I was in the Royal Marines for 11 yrs. I retired to study geophysics and have been a freelance con...
I was in the Royal Marines for 11 yrs. I retired to study geophysics and have been a freelance consultant since 1980. I live with my wife in West Dorset and travel through my work about 6 mths per year. I have worked in over 50 countries worldwide.
Member since:20.03.2003
Reviews:33
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If you are a spontaneous buyer like me - you see it - you like it - you buy it, then, like me, you may own several items which you wish you had researched first.
This was the case with my Gaggia Expresso Evolution.Nearly a year ago, I walked into Owen & Simpson in Dorchester, a specialist Kitchen Shop, saw it and bought it. Most small businesses cannot afford to display whole product ranges and this was the only model in stock. It may have been their professional choice but I didn't ask.
Later I found that there is a whole range of Gaggia machines to tempt the punter. At www.ishop.co.uk, for example, as well as machines costing £500, there is the Expresso at £125, the Expresso De Luxe at £153 and my Evolution at £129.
The De Luxe does not appear from the blurb to be any different from the Expresso, apart from offering "superior" tasting coffee. The Evolution however is unique in that it has an easy-to-fill removable transparent water container which slides in at the side and is easily visible. Presumably its purpose is to be seen at a glance before preparing the next cup.
I now have to make the painful admission that, as a coffee addict, I prefer good filtered coffee to expresso coffee, but because my Latin wife prefers expresso, I capitulated. I would advise any prospective purchaser of an expresso machine to be sure that this is their preferred taste, and not filtered, because there is a distinct difference, especially, if like me, you don't take milk or sugar.
So what of Evolution's qualities? It has a dual spout which means you can put two small cups side by side for simultaneous filling. Personally we both put one larger cup under the two spouts and enjoy a decent size cup of coffee.
The unique thing about expresso is that lovely frothy topping which Gaggia Evolution produces perfectly; however unless you leave it to warm up for at least 5 minutes, the machine usually produces only luke warm coffee.
Our machine has two faults. The dual spout under the coffee basket frequently falls off and I have found it in the bottom of my coffee cup on several occasions. It is not easy to screw it back on.
Secondly, on occasions and for no apparent reason, during the coffee making process, hot fresh coffee runs down the handle and all over our worktop. Checking the tightness of the locking process does not seem ot improve it.
A minor irritant also is that the water container is not too easy to slide into place and the slightest knock will cause water to slop all over the place.
To summarise, I wish I had persuaded my wife to buy a filter coffee maker for reasons previously stated, but on the assumption I would not have succeeded, Gaggia expresso coffee is OK, and I am proud to offer it to my friends who all enjoy it.
Perhaps other models have their own niggling faults too but I have learned to live with mine. I look forward to my morning coffee with great relish and when my new kitchen is ready, I am sure the Gaggia will still be there. It looks like new, showing no signs of wear.
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Sounds like a bit of a pain!!! an informative and useful review x
allans1 13.10.2003 01:44
Great op, pointed out some annoyances I have with my machine, that being the coffee coming out around the filter holder and onto the worktop. I have had 2 Gaggia's and they both do it.
A special care is given to its design with clean and definite lines,valuable materials and ... more
exclusive finish that express the different tempers of the product. A user-friendly design, the front water reservoir that is removable sideways,the large space...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: Out of stock
Advantages: A very capable machine that will produce great coffee if YOU are capable of driving it! Disadvantages: A little bit plasticy outside but the internals are all Gaggia industrial quality
gadgetaddict 21.12.2009 (21.12.2009)
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Review of Gaggia Evolution
Advantages: A very capable machine that will produce great coffee if YOU are capable of driving it! Disadvantages: A little bit plasticy outside but the internals are all Gaggia industrial quality
gadgetaddict 21.12.2009 (21.12.2009)
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Review of Gaggia Evolution
Advantages: Very easy to use and get up and running with nice coffee Disadvantages: Takes a while to warm up, you need a jug of just the right size to froth the milk
Belper25 25.08.2005 ·
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Review of Gaggia 74556EVOL
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