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The most helpful favorable review
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
Great espresso, poor steaming wand
For the price, I'd give the espresso making part of this machine 5 stars. The portafilter and brew group are substantial and well-made. I've worked at two espresso shops with commercial machines, and the parts on this moderately priced Gaggia are nearly as heavy and substantial as the big multiple-thousands of dollars machines. I've had the machine for 4 days and have...
Published on March 28, 2005 by Dominika Lepak
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35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
Great training machine...not for the long term. The Aluminum Boiler hidden issue.
I've used this machine extensively for the last 12 months. In every aspect, I learned a lot about making that still elusive perfect espresso: the bean, the grinding, the water, the temperature, the cleaning, the back flushing, the descaling, you name it. The purchase of this machine started a very rewarding journey into the unknown. From thermodynamics through...
Published on October 30, 2007 by C. Ortiz
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
Great espresso, poor steaming wand, March 28, 2005
For the price, I'd give the espresso making part of this machine 5 stars. The portafilter and brew group are substantial and well-made. I've worked at two espresso shops with commercial machines, and the parts on this moderately priced Gaggia are nearly as heavy and substantial as the big multiple-thousands of dollars machines. I've had the machine for 4 days and have been brewing shots with Starbuck$ pods. The toggle switches are easy to use, the reservoir is easy to fill, and the shots are aromatic and full of crema every time. However, the steaming wand takes a star away from this machine. It does not rotate in every direction like the comparably priced Starbucks machine. This makes it hard to remove a cup full of frothed milk from under the wand without spilling. Also, the plastic frother contraption is silly. Actual frothing capability is pretty good, though the plain metal tips on the commercial machines produced finer microfroth, and were more fine-tuned to the trained barista's hand. Overall, it's a good-looking machine, and I'm satisfied with it for my main purposes - iced lattes and americanos, and straight double shots, all of which do not require use of the steaming attachment. This is a good entry-level machine that will brew you good shots, and look good on your countertop. However, I'm expecting to outgrow it and move up to an Isomac with more refined steaming capability within a few years.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
A true classic, November 30, 2006
When I got my Gaggia more than several decades ago, it was not yet called a Classic. It was called a Coffee Gaggia. About 20 years ago, some minor changes were made, and the unit was renamed Classic. The new "Coffee Gaggia" is not the same as this machine.
This machine has a robust build, and high quality parts. Its tank heats the water quickly, and to a proper temperature, and the pump is powerful enough to do the job properly. I would strongly recommend using filtered water, especially with a low mineral content, so that deposits do not build up in the tank.
My version has an all metal frothing wand, which does as good a job as the skills of the operator will allow for. The newer versions have a "turbo frother," and an optional milk frother that will take the guess work out of frothing and place foamed milk directly into the cup. I can't comment on these newer features, but perhaps they will allow a better job to be done by those with less experience.
The newer models are brushed stainless, while the original models had an appliance enamel finish. Since the old finish allowed water to penetrate under any scratches or imperfections in the finish, this was a particular problem near the portafilter holder and underneath the drip tray. The new version should retain its finish far longer, although the old one still does not show any wear in places that are visible with the machine assembled.
Minor differences are that the new machine has a more robust looking steam knob that was moved to the side, and the thermostat light, which indicated that the unit was heating, has been replaced with a "ready" light that is integrated into the coffee switch and signals the opposite.
In the time that I've had my machine, I've had only minor problems with it. My steam thermostat needed to be replaced once, and the light on my power switch stopped working. These were larger issues before the Internet made it easy to find parts, as these items are hard to find locally. The other problem is that if the unit is not used for extended periods, and the tank is allowed to dry out completely, and the water used was hard, then some parts are subject to clogging. The troubleshooting steps in the manual are not helpful for these sorts of problems. The machine can be disassembled for cleaning by somebody who is mechanically inclined, but unless you feel comfortable with appliance repair, you are better off avoiding the situation by using filtered water, and/or descaling regularly, especially before any long term storage.
The other "parts" issue is that the gasket for the filter basket should be considered a consumable part, and should be sold by every dealer as an accessory, rather than just by repair facilities. The machine really should have included an extra one since this is the only part that will definitely wear out with regular use. It might take a few years or longer, and is easy to replace, but it will wear out.
Overall, this is a well built machine that should last you many decades. Although it seemed expensive when I bought it, it has averaged out to about 6 cents a day to own it, which was well worth the price, and I'll probably get another few decades out of it.
If you have used cheaper espresso makers, you will appreciate the robustness and quality of this unit. Features such as the three way solenoid controlled valve might be transparent to the user, but the lack of them become clear when you use a cheaper machine. This one just keeps going and going.
