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

Great budget performer

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...

tyneman 29.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Espresso

Best home espresso machine I have ever had

Advantages: Looks great, heavy duty, relatively easy to use, authentic Italian, Good customer service
Disadvantages: Can be messy

...bar pump with a solenoid valve which makes a truly great espresso with a good thick cremá. You can switch the machine to the steam mode and after a short delay the steam ready light will illuminate. It will then give a powerful amount of steam which steams and froths milk very quickly and gives great results every time for cappuccino or latté. The cup warming tray on top of the machine is useful and easily accommodates 5 espresso cups. I use the machine several times every day and it performs flawlessly every time. It really is built to last. I have had Krups espresso machine previously which worked fine for about 16 months until some of the plastic parts cracked. All of the parts which receive use on this machine are heavy duty. I believe the RRP for this machine is £279 - £295 according to the Gaggia UK website. Selfridges...

allans1 11.10.2003 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Classic

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

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

Espresso in an instant

Advantages: makes espresso, steamer, easy to use, safe, looks good, cheaper than most other similar models
Disadvantages: has a cappuncino milk frother but no thermometer

...I have always wanted my very own Espresso machine and after being a good boy all year Santa brought me one for Christmas after my wife informed him that I really wanted one. My wife may have told him I wanted one, but I did end up paying £129 for the pleasure of ensuring Santa left it in my stocking. Fed up to the back teeth with plain old filter coffee, or god forbid, instant freeze dried filth actually having the Cubika now sitting in my kitchen is nothing short of a godsend first thing in the morning and is officially the boys toy that my friends and I spent most of Chjristmas day playing with and frankly it is so user friendly, we had steaming hot espresso flowing freely within 30 minutes of removing it from the box. There are no fiddly parts that require construction so it is just a case of removing it from the box, placing...

thesquadronleader 01.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Gaggia Cubika