Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine, Black

I did some research before buying this espresso maker, and I am quite happy with the results. As many writers suggested, the first few cups were not thrilling, but after those first few, it made delicious espresso. It does create a bit of a mess to clean up after brewing, and since I turn the machine off when not in use, I have to prime it and let it come to temperature before I can use it in the morning. But these are very minor issues. I work at a restaurant that has a very expensive espresso machine and my little Gaggia makes espresso as well as the big guy. I am very happy. For the price, especially with the brass construction of the inner workings, I believe it's a no-brainer.

I bought this machine reconditioned through an Amazon vendor and am very pleased. Prior to this I was using a steam espresso machine and was always disappointed in the quality of the coffee. There was a learning curve for this but after two weeks I am getting a thick crema. I don't have a grinder (yet) so I am using pre-ground Illy and Lavazza coffee. For steaming my milk, I take off the frothier and just use the steam nozzle. It is relatively quiet. My only disappointment is that if I hold the plastic front while putting the portafilter in place, it does move and pop out of place. A minor problem, however. Highly recommend this machine to anyone.

This machine is attractive and the cost seems to be good. However, if you like to make daily espresso, this isn't he machine for you. After about 6 weeks of daily lattes, it stopped making steam. Even before that, it was a hassle to clean the multi-part, plastic steam nozzle. The knob for the steam valve is also too small - no leverage.

Amazon doesn't handle returns of items that don't work. So while this machine may seem like a bargain, consider that it might only last a few weeks.

My old espresso machine died in the line of duty. 2 years of selfless service ... I read the reviews, I spend my time researching. Gaggia seemed to have the best selection, the best ratings (ok, my bike jerseys have Saeco written on them, but ...). The Evolution was at the right pricepoint. I was desperate and had it overnighted.

The miracle of Italien design arrived, and it took me no time to unpack the baeuty and start on my first espresso. What a disappointment. The mechanical stability was so poor that I was scared to tighten up the filter properly. It was a more than tricky act to get the right amount of coffee in there so it would actually fit into it's slot (or whatever the proper name is). Honest to god, I cannot perform this act 5am in the morning, when I need my coffee to wake up in the first place.

After about 5 attempts and 5 cups thrown away I gave up (yes, I left out the 30 minutes I actually cleaned the machine, let filtered water run throu it to clean it's innerts). Each cup tasted consitently bad (read bitter). And no, it wasn't the el cheapo Starbucks grind, we are talking about Lavazza Qualita Rosso and Segafredo.

My conclusion is that this machine definitively is good for the buyer's ego, and it might make a nice stylish addition to your kitchen. And maybe if you'r only intrested in the occasional Cappuchino this might be the machine for you. If you are however intrested in something that plainly works, no bells, no whistles, do yourself a favour and get something else.

I will oust myself now as a mayor ignorant and admit that I went over to the store and picked up (again) a nice Krups. Not the best machine in the world, not Italian design, but stable build, 15 bar pump, and every cup of the first 3 tasted well.



Hands down, this is an incredible espresso machine and a great value at this price. It makes great coffee and is a breeze to use and clean. It heats up in a snap, and the front/side loading water reservoir makes refilling this thing very easy. The perfect crema device is a little awkward to get out when done using, but I have found properly ground beans to produce a "perfect crema" anyways, so I don't need to use it. With the right coffee, it beats most coffee shop espressos hands down.

I own two of these machines which is helpful because this enables me to generate espresso and steam milk simultaneously. Because different temperatures are necessary for each function, this improves the execution of each task, especially when I am making more than two lattes. Nicer, more expensive machines, of course, contain separate boilers to facilitate exactly this. Even for the $500 it would cost for two, you will not likely find a machine with two boilers, so it could make sense in a purely economical/performance related context.
The exteriors of these machines are nothing special, but the internal componentry is quite up to the task. The first thing that impressed me about the units was the quality of the portafilters. They are unlike any i've seen from ordinary cheap home units and are very heavy duty, die cast, solid. More like I imagine a good commercial grade machine to have, as opposed to any machines at or below this price point that i've seen.
These machines do a good job, and have lasted me over a year now with above average use, and I would recommend them to anyone who doesn't want to spend more than these cost. However, I have a few small concerns that I want to note:

-Make sure that the water reservoir doesn't run out of water while trying to make espresso. It's a small matter, but the intake tubes will lose suction and will struggle to create a new one after the reservoir is replenished.
-The frothing wand does a great job steaming milk. I get dense micro foam, as much so as i've ever experienced. However, the boiler expends itself generally after enough milk for one cappuccino or small latte is steamed. To replenish the boiler you need engage the button normally depressed for producing espresso and wait to engage the steam until the green "ready" light comes back on. This is crucial, because without doing this, the machine effectively runs out of steam.
-And lastly, take care not to lose any of the frothing wands' internal pieces. There are a couple of really small parts inside and I recently lost one of them thus severely hampering the wands' performance.

I would recommend these machines as the best that I've seen for this price. I've noticed other reviewers warning against them for espresso junkies, pointing out that they will not hold up to regular or heavy use, but I am calling these machines work horses. I use mine at work, where I am a kitchen manager for a small retreat center in rural Washington. While I don't use these machines in a commercial application, I definitely have used them on a daily basis for over a year, and have at times served espresso drinks/cappuccinos for groups: Having two of these machines enables me to crank out drink after drink which I've done for maybe up to 16 people at once. These machines have a lightning fast heat up time, likely as fast as any from a dead start.

These machines are obviously not meant for commercial use, but the point is that they would easily be up to the task for home use. They are cheap. There are so many other, nicer machines, but they also cost more. Check out the new la spaziale vivaldi II which retails for about $1900. It's small enough to fit on your kitchen counter top, runs on 110 volt current, and would be the home barista's dream machine. Personally I just bought an Expobar Brewtus II for $1700 and it is everything I could ask for in a home machine. Now that is what I'm talking about. Look's like the Gaggia's are going to be staying at work.

I have had difficulty generating a thick crema with this machine and the LaVazza in Blu coffee it came with. I have tried other ground coffees, ground my own beans, and tried LaVazza and Ilia pods, all to no avail. So it must be something I am doing wrong. At least I hope so. Now all I have to do is find out what that is!

Otherwise the machine is excellent. It heats incredibly quickly and generates tons of steam and foam in a short time. It is well-built also.

Now if only I could solve that creama problem...

After much research online, I settled on this model. I agree what other reviewers have stated that the design improvements over the Carezza make this a worthy upgrade for the difference in price.

This machine is solidly built, looks great, and makes great espresso. As with anything, a reading of the manual will provide all the info you need to make great espresso drinks. After reading the instructions I was able to make great lattes after only a couple tries getting the tamp right.

I recommend starting out with the Illy fine grind coffee, available here on Amazon.com. Its highly recommended elsewhere, tastes great, and is ground correctly for use in an espresso machine. It will make it easier to fine tune your skills with the machine by removing the grind level from the equation.

I tried using the turbo milk frothing wand, which worked well, but I removed it and just use stainless steel tube, which works great and is easier to clean. I can get the milk so hot the frothing pitcher burns my hands, though you shouldn't heat the milk over 155 degrees or it will scald and change flavor. The reviewer who couldn't must not be following the directions correctly, or has a defective unit.

Since getting this machine, I've made at least one drink per day, sometimes two. I've even gotten my wife drinking lattes. You can't go wrong with this one!


Reading the other reviews I thought this would be a great machine. Out of the box one filter did not fit, the other did not fit when hot. I let the machine come to temperature and used the same grind that has worked for 14 years in 2 other machines but got watery coffee and cold milk. Commercial weight filter holder's poor fit and cheap plastic for the rest of the machine made assembly impossible or unsafe when hot. Returned after one day of total frustration. Going back to my old brand.

After reading all the gaggia reviews (Capressa and Evolution) I decided to splurge for the extra $50 and go for the evolution. Setup was pretty easy (why the two manuals, I dont know but took about 15 minutes to setup). Overall, sturdy machine. My last one (a $75 Briel Apollo) lasted a few years and the boiler broke. This one is sturdier and feels solid. First cups came out perfect. For the money, you cant beat this machine. Highly reccommended.

After calculating exactly how much money I've forked over to Starbuck$ in the last 4 years in exchange for burnt-coffee-flavored milk, I decided to look for a tastier, "wordlier", yet money-saving option. I did give the Nespresso machines a hard look (those use a metal capsule and they are quick, clean, and the coffee tastes quite good), but I eventually decided against them because the capsules are somewhat expensive ($0.50/piece plus shipping), and only available in a few different "beans". A regular espresso machine, such as this Gaggia model, opens up the world of exotic coffees and the pleasure of preparing them.

On to the machine. The black-and-silver design of this device would blend in nicely in a modern kitchen; I personally think it's quite stylish. Sadly though, the black plastic of which it is made is of the shiny kind, which does not only show every smudge or drop of water, but scratches easily when you so much as wipe it with a dry paper towel (think ipod nano). The drip tray is quite flimsy; not a problem but just screams "cheap". The only badly designed piece is the cup warmer: it's situated in the back half of the (slightly slanted) top, which barely gets lukewarm - unlike the front half which does get hot, but can't be used because it's rounded and your cups would fall off. Again, this is not really a problem, as you can just use hot water to preheat your cups, but it makes you think that perhaps they shouldn't advertise that feature.

Two things surprised me very positively. It's very easy to fill the machine with water; you just slide out the container to the left, even while you're making espresso. The other surprise was the milk frother. The steam "pipe" has a plastic attachment to it which contains air channels; some ingenious solution which ends up making perfectly frothed milk. A reviewer claimed that it doesn't heat up the milk enough; I cannot verify that statement, but then I only prepare small amounts of milk, enough for one or two cappuccinos.

The guts of this machine are impeccable. It's neither underpowered nor loud, all pieces that ought to be metal actually are, and it's serviceable. The manual explains how every few weeks you are supposed to unscrew a few plates and clean them, and perhaps use a cleaning solution for the tubing.

Speaking of the manual, it gives you all you need to know to make a good espresso; the cdrom even has helpful little movies that show how a good flow looks like (neither splattering nor just dripping, just an even flow for 25 seconds).

All in all, I am extremely happy with my purchase. The manual humorously mentions that "your first espresso is probably not very good". Well, mine was delicious. Meanwhile, I've gotten my espresso routine down and find that it doesn't take much time at all to make a good cup, certainly less than waiting in line twice at Starbucks.

By the way, you will end up owning a burr-type grinder, too. Beans last longer than pre-ground coffee before things turn bitter.

I like this machine, and it makes great espresso. However, it is noisy and I wish I could get the milk hotter. Perhaps it is just operator error, but I can't get the milk hot enough for my liking. If your only interest is perfect espresso and you don't really care about hot milk, this machine is a good choice.

Don't waste your money on the cheap ones, this one is a solid, well built unit that does what it's supposed to do. I've been through two others over the years - this is the real deal.

I was no expert at making Cappuccino so relied on these reviews before purchasing before Christmas. Had an older cheaper brand which was difficult to use - which is why I really didn't use it. Fortunately, my unit arrived intact. This machine is built well and relatively easy to use. Frothing the milk is a snap. Now I can make excellent Cappuccino.

I am not much for writing reviews, but I will say that I have had this machine for a year and it works perfectly. Along with the MDF Burr Grinder, I make incredible mochas. Worth every penny!

Uh-oh looks like they are getting some bad feedback over the holidays...
Anyway, I have had my Evolution for a few months now and I really like it. This machine is replacing my old, cheap Krups model which served me well for a long time. I think it's a good machine for the price asked...there are not many in this price range to choose from it's mostly either cheap machines or ridiculously expensive machines. I have never had a ridiculously expensive machine so those of you that have may not want to buy this. For me this is a step up.
It is ready to brew really really fast, and it gets your coffee so hot, it steams your milk like a madman. It really is so fast and so hot...I love that! Be careful,it is so hot I burned myself on one of the metal bits...OUCH!
So, I think you will be happy with this purchase as long as UPS doesn't drop it off a building before delivering it to you.

Oh, yes, there is crema. And do me a favor, try something other than Starbucks please. I use Illy which is good...my favorite is Seggafreddo which I just can't find in any store...maybe I'll look online. But really, please, just try something different, you might like it, and you might help keep Starbucks from taking over the world!!

Haven't tried the machine yet, but it arrived with the top ajar obviously having taken a hard shot somewhere along the line. The exterior isn't scratched or cracked. I contacted the supplier and they quickly put me in touch with a service tech., who told me how to remove and reinstall the top. Now we'll see if the unit works.

Rec'd this item in time for Christmas, but upon opening the box, doing the setup, reading and re-reading the poorly written instructions, only to find that the machine is defective. The pump doesn't operate at all. Of course, customer support is closed for the holidays.

Mine came with one tip of the housing cracked.
With the perfect crema device, I get no extraction.
It seems that mine is defective... Which can mean poor built. I was so excited to finally get this well reviewed machine, but very disappointed.

After many happy (and dare I say, naive) years with our DeLonghi Caffe Espresso, it was time to replace our old workhorse. Having just spent the summer in Spain, where no bar is complete without the standard superautomatic Gaggia espresso maker, I decided that truly great espresso was a daily necessity. I was tired of incompetent teenagers / college students who work at local coffee shops mangling something as simple as a cappuccino (one part espresso, one part milk, one part foam) into a milk-drowned latte with no foam.

I wanted something in the range of $200, with a dependable track record and plenty of power to spare. I waded through a myriad of reviews for the Gaggia Carezza, hailed as a champion of its class, but read a number of negative reviews concerning design shortcomings.

Enter the Gaggia Evolution. Although the Gaggia Carezza and Evolution share the same innards, the Evolution boasts several improvements in design. With its 17.5 bar pump and high wattage, dual element boiler, the Gaggia Evolution is ready to brew in around 5-10 minutes (I always prime the boiler first).

Design improvements over the Carezza include: a larger drip tray, a cup warmer (although, as usual, it's more effective to preheat your cups by filling them with hot water, which can be done during priming), anti-vibration mounts (once primed, the Gaggia Evolution is nearly whisper-quiet), and a brass commercial portafilter (the spouts on the Carezza were changed to plastic). My Evolution came with the Perfect Crema device (which is supposed to go under the single filter basket in order to create additional pressure/allow a coarser grind), but having read numerous negative reviews of the ineffective device, I simply left it in the box with the packing material.

Five stars for the instruction manuals and CD-ROM: the Gaggia Evolution comes with not one, but two instruction manuals: one from the manufacturer (Gaggia), and one from the North American importer (Importika). The Importika manual is intuitive, easy to read and injected with coffee humor, although the Evolution is not among the Gaggia models listed in the Appendix. The included CD-ROM walks you through setup in the form of short movies and narration, along with more advanced tips and techniques for coffee connoisseurs. We put our laptop on the kitchen table and followed along after unpacking our new Gaggia (thankfully, nothing was broken in the mail, as happened to several Gaggia Carezza owners). Although the manual hinted that your first coffee might not be potable, we'd followed various tips online (prime your new machine several times to remove any residue and plastic-y taste), and our first espresso was laden with crema. The Turbo Frother attachment made the creamiest, densest microfoam I have ever seen-it looked more like meringue (hint: use skim milk for best results). My only complaint would be the cheapness of the included coffee scoop, and you definitely want to invest in a better tamp for maximum extraction (the Gaggia takes a 58 mm tamp at a recommended 30 pounds of pressure).

If you're not in the market to buy a $200-300 grinder (Rancilio Rocky or Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder) to go with your new Gaggia, Illy makes a delicious, dependable espresso grind, available in tins (decaf, too) or Pods. The Evolution is Pod-ready, simply use the single shot basket with the portafilter. Tip: "classic" double shots should take around 20-25 seconds to extract.

The Evolution is a steal for the current price, since it contains the same innards as other Gaggias in the $400-500 range. Although it runs around $50-100 more than the Carezza, I appreciated the design improvements, stylish lines (I have a Tuscan kitchen with hand-painted ceramics and terra cotta tiles and was afraid that the "modern" styling would stand out, but the Evolution is much more traditional-looking and unobtrusive than the Carezza), and performance. (Note: the Evolution is also available in an all-silver model, but it will set you back another $50. The black model features a black base and sides and a silver front and silver drip tray.)

