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....

...thing that springs to mind is that a lot of the 'Coffee shops' and 'Coffee Bars' use the Gaggia make too....so that says a lot....Italians are very fussy about their coffee, if its not right they wont drink it...even when I have been to Italy the make they use is mostly Gaggia too....there again, that says a lot too....I would most certainly recommend it....it certainly beats hubby standing behind the kitchen door....making all manner of ridiculous noises to stress the point that your brewing real coffee....just think how grateful he would be if you actually went out to purchase one.....no more gargling to prevent a sore throat....ah bliss......and...another advantage to that is that it makes a great impression....how many times have you had a wonderful meal...and its devastatingly let down by insipid coffee to round of the meal...

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

Me and my machine

Advantages: Great coffee
Disadvantages: Silly instructions and the washing-up afterwards!

...It's always a joy to see a really substantial gift twinkling at you from under the Christmas tree, isn't it? I had gone through the obligatory weighing (not to say shaking) of the thing long before Christmas morning and hadn't a clue what the wrapping paper hid. But I did know one thing - who it was from. My husband. Now here is a man who never does things by halves, he'd rather have one Jagaur suit than fifteen cheaper ones, and chooses immaculate presents, so I suspected I was in for a real treat. Oh joy! The Gaggia Coffee Delux cappuccino machine. I am a sucker for anything caffeine related so it was a real delight, and hubby had not been seduced by cheaper or smaller machines, but true to form had gone straight to the "best in breed" available. **Information** The box comes with a small brochure explaining how to set...

Kirsty1 30.06.2002 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Coffee

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 turning the machine back on ensuring that no cold water remnants from a previous session end up in the next cup. Another feature is the by-pass dosing facility, where you can use ground coffee (decaff for instance) instead of the beans in the machine. My only complaint is that the regular frothing tube is a bit loose and can easily slip off. But apart from this, which I'll be contacting Gaggia about, the machine is great - stylish, easy to use and great coffee! UPDATE: Unfortunately, the machine completely broke down after 3 months, refusing to pump water through. I returned the machine and chose to replace with the Jura Z5 which is a much more sturdy and quieter machine....

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

Gaggia Viva

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

...On initially taking the machine out of the box it felt quite flimsy and plastic compared to other coffee machines I have owned. Three buttons sit on top of the machine respectively, one to switch on, one to pour coffee and one for steam/frothing. The water container sits behind and to the middle of the machine and is quite annoying to get out and fill and causes you to spill the water. On the plus side it is very compact and modern looking and sits nicely on the kitchen worktop. It comes with three different metal containers for the coffee, with one being suitable for coffee pods which are alot cleaner than the traditional way of filling up with ground coffee yourself. I suppose the real test is in the coffee making !! The water took no time at all to heat up and provide a quite and clean fill up as with the frother which also did...

pieman1970 31.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Viva

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

Conscience Coffee

Advantages: Fairtrade, ethical business, reasonable product
Disadvantages: Bit bland, not full bodied as rivals or real ground coffee

...I really love the taste and smell of fresh ground coffee, especially from Colombia or Costa Rica. There is a richness and distinctive aroma as you open the pack which just sets the taste buds tingling???..Alas, all too often it is simply not practical or best use of time to indulge in real brewed coffee so instant must suffice. Unfortunately in this sector of the beverage market price is often indicative of quality, and premium brand instant coffees almost always taste better than the standard or economy offerings. Having experienced enjoyable cups of Percol Fresh Ground Colombian Coffee I had high expectations from the instant variety: even more so since it was on offer at just over £2 for a 100g jar making it very competitive against other premium brands. The packaging with it?s familiar green green hue and prominent Fairtrade...

suehome 22.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Percol Fairtrade Instant Colombian Coffee

This has to be the Best Coffee machine ever

Advantages: Quality of coffee, does everything.
Disadvantages: Instructions could be more clear.

...If you are serious about having the best coffee's possible then this is the machine for you. The machine has a stainless steel front, also on the front is the usual drip tray, this catches any drips or spills, there is the steam nozzle, this is used to froth the milk from a small jug or you can attach the Cappuccinatore(this is not always a supplied accessory) so check before you purchase as this is an excellent accessory and I would recommend purchasing it if it does not already come supplied with it, basically the Cappuccinatore pushes on to the steam tube, then the little rubber pipe goes into a jug containing milk, the milk is then sucked up through this and it them comes out of the, well what I would describe as a ball shaped object, it will come out of this ready frothed into the cup which you place below it, it really gives...

fatboyslim 01.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Titanium