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Todd Salzman

Video Categories

Espresso Machines (3)

About Me

I am a machine guy and love to play with all kinds of espresso machines. I have used them, fixed them, tested them and brought lots of them home. You should see my basement work bench. My other passion is sailboat racing, a sport that I highly recommend. I'm here to help.

Contact Me

todd@wholelattelove.com 888-411-5282 ex. 5170

Friends (13)
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Anne Brauner

Denton Brown

Mark Jackson

Mike R

Randy Orlando

Tho Nguyen

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I'm A Fan Of (3)
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Products I Own

Expobar Brewtus III-V with vibration pump Gaggia Platinum Vision

Wish List

Vivace Espresso Sampler WholeLatteLove Monaco

Now Watching: Gaggia Platinum Vision - Introduction

Todd's Videos

3 Videos

Gaggia Platinum Swing Introduction

6/11/10 (114 views)

Espresso While sailing

6/9/10 (48 views)

Gaggia Platinum Vision - Introducti...

6/9/10 (36 views)

3 Videos

Blogs

Gaggia TS comes to Town

The Gaggia TS has been manufactured for years but it is now ready for sale in the USA. It was designed to be used in the small cafés in Italy and it did a superb job. I acquired a sample of the mac... Read Full Blog

What is Rapid Steam?

As you go through the Website, you will notice many different phrases and words. When you are choosing a machine, it is important to understand what these phrases and words mean and why they may or... Read Full Blog

Frothing with a Pannarello Wand

We, Americans, love our milk-based drinks. We go out and purchase both expensive and inexpensive espresso/cappuccino machines that can do the job but, unfortunately, most of us don’t know the nuan... Read Full Blog

The Secret To A Really Great Latte

“Wow, is this really a latte? I have never, and I mean NEVER, had one like this before!!”

I have heard this sentiment expressed a bunch of times and it is not because I’m a great bari... Read Full Blog

Gaggia TS comes to Town What is Rapid Steam? Frothing with a Pannarello Wand The Secret To A Really Great Latte

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Buzz

9 Posts

Anne Brauner Todd,I am taking you up on your previous offer of help with my Gaggia Classic. I had to resort to removing the boiler in order to dislodge the old steam valve. I was not as good as I SHOULD have been marking the wire connections [insert lesson learned here]. Current status: mechanically the machine is put back together but I am uncertain, naturally about the electrical connections although I have tried to trace each single wire from toggle switch back. I would appreciate your help if you can.

11:11 AM 8-2-10

Todd Salzman We have wiring diagrams for the machines and I am happy to assist in getting the wires back on in their proper spots. Let me know what is a good time for you so we can make contact off line and get this taken care of.

7:27 AM EST 8-20-10

Karl Jensen Todd, I have the original Brewtus and wanted to plump it. Could you set me up with all the info I would need?

8:23 AM 7-29-10

Todd Salzman If you have any questions on hooking up the plump kit let me know. It usually takes about one and half hours to hook up and will require only a few tools. I do recommend that you also hook up a drain line whenever you install a water line.

7:48 AM EST 7-31-10

Tech Kathy Karl, I have emailed you the information. Look in your junk/spam just in case it landed in there.

10:54 AM EST 7-30-10

glenn pang Aloha Todd, Thank you very much for your response and help. Have a great day and week. Happy, Happy, Coffee, Coffee.... Sincerely, Glenn Pang

3:13 PM 7-26-10

Todd Salzman Glad to help. Please contact me again if I can assist.

3:31 PM EST 7-26-10

Anne Brauner Todd, strange you should ask about my owning an espresso machine as I am currently waiting on the delivery of my 2nd Gaggia Classic. My 1st Classic performed perfectly with daily use for 6 1/2 yrs. before any major work needed to be performed which was a leaking steam valve. Despite using filtered water and decalcyfying,the steam valve and boiler were nearly impossible to get apart. I still have it under the cabinet, hard to part with an old friend as I just can't give up on it.