Excellent for the espresso novice or connoisseur, easy to use and clean, and it makes better espresso than some $500-1,000 machines I've tried!


I did some research before buying this espresso maker, and I am quite happy with the results. As many writers suggested, the first few cups were not thrilling, but after those first few, it made delicious espresso. It does create a bit of a mess to clean up after brewing, and since I turn the machine off when not in use, I have to prime it and let it come to temperature before I can use it in the morning. But these are very minor issues. I work at a restaurant that has a very expensive espresso machine and my little Gaggia makes espresso as well as the big guy. I am very happy. For the price, especially with the brass construction of the inner workings, I believe it's a no-brainer.

I bought this machine reconditioned through an Amazon vendor and am very pleased. Prior to this I was using a steam espresso machine and was always disappointed in the quality of the coffee. There was a learning curve for this but after two weeks I am getting a thick crema. I don't have a grinder (yet) so I am using pre-ground Illy and Lavazza coffee. For steaming my milk, I take off the frothier and just use the steam nozzle. It is relatively quiet. My only disappointment is that if I hold the plastic front while putting the portafilter in place, it does move and pop out of place. A minor problem, however. Highly recommend this machine to anyone.

This machine is attractive and the cost seems to be good. However, if you like to make daily espresso, this isn't he machine for you. After about 6 weeks of daily lattes, it stopped making steam. Even before that, it was a hassle to clean the multi-part, plastic steam nozzle. The knob for the steam valve is also too small - no leverage.

Amazon doesn't handle returns of items that don't work. So while this machine may seem like a bargain, consider that it might only last a few weeks.

My old espresso machine died in the line of duty. 2 years of selfless service ... I read the reviews, I spend my time researching. Gaggia seemed to have the best selection, the best ratings (ok, my bike jerseys have Saeco written on them, but ...). The Evolution was at the right pricepoint. I was desperate and had it overnighted.

The miracle of Italien design arrived, and it took me no time to unpack the baeuty and start on my first espresso. What a disappointment. The mechanical stability was so poor that I was scared to tighten up the filter properly. It was a more than tricky act to get the right amount of coffee in there so it would actually fit into it's slot (or whatever the proper name is). Honest to god, I cannot perform this act 5am in the morning, when I need my coffee to wake up in the first place.

After about 5 attempts and 5 cups thrown away I gave up (yes, I left out the 30 minutes I actually cleaned the machine, let filtered water run throu it to clean it's innerts). Each cup tasted consitently bad (read bitter). And no, it wasn't the el cheapo Starbucks grind, we are talking about Lavazza Qualita Rosso and Segafredo.

My conclusion is that this machine definitively is good for the buyer's ego, and it might make a nice stylish addition to your kitchen. And maybe if you'r only intrested in the occasional Cappuchino this might be the machine for you. If you are however intrested in something that plainly works, no bells, no whistles, do yourself a favour and get something else.

I will oust myself now as a mayor ignorant and admit that I went over to the store and picked up (again) a nice Krups. Not the best machine in the world, not Italian design, but stable build, 15 bar pump, and every cup of the first 3 tasted well.



Hands down, this is an incredible espresso machine and a great value at this price. It makes great coffee and is a breeze to use and clean. It heats up in a snap, and the front/side loading water reservoir makes refilling this thing very easy. The perfect crema device is a little awkward to get out when done using, but I have found properly ground beans to produce a "perfect crema" anyways, so I don't need to use it. With the right coffee, it beats most coffee shop espressos hands down.