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35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
Great training machine...not for the long term. The Aluminum Boiler hidden issue., October 30, 2007
I've used this machine extensively for the last 12 months. In every aspect, I learned a lot about making that still elusive perfect espresso: the bean, the grinding, the water, the temperature, the cleaning, the back flushing, the descaling, you name it. The purchase of this machine started a very rewarding journey into the unknown. From thermodynamics through agricultural techniques, I've read a lot. But only recently I started a new stream of Googling when I researched how to make a more thorough maintenance of the machine. I'm a chemical engineer, so by training, I know that machines need more than cosmetic cleaning to keep working.
And here is when the boiler issue comes along. Among the key components in any espresso machine, the boiler has obviously a very high importance. It's here where a truly exceptional machine shows it's quality. From the steam "disponsable" ones using stainless steel to the almost coffee bar quality solid brass boiler machines, the difference is astounding in terms of temperature stability and durability. There are cheaper machines that use aluminum instead of brass in the boiler. Like the Gaggia Classic. And that I didn't know when I bought it. Aluminum you see, corrodes VERY fast. Even if it creates a self protecting layer of aluminum oxide when exposed to the elements, it DOES corrode and it DOES end it's life in much faster way than a brass boiler. Why? simply because brass doesn't corrode as fast, and if you need to descale or clean a brass boiler, you can be much more aggressive in what you use to do that cleaning.
So, my boiler is now showing significant amounts of corrosion. I used bottled water and cleaned the machine every week extensively, used recommended anti-scaling and detergent agents and followed every rule. But next year this machine is ready for a full boiler replacement. Unacceptable in my mind. Go for the Rancilio Silvia (brass boiler), because that's the one I'm buying soon. It's well worth the extra money.
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44 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
overwhelming reputation, underwhelming performance, January 3, 2005
The machine produces an extremely wonderful cup of espresso. It's main and constantly irritating flaw is this turbo frother sleeve. It has too many pieces to clean, and worst of all, the sleeve does not remain securely attached to the the metal steam pipe. Several times I've had the frother explode off the machine in a cloud burst of half-steamed milk that sprayed all over the kitchen. I've had various other problems with this complicated design. In fact, the company provides a detailed, additional page of instructions on how to troubleshoot with the frother sleeve, which suggests to me that the company is already aware that the design is flawed. I have to ask the question: why not produce a simple, metal frother that doesn't break and require such special care?
This is the second Gaggia machine that I have purchased this year (the previous was a full automatic with a faulty sensor), and this is the second Gaggia that has left me disappointed. I agree that the espresso quality is very good - but I remain underwhelmed for the prices I've paid, given the design flaws I've encountered.
*****
ADDENDUM: Three years on I still own this Gaggia, and I've grown accustomed to the frother. And when it works, it creates a darned excellent foam. If I could revise the stars - I'd likely boost my rating to a 3/4. You have to work for it, but the results are heavenly.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Be your own barista, November 29, 2007
I started my espresso machine search with a review in Money magazine (of all places). In that article, the Breville 800ESXL was top rated, with the Gaggia Classic coming in second. The article rated the espresso quality of the Gaggia as better, but gave the top rating to the Breville based on the combination of quality *and* the fact that it cost about $100 less than the Gaggia. I jumped into Amazon to see what others said about the two machines. What turned me off about the Breville were the negative reviews about how the filter kept clogging, and how one person was ditching this machine and going to the Gaggia. As luck would have it, at that moment, the Gaggia machine was on sale on Amazon, by $100! So I get the machine that got the better all around reviews, for the same price as the other...a no brainer!
I've been very happy with the Gaggia. I admit that I'm still working on the proper mix of coffee grinding and tamping pressure, but right from the first cup (which had a perfect head of crema), I've been encouraged to expand my knowledge of the "science" of espresso, and feel that this machine is the right one to perfect my technique with. Unlike the Krups, this is a serious machine for people who *really* enjoy a good cup of espresso. It's like the difference between people who "live to eat" vs. people who "eat to live". If you're just looking for a cup of strong coffee, throw an extra spoon of instant in your cup before you put the boiling water in. If you savor the intense taste of a perfectly brewed shot of espresso, stop here, do not pass "go", buy this machine.
One heads up; the written instructions pretty much suck, so make sure you pop the c.d. into your computer first, and view it beginning to end...before you even start pulling all the parts out of the box. And in case you're scratching your head wondering why they didn't give you a power cord, it's inside the water reservoir.
Enjoy!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Tips for the newbie espresso snobs; Gaggia vs. Breville, October 12, 2007
I bougt the $200 breville ESP8XL when I started my bean habit and was considerably satisfied. With the breville I learned just how tempermentle espresso can be. The grind, the tamp pressure (with a twist) as well as the temerature of every item the coffee contacts in the pull will effect the taste of your espresso. (To warm up cups fast, fill them with water and put them in the microwave for a minute and your set.)
I learned alot in 2 weeks and now considered my capucchino concoction worthy and much better than chain coffee houses. I use Lavazza preground espresso coffee and love it, its smooth satisfying and has an excellent crema. I'm considering a grinder but with the Lavazza (black can) I'm putting it off for a while.
