Gaggia Espresso DOSE

Advantages: makes delicious cappucinos
Disadvantages: cleaning is fiddly

...well what can i say- this machine is a dream to own and use. Originally i thought it too expensive to buy a gaggia but when i considered how much money i was spending on take away coffees per week then this is an absolute bargain. I bought this machine one month ago and have used it daily ever since. it makes the most delicious cappucinoo which rivals all of the main coffee chain stores offerings. the crema on the top of the espresso it makes is really thick . You can make two espressos at one time or one depending on the size of the filter cup you use. Included is a coffee machine a coffee scoop ., tamper and instruction manual. to use fill the water tank with cold water, let it heat up, fill the coffee filter with coffee, press the button and hot espresso comes out. Heat the milk using the milk frother- all included in... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Makes excellent espresso, cappuccino and latte coffee
Disadvantages: Needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly

...I've never been particularly keen on drinking coffee at work - the options usually consisting of either a mug of the instant variety made with water boiled in a disgustingly furred-up kettle, or a paper cup of brown-coloured hot liquid dispensed by a temperamental vending machine - so it was with some relief when I began a new job last year to learn that there was an espresso machine at my disposal, with which to make a cup of 'real' coffee whenever I wanted one. I wouldn't term myself a coffee snob by any means, but I'm a firm believer that there's no competition between the genuine article and its powdered or granular equivalent, despite what the Kenco lady in the television commercials would have us believe. NAMING THE BABY Our machine, the quaintly-named Baby Dose, is made by the Italian company Gaggia, one of the world... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cheap, good pump pressure, easy as pie to use.
Disadvantages: Recent units use aluminium -can corrode

...We drink a hell of a lot of coffee here and this is the culprit! It is cheap, its pretty well made and is a great introduction to a good espresso (or cappucino, frothy hot choc etc) The unit design has not changed much since they were released but some are now shipped with an aluminium coffee ground holder. This isn't a big problem but it wont last forever as the old bronze and chrome ones will. The pressure is good enough to pour a great espresso with good crema provided you get the grind fine enough. This is pretty much the same as many of the 'better' models- including an aluminium boiler- so descale as little as possible! The unit is fast to heat up, the pump pressure is good but it does have only one boiler- so multiple cappucinos can be slow- you need to let the unit heat up and cool down between milk foaming and drawing... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful