Gaggia 16002 The Espresso Espresso Machine, Black
We ordered one of these from Amazon, but when they were out of stock for several weeks, we decided to get it elsewhere. We kept it for only 2 days before we realized it was a big mistake, and sent it back. We have had a series of less expensive espresso machines for about 10 years now. Our first few were the cheapo steam models, and then we moved up to a low-end Briel pump-type. It worked okay but started to leak after a few years, so we decided to try another brand.
Our main complaint about the Gaggia Espresso is that we could not get decent crema out of it at all, and it was way too hard to use. It comes with a little rubber disc called a "Perfect Crema", which you are supposed to insert in the portafilter under the filter basket to make crema. Well, with that disc in place, it was next to impossible to make the portafilter go into the machine because the filter basket would not push down far enough into the portafilter holder. We finally jammed it in once after a huge amount of effort, and got decent crema, but the next time, after we had removed it to clean it (quite a procedure in itself to pry it out), we couldn't get it back in again. Without that disc it makes okay-tasting coffee, but no crema at all. It certainly did not seem worth the effort to us to attempt this hassle every time we make espresso (which we do at least twice a day), since you are supposed to remove and clean the crema disc after each use.
I also agree with the person who said the construction is kind of cheap. The first one we got arrived with the plastic water tank shattered, which makes me wonder how long it would last in daily use and regular cleaning.
We ultimately got a Krups XP 4000 (I believe this is a new model), which is the same price as the Gaggia Espresso. So far (after about a week) we are quite happy with the Krups. It's much simpler to use, and makes excellent espresso.
Incidentally, I don't want to mention the exact name of the company where we got the machine we returned, since it might not be permitted by Amazon, but you will see this place advertised all over the web for selling espresso makers. They have a pretty good web site, but I wouldn't recommend dealing with them, as they have been very slow in crediting our account for the returned machine.
OK - the negative reviews on this are pretty out there; they are either complaining about non-existant issues (um, 1 star from someone who didn't even BUY it? Becuase it supposedly doesn't come in 110? That's wacky), or have the wrong expectations of what this machine will do. The bottom line on this espresso maker is that it has the guts of their more expensive models (minus the 3 way solenoid, which has NO effect on how espresso is made) and IF you know what you are doing can make espresso as well as pretty much any model out there.
To over-simplify, espresso makers come with one of 2 basic types of portafilter (that's the thing with the handle you put the espresso grounds in). Pressurized or non-pressurized. The former basically pulls the same shots no matter what you do, as long as your beans are fresh and your grinder is good. The latter requires a bit more art and science. The tamp (compacting the grinds into the portafilter) is critical, and you can vary the way the shot is pulled with different grind size, tamp preassure and tamper type. This, while harder to do consistently, is the only way to properly hunt the elusive "God Shot".
So - onto this machine: Using the "perfect crema" disc is just silly, frankly. In fact, I don't even think there was one in my box. I do know what it does, which is to basically convert a traditional espresso maker into a pressurized one. But hey, if that's what you want then buy a pressurized one from one of the myriad manufacturers out there. However, if you want a model that will let you explore your inner barista, you need to buy a non-pressurized portafilter unit.
And for the money, there is NO WAY you are going to get a better deal than the Gaggia. In fact, there are a number of different models in the Gaggia line, all of which are basically the same until you get to the $500 one, which comes with the aforementioned 3 way solenoid. Sure, there are different designs, and some changes in the type of frother (don't bother with the auto-frothers) but the guts are the same, right down to the brass portafilter. I chose this particular one because of its water capacity and the size of the drip tray, which beleive it or not is a pretty big deal when you pull a lot of shots in a day, as I do.
The fact is, this machine is a beauty. Get good at it and you'll pull shots as good as ANY machine out there, and if you are a total tweek-head, you can even PID this bad boy (look it up...). But you want more? Go check out coffeegeeek dot com and read read read.
Synopsis: Want a machine that will keep up with your growing barista skills? BUY THIS NOW. Don't care about the art, just want quick fast espresso? Go elsewhere and pick a pressurized portafilter unit.
Oh, and either way you go, you NEED a good grinder (the Gaggia MDF rocks and is reasonably priced at $200), and you want FRESH beans - order online from one of the many fresh roasters out there; it makes an incredible difference.
