[gm0]

I agree. PID it. Be happy for a while. Consider next move. Our use case 2-4 shots. Mostly milk drinks. Mignon Specialita and Gaggia GC PID.

I added PID and shallow drip tray to our GC (which had rancilio wand, bottomless pf, ims screen and opv set when it arrived from these forums). There were no top boxes at the time and I am lazy now about getting one and redoing the wiring and heat insulation to refit the PID just to get the pressure gauge.

The coffee is nice post PID. A tiny bit better subjectively (probably due to temperature accuracy). Or that is just placebo effect. Definitely not unrecognisably "better" than the "best results" from before. And why would it be. Same beans. Same grinder. Temperature is more accurate to target and in a narrower part of the prior range shot to shot. Pressure same. What it is - is way more consistent. I can pay less attention to driving the machine and anticipating the oldstyle thermostat. So reliable results at the brew step.

The issues driving variation now are my sloppy puck prep and perhaps some timed dose variation from the specialita. I do weigh - but not every time and just broadly trust the timed dose so I get only what I deserve.

I sometimes still use poor mans pre-infusion (wand outlet as pressure off ramp - and then ramp the pressure by closing when espresso first appears.

As to a genuine upgrade on a "fully" or thereabouts modded GC.

I think the Elizabeth is an interesting sideways to upwards choice. Clever and convenient in a small package. Automated pre-infusion. Fairly rare and yet some forum noises about some issues. And less obvious a candidate to triggers broom repair at home. The MaraX seemed interesting also as a "clever" HX. I don't want a needs flushing HX - just different bs than the classic. Doesn't feel like an upgrade.

Profitec have bought out several more models since I last looked.

My take then was that the "worthwhile" step up was really to a Bianca or ECM/Profitec equivalent of it but that is a 2k machine all day long. And probably drives grinder and other prep tool gear acquisition syndrome thereafter.

If you can wire a plug or have ever dabbled in electronics then fitting relays and a PID to a GC is not rocket science. Mr Shades instructions are solid. But it is fiddly nonetheless.

Labelling the wires carefully when you remove and dismantle the front switch is essential for it to go back together properly. Factory wiring colours at Gaggia as built over the years do not necessarily follow the diagrams on the internet. So ending up with mystery wires to trace is undesirable. Ask me how I know - my post it strips fell off. Damn it.