Customer Reviews

Gaggia 12300 Baby Class Manual Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

We got the Gaggia Baby Class 12300 over the weekend. I must confess that I purchased it not here at amazon (although I am an amazon shopper for life, I think). Firstly, the built of this machine is by far superior than my first esp machine, breville cafe roma which I had to dispatch with a heavy heart, because it was a good (cremaaaaa!!!) espresso machine. I also have a Delonghi 702, which got great reviews, but I cannot get good crema from it, so it's going back. Stainless steel casing, the cash basin is cast iron, and the filter weighs about a pound.

After carefully reading the manual,(I rarely do with other new "toys"), using this machine is easy to use. I always "prime" the machine as instructed by running it without the filter attached until the cup is filled with just water.
I usually use a clear mug/cup to see the beautiful crema that comes out.

The frother: one of the reviewers that I read was mildly complaining about it falling off. If you read the section on how to clean it and put it back it should not happen anymore. Tip: youtube has videos from casualfilm that shows you how to prime, make capuccino, clean, the machine.

Cappuccino: Wow! that's all I can say... first you make your espresso, and by the time you put your milk (stright from the fridge) the machine has warmed up already that it only takes a few seconds to heat up the milk and create a great frothing.

I have nothing but praises for this machine!!! I will try to update in about a month....

You pay for what you get. The Gaggia is pricey BUT it is worth the price for a great cup of espresso. We have previously owned two much cheaper models by other manufactures and they never produced a great cup of espresso. The Baby Gaggia is extremely easy to operate and contains all quality parts, most importantly it produces a world class cup of espresso or cappuccino. It is a great reminder of vacations to Italy.

I had a Gaggia Classic for years, which gave one consistently great shot after another. I upgraded to the Gaggia Baby Class, and after 7 months I have given up. It has gone back for service twice, and each time came back not working properly. When I complained, I was told the problem was a "new" problem, and even though it was still under warranty, I would have to pay shipping ($50.00).

My new Baby Class is inconsistent and pours great shots alternating with shots I have to throw away. Service from Whole Latte Love/Importika has deteriorated since I had my first Gaggia machine. I have finally given up and gotten rid of this machine and purchased a new one, a different brand from a different vendor.

Very disappointing.

The GOOD: Easy to use, looks great, solid, most importantly, it makes great coffee.

The BAD: The steamer falls off all the time, needs better drip tray, bigger than I expected. These are very minor points.

RECOMMENDATION: Definitetly!

This is my first machine, and I've used it daily since I got it a month ago. I've used inexpensive espresso machines and got mediocre coffee from them. Then I used a friend's Gaggia Carrezza, which made great coffee, but looked like plastic. I chose the Baby Class because it's all chrome, compact, and even higher quality. What a great choice.

I got this refurbished for a great price. Actually, Aabree, the seller through Amazon, sent me a Gaggia Baby Twin, which is two grades up than the Class I thought I was buying. I'm VERY happy about that. It's great.

I was making good espresso after a couple shots of learning. Good cappuccino took longer because of the steamer. Firstly, it falls off occasionally, and there's no mechanical way to prevent that. The steamer works pretty well, but it injects more air than I like. I prefer a more manual injecter where I can control the air. Another area for improvement is the drip tray. When startign the steamer, it shoots out several ounces of hot water before you get steam. That's enough to make it hard to remove the drip tray without spilling. The machine also has a drain that dumps into an extension of the tray in back with a much lower lip that the main tray. Water and junk will spill from this extension with very little water in the tray. Now I use another cup for the steamer purge to limit, not prevent, the spillage. Also, the tray doesn't leave enough room for a regular coffee mug, so you have to remove the chome cover to get a large cup under. Now I have to buy capuccino mugs.

I've done a lot of research, and you don't find much tech info, just consumer reviews. Customers say Gaggia is very solid, well built, and makes great coffee--you can trust this purchase decision. I chose Gaggia because it seems to be a great machine for a reasonable price. You can pay more and get a copper boiler and a more snobbish name, but a Gaggia has everything else the pricey ones have and should make great coffee for years.