I own two of these machines which is helpful because this enables me to generate espresso and steam milk simultaneously. Because different temperatures are necessary for each function, this improves the execution of each task, especially when I am making more than two lattes. Nicer, more expensive machines, of course, contain separate boilers to facilitate exactly this. Even for the $500 it would cost for two, you will not likely find a machine with two boilers, so it could make sense in a purely economical/performance related context.
The exteriors of these machines are nothing special, but the internal componentry is quite up to the task. The first thing that impressed me about the units was the quality of the portafilters. They are unlike any i've seen from ordinary cheap home units and are very heavy duty, die cast, solid. More like I imagine a good commercial grade machine to have, as opposed to any machines at or below this price point that i've seen.
These machines do a good job, and have lasted me over a year now with above average use, and I would recommend them to anyone who doesn't want to spend more than these cost. However, I have a few small concerns that I want to note:

-Make sure that the water reservoir doesn't run out of water while trying to make espresso. It's a small matter, but the intake tubes will lose suction and will struggle to create a new one after the reservoir is replenished.
-The frothing wand does a great job steaming milk. I get dense micro foam, as much so as i've ever experienced. However, the boiler expends itself generally after enough milk for one cappuccino or small latte is steamed. To replenish the boiler you need engage the button normally depressed for producing espresso and wait to engage the steam until the green "ready" light comes back on. This is crucial, because without doing this, the machine effectively runs out of steam.
-And lastly, take care not to lose any of the frothing wands' internal pieces. There are a couple of really small parts inside and I recently lost one of them thus severely hampering the wands' performance.

I would recommend these machines as the best that I've seen for this price. I've noticed other reviewers warning against them for espresso junkies, pointing out that they will not hold up to regular or heavy use, but I am calling these machines work horses. I use mine at work, where I am a kitchen manager for a small retreat center in rural Washington. While I don't use these machines in a commercial application, I definitely have used them on a daily basis for over a year, and have at times served espresso drinks/cappuccinos for groups: Having two of these machines enables me to crank out drink after drink which I've done for maybe up to 16 people at once. These machines have a lightning fast heat up time, likely as fast as any from a dead start.

These machines are obviously not meant for commercial use, but the point is that they would easily be up to the task for home use. They are cheap. There are so many other, nicer machines, but they also cost more. Check out the new la spaziale vivaldi II which retails for about $1900. It's small enough to fit on your kitchen counter top, runs on 110 volt current, and would be the home barista's dream machine. Personally I just bought an Expobar Brewtus II for $1700 and it is everything I could ask for in a home machine. Now that is what I'm talking about. Look's like the Gaggia's are going to be staying at work.

I have had difficulty generating a thick crema with this machine and the LaVazza in Blu coffee it came with. I have tried other ground coffees, ground my own beans, and tried LaVazza and Ilia pods, all to no avail. So it must be something I am doing wrong. At least I hope so. Now all I have to do is find out what that is!

Otherwise the machine is excellent. It heats incredibly quickly and generates tons of steam and foam in a short time. It is well-built also.

Now if only I could solve that creama problem...

After much research online, I settled on this model. I agree what other reviewers have stated that the design improvements over the Carezza make this a worthy upgrade for the difference in price.

This machine is solidly built, looks great, and makes great espresso. As with anything, a reading of the manual will provide all the info you need to make great espresso drinks. After reading the instructions I was able to make great lattes after only a couple tries getting the tamp right.

I recommend starting out with the Illy fine grind coffee, available here on Amazon.com. Its highly recommended elsewhere, tastes great, and is ground correctly for use in an espresso machine. It will make it easier to fine tune your skills with the machine by removing the grind level from the equation.

I tried using the turbo milk frothing wand, which worked well, but I removed it and just use stainless steel tube, which works great and is easier to clean. I can get the milk so hot the frothing pitcher burns my hands, though you shouldn't heat the milk over 155 degrees or it will scald and change flavor. The reviewer who couldn't must not be following the directions correctly, or has a defective unit.

Since getting this machine, I've made at least one drink per day, sometimes two. I've even gotten my wife drinking lattes. You can't go wrong with this one!


Reading the other reviews I thought this would be a great machine. Out of the box one filter did not fit, the other did not fit when hot. I let the machine come to temperature and used the same grind that has worked for 14 years in 2 other machines but got watery coffee and cold milk. Commercial weight filter holder's poor fit and cheap plastic for the rest of the machine made assembly impossible or unsafe when hot. Returned after one day of total frustration. Going back to my old brand.

