HOW TO: The SIMPLEST Pressure Profiling Mod for Silvia, Gaggia Classic, and more 

Thanks! Certainly still a bit too involved for some, but hopefully more accessible for many!

I hoped someone would notice LOL

😂 I just did (thanks to Jaden) and I like your subtle humour in these videos very much (Next to a solid testing approach!) Also what you did with the Gaggia for example. 👍

Wouldn't that be a downgrade, since the Breville machine has a PID temp controller?

Wow Aryan I'm happy to have inspired you, that sounds like exciting stuff! I'll be sure to find you at your booth!

Hi James, just so you know, this feature is very similar to the "prewetting" feature of the Pro X, with just a bit more control.

How did this turn out? Is it a PWM controller or something else?

@@saltrocklamp199 It works very, very well. I can regulate the flow from 0 to max. It's not perfect in the only sense that the regulation is not 100% linear. When you pass c.a. 2 ml/sec going down you have to turn the knob a bit more slowly as the gradient of flow change steepens. Otherwise I am very satisfied and am using it all the time. My regular workflow is, start pre-infusion with max pressure and flow for 2 seconds (puck saturation), then shut the flow almost completely (it's still soaking but very, very slowly), wait for 8 sec., then max flow again, wait for the pressure to start falling from max (e.g. puck degradation starts) and slowly rump down the pressure, cut off when desired ratio is reached. Effect in the cup: first of all less bitterness... and better balance. Second effect: you can "save" almost any shot, by just watching pressure. If it falls to quickly, just start ramping down earlier. As far as I know the controller itself is not a PWM (don't know if you can have that one for AC). It's called single phase speed controller (or frequency converter) for electric AC motors. There are very advance ones, with programmable functions etc. but the one I got is the simplest it could be with a switch to do a soft start 0-100 power. I use it for pre-infusion (it switches from max flow to controllable).

@@marcin.sobocinski Thanks!

Ah the simplicity of the silvia!

tello9898, I have a 2007 model also, could you be more specific on what you did exactly? Did you just literally unplug the pump power line and nothing else? If so the result is the brew switch now starts water flow and the water switch controls the pump? Thanks.

@@afj888 That seems to be the case yea! I havn't opened mine up to check, but I also have a older v3 Silvia. The water button also turns on the pump, so it should work.

@@afj888didn’t work for me unfortunately

@@albinn3569what version did you have?

Hi Ivaylo, good question! It doesn't quite follow that profile. It decreases in pressure much more quickly than that, but definitely still flows a fair amount when the pump is off

Thanks for the views! 😅 I've done something very similar on my rocket appartamento and GS3. I've always tried to make my mods very subtle from the outside so I implemented something a little different, check out the videos if you haven't!

Hi glad you enjoyed it! As a technician, I always recommend more machine grade equipment such as gaggia's or rancilio's due to their parts availability and repairability. Always be sure that the equipment has only used reasonably filtered water, but other than that, as long as you confirm all the functionality is there, I'd feel happy about it. The grinder is arguably more important than the machine, so I would be sure to account for paying nearly as much for the grinder. Good luck!

And thanks, they are Ainsley by Warby Parker 🤓

Absolutely! The process should be almost identical

Check out my other videos, I did something very similar 😅

Thanks Adam! Nooo that bag is so old it's purely decorative at this point 😹

Hi Chris thanks for reaching out. I just updated the description with a new switch that I've been testing that is performing well. I used 16gauge but you have quite a bit of flexibility here since there isn't a lot of current flowing through the pump.

Thanks for the update! I will get that switch ordered and update my machine accordingly! Regards, Chris

Thanks Tyler! Actually this mod just replicates the e61 motion of lifting the lever high enough to open the valve, but not all the way so as to keep the pump off. Hope that's helpful!

Hi, the parts are the description! I used 16 gauge wire but you have some flexibility.

Sad to hear you're having issues with your pro x. I had a similar issue, I've always been in the habit of buying IMS shower screens, that can help!

@@tatemazer I have one. When I try to put it didn’t fit well because the diffuser was a small a little bit for the shower screen. I think I have to bend the edge of the shower or put a little grease food grade. I will try later. For now, I find I have to tie the screw well and it works with the factory shower

Thanks Joseph! Yes very frustrating, I've also noticed all the aftermarket screens don't seem to allow the screw to fit flush. I ended up picking up the screen made for the Rancilio RS1 directly from Rancilio, but it looks like its also available through espressopart.com, look for "RANCILIO GROUP HEAD SCREEN - NEW VERSION", SKU: R_2039

@@tatemazer Thank you for sharing! This is very helpful!

