logjames What’s the consensus on this upgrade? Is it worth it upgrade to the v2 Gicar? I mostly make small milk drinks with my v1 MaraX. I don’t steam more than 100ml at a time.
I think you should ask yourself a two-stage question: 1. Is it broke? 2. Will the v2 Gicar fix it?
The new software potentially will give you more steam power in the steam boost mode, and potentially give you more temp stability when making back to back espressos. So the first question is: are you short on steam power? Are you making back to back shots and feel you are not getting the same results due to temp swings because of the steam boost kicking in?
If you are always making milk drinks (so would not use the no-steam-boost mode); or if you are usually making just one drink (so will not care about steam boost affecting temp stability for further shots); or if you are steaming small quantities of milk as you said you do and have enough steam power (so will not benefit from extra steam power) - then I think you have no reason to want a V2 Gicar.
From my reading and understanding, the V2 Gicar would be good for the following situations:
1. You only use the machine for non-milk drinks AND you make multiple back-to-back shots. In this scenario you would benefit from the no-steam-boost mode, which isn’t available on the V1 Gicar.
2. You make huge milk drinks, and when you try to steam a bucket of milk you run out of steam power. In this scenario you would benefit from the longer steam boost in the V2 Gicar.
If one of the above applies to you, then a V2 Gicar might give you a better experience. But if it doesn’t, I don’t see what benefits you would get from replacing the box. For me personally (most of the time I make one drink, most of the time I steam milk and my flat whites are always small so I have no steam power issue), I don’t feel any need to update the software.
