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

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

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

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

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

Gaggia Viva

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

...its job well. Apart from its rather flimsy feel I would recommend this product, its small and lightweight and extremely simple to use and the abilty to use coffee pods is a great function. Technical information: Power supply 230-240V 50Hz 700W 120V 60Hz 680W Heating system Boiler Uni4514 Water tank Removable Water tank capacity 1 lt Water pump pressure 15 bar Sistema Crema perfetta Available Visible water level Yes Cappuccino accessory Steamer 1-cup filter and/or pod, 2-cups Yes Makes two cups simultaneously Yes Group and Filter holder Aluminium Cup plate Yes Other Valve Accessories Measuring spoon, Tamper Dimensions cm. (LxHxD) 21,5x30,5x29 Weight 3,5kg Bodywork ABS...

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

Big Cow Cup

Advantages: is non-spill and can also be freeflow - the choice is yours
Disadvantages: the lid is too tight, loose spout cover, needs some grips on the cup

...the Amadeus Anyway Up Healthy Eating Big Cow Cup from Tesco and it cost £3.49 and can be found in the 'feeding' section of the Baby aisle. The Big Cow Cup holds 325ml of fluid, it has a Black and White Cow print on it and is for toddlers 12+ months. It comes packaged in brightly coloured Green cardboard and really stands out on the shelf. If you look on the shelf you will find a number of other Amadeus products including beakers with handles, soft spouts, beakers with straws or 360 cups etc. Amadeus sell a range of cups, bowls and cutlery for babies and toddlers. As well as the Big Cow Cup, Amadeus also sell a smaller Cow Cup with handles for babies 6+ months (which is pictured). The Big Cow Cup is made in Britain; it's made from plastic and is of high quality. The Cup is quite thick and is sturdy; you won't be able to squeeze the sides as it...

sweetdaisy 07.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Healthy Eating Cow Cup

Chicken & Leek in a Cup

Advantages: a quick snack
Disadvantages: none

...For the past few days I have been unwell with a migraine headache so I haven`t really wanted to eat much food. As I had skipped breakfast yesterday morning and my stomach was complaining I decided to have a cup a soup. Chicken and Leek Cup a Soup There are 5 sackets of soup inside a cardboard box, the box is blue and orange in colour and there is a picure of the soup in a mug. You can also see a picture of chicken, leek and onions, on top of the box you will find the best before date and opening the box is very easy. It says on the box that there are no artifical colours or flavourings, that the soup is low in fat and sugar. On the back of the box are simple instructions on how to make the soup, each sachet contains a powder, just open the sachet and pour into a cup. Then add the hot water and give a very good stir...

lazytowner 07.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Batchelors Cup a Soup

The alternative cup

Advantages: It might just happen this way
Disadvantages: Most unlikely

...All I hear is "ENGLAND, ENGLAND" wherever I go at the mo. "We're gonna win the cup". Right, ok. In your little pretend world, maybe but for the realists, getting out of the group will be an achievement. So for those of you that want to go along the "Mickey Mouse" England World Cup Winners Route, here is the real Mickey Mouse results. Group A France, Senegal, Uruguay, Denmark. The opening game sees France entertaining the upstart Senegal Team. Knowing that the Senegalese team will be a pushover, the French decide to field a select 11 and rest their main players for later rounds of the world cup. This means They are going with a 4-4-2 formation with Jean Paul Gaultier and Antoine from Eurotrash as the main strike force. Fabien Barthez even misses the game and lets Lovelable Resistance Fighter Rene Artois from Allo Allo to take...

andycharger 29.05.2002 · Read review
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Review of The Cup