Customer Reviews

Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine with Instructional CD

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Well, having tried several lower end brands/models I finally took the plunge and laid out the $$$ for this Gaggia. I can tell you that I feel it is worth every dime! My fiance and I really enjoy a good cappuccino and with this unit we weren't let down. Nice large water reservoir single and double filter baskets, tamper, pretty much everything you need to get started making great coffee is in here. For me one of the biggest gripes I have was that serveral units' filter baskets don't stay in the holder when dumping the grounds. Not so with this one. You have to hit it pretty hard to get the basket to pop out along with the grounds. No more sifting through the garbage looking for the filter basket!

All in all I find this to be a great functioning, well made unit and would recommend it to anyone.

I've owned this espresso maker for slightly more than a month now (received it as a Christmas gift), and couldn't be more pleased with it. It makes terrific espresso nearly every time. The few times that it didn't make great espresso were operator error (I didn't pack the grounds properly). I owned a much less expensive espresso make that I was never happy with. After doing extensive research on the internet and talking to several friends who are espresso aficianados, it is clear to me that this is the price range you need to be in that will consistently make a good espresso (with Gaggia and Silvio Rancilio the two main competetors). This maker is brainlessly easy to use, and you'll be making great espresso minutes after taking it out of the box. There are detailed instructions and a CD to help you if you have any problems. The only downside to this maker in my opinion is the frothing wand. It takes a bit of practice to get to work properly, and is made of plastic, somewhat of a disappointment for a $500 machine. A definite negative point if cappucino/latte is your thing. Also, I would recommend that you not take anything apart upon first opening the box until you read the directions. I removed the water tray before reading the directions (big mistake) and had a hard time putting everything back together. Overall though I'm exceedingly pleased with this maker, money well spent.

I've had this machine now for two years. I did a lot of research before purchasing this particular machine and I could not be happier with it. I start my day with a latte (2 shots) and have another before lunch (yes I'm a caffeine junkie). This machine is well worth the expense and based on Starbucks prices will pay for itself in under a year. I've also tried a lot of espresso coffees and I've found "Espresso Allegro" from www.specialtyjava.com to be the best. I have a Capresso INFINITY Conical Burr Coffee Grinder which makes a good espresso grind. Now and all is well in coffee land.

I LOVE THIS MACHINE. BY FAR THE BEST MONEY OUR FAMILY EVER SPENT. WE USE 3-4 TIMES PER DAY. WE ARE TRUE ESPRESSO LOVERS & THIS MACHINE MAKES THE BEST WE HAVE EVER HAD! THE QUALITY IS A+. VERY EASY TO USE. WE HAVE HAD OUR MACHINE ABOUT 8 MONTHS & STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW & IS EASY TO CLEAN UP. WE NEVER GO OUT FOR ESPRESSO NOW. WHY SPEND $5 PER CUP AT A COFFEE HOUSE WHEN OUR GAGGIA MACHINE MAKES A 1000 TIMES BETTER ESPRESSO! WE ALSO HAVE A GAGGIA MDF GRINDER THAT WORKS WITH THIS MACHINE LIKE A DREAM. WE HAVE HAD MANY ESPRESSO MACHINES... THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I GIVE 5 STARS WITHOUT HESITATION.

After reading earlier reviews, I was concerned that it would take me months, or at least weeks, to make a great cup of espresso. Not true. The machine is wonderful. My son and I were making good coffee consistently after the second day, and great coffee every time by day four. Still working on the lattes and caps.

I've had this machine for about a year now. It took some time getting used to, but once I did that I can turn out espressos and lattes as good or better than any coffee house. Prior to this machine I had six or seven Saeco Gran Cremas. They are still sitting in my garage all needing to orings for the steamer, which cannot be found anywhere. The Gaggia Classic cost more than I wanted to spend, but I thank God I did. For you folks who like to work on your own machines, it's real easy to work on too and there is so many of them out there you can find instructions for doing things on the Internet. One thing: the very first thing I did was to replace the steam wand with a longer Rancho Silvia wand that works much better than the original Gaggia wand, which is too short. You can't go wrong with this machine, but you have to be patient for a while until you figure out what you are doing. Multiply your daily cost of lattes at Starbucks times the number of days in a year that you buy them, and then ask yourself why on Earth you are hesitating at buying a $400.00 machine?

Freemarketer

Based on the reviews by others, I bought this machine when I wanted to upgrade after my Krups steam-pressure unit bit the dust It is definitely a solid, well-built machine. I am happy with it, but as an espresso noob I was a little surprised by the way some of the features worked.

I didn't know that the machine was completely manual, requiring a button push to turn off the pump after the espresso shots had been dispensed. Walk away, and the machine will just keep pumping until somebody comes back to cut the power. I was also not aware that a fair amount of water can be wasted to keep the machine clean and to refill the heating chamber after a few hours of disuse.

The machine comes with three filter baskets -- one for a conventional double-shot cup, and two others (single shot, double shot) engineered to produce espresso with lots of crema. Be careful when you change heads, because there is a little delrin piece used under the crema-oriented filter baskets that can be lost if you are not careful. If the filter comes loose while you are knocking out the grounds, this little piece needs to be retrieved from the compost bucket or garbage pail. Also there seems to be more water retained in the grounds than I expected. Maybe that's connected with the slightly coarse grind I am using. I am ordering a better grinder.

There is more plastic in the machine than is apparent from the photo, but it doesn't look fragile. Anyway, the proof is in the product, which is pretty good.

Power draw is heavy. Don't plug this machine into the same circuit that powers a microwave or toaster oven if there is a chance you will be using both at the same time.

I'm giving this four stars because the controls are not quite as sophisticated as I thought they would be. I am sure I will get better as I use it, and once I am comfortable producing espresso shots as good as the ones I get at my favorite Italian bistro, I'll come back and bump the rating a star.

Very nice machine.

This coffee machine rocks, reminds me of the big Gaggia machines that I saw in the coffee shops in Italy, and delivers the same professional machine quality. Great buy!

I've seen folks complain about the plastic frother nozzle saying it's cheesy. Cheesy it might be, but you can detach it easily and hide it until needed. Not only that, it's 1,000 times easier to clean than the typical rig that you have to unscrew to clean. Imagine: lattes without the pain! I made the best espresso I have ever made before - on my first try. It turned out to not be beginners luck either. However, like I said, I had another unit - the Mr. Coffee which was a good starter unit but started leaking in about a year, which I fully expected for a $60 rig. Back to the Gaggia - Lady Gaggia is beautiful and has brains to boot. It's the best thing I have bought this decade.

Excellent product, espresso is delicious, easy to use in operation. Just wish it was easier to see the water level in tank but that's a small thing. Well worth the price & affordable as compared to other machines.