The Gaggia Espresso shares the same quality pump mechanism and commercial portafilter as its siblings (Classic, Baby, Coffee), but is made affordable (as is the Carezza) at the terrific price of $199 because of it's plastic housing. Personally, this is a plus for me, I've got a small kitchen and this baby is light enough to move around when counter space is needed. You will be amazed at the power of this machine (fast heat-up, steam power to spare) and the quality of espresso you can brew when you pair your Espresso with a good conical burr grinder. The Gaggia MDF grinder was my choice and I'm happy with it's performance (when anyone who knows espresso tells you that the grinder is the more important partner, they aren't joking). Can you say "crema?" One word of warning, you will no longer be fit company to join your friends at the local cafe. The espresso you can brew at home will spoil you!
I've had this machine since I was a starving student in grad school. Like many, I added up all the $ I was spending on lattes and quickly justified the purchase. I did a lot of research, looking for the highest quality, lowest priced "pump" model I could find. This was it. It's not one of the super-automatic machines, and takes a little effort to familiarize yourself with it (READ the manual & save it, it's important stuff!). It's not too difficult, and it certainly takes less time to make a cup o java then standing in line at the local coffee house, (better than starbucks, and at least as good as Peets! see Peets.com for the best coffee you'll ever have, and no, I've never worked for them).
They must have gotten this machine right, from the picture, it looks like it's exactly the same machine I bought 5 years ago. Now that it's 5 years old, I'm starting to have some inconsistent performance, but I suspect it's because I've never done the de-calcificaion that I've been reading about. But for this price, 5 years of trouble free performance makes it worth every penny!
The frothing attachment on this system works great and much better than the Krups. The milk steams better, hotter, and the attachment is much eaiser to clean.
My only disappointmnet is the contruction of the machine. It's all plastic. The fit and finish of the parts is not very good and there are gaps between the top and the sides. If I had it to do over again, I would invest the extra $100 or so and get the higher end Gaggia model. I saw one in the store and it looks like it's constructed much better. But all in all, I'm very happy with Gaggia and the espresso it makes tastes great.
The Gaggia Espresso machine works well and mine has made excellent espresso every time . It makes perfect shots at 20 seconds of pump on.
I do have a good solis burr coffee grinder. I also heat the machine 6 minutes before I use it. Then I run an empty shot to warm the group and the demitasse cups before I make my first double or single espresso. I usually make double espressos. It has worked great every time. The used grounds puck falls out as mostly one chunk. I don't use the steam wand.
The machine looks elegant in all black plastic. I prefer it over the metal covering ones which one could get a shock from if there was a loose wire. I recommend this espresso maker. I have not found any problems with it. I enjoy espresso at home every day better than I could get at the cafes. :)
The machine works as advertised but I was very dissapointed in the quality of construction. While I fully understood that the machine was constructed of plastic and not metal i did expect that the plastic pieces comprising the body of the machine to properly fit together. The machine was a gift and so I could not return it otherwise I WOULD HAVE!
I confess, I like Starbucks. I like to have my cappuccino made for me. I also like to make my own on occaision.
This machine worked well for a while and then it seemed to be clogged after a couple of months of not being used. There were two available options for service. One company in my whole state who was 2 hours away and the manufacturers rep in NY. I chose NY. I didn't get it out until after the year was up, although I had gotten a number at 10-11 months.
They charged me $70 to fix the machine, claiming that --I-- did something to one of the hoses.
Gaggia Esspresso is a great machine, but don't expect service if something goes wrong. I laid out over $200 for the machine which I rarely used. Then another $70-$80 bucks to get it fixed when it should have been covered by warranty.
Next time I'll buy another brand. I won't reccommend any other one, because I don't want you to think I work for a different brand. I don't
My old machine was a Starbucks Barista. Had for 3 Years before steam nozzle broke. Worked fine for a home machine, or so I thought! Enter GAGGIA. I ordered this machine (the espresso) on tuesday. It arrived on thursday, well packaged and double boxed. First thing I noticed was the quality of the portafilter. About twice as heavy as old one. Filled up with 64OZ. of water, primed the pump, and was ready to go in about 5 minutes. First shot. Heavy reddish brown creama!!! Tasted amazing first shot out of machine. Next, set to steam, took about 30 seconds to reach temp and zoom, more than enough to steam milk for 2 lattes. Hotter,faster, better frothing, cafe quality.
I have a friend who has an $1800 machine. It makes a great cup of espresso. Way better than the local coffee shop. I didn't think I could get anywhere near that quality for under $1,000. This machine does it!
Anyone who is anything but thrilled with this machine, does not have a clue what they are doing. But, as the other reviews say, the machine is only one part of the espresso equation. You need good coffee, a decent BURR grinder, and a good machine. So if you are on a limited budget, this is the machine for you... and if there is any money to spare get a decent burr grinder to go with it, such as the Gaggia MDF. And don't skimp on the coffee, it matters!
The Gaggia Espresso machine works well and mine has made excellent espresso every time . It makes perfect shots at 20 seconds of pump on.
