Incredibly well-designed mod kit. It works perfectly and results in a conversion to a machine with pro output. It's amazing. As others have pointed out, the documentation is designed for non-technical people, and for technical people it can be quite frustrating. However in hindsight, I was really thankful for all the details and repetition. It saved me from getting lost a number of times. Highly recommended!

The kit works like a charm, even then, the best part is the customer service! Any questions that come up during install, email support and they will be most helpful.

Summary: Excellent engineering, performance, and ease of DIY install, despite absolutely terrible installation instructions. Honestly, the instructions must be one of the worst-organized documents I have ever encountered in my long career as an engineer, they clearly need a technical writer. Just provide a schematic, one page could have replaced 40+ pages of wandering text. Rather than define a clear path for a given set of options, this document has the user literally connect things only to disconnect them later, depending on what options are chosen. Horrible. But that is only a minor ding against what is really a great kit. It just works, and the choice of hardware, wiring, everything.. is solid. If not for the horrendous install instructions, this would be five stars. [SoC] Thanks for the review Thomas. There is a schematic for all connection points within the Classic on the final page of the manual, which hopefully is useful for anyone of a more technical nature - that is capable of reading and understanding such diagrams. Unfortunately, probably in excess of 90% of all customers who buy our PID kit do so because they are NOT Engineers, have no idea what that diagram means, and they require very basic. step by step instructions with lots of photos and descriptions and texts - and that's the challenge for us in producing an installation manual that works for everyone, no matter what age, experience or background. Over the years of selling and supporting these kits, we've found (from a lot of customer feedback) that more information is better than less, and not to make any assumptions as to what level of knowledge (electrical / engineering) they have - and to try and cover every "daft mistake" that people can make. Installing a PID kit involves more than just connecting a few wires, so we try and give as much help as possible in the practical aspects of doing so - including how to remove various Gaggia components to ease access, how to attach wires to screw terminals, where to route wires, how to remove 'firm' Gaggia connectors, etc. We absolutely know that we cannot please all of the people, all of the time - but hopefully we come close, most of the time. :-)

Fantastic and comprehensive kit with everything thought about. I found the installation enjoyable but fairly challenging, I liked that I could put my coffee machine back to standard if I ever wanted to and didn't need to cut or change any original parts. Most importantly it has transformed the coffee I'm getting out of the machine. Before buying this kit, I was ready to give up on my Classic, I was making a lot of undrinkable sour shots which I was finding frustrating and also a lot of effort to go to for an unpleasant drink. Since installing the PID kit, I have used the machine daily and been consistently making drinks which I didn’t think myself or my coffee machine were capable of. It has been the most important thing I have purchased for my coffee set up (as without it I would have given up on making nice coffees at home). An additional bonus is that I’m able to also control the steam temperature which has also transformed my milk frothing capabilities as the steam comes out at a much higher pressure now. For anyone having trouble with inconsistent coffees due to the brewing temperature or who want to minimise the hassle and faffing about when making coffee in the morning, I would highly recommend getting this kit.

I was a little nervous about installing this but the instructions are broken down step by step. It took me a few hours for the install but I’m extremely pleased with the results.

The PID kit is very good quality and everything has obviously been well thought out to ensure installation is as straightforward as possible. I did contact Adrian before purchase to ask a few questions, and emails both before and after purchase were always answered quickly and fully. One point of interest that came up as a result of a few questions before buying is that, while many of the components are available online, they are apparently not all equal despite the descriptions and images. Quality, particularly of the three main parts - the PID, the Pt100 sensor and the SSR’s can vary enormously even though they might look similar. The components of the kit supplied are therefore clearly the result of a lot of research and testing by Adrian to make sure the PID installation is safe, reliable, long-lasting and, of course, accurate to a high degree. My Gaggia needed a long-overdue full service, so I removed the boiler and all attached parts to give everything a complete clean and replaced all the gaskets and ‘O’ rings. It was an ideal time to install the Pt100 sensor as the boiler was out of the machine but I would very definitely recommend removing the boiler anyway, or at least loosening the fixing bolts as the Pt100 is quite fragile and there is not much room with the boiler in place. As others have said, read through the very detailed manual first, at least once, and of course don’t rush things. I also took photos of everything inside the machine before starting, and numbered all the connectors before removing - particularly useful if you are taking the boiler out and/or doing a full service. A quick sketch on a sheet of paper with a rough drawing of the parts, connectors, wire colours and numbers helps if things aren’t clear from the photos. The Gaggia is better than ever (it already has the pressure reduced and other mods. suggested on the coffee forums etc), now with a consistency that was lacking using the original basic thermostats and the coffee is noticeably better, helped by the easy ability to adjust temperature to the roast level of the beans. I usually drink dark roast as I don’t like citrus/fruit flavours and high acidity but as I can now alter the temperature precisely I might try a few medium roasts to see how they work. Although we rarely drink coffee with milk, I have used the steam setting when friends have asked for one and the improvement in steam production and quantity is very impressive, more than enough to steam milk for two, probably four with a large enough jug! Definitely recommended, a very worthwhile upgrade and, as many others have said, first class support if needed.

