DiyPresso: DIY Espresso Machine

You can get a similar machine (Quick Mill Carola) for the same price, assembled. To scratch the hacker itch, you can get a much cheaper machine (Gaggia Classic Pro, Rancillio Silvia) and install a PID (a computer to control most of the brewing parameters).

I understand the appeal to "hackers", but if you just want coffee, there are more, proven reliable, less expensive, options.

I have a quick mill QM67 from 2012...well past 10000 shots in that time and about 5 hours of "On time" per day. since I got it I hacked in a direct plumbing line with a solenoid, and have killed one $29 pump.

However, it is probably now in need of a teardown. the brew pressure bypass valve is seized, and there is some scaling/corrosion in the brew head. I've got a machine shop, so I'm tempted to tear the whole thing apart, rewire, and replace the core electronics, but I'm not sure exactly what to do.

That's a great deal and a very nice machine, but it isn't really the same in the sense that the Carola is a PID machine, but not a pressure profiling machine. I've used a non-pressure-profiling machine for years, and it's great, but pressure profiles are the current area of innovation for espresso machines and hacking.

I'm looking specifically for comments involving GCP and Silvias as I struggle to see a better option for us 'hackers.' Posting a separate comment about the Gagguino project [1] unless I find one. Would be happy to hear of a better path to Decent-level performance.

[1]: https://github.com/Zer0-bit/gaggiuino

I've had the PID enabled version of Quick Mill Carola for a few years now, and I don't think I would recommend it. The #1 issue for me is the water reservoir and associated fill sensor. The water reservoir is too difficult to refill, too difficult to see how full it is, and the water sensor is really unreliable and will beep loudly and prevent warm up even when the machine is full. I ended up disabling the sensor. I won't be getting rid of my Carola, but I think there are better choices now, something like the ECM Puristika, perhaps.