I do have a good solis burr coffee grinder. I also heat the machine 6 minutes before I use it. Then I run an empty shot to warm the group and the demitasse cups before I make my first double or single espresso. I usually make double espressos. It has worked great every time. The used grounds puck falls out as mostly one chunk. I don't use the steam wand.
The machine looks elegant in all black plastic. I prefer it over the metal covering ones which one could get a shock from if there was a loose wire. I recommend this espresso maker. I have not found any problems with it. I enjoy espresso at home every day better than I could get at the cafes. :)
The machine works as advertised but I was very dissapointed in the quality of construction. While I fully understood that the machine was constructed of plastic and not metal i did expect that the plastic pieces comprising the body of the machine to properly fit together. The machine was a gift and so I could not return it otherwise I WOULD HAVE!
I confess, I like Starbucks. I like to have my cappuccino made for me. I also like to make my own on occaision.
This machine worked well for a while and then it seemed to be clogged after a couple of months of not being used. There were two available options for service. One company in my whole state who was 2 hours away and the manufacturers rep in NY. I chose NY. I didn't get it out until after the year was up, although I had gotten a number at 10-11 months.
They charged me $70 to fix the machine, claiming that --I-- did something to one of the hoses.
Gaggia Esspresso is a great machine, but don't expect service if something goes wrong. I laid out over $200 for the machine which I rarely used. Then another $70-$80 bucks to get it fixed when it should have been covered by warranty.
Next time I'll buy another brand. I won't reccommend any other one, because I don't want you to think I work for a different brand. I don't
My old machine was a Starbucks Barista. Had for 3 Years before steam nozzle broke. Worked fine for a home machine, or so I thought! Enter GAGGIA. I ordered this machine (the espresso) on tuesday. It arrived on thursday, well packaged and double boxed. First thing I noticed was the quality of the portafilter. About twice as heavy as old one. Filled up with 64OZ. of water, primed the pump, and was ready to go in about 5 minutes. First shot. Heavy reddish brown creama!!! Tasted amazing first shot out of machine. Next, set to steam, took about 30 seconds to reach temp and zoom, more than enough to steam milk for 2 lattes. Hotter,faster, better frothing, cafe quality.
I have a friend who has an $1800 machine. It makes a great cup of espresso. Way better than the local coffee shop. I didn't think I could get anywhere near that quality for under $1,000. This machine does it!
Anyone who is anything but thrilled with this machine, does not have a clue what they are doing. But, as the other reviews say, the machine is only one part of the espresso equation. You need good coffee, a decent BURR grinder, and a good machine. So if you are on a limited budget, this is the machine for you... and if there is any money to spare get a decent burr grinder to go with it, such as the Gaggia MDF. And don't skimp on the coffee, it matters!
OK - the negative reviews on this are pretty out there; they are either complaining about non-existant issues (um, 1 star from someone who didn't even BUY it? Becuase it supposedly doesn't come in 110? That's wacky), or have the wrong expectations of what this machine will do. The bottom line on this espresso maker is that it has the guts of their more expensive models (minus the 3 way solenoid, which has NO effect on how espresso is made) and IF you know what you are doing can make espresso as well as pretty much any model out there.
To over-simplify, espresso makers come with one of 2 basic types of portafilter (that's the thing with the handle you put the espresso grounds in). Pressurized or non-pressurized. The former basically pulls the same shots no matter what you do, as long as your beans are fresh and your grinder is good. The latter requires a bit more art and science. The tamp (compacting the grinds into the portafilter) is critical, and you can vary the way the shot is pulled with different grind size, tamp preassure and tamper type. This, while harder to do consistently, is the only way to properly hunt the elusive "God Shot".
So - onto this machine: Using the "perfect crema" disc is just silly, frankly. In fact, I don't even think there was one in my box. I do know what it does, which is to basically convert a traditional espresso maker into a pressurized one. But hey, if that's what you want then buy a pressurized one from one of the myriad manufacturers out there. However, if you want a model that will let you explore your inner barista, you need to buy a non-pressurized portafilter unit.
And for the money, there is NO WAY you are going to get a better deal than the Gaggia. In fact, there are a number of different models in the Gaggia line, all of which are basically the same until you get to the $500 one, which comes with the aforementioned 3 way solenoid. Sure, there are different designs, and some changes in the type of frother (don't bother with the auto-frothers) but the guts are the same, right down to the brass portafilter. I chose this particular one because of its water capacity and the size of the drip tray, which beleive it or not is a pretty big deal when you pull a lot of shots in a day, as I do.
