So - I lost the whoosit for steaming the milk properly and now I only use the coffee making part, heating the milk up in the microwave. But, in the Gaggia's defence, I have had it for a long, long, time (5 years plus), moved house with it as well, hence the loss of the whoosit, and I still couldn\'t get through the day without the wonderful coffee it makes for me every morning. I could also replace the whoosit direct from Gaggia's site, but I have pathetically not bothered. Despite this, I still use the machine daily.
It needs a good descale every now and then - I just use the same stuff you would use for a kettle, brew it through a few times and then rinse a lot, but I\'m pretty sure it came with some descaling instructions as well. Its also worth using filtered water to keep it happy, but that goes for every machine you can buy. If you are comparing this with the 'pod coffee' machines bear in mind how much you will use it and how much cheaper it could be if you use 'real' ground coffee. I buy my fairtrade coffee from a local healthfood shop where they grind it fresh for me (I insist on the finest grind they can do, try that in Asda) I then keep the ground coffee in the freezer and the machine copes with this direct from there. I have yet to find a better cup of coffee in a 'normal' house and a lot of that is down to the machine as well as the product I use.
Theres also something immensely satisfying about that push and twist of the coffee basket gizmo like you were a real barista - the whole process is almost as calming as a chinese tea ceremony but infinitely quicker. My morning coffee takes less time than it takes to boil the kettle.
I can't see this machine ever breaking, its too solid and dependable, but if I really had to, I would buy another! It is an aficionado's brand, but just as simple as the gimmick ridden pod machines when you get right down to it - lets face it, water in the top, coffee in the basket, milk in a jug and three switches - you can\'t go wrong. And who doesn't want to look like a coffee pro when the ladies that lunch are round?
Note - try not to throw the basket out with the grinds when you try and do that whizzy 'bash into the drawer' thing that they do in Starbucks. Oh, and send your coffee grinds to a better place in the compost heap when you have finished with them.
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The Gaggia Classic Coffee defines the cutting edge of coffee makers: brass components ... more
maintain the beverages at a constant temperature; an internal mechanism composed of a solenoid and an expansion valve allows the rapid drying of the interior; the adj...
Postage & Packaging: 0.00 GBP Availability: In Stock
Theres nothing like a good cup of coffee to lend a little extra sense of refinement and ... more
taste to ones daily life. The CLASSIC COFFEE model embodies this by combining advanced technology and classic form, underscored by the durability and elegance of it...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: In stock
Sep 21st, 2007
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