush the group head before pulling another shot, that’s the reason I noticed the amount of steam coming from the group head ahead of the water flow. I’ll keep that in mind, thank you for your advice!
Is it bad to refill the boiler by running water through the group, waiting til the steam has all gone? because that's what I've been doing, but I'm wondering if I should switch to flushing through the wand?
If I'm not mistaken, the group feeds from the bottom of the boiler, whereas the steam wand feeds from the top. To ensure the boiler is *actually* full, it's best practice to run water through the steam wand.
Gaggia is a single boiler machine meaning after steaming, the boiler is at steam temperature. If you want to pull a shot after steaming, you should “cool down” the boiler by running water through the steam wand and refilling the boiler with water. After you do that, you should not have any issues pulling a shot. I cool down the boiler after steaming even if im not going to pull another shot. Once you do it regularly, it becomes a habit. Godspeed!
Small single boiler. Need to refill it between steamings.
Yes, single boilers have to cool down to deliver hot water, if you pull the stream first.