Showerthought: My espresso machine almost caught fire last Tuesday

I was dialing in a new batch of beans in my kitchen around 6 AM, just me and the machine. Suddenly I smelled burning plastic and saw a tiny wisp of smoke coming from the back of my Gaggia. Turns out the pump had a loose wire that was arcing against the metal frame. I yanked the plug, let it cool for an hour, then tightened the connection with a screwdriver. Has anyone else found a scary electrical issue hiding inside their machine that was an easy fix?

3 comments

3 Comments

torres.sage2mo ago

Wait, you didn't call a fire department or anything? I mean, yanking the plug is smart, but dude, arcing wires inside a metal box full of water and high pressure is basically a bomb waiting to happen. I had a similar thing with my old Silvia, but it wasn't a loose wire, it was a cracked pump housing dripping water right onto the circuit board. I was lucky I noticed the steam before it really let go. So yeah, I get the easy fix part, but maybe next time throw a fire extinguisher near your station just in case. Your machine almost quit on you permanently.

william_jackson651mo ago

You ever think you're being careful enough, then realize you were actually flying blind? I used to roll my eyes at the fire extinguisher people like @felix824 always recommend, but after reading this I'm ordering one tonight because that "it won't happen to me" mindset nearly cost me. Honest to God, I get now that a quick yank isn't the same as being prepared for when the yank doesn't work fast enough.

felix8242mo ago

People always overlook the small stuff until it almost burns the house down. It's the same with cars or home appliances, you figure a little noise or a drip is no big deal until something major fails. That's why I keep a basic toolkit and a cheap fire extinguisher near anything that plugs in and gets hot.