The fact is, this machine is a beauty. Get good at it and you'll pull shots as good as ANY machine out there, and if you are a total tweek-head, you can even PID this bad boy (look it up...). But you want more? Go check out coffeegeeek dot com and read read read.
Synopsis: Want a machine that will keep up with your growing barista skills? BUY THIS NOW. Don't care about the art, just want quick fast espresso? Go elsewhere and pick a pressurized portafilter unit.
Oh, and either way you go, you NEED a good grinder (the Gaggia MDF rocks and is reasonably priced at $200), and you want FRESH beans - order online from one of the many fresh roasters out there; it makes an incredible difference.
We ordered one of these from Amazon, but when they were out of stock for several weeks, we decided to get it elsewhere. We kept it for only 2 days before we realized it was a big mistake, and sent it back. We have had a series of less expensive espresso machines for about 10 years now. Our first few were the cheapo steam models, and then we moved up to a low-end Briel pump-type. It worked okay but started to leak after a few years, so we decided to try another brand.
Our main complaint about the Gaggia Espresso is that we could not get decent crema out of it at all, and it was way too hard to use. It comes with a little rubber disc called a "Perfect Crema", which you are supposed to insert in the portafilter under the filter basket to make crema. Well, with that disc in place, it was next to impossible to make the portafilter go into the machine because the filter basket would not push down far enough into the portafilter holder. We finally jammed it in once after a huge amount of effort, and got decent crema, but the next time, after we had removed it to clean it (quite a procedure in itself to pry it out), we couldn't get it back in again. Without that disc it makes okay-tasting coffee, but no crema at all. It certainly did not seem worth the effort to us to attempt this hassle every time we make espresso (which we do at least twice a day), since you are supposed to remove and clean the crema disc after each use.
I also agree with the person who said the construction is kind of cheap. The first one we got arrived with the plastic water tank shattered, which makes me wonder how long it would last in daily use and regular cleaning.
We ultimately got a Krups XP 4000 (I believe this is a new model), which is the same price as the Gaggia Espresso. So far (after about a week) we are quite happy with the Krups. It's much simpler to use, and makes excellent espresso.
Incidentally, I don't want to mention the exact name of the company where we got the machine we returned, since it might not be permitted by Amazon, but you will see this place advertised all over the web for selling espresso makers. They have a pretty good web site, but I wouldn't recommend dealing with them, as they have been very slow in crediting our account for the returned machine.
I purchased this machine around 3 months ago to replace a 10 year old Krups. The Gaggia machine makes the best home espresso I've had and works much better than my old Krups. When using the right grind of Espresso, I'm able to produce very nice espresso that tastes great and has a very nice crema.
The frothing attachment on this system works great and much better than the Krups. The milk steams better, hotter, and the attachment is much eaiser to clean.
My only disappointmnet is the contruction of the machine. It's all plastic. The fit and finish of the parts is not very good and there are gaps between the top and the sides. If I had it to do over again, I would invest the extra $100 or so and get the higher end Gaggia model. I saw one in the store and it looks like it's constructed much better. But all in all, I'm very happy with Gaggia and the espresso it makes tastes great.
The Gaggia Espresso shares the same quality pump mechanism and commercial portafilter as its siblings (Classic, Baby, Coffee), but is made affordable (as is the Carezza) at the terrific price of $199 because of it's plastic housing. Personally, this is a plus for me, I've got a small kitchen and this baby is light enough to move around when counter space is needed. You will be amazed at the power of this machine (fast heat-up, steam power to spare) and the quality of espresso you can brew when you pair your Espresso with a good conical burr grinder. The Gaggia MDF grinder was my choice and I'm happy with it's performance (when anyone who knows espresso tells you that the grinder is the more important partner, they aren't joking). Can you say "crema?" One word of warning, you will no longer be fit company to join your friends at the local cafe. The espresso you can brew at home will spoil you!
I've had this machine since I was a starving student in grad school. Like many, I added up all the $ I was spending on lattes and quickly justified the purchase. I did a lot of research, looking for the highest quality, lowest priced "pump" model I could find. This was it. It's not one of the super-automatic machines, and takes a little effort to familiarize yourself with it (READ the manual & save it, it's important stuff!). It's not too difficult, and it certainly takes less time to make a cup o java then standing in line at the local coffee house, (better than starbucks, and at least as good as Peets! see Peets.com for the best coffee you'll ever have, and no, I've never worked for them).
They must have gotten this machine right, from the picture, it looks like it's exactly the same machine I bought 5 years ago. Now that it's 5 years old, I'm starting to have some inconsistent performance, but I suspect it's because I've never done the de-calcificaion that I've been reading about. But for this price, 5 years of trouble free performance makes it worth every penny!