4:51 PM 7-22-10

Todd Salzman Nice, going for another Classic is a great choice. The steam valve is not one that you would take apart to clean. But it is not to hard to replace so if you ever want to get it up and going let me know.

9:58 AM EST 7-23-10

Anne Brauner Todd, I see you are a machine guy and I love to trouble shoot. As a med tech, which I was for a long time before things became all "motherboards", we were required to do alot of our own maintenance and/or troubleshooting before you ever picked up a phone to call a service rep. It was all about the $$$$ and the rules and mechanics may have changed but the game remains the same. Anyway, I helped my dad work on his MGBGT before I could shift a standard H. Just wanted to introduce myself. Anne

6:02 PM 7-16-10

Todd Salzman Anne, it's good to hear from you. It sounds like you have had some good experience in figuring things out. I started in the HVAC business and my favorite part was when the manufacturers came out with new temperature control systems and equipment. My customer were always the first to have the new stuff. Do you have an espresso machine and if you do let me know anytime I can help. Thanks again for checking in. Todd

6:39 AM EST 7-17-10

Blanca Pujals I just got a Silvia for my birthday but am still not getting the espresso quality that I expect. I was told that perhaps I should use a metal tamper rather than the plastic one that comes with the machine. If this is so, what size and type should I buy? Other wise, how can I increase the preasure when pressing the coffee?

5:25 PM 6-18-10

Todd Salzman Hello Blanca, there are many reasons why you may not be brewing the espresso that you desire. The problem could be with the quality of your coffee, the grind or the technique. Check out the article linked below, it can help for sure, it is called “Purchasing coffee and Brewing Espresso” and it will cover everything you need. http://www.wholelattelove.com/articles/purchasing_coffee.cfm. Let me know if you would like more assistance!!

7:28 AM EST 6-19-10

Tech Milano You would want a 58mm tamper for that machine. You would also want to make sure your grind is fine enough to slow down the shot to 20 or 25 seconds for 2 to 2.5 oz of espresso.

5:44 PM EST 6-18-10

Thomas Wilson Yes, the shower head plate then. (The heat capacity per volume is found from multiplying the specific heat by the density.) The new brass one is exactly the same size as the current aluminum one .. the advantage of brass is to help maintain the high temperature as the water flows out of the boiler. If the rate of flow is too fast (from perhaps making a few shots in succession (a thermocouple attached to the shower head plate would provide quantitative monitoring)), of course the boiler will not be able to maintain the proper temperature. The brass piece, with a higher heat capacity, once heated up to equilibrium temperature of the boiler will stay hot longer than the aluminum one (thermal 'ballast') - this is the same idea as why a brass portofilter is used instead of aluminum. It will be a relatively cheap improvement. Thomas

3:31 PM 1-1-10

Thomas Wilson re: Gaggia New Baby ... I did a calculation on the heat capacities of aluminum and brass shower head plates .. the brass has 50% more - this corresponds to a 50% thicker aluminum plate. I've ordered one from another supplier and will post back on whether I detect a noticeable difference in the ability to maintain a constant hot T flow rate as the boiler cycles. It should do so. I've also finally realized a blade grinder is not very useful for consistent espresso and purchased a Gaggio MDF grinder from Whole Latte Love.

8:49 PM 12-31-09

Todd Salzman You have me very intrigued. If we are talking about the same part, a thinner "shower head plate" will cause the shower screen to move up into the brew group and therefore change the depth of the coffee required to fill the filter basket. Is the part you are talking about located behind the shower screen, has four holes in it for water to flow through and is held in place by two allen screws? And congratulations on your new grinder. The MDF will change everything, nice choice.

10:26 AM EST 1-1-10

Sandra Andina Todd, shortly after I posted I did some more online sleuthing at HomeBarista.com and found the diagram showing the reset button. Unplugged Silvia, removed the tank and the top, pushed the button, reassembled, topped up, plugged it in and turned it on. Success! Keeping her full at all times and remembering to turn off the steam switch, of course.

4:24 PM 12-31-09

Todd Salzman Great to hear all is well!! Would hate to go into a new year with a proper coffee:-)

10:36 AM EST 1-1-10