That's a good idea! Would love to see your implantation. This mod was all about seeing how simple it could be, since my other stuff has been a little less... approachable 😅

Yeah I wanted something like that. But that specific switch doesn't exist (at least without more wiring) and the brew switch on the Silvia is momentary, not latching. So you have to press it each time you start and stop the brewing process.

@@tatemazer Just out of curiosity, how much wiring are we talking about ? I mean, if it was possible to mod it that way workflow would vastly improve as well as user experience and consistency.

nevermind! success :) thank you for this. pulled one shot so far and I noticed a taste difference when blooming.

Hi Good question! since the silvia pro has an independent steam boiler, it has no effect on the brew performance. but yes you can get a similar behavior with opening the steam boiler on a regular silvia. I imagine when you turn off the pump you are using the regular switch. note that this also closes the 3 way solenoid valve, which will unfortunately damage your puck

@@tatemazer Yeah opening the steam wand makes an opening for the less resistance but I fear doing it daily would wear out my internal seals 2x as fast so I don't. I imagine turning the pump off cracked the puck because it always tasted like bin juice after. How does a proper PID do it, I might have to do this mod in the vid thats for sure. I don't have a PID but I installed a YH-902C thermometer and attracted the probe where the internal thermostat is...works real well for 1/10th of the cost. In the end I found a puck screen gives me the most even extraction (looking at left over coffee oils in basket after shot).

No, this switch is wired directly to the pump, so it should make no impact to the behavior of the solenoid

Hey sorry to hear it's not working well. RU-vid comments aren't easy to troubleshoot on, id suggest heading over to the espresso aficionados discord where a lot of people have done this mod already;

For now, I put the original switch back on. But I left the added pump wires and got it crudely coming out of the machine and put a simple on/off 2 pin switch to it. It’s ugly but it works. 🤣 There’s a noticeable difference from before and after taste wise in the espresso. There’s more body and it’s a lot smoother. I like it!

Sorry! RU-vid had deleted all my descriptions! Info is back up

Absolutely! They are electrically identical.

Check the description!

Lol nope

@@tatemazer Why not? Missing out on much (flow) control.

@@Phil_OG watch the video and you will see 🙈

@@tatemazer I watched the video of course :) On my bambino it is a fully reversible mod and it gives you additional control for lower pressure shots or spro-overs and so on

@@Phil_OG as I mentioned in the video, this was all about simplicity and packaging. There isn't really an elegant way of fitting a dimmer switch on a Silvia without drilling a hole or having an ugly box attached to it, unless you know of something else?

Hi, yes the switch I originally used seemed to fail prematurely, especially when I used both the steam and brew boilers. However this will not cause any premature wear to the original components.

@@tatemazer thanks for replying. One more question. On Pro X would stopping shot during soft infusion or even just doing the flush cycle and then starting shot produce a similar effect to this mod?

@@dearcoffee85 sadly those only affect the beginning of the shot, meaning something like the blooming espresso wouldn't be possible

@@tatemazer Got it. Ok, once I get my Pro X I may give this a try. Thanks.

yes!

Hi that's a great question! That's exactly what I wanted to do, but unfortunately the brew switch on the Silvia pro is momentary (snaps back after you press it), and I wanted the kill switch to be latching (stays in place) so you don't have to hold it while it's killing the pump. And unfortunately I couldn't find a dual switch with 1 momentarily and 1 latching switch.

Was wondering if someone was going to notice that! It's a pulsor which is used on quickmill espresso machines to quiet the pump. I recorded an installation video about it but it didn't make enough of a difference on the noise to recommend trying it 😕

@@tatemazer do you mind sharing the part no or a link? tnx!

@@petres5866 PL0800PU

@@tatemazer I lined the insides of my machine with car insulation (dense rubber/foam) and with the pulsar too...I found that insulation to help with noise more then anything else. But now the loudest thing is the water container lid so I lift it off when brewing

@@liiich6175 nice! I tried that too and found it also was very effective. I also recently tried the Lelit "silent" pump and found it was impressively quiet but also a bit pricey at about $170 after shipping

Lend me one and I'll be happy to 😉

The process is exactly the same! Gotta love the similarities between these machine grade machines 💪💪💪

🤷

Hi Michael, good question! check out my GS3 video where I automated this process. This video was all about making the modification as simple as possible for people who are intimidated by espresso machine modifications. thanks for watching!