This is the full length cut of all the unboxing of grinder and espresso machine, initial setup of them both and the first use of the new Gaggia Viva Deluxe that I picked up as an Amazon Warehouse Deal.
The one in video with black inside it.. Is for using E.S.E. espresso pods with the machine instead of ground coffee. Essentially with the pods that basket helps to build up the right pressure for brewing... Without it the espresso from the pod would be very thin and weak. Good question! E.S.E. pods are pretty common in Europe not so much in North America.
That seems way too coarse for an unpressurized basket. Maybe it is the video and it is not as coarse as it seems. It does seem that it is a pressurized basket to get that crema with that coarse grind.
Yes.. being straight out of the box this is the fully pressurized portafilter, although Gaggia do it as a under the basket pressurizing setup and the basket itself is normal not pressurized. The hand grinder does a decent job for fineness now that I've taken all the pressurizing bits out of the handle, but I do have it set a bit finer than in this video. The machine also now makes a noticeably quieter sound when you turn it to pump showing that its building pressure because of the puck now.
I always like my coffee longer shots and a little bitter instead of sweet... So I go with the blonding method... Which is when the colour of the espresso stream starts to turn from brown to blonde it is done extracting. Basically after is blonde it pale yellow color there's not much good stuff coming out of the espresso and mostly is just water. If you want a stronger more Italian style you cut the machine as soon as it isn't deep brown color anymore. Hope that helps!
