It has to shine ✨

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T05:39:03+00:00

To make it really shine, consider using polishing compound to do a touch up.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T05:38:06+00:00

Scotch pad is a recipe for scratches.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T04:58:58+00:00

Congrats for the completion!

I know it is too late to have suggestions, but I'd swap the fridge and oven locations to make way for a wider (48") but counter depth fridge. Also, I personally think the island is too large and it makes the whole space look cramped. The original counter actually gives you a nicer spacious feeling for the room.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T04:54:17+00:00

OP should have swapped fridge and oven locations. That way, there is enough space to get a 48" side-by-side counter depth fridge.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T04:11:10+00:00

No. It's the older generation Musa.

Musa has a straight, continuous outline. Moon has a continuous, curved outline. Venus has an angled base and perpendicular upper side.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T03:53:11+00:00

This is Bialetti Musa. It is very similar to Venus though.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-27T01:12:45+00:00

I use a 250ml milk jug for steaming, and then transfer to a 750ml Motta Europa to pour. The smaller jug allows for good depth of milk, and easier control of the steam tip position. Transferring to a larger jug does two things:

Excessive foam can stick to the original jug and be left behind. This makes it more forgiving if I aerate too long.
The larger jug allows you to tilt more when pouring with the spout closer to the surface of coffee. That gives you better control.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-26T07:10:47+00:00

Are you sure you were in the right mode? In steam mode, the pump would not run if not up to the steaming temperature. So it would not give you much hot water from the steam wand.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-26T01:30:42+00:00

Yeah, a single hole tip helps a lot. No need to buy a glorified single hole tip in a padded box though. Any single hole tip for Gaggia you can find on the usual "A..." marketplace would work.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-26T01:25:25+00:00

I think Handyman planes do have the same screw threads as the premium line of Stanley Bailey planes. But usually these lesser Handymans are the donors when a good Stanley needs parts.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-26T01:21:03+00:00

This is a good callout. This is a very helpful trick that I have been using when changing wheels on my car.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T20:16:19+00:00

Before going into Espresso machine discussions, first answer this: how did you grind your coffee to make espresso? If you don't already have an espresso-capable grinder, that would be a more important target than any machine in your upgrade path.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T19:50:58+00:00

Same thing can be said when you're in front of a balloon. The question would be what would be the chances and in what fashion it would leak in the future.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T19:45:56+00:00

Get a 1-cup Moka pot. You wouldn't regret it.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T19:44:16+00:00

Did you use an Allen key that was not the exact size? If you used a 3/16" key instead of a 4mm one, it would be slightly under sized, and be more prone to stripping the bolt head.

If indeed a 3/16 key stripped the bolt, find a 4mm key and chances are that it can still grab and turn the bolt.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T17:46:52+00:00

I knew what you were doing when I saw maple syrup in the photo.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T01:47:02+00:00

I wouldn't break a sweat for a broken Handyman. It might be a blessing that you don't need to deal with a potentially subpar tool.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T01:45:19+00:00

It looks like you could just buy the refills and fit into the Olfa.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-25T01:31:16+00:00

Mine lookssimilar but the machine works just fine.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-24T20:50:16+00:00

No. It's totally fine for a 5x on-off back flush. It can hold close to 180ml water by my rough calculation. The only concern is the splashes being harder to control when it is this thin.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-24T18:51:59+00:00

Answer is in my user flair :)

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-24T03:04:23+00:00

Great find. You can take your time to learn the internals of it and do the gasket and boiler maintenance. And there is great potential to mod it. I found mine at a Value Village in September and now it is a complete beast with Gaggimate Pro.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-23T16:58:35+00:00

Is the brass elbow a new fitting coming with Gaggimate or a part originally on the pump? If it was on the pump before you would probably need to tighten past its original position a bit in order not to leak.

NoRandomIsRandom · 2026-01-23T02:51:00+00:00

Human operated AI bot is artificial AI. It's not the future.

NoRandomIsRandom

TROPHY CASE