A year of ownership and I am still impressed with its looks and even more so with the coffee it makes. It takes time and patience to learn how to use the Baby Class properly so if you are the type of person who wants to press one button and have exactly the same coffee experience every time then this machine is probably not for you. If, however, you are serious about coffee and enjoy a really authentic tasting cappuccino or espresso then the time and effort is well worth it. You will enjoy the "event" of making the coffee almost as much as drinking it. I recommend the use of a good quality espresso coffee such as Illy or Lavazza for good, consistent, results. Price c. £250. Shop around as in my experience the price varied from £245 to over £300.
My
previous machine had worked on pressure generated by the internal boiler only - boiling to the point where the pressure build up forced the water through the brew head. I wanted a machine that made espresso and cappuccino more akin to what I enjoy when visiting the high street. My research led me to pump-driven espresso machines that press the hot water through at high pressure (up to 15 bar or more!) Apparently that extra pressure helps to achieve a richer flavour and improved crema (the fine, creamy froth on the surface of a black coffee). Also, unlike with the boiler only machines, you are less likely to scald the coffee which impairs the flavour. There was a bewildering array of choice and pressures (some as low as 10 bar some as much as 15 bar) - I decided to focus on a particular manufacturer - one with an impressive reputation in espresso and cappuccino machines - Gaggia. From reading other experiences and recommendations on the web and taking into account my budget (no more than £250) - I had narrowed it down the Classic and the Baby Class. In the end it was aesthetics and the addition of a solenoid valve (more about that later) that made me finally choose the Baby Class. I have not been disappointed.
Using the Baby Class
It is very possible with just a few attempts to make a really good espresso or cappuccino by following the instructions carefully. However, as with anything where there is no automation and the operator is fully in charge of the end result, practice really does make perfect. For me, this is part of the joy of owning a machine like this - I can engage with the coffee making process in a way that I can't with a push button fully automated machine (such as the DeLonghiESAM5500Perfecta) . No two coffees taste the same. My machine does not have a doser (if you want that facility you may want to consider the Baby Dose) so the measurement of coffee and water is done by eye. Providing you wait the required 6 minutes the temperature is optimum for an espresso. Making a cappuccino is slightly more difficult to perfect - I recommend the use of a stainless steel pannarello frother (rather than the plastic one provided) and jug for best results (I've tried with plastic and it is too easy to scald the milk). Even now, a year later, if I don't concentrate it is still possible to scald the milk (which makes for an unpleasant almost UHT-like flavour) or make the cappuccino too cool - but I get it just about right around 90% of the time. It is achieved by pressing a steam button to charge up the steam and then releasing it with a regulator on the top of the machine - the steam generator will not shut off automatically and you must remember to switch it off which is one of my few gripes with the machine. What difference does the solenoid valve make? Apparently it leaves a drier coffee pellet in the filter after you have made the coffee. This is supposed to make it easy to knock out the coffee afterwards - in my experience it doesn't always work as intended and a rinse under the tap is needed. Without experiencing a machine that lacks this feature it would not be fair to say whether it is worth the extra money or not.
Care and Maintenance
The Baby Class is reasonably easy to clean. The filter holder and filters, pannarello frother and drip tray can all be washed in hot soapy water. I wipe the casing down with a clean damp cloth followed by a dry lint free cloth to return it to its original lustre. Every now and then the machine needs de-scaling and for this you have to remove the shower and brew head. For the de-scaling itself a sachet of tartaric acid based de-scaler (available from Gaggia) is added to the water reservoir and passed through the machine. It pays to give it a really good rinse through with water afterwards - otherwise you may find your next cup of coffee becomes unpleasantly "alive" on the tongue!
Advantages
The advantages over a cheaper machine are that the coffee can be as good as anything you are likely to get in a high street coffee house. These machines have a long life and can be re-conditioned by Gaggia when they start to wear out and get a little tired. As well as a good cup of coffee there is the added enjoyment of perfecting your barista skills at home. From a purely aesthetic point of view they enhance most kitchens (although check the dimensions as they aren't exactly compact).
Disadvantages
The time taken to learn how to use the machine. The addictiveness of the coffee. The fact that you become a coffee "critic" every time you go out. The plastic pannarello frother that comes with the machine. The fact that the steam generator does not automatically switch off (useful if you are a little absent-minded like me).
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Welcome to Ciao, good first review. Don't be afraid to put in more information: price, what it's like to use, good and bad points and so on. Have a read around other people's reviews to get a feel for it. I have the Gaggia Kubika which I love but I have considered moving up to the Baby or another model but wasn't sure what I'd get extra for the money. Mine cost £100 and I'd be interested in knowing what this offered over mine.
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Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: In stock
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