35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best value on the market., March 16, 2006
This review is from: Gaggia 16002 The Espresso Espresso Machine, Black (Kitchen)
OK - the negative reviews on this are pretty out there; they are either complaining about non-existant issues (um, 1 star from someone who didn't even BUY it? Becuase it supposedly doesn't come in 110? That's wacky), or have the wrong expectations of what this machine will do. The bottom line on this espresso maker is that it has the guts of their more expensive models (minus the 3 way solenoid, which has NO effect on how espresso is made) and IF you know what you are doing can make espresso as well as pretty much any model out there.
To over-simplify, espresso makers come with one of 2 basic types of portafilter (that's the thing with the handle you put the espresso grounds in). Pressurized or non-pressurized. The former basically pulls the same shots no matter what you do, as long as your beans are fresh and your grinder is good. The latter requires a bit more art and science. The tamp (compacting the grinds into the portafilter) is critical, and you can vary the way the shot is pulled with different grind size, tamp preassure and tamper type. This, while harder to do consistently, is the only way to properly hunt the elusive "God Shot".
So - onto this machine: Using the "perfect crema" disc is just silly, frankly. In fact, I don't even think there was one in my box. I do know what it does, which is to basically convert a traditional espresso maker into a pressurized one. But hey, if that's what you want then buy a pressurized one from one of the myriad manufacturers out there. However, if you want a model that will let you explore your inner barista, you need to buy a non-pressurized portafilter unit.
And for the money, there is NO WAY you are going to get a better deal than the Gaggia. In fact, there are a number of different models in the Gaggia line, all of which are basically the same until you get to the $500 one, which comes with the aforementioned 3 way solenoid. Sure, there are different designs, and some changes in the type of frother (don't bother with the auto-frothers) but the guts are the same, right down to the brass portafilter. I chose this particular one because of its water capacity and the size of the drip tray, which beleive it or not is a pretty big deal when you pull a lot of shots in a day, as I do.
The fact is, this machine is a beauty. Get good at it and you'll pull shots as good as ANY machine out there, and if you are a total tweek-head, you can even PID this bad boy (look it up...). But you want more? Go check out coffeegeeek dot com and read read read.
Synopsis: Want a machine that will keep up with your growing barista skills? BUY THIS NOW. Don't care about the art, just want quick fast espresso? Go elsewhere and pick a pressurized portafilter unit.
Oh, and either way you go, you NEED a good grinder (the Gaggia MDF rocks and is reasonably priced at $200), and you want FRESH beans - order online from one of the many fresh roasters out there; it makes an incredible difference.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top quality espresso made affordable, January 3, 2005
This review is from: Gaggia 16002 The Espresso Espresso Machine, Black (Kitchen)
The Gaggia Espresso shares the same quality pump mechanism and commercial portafilter as its siblings (Classic, Baby, Coffee), but is made affordable (as is the Carezza) at the terrific price of $199 because of it's plastic housing. Personally, this is a plus for me, I've got a small kitchen and this baby is light enough to move around when counter space is needed. You will be amazed at the power of this machine (fast heat-up, steam power to spare) and the quality of espresso you can brew when you pair your Espresso with a good conical burr grinder. The Gaggia MDF grinder was my choice and I'm happy with it's performance (when anyone who knows espresso tells you that the grinder is the more important partner, they aren't joking). Can you say "crema?" One word of warning, you will no longer be fit company to join your friends at the local cafe. The espresso you can brew at home will spoil you!
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Machine has served me well for 5 years, July 10, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Gaggia 16002 The Espresso Espresso Machine, Black (Kitchen)
I've had this machine since I was a starving student in grad school. Like many, I added up all the $ I was spending on lattes and quickly justified the purchase. I did a lot of research, looking for the highest quality, lowest priced "pump" model I could find. This was it. It's not one of the super-automatic machines, and takes a little effort to familiarize yourself with it (READ the manual & save it, it's important stuff!). It's not too difficult, and it certainly takes less time to make a cup o java then standing in line at the local coffee house, (better than starbucks, and at least as good as Peets! see Peets.com for the best coffee you'll ever have, and no, I've never worked for them).
They must have gotten this machine right, from the picture, it looks like it's exactly the same machine I bought 5 years ago. Now that it's 5 years old, I'm starting to have some inconsistent performance, but I suspect it's because I've never done the de-calcificaion that I've been reading about. But for this price, 5 years of trouble free performance makes it worth every penny!
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