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It does produce fabulous shots and will last you a long long time if you care for it. This machine is not for beginners as they will most likely get pretty discouraged at the first dozen of pulls that they do. Very straight forward in terms of setup and use. It's also very stylish it blends in nicely in the kitchen. If you are a type of customer that just like to get a quick shot then I would recommend saving up just a tiny bit more and get a Super Automatic (e.g Saeco S-SPV-BK Spidem Villa Super-Automatic Espresso Machine) its around 400-500 bucks but it grinds the coffee and prepares the espresso for you perfectly and neatly every time. It does require tinkering with the amount of coffee and setup but that's expected of any semi-automatic machines.
I would say in the price range it gives the best overall quality of craftsmanship and delivery of espresso. It does require some expertise to get a perfect shot (ESE Pods make it a little easier. The machine is a little messy and can require some patience but for the price you really do get the Gaggia's finest inner workings. The machine warms up quickly so you can get a quick shot if you know the steps. If you don't put in correct amount of coffee and right grind level it will either be too bitter or too weak and/or no espresso "krema". It has a nice CD guide for beginners but you really need to dedicate some time to learning the whole process.
A good buy for the money if you really want to learn the esspresso pulling process this is the machine for you.
I'm now on my second machine, and with proper cleaning and care, these things last really quite long. This particular machine has a much better steamer than any other espresso machine I've ever used. The espresso it produces for the value is well worth the price. I highly recommend this product.
If I would pray hard enough it would work. I bought this machine a year ago. It was a matter of religious faith. I stopped 'believing' yesterday when, while TRYING once more to make myself an espresso, the machine started to make a loud noise as if it would explode in a few seconds. I didn't want to risk my integrity once more, so I finally threw it away.
The temp is right, it's not watery and it's not bitter/burnt. Ready to use in as little as 5-6 minutes. 15 seconds from pressing the steam button to having lots of pressure available at the wand. Unit generates good crema as-is. Dial to adjust steam amount. The other things are either to be expected, easily remedied, or easily ignored. I bought an aluminum one from Amazon.Of the cons, the only ones that concern/annoy me are the slightly small water tank size, and to a lesser extent, the sturdiness of the casing.
I researched units for about six months before I bought, and I am very happy with the decision. Final note - you definitely also should consider getting a burr grinder if you don't already have one. - Serious steam wand pressure. - Perfect Froth wand. People complain about the unit being drippy, but I'd rather have that than a unit with too little pressure - it's the residual pressure that causes the drips.
- Cleanup easy. Easily takes 8 oz. Has no problem extracting a double shot of espresso in 25 seconds provided you have your grind setting correct. With old beans or a poor grind, still makes average to good shots. With fresh beans and the right grind (burr grinder a must; you -will- get poor results with a blade grinder), really nice shots with lots of crema. Overall I am extremely happy with the unit. - Tamper is cheap plastic.
By the time I've ground the coffee, got the milk out, prepared the frothing pitcher, found my mug, put a flavor shot in it, and run a blank shot through the unit (to get fresh water in the pump and heat up the head and glasses), it's pretty much ready to go. - Produces nice espresso. (Not really a big deal, may splash a few drops of water on you) - Perfect crema device - could never get it to fit in the head, but haven't needed it. - Easy to use. It does flex a bit as I'm tightening the head. I've had this unit for about 10 weeks now.
This is a great unit to graduate up to from an entry-level unit, when you start to get serious about making espresso and espresso drinks. The unit isn't fussy; it's fairly forgiving if I rush it in the morning or use older beans. Filter head handle has a little play in it. Can clean up in a minute (bang out the coffee puck, rinse head under water, pop off Perfect Frother, rinse that, blast of steam out the wand, wipe the wand down, rinse out frothing pitcher, done). However, I actually like the froth wand.
If you have time, give it 10 minutes to be sure, but works with 5-6 in a pinch.Cons - Can be drippy. Purists hate this and insist that you should change out the steam wand with a standard one (which will work fine - check out forums on wholelattelove for the recommended replacement part). of milk up to 150 degrees (and would easily go beyond if I let it) in under a minute, with a lot of foam (can easily double or triple the milk volume in that time). - Casing not as sturdy as it could be. Pros: - Plenty of pressure. Slightly awkward to slide full tank back into place and manage the intake tubes. While I do like taking the purist approach to frothing sometimes, on some mornings I just want a pitcher full of froth without having to think about it, and the Perfect Froth wand will deliver that every time.
Since buying this unit and a burr grinder, I now buy my espresso blends from local roasters directly because I finally have a unit where the quality of the beans does show through. The internals are identical to units much more expensive. I've made over 100 shots of espresso in that time. That's what a drip tray is for. Espresso is a slightly messy hobby, it comes with the territory. Refill every 3-4 days.
Doesn't really bother me. - Water tank could be larger. One button to start warmup, one button to draw the shots of espresso, and one button to produce steam for the wand. For the price, the quality can't be beat. - Warmup time. I empty the drip tray twice a week, that's with making 2-4 shots per day.
Results are consistent each time. You can't generate the consistency and fineness of the grind with a blade grinder, and if you buy pre-ground beans, that'll work in a pinch but you'll lose a lot of flavor and crema within minutes of grinding.
This machine is horrible and was eventually returned. I even had the hot milk and espresson dump down the front of me while attempting to juggle the pitcher and turn off the steam post blow out. The steam wand malfunctioned all the time, even after having it replaced. It would repeatedly blow off into my steam milk pitcher. It also barely remained hot enough to make two lattes. Purchased a Breville machine instead for a fraction of the price and love it.
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