Espresso Machine £350ish. Gaggia?

[KungFuPanda]

I'm after an espresso machine for the house. It'll probably make up to 6 cups a day. No need for an integrated grinder. Will need the milk steaming function.

Research suggests Gaggia seem to fit the bill. Something like the Carezza?

[equallytempered]

We bought a Gaggia Carezza Deluxe from the Gaggia outlet near Wakefield (M62, J32).

Very pleased with it - produces a lovely crema on the espresso. Pannarello wand (steam and foam bit) works well, too. As part of the deal, I got a free tub of ground coffee, a 12 month discount on their coffee range, plus a free Barista course at their UK HQ in Elland, West Yorks. Not got around to booking the course as yet...

I paid £175 all-in, IIRC.

[KungFuPanda]

Thanks for that advice. I'm only based in Manchester and didn't know there was a Gaggia outlet down he M62. I might venture over soon. Hmm could tie it in with a curry in Bradford...

[equallytempered]

Sounds like a plan!

[TopGear7]

Sage Barista is also an option

[anonymous-user]

KungFuPanda said:

Thanks for that advice. I'm only based in Manchester and didn't know there was a Gaggia outlet down he M62. I might venture over soon. Hmm could tie it in with a curry in Bradford...

Email the shop first and ask a question or two, they were very keen at dishing out £100 vouchers a few months back when I picked up my Gaggia from J32.

[tannhauser]

I went off Gaggia machines when they started cutting costs:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-RI9403-11-...

[KungFuPanda]

Well went to the Gaggia Outlet store and ended up walking out with their top of the range Accademia model. Justified by man maths somehow.

[CAPP0]

Moments before I sat down, I made myself a nice double(ish!) espresso from my Gaggia. I've had several coffee makers over the years and nothing ever came close to the Gaggia for quality and consistency. Needs to be kept clean and (if applicable) descaled but otherwise is a lovely thing.

Here, I even took a pic for you!



PS: Illy cups, love the shape. Lavazza Rossa coffee, prefer to Illy!

[KungFuPanda]

Illy coffee and Illy cups thieved from my restaurant.

[RobDickinson]

Was going to suggest a Rancilio Silvia should be in the ball park in £ I think, ours is a fantastic machine.

[okgo]

Slight hijack, but not really I guess.

For the lazy man - is one of these any good? https://sageappliances.co.uk/

I debated the Silvia combo, or maybe even a Rocket R58 just because it looks amazing, but I'd have no idea what to do with it, and think bean to cup might suit me more...

[krusty]

TopGear7 said:

Sage Barista is also an option

That's what I'm going to next.... I think it's the best on the market right now.

Edited by krusty on Thursday 13th July 10:29

[KungFuPanda]

Been getting along with the new machine fine at the moment.

Bought 1kg of Lavazza Rosso and 1kg of Lavazza Espresso blend too. £13.50 for the Rosso and £10 from Amazon for the blend. I'm happy with the flavour of the Lavazza stuff. I'm, in Manchester so there are a couple of small in house roasters that are doing beans for around £7 per 250g. Would the price differential produce an appreciably nicer tasting coffee?

[Bonefish Blues]

Best of both worlds, great supplier IME:

https://www.happydonkey.co.uk/coffee-beans/italian...

[Lotobear]

I've had a sage barista express for around two years now.

It's a very impressive bit of kit and makes excellent coffee. Could not recommend it highly enough and for me it does everything I could want from a coffee machine. I do around 3 double espressos each day and every one is as good as the last - beans off Ebay for around £12 /Kilo

I still have my old Gaggia Classic which is a wonderful old thing. I stripped it down and rebuilt it with new seals and the quality of the internals is amazing, they really are built to last (mine is around 15 years old and I understand the later ones were made cheaper).

I would strongly recommend the Sage for fuss free excellent coffee every time

[KungFuPanda]

Had the Academia for a week now. Spent more than I budgeted but me and the girlfriend are really happy with it. Just pour the beans and water into their respective tanks, fill the milk tank and the machine does the rest. Brilliant coffee and the espresso has a lovely crema on.

First lot of coffee was a bag of beans from M&S. Then I switched to Lavazza. £10 a kilo from Amazon and I'm pretty happy with it.

[Basil Brush]

KungFuPanda said:

Been getting along with the new machine fine at the moment.

Bought 1kg of Lavazza Rosso and 1kg of Lavazza Espresso blend too. £13.50 for the Rosso and £10 from Amazon for the blend. I'm happy with the flavour of the Lavazza stuff. I'm, in Manchester so there are a couple of small in house roasters that are doing beans for around £7 per 250g. Would the price differential produce an appreciably nicer tasting coffee?

Fresh, properly roasted high quality beans will definitely make a difference, unless you are going to add half a gallon of steamed milk, then maybe not so much.

[KungFuPanda]

Just got a bag of beans with a roast date of this month. Going to give it a try.

I drink espresso. Girlfriend has cappuccinos.

[equallytempered]

Your Gaggia is much posher than mine. If you happen to be a member, Costco has a decent selection of beans, and also stocks Lavazza. We usually get our staple coffee from there.

Our current favourite is this: http://www.darkwoodscoffee.co.uk/product/undermilk...

Lovely crema, and a coffee that works well both as an espresso and with milk (and roasted only a few miles down the road from us!).