Adding the PID made a huge difference to the taste of my espresso! I was always either getting really sour or bitter espresso before, but using the PID the espresso always tastes amazing. I don't consider myself a hands-on person, but the manual was very detailed and by carefully reading it through, I was able to install it properly. Even when I did run into an issue at one point, just by going to the "common mistakes and questions" section I found the answers i needed. I did have a missing part originally when the kit was shipped to me, but Mr. Shades responded to my email pretty much immediately and shipped the part right away. Issues like these can happen from time to time in any business, but it's how Mr. Shades goes above and beyond to rectify those issues is why I think you can trust him when you make a purchase.

I am so happy that I not only purchased a PID kit, but that I purchased it right here from Shades Of Coffee. When I encountered a bump in the road (entirely of my own making) during installation, Adrian was right there with the right advice and the right words to get me on the right track. Very highly recommended, both for the quality of the parts and for the great thought and care put into assembling the kit for us and creating the instructions. Money easily well spent.

I bought this kit because I didn't get constant results out of my old Gaggia Classic. I found MrShades kit on a German forum and the positive reviews on both the PID kit but also the outstanding support from MrShades. I received the kit a few days ago and downloaded the really well written manual for it. Being a total idiot on all things electric, I managed to do something wrong and panicked and try to reach MrShades. He was kind enough to help me right away and my problem was solved. My Gaggia never made better espresso and I am really happy I bought this kit. 100% recommended for all Gaggia Classic users!

Very happy with OPV and PID mod kits I just finished installing on my GCP. Already notice a difference in shot smoothness and consistency and better steam production. I agree with other comments - just take your time. Took me about 3 hours to get it all done and complete. Trickiest part is removal of old brew thermostat and replacing with new therm. Cable routing thru the rear grommet also becomes tight as you add more cables, but just take your time. I hid the PID round the back of the machine too, as I didn’t like the aesthetics of having it on the side. Now it’s in stealth mode. Set it and forget it and enjoy the better performance from your efforts!

The kit is excellent! The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Service is brilliant, PID was shipped shortly after I put an order... But for the future users just a few advices/warnings! Although the instructions could not be clearer, installing the kit might be more difficult than you expect. So be patient and give yourself enough time. The first challenge is to take a brew thermostat out of a boiler. The two connectors were so tightly connected that I manage to break plastic insulation on one of them with pliers. I would say it is good quality build from Gaggia! As there is almost no space, and if you have hands 'of a standard size', unscrewing a thermostat is a nightmare. With fixing a thermo probe a nightmare continued. It took me more then one hour just to replace a thermostat with a probe. I was on the edge to dismantle a steaming wand, even to take the boiler out. So, be aware of that. Insulation that broke I fixed with thermo insulator - the one that shrinks when you heat it with hot air (or VERY CAREFULLY with a cigarette lighter). In the case you use it, carefully read the insulator specs (especially the temperature range). The second issue was with a rubber grommet. There are two in the kit - one for the aluminium box and one for the Gaggia. The grommet meant to be used on Gaggia is simply to small and you can not squeeze all the wires through it. The edges on the went holes are VERY SHARP and it is very easy to damage insulation on wires! So, try to find a solution for protecting the wires. I used a small part of PVC tubing from spare parts for my aquarium. If you damage the insulation on any of wires, IMHO the best solution is to ask Adrian for replacement. You can fix it yourself (use thermo insulator, make yourself a new wire if you have tools and materials to terminate it), but if you do not know what you are doing or how to do it - DO NOT DO IT!!! Heat, water, pressure and electricity is a way to serious disaster! So be extra careful! Summary: PID works great, as explained in the instructions. Preset temperature is a rock solid that makes shots more consistent. Installing might be more complicated than expected! [SoC comment] We're going to review the need for an additional grommet in kits - as we firmly believe that it's not difficult to get them in one grommet, though we may decide that two could help (arranging the wires in horizontal pairs helps). Also - for help with tight Gaggia connectors, on new machines they can be tight, so see this video that we made that shows the best way to remove any of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1ntzPlrsZs

The PID is a great improvement for my machine, and it works perfectly. I'm really impressed with the amount of detail in the instructions, everything is very clearly explained and organized, even for a complete amateur like me it's really hard to have any installing issues if you follow it step by step. Every component and cable is prepared and ready to plug in. I really enjoyed the process, and learned a few technical things about how the machine works. Awesome project, cheers!

