Thunderbird Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have a Gaggia Classic espresso maker and usually use Gaggia's own cleaning sachets to descale it once every three months. They are becoming increasingly hard to find and can also cost a fortune when in short supply. I noticed last time they contain 30g Tartaric Acid and wondered if I just buy brewers Tartaric Acid it will be the same thing, or whether there are different grades or strengths. I'm no chemist so any advice gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have a Gaggia Classic espresso maker and usually use Gaggia's own cleaning sachets to descale it once every three months. They are becoming increasingly hard to find and can also cost a fortune when in short supply. I noticed last time they contain 30g Tartaric Acid and wondered if I just buy brewers Tartaric Acid it will be the same thing, or whether there are different grades or strengths. I'm no chemist so any advice gratefully received. I use citric acid from the chemists and it works well so I don't see why brewers tartaric acid wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Cheers mate, isn't there an issue with aluminium boilers and citric acid, or did I dream that? Do you have the same machine as me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Cheers mate, isn't there an issue with aluminium boilers and citric acid, or did I dream that? Do you have the same machine as me? I have a aluminium-less Braun coffee maker so you may want to find out if there is an issue first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Will do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 we clean large capacity ( make that ginourmous boilers) with citric acid it will if given chance (temp and time) eat through steel, be carefull if you use it, ie dilute it, dont leave too long, and RINSE it very very well KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Cheers, I'll stick with Tartaric. I was just checking really to see if anyone knew of a difference between the cleaning one and the brewers one. I'll give it a go with 30g of brewers diluted in 1500ml water (same as with the Gaggia cleaner) and then a good rinse - again as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sussexboy Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) Youth of today, with your new fangled coffee machines with girly electric pumps. What's wrong with a good old fashioned lever machine to make man's coffee Edited April 18, 2011 by Sussexboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 OMG Tartaric Acid, I used to use it to make stnk bombs in the 1980s 3:2:1 Tartaric Acid, Water, Iron Filings Probably gives off Hydrogen Gas! which smells like bad eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 Youth of today, with your new fangled coffee machines with girly electric pumps. What's wrong with a good old fashioned lever machine to make man's coffee http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/products/item108102.aspx Bargain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berties Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 We have a gaggia commercial coffee machine and use a product called puly caff plus comes in a 900g plastic from any good coffee supplier always foes the trick it is designed to clean espresso machines and inhibate scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 We have a gaggia commercial coffee machine and use a product called puly caff plus comes in a 900g plastic from any good coffee supplier always foes the trick it is designed to clean espresso machines and inhibate scale just been on the puly caff site they do a domestic descaler thats reasonably priced might get some for my cubika kw http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hd0588-puly-baby.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajb403 Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 if I just buy brewers Tartaric Acid it will be the same thing, or whether there are different grades or strengths. The brewing stuff will do the job just fine, no need to worry about different grades. I'm no chemist so any advice gratefully received. I am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sussexboy Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/products/item108102.aspx Bargain... I didn't pay that much for mine, but then it was "several" years ago that I bought it. I just love the morning coffee ritual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 Much obliged for this info, have ordered some. Just in case any coffee enthusiasts are still reading, I buy freshly roasted coffee beans from TwoDay Coffee Roasters in Bristol (they will post it out). It is outstanding, but I warn you it will ruin you for the usual shop-bought stuff: https://twodaycoffee.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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