Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
 Tip for this Gaggia machine October 22, 2008
MR J SILVERMAN
My tip: use coffee pods instead of grinding your own or using ready ground coffee. Cheaper, fresher and more convnient, plus no mess and no waste. Gaggia make their own pods, or alternatively you can buy other brands in most good supermarkets.
 Perfect espresso! August 29, 2008
Mr. J. Rinaldi (Kent, UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Gaggia Classic is a very capable machine able to provide more than enough steam for everyday use and very good quality espresso, easily as good as you get in the Costa fortunes of this world. It's both well built and good looking. I use coffee pods with the machine, often Gaggia's own (available on line) which give perfect and consistent results.
I bought this machine as a replacement for my Tebe which served me well for many years. It has a couple of niggling design faults which the Tebe didn't have. The steam nozzle is quite low, this makes getting even a small jug in an out difficult without spilling milk. In addition, the steam control knob is on the same side as the steam nozzle, it would have been easier to have it on the other side of the machine. Otherwise I would have given it five stars...!
Cafe? July 20, 2008
A reader (Cyprus)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Id have liked to give this machine 4.5 stars but i cant! This machine is small in size but generates the right amount of heat for the espresso and surprisingly good power from the steam nozzle. Its compact, easy to clean and built solid. I bought this as a markup to my old cheaper De Longhi (which served me well for the price). This machine makes a lovely espresso, with a real crema on top, something very difficult to do with cheaper models. The non-drip feature is excellent as the espresso pours out and as soon as you turn off the button, it stops right there, virtually no drip! meaning no mess and the right amount of water in the coffee. It also distributes the espresso evenly when making 2 cups. It heats up quickly and allows making one after the other both easy and quick... take note :) with cheaper models this can add much time and mess to making several cups in a row. With my cheaper De Longhi, if i was making a couple of coffees, the first turned cold by the time i finished making the last, something you dont get with this neat machine. The frother takes some mastering, but after a few goes, you get a rich froth from it. Other machines can produce lots of bubbles and hot milk but not many give the deep smooth foam you get from this machine. My ownly gripe really, is with the steam nozzle, you cant adjust the height so it can be difficult to get a jug/cup underneath it without moving the machine and after you move the jug you have to swing it back underneath the drip tray, which can result in a few drops on your surface, but that is just about the only annoyance, otherwise this machine is worth the investment. Very pleased!
Great little machine June 29, 2008
Nullius (England)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Just upgraded from an ancient DeLonghi machine. Glad I did. The Gaggia Classic is a nice, well-made unit that makes superb espresso. The thing is, I now realize that the coffee grinder is almost as important as the machine (and of course the coffee) - you must be able to grind coffee fine enough for the proper extraction, but not so fine that the coffee is powdered. The Gaggia would have got 5 stars except that there is a small niggle - when using the steam function, you have to run some a shot through the system empty before putting the coffee in. In other words, steam your milk *first*, then run a shot through with no coffee in the arm, then do it for real. Not such a big deal, but if you're making coffee for 4 or more (which I suddenly seem to be doing a lot!) a bit of a pest.
Thankyou Gaggia May 4, 2008
Winston Churchill (Wigan, Lancashire, England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have wanted a "proper" coffee machine for some time. I had a Senseo for a couple of years and I enjoyed the machine (better than instant coffee)However, the cost ( 200+) always put me off a good un. I invested in this machine (along with the new kitchen) 3 months ago and what a investment.
If you enjoy your coffee and demand real quality the I would recommend the Classic.
Looks good, well built one problem you will always be dissapointed when you go to Starbucks or Costa from the moment you master your Classic.
After about six weeks I could make Esspreso's and Cappucino's that match the Coffee houses. Now three months later (and I'm no Barrista) my Coffee's are superior.
Key points to note.
The coffee must be ground very fine if you must buy ground from a shop get the Barrista @ Whittards and other coffee shops to grind your coffee, when the normal shop staff grind the coffee (with me anyway) the grind is never fine enough and your Classic does not like it one bit!
No Barrista, you can always get the Classics perfect partner: ILLY!
Illy ground coffee (in the cannister) perfect every time.
Always do a dummy shot (without the coffee) before your brew, stops the burnt taste.
Keep everything clean, thats it. Like all boys and their toys I am looking for my own grinder because when the shops do get the grind perfect there are some great coffee's to try Guatamalan Elephant for one.
Enjoy!
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