Why should you buy this PID kit over competitors'? Because not only is the price very reasonable (even with international shipping), but Mr. Shades' instructions guide you all the way through the process, including covering typical issues (which fixed my installation). There's no way I would be able to figure out how to PID my machine on my own, but Mr. Shades made it easy. You're paying for the detailed guide and for Mr. Shades' excellent customer service that can be vouched for on many espresso forums. It also feels better to buy from someone who just wanted to bring better espresso to the world than from a big business that's primarily concerned with the bottom line. Though I had no issues with the installation that weren't covered by the guide, I did contact Mr. Shades when my order hadn't shipped in a few business days. Even though he had a banner on the website that clearly indicated he was on vacation (which I neglected to read), he still responded to my message within an hour and told me that he would ship the kit once he was back from vacation. He is clearly dedicated. And the shipping took only a few days from GB to the West coast US. Why should you buy a PID kit at all? Well, if you are a "good enough" kind of person or if you really enjoy and/or are really good at temperature surfing, then you probably don't need one. But, if you're like me, and I'm guessing you are if you're reading this review, temperature surfing wasn't cutting it and I needed to up my consistency and get my espresso to that next level. This PID kit can take you there. As a bonus, it also makes it easy to get good steam. Overall, this is an absolutely worthwhile upgrade, particularly if you're brewing light roasts, which require a higher temperature and can be harder to temperature surf for. It makes a very noticeable difference. Happy brewing!

I couldn't possibly recommend this PID more. The package arrived at my doorstep in the U.S. three days after I placed the order. The items were packed with care and the instructions were detailed and easy to understand. Install took awhile as I went slowly and carefully. Anytime I had a question, Mr. Shades emailed back almost immediately with further information. If you're on the fence about getting a PID, don't be. If a novice like myself can do it, so can you.

The kit is great quality! The parts and clear instructions have been very well thought through. I had a good read one night before the kit arrived so when it came to the install, I had a rough idea what was in store. I was a little apprehensive, but everything went smoothly and it was reassuring to know that if I did encounter any problems, support was only a few clicks away. I'm not going to miss temperature surfing that's for sure!

Excelent ! An awesome support to help me to install the pid. I reccomend the shades of coffee PID. 100% SUPER !!!

100% recommend this PID kit. With it, you remove a lot of the guess work of finding the correct temperature to pull excellent shots. I believe you can't go back once you experienced it, installing this to your Gaggia classic is a must. Manual was easy to follow even for novice like me. I installed this PID at the same time as changing the steaming wand too.

I'm not going to detail the advantages of this kit as I believe it is obvious. As a coffee machine engineer specialized in Gaggia Classics, I have installed numerous of these kits . The only thing I can say is, there is nothing better than this kit. MrShade is continuously keeping a very high standard of this very well designed and constructed product. The excessive instruction guide allows literally anyone to install it, including but not limited to my 13 years old cousin. Always dispatched rapidly, never missed any parts. As a forum member (CoffeeForumsUK) I also know he is always available for troubleshooting on a short notice, in case of installation issues. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This PID has transformed my Gaggia Classic. The steam is on another level! Easy to fit if you’ve got basic hand skills. The instructions are faultless and very well laid out. Overall this kit is well worth it. It’s given me another few years of use for the GC before the inevitable upgrade. If you have a GC this kit is a must!

The addition of this PID has given me the best espresso yet out of my GCP! Repeatability is huge to me so this is making all the difference. I also wanted to consistently brew at slightly higher temps since I'm using a lighter roast from a local roaster. This kit gives me the ability to tweak the temp and better control the Classic's small boiler. It has made a big difference! Getting it setup took some time, but the manual was well written and easy to follow. I definitely recommend reading the manual before your PID kit even arrives, especially if you're not experienced with setting up things like this. And if you have issues with wire colors or setup differing from the manual (some US vs European things are slightly differ), simply reach out to Mr. Shades and you'll get a super quick and helpful response! I would highly recommend this. You'll get you Classic producing coffee on par with much more expensive machines and improve repeatability and control. You will also improve steam power, which is a fantastic added benefit.

I finally decided to purchase this PID and I am so happy I did. The manual is really easy to follow. I have limited experience around wiring etc. However do not let this put you off. It really is straight forward and easy to follow. It is well worth the money in my opinion and I’m sure my coffee will see the benefit!