I ordered the Gaggia Classic on impulse due to a sale hoping to improve my pulls with the presumably better machine. Which is better, well the short story is I packed the Breville up for return 2 days later.
The Gaggia arived well packed but after setting it up the pump didnt work. Disapointed but not wanting to give up on it. I opened the top easily with a screwdriver and found that the rubber gromet around the pump had loosened from its mount and pulled a wire (with slip on connector) off its termination point. I slid the motor gromet back into place and remedied the connection easily. From there the machine operated perfectly.
Gaggia Pro's: Better portafilter. Filter is easier to clean larger in surface area and the used coffee pucks come out easier and much drier. Also the espresso comes out of one hole in the middle and is then seperated into channels that flow into the 2 cups you see in the picture. The Breville has a smaller portafilter that is harder to get in place without looking and has 2 holes in the bottom. Most of the time the majority of the water came out of 1 side catching up at the end of the pull.
The plastic turbo frother steams faster, drier and is much easier to clean than the stainless tube provided on the Breville. The milk froth, adheres like paint to the metal tube and has to be scraped off with a knife or a brillo pad. Steam control and overall heat temperature is better on the Gaggia.
Breville pro's: easier to fill with water, drip tray is easy to handle. Dont think this doesnt matter. If you want your espresso hot, you need to run water thru the portafilter to heat it up and not lose temp. The excess water goes in the drip tray. You want this to be easy access!!! The gaggia's works fine but the Breville's fits better and is easier to handle.
If your considering this machine but are concerned with the cost, get the Breville ESP8XL For $200, it makes a nice espresso but use a quality cofee thats proerly ground. If theres no concern go for the Gaggia. I got it here for $400 and feel the extra $$$ was worth it.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Best Espresso Machine Under $1000, December 6, 2008
I went through about 10 different espresso machines and finally concluded that the Gaggia Classic is the best one for under $1000. I had gone through 2 KitchenAid Pro Espresso Machines and they both broke. I then exchanged it for an automatic Jura-Capresso and that got clogged. I exchanged that for a Breville espresso machine but that exploded in my kitchen. I also had a FrancisFrancis! but it could not keep up with my 2 cappuccinos a day routine. The La Pavoni Europiccola manual espresso machine looked cool but burnt the espresso everytime. I finally bought the Gaggia Classic and was completely surprised by the power it had to blast through fine espresso & its quick start up time.
This machine has a higher wattage pump than all the others in this price point. Which I think helps a lot. It's easy to clean, easy to fill with water, and I suggest steaming the milk without the provided plastic tube. THE GAGGIA CLASSIC PRODUCES CONSISTENT ESPRESSO SHOTS EVERY TIME! I know what I am getting every morning and don't have to waste coffee to get that perfect espresso shot.
Just thought I would share since I bought and used about 10 different machines and finally landed on the Gaggia Classic. You won't be disappointed.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Nice Espresso Machine with a few flaws, April 8, 2007
I have had the classic for about 4 months. It replaced a Gaggia Carezza that made good esperesso but had a weak steam chamber that made steaming milk an major exercise. The best part of the machine is the quality of the brew group like all Gaggia products. The pump system works well and you can pull very good shots. The suck back valve is problematic and doesn't work so well but isn't needed either. As so many people have noted the frother is pretty cheesy and will wear out after a while. They are cheap to replace and I keep one around the house for repairs/losing it down the dispos-all. The machine builds up steam nicely and will heat a 20 oz pitcher to 140F in about 1 minute with good steam pressure the entire time
The only other minus that I see is that the valves are hard to get at to clean and I'm not sure what I will do when they start to leak. I haven't been able to figure out how to get at them yet
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent Machine!, April 1, 2007
I have had this machine for about a month now, I love it! I have had other slightly lower end espresso machines (pump driven, $250 range) and after repeated issues I felt it was time to upgrade. I drink cappuccino every morning, the espresso from this machine is fantastic and the frother is both easy to use and clean. I just got back from a trip to Italy and the cappuccino I make with this rivals anything I had on vacation. Assuming this machine holds up long term, it is well worth the money!
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22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
Gaggia Classic Brushed Stainless is worth every penny!, January 1, 2005
I just bought a Gaggia Classic after extensively reading online about which machines were the best pick (thanks to N. Caine for his excellent reviews and suggestions - you made the choice a lot easier). After much research, I chose the Gaggia Classic and I'm glad that I did. This machine is very impressive: sturdy housing, 3 way solenoid valve and crema laden expresso that's liquid gold. It's easy to use and clean up is also a breeze. Although I looked at the Gaggia Carezza as a possible candidate, I was turned off by the plastic housing and the lack of the solenoid valve. The Gaggia Classic is worth the extra money and is a pleasure to use. I highly recommend this machine for anyone who is looking to upgrade from otherwise disappointing machines such as Krups or Delonghi. Look no further: the Gaggia doesn't disappoint!
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