Gaggia Classic Design Problems

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...

SueMagee 05.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Classic

My Gaggia...

Advantages: Pure perfection
Disadvantages: A lot of work for a small cup of coffee....

...Ive had my Gaggia for a good while now...when I first got it it was in constant use...these days it usually doesnt get used much during the week...reason being that there is a lot to clean up after and not much time to do it....easier to make a cup of instant....thought of course its not any where near the same...just a matter of lifestyle...But at the weekends it comes into its own...and is in constant use... Once you get over the initial 'how to' it comes as second nature, like anything else new...when you start to use them they seem pretty daunting to say the least...but once youve mastered it, away you go.... Now I have no idea what it would cost these days...(mine was aroung the £140 mark if memory serves me correctly) and more often than not some of these things tend to get cheaper...since there are very many more makes...

kiria 21.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Classic

Gaggia-ing for a Drink

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...

patriciat 30.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Selector Deluxe

Gagging for a Gaggia

Advantages: high status, easy operation
Disadvantages: plasticky feel, noisy, needs finely burr ground coffee

...I was lucky enough to win the Evolution expresso maker in the Ebay Xmas Treasure Hunt. Apparently Gaggia were out of stock in europe for a few weeks, so I only received it mid February. If you order one then make sure you order from somewhere that actually has stock! The machine comes well boxed with simple instructions. Negatives: The main unit is made of plastic and feels like it will break as you hold it to twist the coffee holder in to place. The water container also can easily slop water whilst you do this if you shove the machine a little. The water pump isn't exactly quiet either as it primes. You are also recommended to use coffee ground in a burr mill rather than a bladed grinder (for that authentic expresso crema), though pods are an easier alternative. A burr mill is an extra expense and not exactly cheap...

cootuk 22.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Evolution

The new Gaggia Titanium that broke!

Advantages: Large water tank, Speedy, Compact, Easy to customise and use
Disadvantages: Body finish could be better for the price; Brew unit (plastic) is not very sturdy

...After owning a Krups Crematic combi machine for 5 years, I wanted to own something a step up, although there was nothing really wrong with the Krups and it served me well on a daily basis. Although the new Gaggia Titanium has been out for at least a few months there don't seem to be any reviews of it yet, so I hope this is of help. I was in 2 minds whether to plump for this model or the slightly cheaper Gaggia Synchrony Digital Compact. The main reason the Titanium won was because the water tank was double the size of the Compact, the look was better, and the features were improved. One of the other differences between these two models is the Titanium has an "active" cup-warmer whereas the Compact has a "passive" cup-warmer. Active means it has it's own heater, not just the heat from the machine. So - on with the review. Set-up was...

sarobin 26.04.2005 (01.08.2005) · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Titanium

A Thing of Beauty: the Gaggia Baby Classic

Advantages: Makes café quality espresso with a perfect crème
Disadvantages: Water can be too hot sometimes

...I bought this espresso machine in September 2008 from my local speciality coffee shop; "MacBean's" in Aberdeen, Scotland. After viewing it in the shop it struck me as a thing of beauty as much as coffee machine and I could imagine it taking it pride of place in my kitchen- which it now does. I paid £250 from this local Gaggia agent, though online it can be found much cheaper- for about £150 or even cheaper on sites such as eBay. I got a good deal as I when I asked for some free coffee to sweeten the purchase I was surprised to find I also was given a set of six espresso cups and saucers for free. I suggest you ask around when purchasing this machine as it seemed like the shop might have got them free from Gaggia as a promotional item. After struggling home with my heavy purchase and regretting not taking a car I opened the box to...

bobbacon985 11.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia BABY Class

I scream for ice-cream! Gaggia Gelatiera

Advantages: Simple, quick, easy to clean
Disadvantages: Some might consider it quite big

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Ostinato 22.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Gelatiera

Gaggia Viva

Advantages: Slim and lightwight can use coffee pods
Disadvantages: Rather filmsy feel

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pieman1970 31.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Viva

Cafe aroma in the homa

Advantages: Italian design, milk frother
Disadvantages: Cleaning coffee grind.

...Gaggia ********* Achille Gaggia produced the first modern steam-less coffee machine on 5 September 1938, and are now probably the most renowned brand in the world. PRICE ******** So why pay £250 for a Gaggia Classic espresso machine. If your a coffee lover and you have been to Starbucks, Caffe Nero or one of those other trendy coffee bars, when you open the door and you get that whiff of the fresh ground coffee being served to people lounging on sofas reading the free papers or chatting about life in general you will know why. The coffee machines that are in these shops cost thousands of pounds but do the same as the Gaggia Classic, they make a shot of espresso and froth milk. Yes you can buy cheaper coffee machines, filter, stove top, percolator and cafe-tier but these are not pump driven machines and you need a pump driven...

oldwasp 01.02.2007 (28.03.2007) · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Classic

A corner of Milan in your kitchen

Advantages: Quick, simple, sturdy, stylish
Disadvantages: Can lose important 'bits' if not careful

...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...

anniej1543 21.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Classic