Gaggia Coffee /CC 125 /CG 125 /74657

Advantages: Looks good and makes superb coffee.
Disadvantages: Frustrating to use and occasionally verging on the dangerous.

...I'm a difficult person to buy presents for, so when I mentioned to my husband last summer that I liked the idea of an espresso machine it was inevitable that one would appear on my birthday. He went for what seemed to him to be the best of the domestic machines - the Gaggia Classic - as it's a well-built basic machine with none of the frills which rarely get used and have the potential to cause problems. It will also make a cappuccino, but not a filter coffee. The Classic is also one of the most powerful domestic machines - water is forced through the ground coffee with 17.5 bar of pressure. To give you some idea of how powerful this is, my central heating operates at 1.5 bar. An espresso coffee is so-called because it comes from the Italian for express. It's meant to be brewed and drunk within a matter of seconds - minutes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: great coffee-good value for money machine
Disadvantages: water refill can be a bit messy

...I have had my machine 3 years and feel it was v good value for money compared to larger much more expensive Gaggias.It is a compact machine and the silver details are quite stylish.It makes great coffee and the steam/milk frother is easy and much better than other machines i have used-though the angle of this does mean that you get spillage if you fill the milk jug too much ! The water container slides out sideways and can slosh out water if your not v careful replacing it. I had problems with steam leakage after 21/2 years and sent it back to Gaggia for servicing-it cost £60 for a full service and all parts but my machine is now as good as new-so cheaper than buying another one......... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A wonderful array of hot drinks
Disadvantages: Other than price, none

...After a long day's shopping in Nottingham recently our final port of call was House of Fraser and the wonderful smell of coffee wafting around the shop floor led us to the Gaggia display counter. The barista immediately asked us if we would like a drink and it seemed a shame not to, so black coffees were produced for hubby and myself and a hot chocolate for the grandson. The salesman/barista was passionate about his products and told us all about them at length and our eye was caught by one particular model, the Selecta, which was on promotion at half price. For a limited period this machine was on sale for £134.99 instead of the usual, double priced amount. The beauty of this machine is that as well as being able to take the pods which we still had left from another machine, it also makes tea from bags or loose leaf tea... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful