Shades of Coffee Redesigned Gaggia Steam Valve

"The steam valve that the Gaggia Classic should always have had."

ABOUT OUR STEAM VALVE

The Gaggia Classic steam valve has remained essentially the same design for 25+ years.  It uses a brass needle valve, which once used for a few weeks/months, usually starts to annoyingly drip and leak - due to the brass needle and brass valve seat no longer sealing properly.

The standard Gaggia valve is also non-serviceable as standard, and hence the "fix" for this issue has always been to buy a new valve - which then works for a while and then starts leaking, again - and the annoying and expensive cycle continues.... or you just live with a leak and constant drip, drip, drip from the steam wand.

Shades of Coffee looked at this problem - often cited as the most annoying aspect of Gaggia Classic ownership - and decided to work to design and develop a new Classic steam valve - that is completely different internally and won't leak, yet looks almost the same externally and can be easily fitted as a replacement to the standard valve on any Classic (except RI9403).

As with anything, it's still possible for internal parts of the valve to wear out or break over time - so we also wanted to make the new valve entirely user serviceable.   So we're also making all internal service parts available for purchase to anyone who has bought one of these valves.  This includes all o-rings and the main PTFE seal with fixing screw, but won't include the brass valve body or brass valve shaft (which should never need replacing anyway).

It's still possible for condensation to build up inside your steam wand - so you may see one drip from the wand after use or when you first turn the machine on - but the design of the actual valve means that no water or steam will be able to leak into the valve/wand during normal use.

Our new valve is a direct like-for-like replacement for the original Gaggia Classic valve, but has a few key differences:

1. PTFE valve sealing a flat brass aperture, rather than a brass-on-brass needle valve.

2. Easily serviced or cleaned, if ever required. A “valve service kit” with PTFE seals, internal screws and o-rings is available here

3. Shortened boiler mounting stem - to avoid any boiler damage when mounting, and because the additional length just isn’t required.

4. Supplied with a red silicone o-ring for boiler mounting.

5. Due to the large nut on the end of the valve (allowing it to be serviced) the original black plastic knob protection disk (installed behind the steam knob) will no longer fit and it can be removed.  You can download a new 3D printable version from here if you want to fit one - though be aware that the steam valve can reach a surface temperature of 150C+ (so PLA and PETG will melt). We will also have nylon versions of these protection discs available for sale here, probably in October 2024.

6. Constructed from passivated lead-free brass, and using all Viton o-rings internally (we recommend Viton and specifically do not recommend using silicone o-rings with any dynamic seals).

7. Can be opened to about 75% of max flow within around a quarter of a turn from closed. Further opening makes some additional difference but not a huge amount. Fully closed to maximum open turns (we can’t say “fully open” as it’s fully open way before this) is just over 2 full turns.

SUITABILITY

Our valve will fit all Gaggia Classics that have an aluminium or brass boiler (essentially all Gaggia Classic models except for the RI9403 made for the EU/UK between 2015-2018). The valve will also fit other Gaggia machines that use the same steam valve as the Classic.

To avoid doubt, this includes the original Classic, Classic Pro, Classic 2019, Classic Evo, Classic 2023, Classic Evo Pro, Classic 2024, Classic Evo Pro 2024, Classic E24

You should be able to easily see your current steam valve on top of the boiler inside the machine, once you remove the lid - so you can visually confirm to yourself that ours looks materially the same as yours.

INSTALLATION GUIDE

Check the "Video" icon above to view a YouTube video showing how to install a new Shades of Coffee steam valve.

USE

We'd recommend only closing the valve as much as is necessary to stop the flow of steam.  The valve seal is cushioned by a small viton o-ring, and using excessive closing force over a prolonged period can result in this small o-ring becoming permanently flattened and loosing the cushioning effect (which helps to keep the valve closed as it cools/heats), then requiring a replacement of this o-ring (a selection of which are within our service kit).

Note that the replacement of o-rings within the valve is considered normal wear-and-tear depending on frequency and duration of use of the machine and the steam valve.  Any leakage of the valve requiring replacement of o-rings or seals is not covered under warranty, as this simply requires replacement of the o-rings or seals by using our valve service kit.

LEAKAGE TIPS

If the valve ever leaks from the valve shaft - with water coming out of the valve nut hole - then this usually indicates that the two viton valve shaft seals need replacing (if you remove the valve nut completely, you should not be able to move the shaft side-to-side within the valve body; if you can then the o-rings need replacing) .  These are 7x2mm viton o-rings and they're included in our valve service kit.

If you ever experience excessive dripping from the steam tip, then this will be due to either scale or a foreign object on the valve seat or valve seal; or wear of the PTFE valve seal, or (more commonly) flattening of the seal cushioning o-ring that sits behind the seal, due to excessive closure force being applied over time.  A selection of different sized cushioning viton o-rings are included in our valve service kit.

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