I've had similar problems with Gaggia & Whole Latte Love / IMPORTIKA. Whole Latte Love advertised a 2yr warranty on their website + 1yr extended warranty. They claim the 1yr extended warranty is inclusive of the 2yr. Labor is not included in the extended period. They then referred me to the importer, "Importika", sounding as if it is completely a different business. Go to their website and they only offer a 1yr warranty. I then found that it's the same business and location as Whole Latte Love. The owners manual states a 2yr warranty, but only for items purchased in the European Union. The manufacturer warranty is not valid. Whole Latte Love does not disclose this information when you buy it.

This is a great looking machine and functions very well. It takes some time to get the crema right but it when it works properly, it's excellent.

However, after using it regularly for four weeks, it seems the filter becomes very clogged very quickly and has to be cleaned often. The holes seem quite small and the water accumulates in the awkward catch tray quite often. It's frustrating because water also accumulates under the machine. Lots of cleaning involved. Didn't happen on our old Saeco. Suppose it could be the grind but its been the same used from day one. At this point, I would not rank it over 4 stars.

We received this machine as a wedding gift about 6 months ago. I had read many reviews prior to registering for this machine. We were looking for something not too expensive but that would work very well.

This machine is very easy to use (recommend a quick read of the instructions prior to using). If you follow the instructions in the manual, you get a great espresso every time! We first mastered espressos and now are making cappuccinos and lattes as well. Other reviewers complained about the steamer... I am not sure why... it works beautifully and we never have a problem with it.

We also received the Gaggia grinder and doser Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder with Doser, Black as a gift about 3 months after getting the espresso machine. I have to say that freshly grinding the beans does make a difference in the taste. Either way, the espresso reminds us of being in Italy. The first taste of the very first espresso my fiancee made instantly made me recall drinking them in Italy.. and that was the very first cup! Now, we have mastered the process and are enjoying experimenting with variations.

We have a lot of friends that come by for espressos, etc and have had nothing but fabulous comments.

It is also very easy to clean. All the parts separate so that cleaning them is not at all a chore.

It does take up a bit of space on the counter (especially with the platform Gaggia Base with Knock Box - 9001 and grinder) but is an attractive machine so I don't mind.

One small thing is that I wish it came with a single spout for the handle also but I found them at an espresso machine parts website.

I would definitely recommend this machine to anyone looking for a mid-range priced but great quality machine.

About a year ago I upgraded from the Gaggia Coffee to this machine, the Gaggia Baby Class, which, among other things, has a third solenoid value -- the main reason for my upgrade. Although the Gaggia Coffee is a great machine that I won't part with, the Gaggia Baby Class is indeed an upgrade. First, I should note that I have my Gaggia paired with a Gaggia MDF grinder and I roast my own beans. The Gaggia Baby Class is refined and well designed. It's much quieter than my Gaggia Coffee and doesn't drip from the portafilter while sitting idle. Although not perfect, third solenoid works pretty well in producing a dry puck. With my Gaggia Coffee, after I pulled a shot I'd have to leave the portafilter in the machine for about four to five minutes to drip dry the puck...so the third solenoid definately saves time in the mornings. The Gaggia Baby Class produces textbook timed shots every time. (I weigh out 15 to 16 grams of fresh coffee, with my grinder set at #3). I'm not a straight-up espresso drinker myself, but I can certainly recognize a bad shot. Here, the Gaggia doesn't dissapoint. Visually the Gaggia is a beautiful machine. The stainless steel is attractive. I never get tired of admiring the machine on my counter. The drip tray is fairly deep and easily pulls out for cleaning. The buttons are adequate. The on/off button is behind the machine, which is a little odd. The other buttons work fine but don't light up very brightly. The water container holds quite a bit and pulls out easily and appears to contain a little microfilter. I don't use the steam wand, so I apologize for my lack of insight here (I used a Frabosk stovetop frother -- works great.) Gaggia's aren't known for steaming ability due to the small boiler. You get what you pay for and the Gaggia fills that void between the Miss Silvia and the lesser machines below. I didn't go with the Miss Silvia due to price and its reputation for being less-than-user-friendly machine. I would highly recommend the Gaggia Baby Class (and at least a Gaggia MDF grinder to go with it).

We were hopeful given the other positive reviews. Unfortunately, the machine leaks water from the bottom instead of pumping it through the brew head. We tried everything in the instructions to prime it and could not get the pump to prime. We saw some advice online about priming the machine with a turkey baster, but we're not basting our $500 espresso machine every time we want a cup of espresso.