Wacaco Picopresso Pressure Gauge

Damaged unit or incompatible with my Picopresso

I think the Picopresso is super cool device but I definitely need a pressure gauge to be able to estimate the needed amount of pressure. So I ordered one here because it seems to be out of stock almost everywhere else. I much appreciate that Basic Barista has rare stuff that is hard to find in other places and that it does international shipping! However, the pressure gauge turned out to be completely unusable for me. After the first use it jammed and became impossible to unscrew. I searched for solution in the internet, and tried everything, cooling it down, heating one part and cooling the other, I even tried two belt strap wrench openers but the two rings refused to opened. Finally I was able to open them by hammering slightly the Picopresso metal ring that holds the portafilter. Next time I tried to lubricate the threads with food safe grease but it jammed again and was impossible to open by hand. I see a lot of videos on Youtube where people use this device with no problems, so I guess I got a defective unit, but that is my experience with it. Not only it is completely unusable, I also damaged slightly my Picopresso ring when tried to open it.

I’m very happy it finally came here to Peru… thank so much!! I don’t put 5 stars because the gauge seem a little less premium that I thought and in the manual don’t show any common troubles and how to fix, so I have to do a research… but works ok, I’m happy after all…

Perfect!