After reading all the gaggia reviews (Capressa and Evolution) I decided to splurge for the extra $50 and go for the evolution. Setup was pretty easy (why the two manuals, I dont know but took about 15 minutes to setup). Overall, sturdy machine. My last one (a $75 Briel Apollo) lasted a few years and the boiler broke. This one is sturdier and feels solid. First cups came out perfect. For the money, you cant beat this machine. Highly reccommended.

After calculating exactly how much money I've forked over to Starbuck$ in the last 4 years in exchange for burnt-coffee-flavored milk, I decided to look for a tastier, "wordlier", yet money-saving option. I did give the Nespresso machines a hard look (those use a metal capsule and they are quick, clean, and the coffee tastes quite good), but I eventually decided against them because the capsules are somewhat expensive ($0.50/piece plus shipping), and only available in a few different "beans". A regular espresso machine, such as this Gaggia model, opens up the world of exotic coffees and the pleasure of preparing them.

On to the machine. The black-and-silver design of this device would blend in nicely in a modern kitchen; I personally think it's quite stylish. Sadly though, the black plastic of which it is made is of the shiny kind, which does not only show every smudge or drop of water, but scratches easily when you so much as wipe it with a dry paper towel (think ipod nano). The drip tray is quite flimsy; not a problem but just screams "cheap". The only badly designed piece is the cup warmer: it's situated in the back half of the (slightly slanted) top, which barely gets lukewarm - unlike the front half which does get hot, but can't be used because it's rounded and your cups would fall off. Again, this is not really a problem, as you can just use hot water to preheat your cups, but it makes you think that perhaps they shouldn't advertise that feature.

Two things surprised me very positively. It's very easy to fill the machine with water; you just slide out the container to the left, even while you're making espresso. The other surprise was the milk frother. The steam "pipe" has a plastic attachment to it which contains air channels; some ingenious solution which ends up making perfectly frothed milk. A reviewer claimed that it doesn't heat up the milk enough; I cannot verify that statement, but then I only prepare small amounts of milk, enough for one or two cappuccinos.

The guts of this machine are impeccable. It's neither underpowered nor loud, all pieces that ought to be metal actually are, and it's serviceable. The manual explains how every few weeks you are supposed to unscrew a few plates and clean them, and perhaps use a cleaning solution for the tubing.

Speaking of the manual, it gives you all you need to know to make a good espresso; the cdrom even has helpful little movies that show how a good flow looks like (neither splattering nor just dripping, just an even flow for 25 seconds).

All in all, I am extremely happy with my purchase. The manual humorously mentions that "your first espresso is probably not very good". Well, mine was delicious. Meanwhile, I've gotten my espresso routine down and find that it doesn't take much time at all to make a good cup, certainly less than waiting in line twice at Starbucks.

By the way, you will end up owning a burr-type grinder, too. Beans last longer than pre-ground coffee before things turn bitter.

I like this machine, and it makes great espresso. However, it is noisy and I wish I could get the milk hotter. Perhaps it is just operator error, but I can't get the milk hot enough for my liking. If your only interest is perfect espresso and you don't really care about hot milk, this machine is a good choice.

Don't waste your money on the cheap ones, this one is a solid, well built unit that does what it's supposed to do. I've been through two others over the years - this is the real deal.

I was no expert at making Cappuccino so relied on these reviews before purchasing before Christmas. Had an older cheaper brand which was difficult to use - which is why I really didn't use it. Fortunately, my unit arrived intact. This machine is built well and relatively easy to use. Frothing the milk is a snap. Now I can make excellent Cappuccino.

I am not much for writing reviews, but I will say that I have had this machine for a year and it works perfectly. Along with the MDF Burr Grinder, I make incredible mochas. Worth every penny!

Uh-oh looks like they are getting some bad feedback over the holidays...
Anyway, I have had my Evolution for a few months now and I really like it. This machine is replacing my old, cheap Krups model which served me well for a long time. I think it's a good machine for the price asked...there are not many in this price range to choose from it's mostly either cheap machines or ridiculously expensive machines. I have never had a ridiculously expensive machine so those of you that have may not want to buy this. For me this is a step up.
It is ready to brew really really fast, and it gets your coffee so hot, it steams your milk like a madman. It really is so fast and so hot...I love that! Be careful,it is so hot I burned myself on one of the metal bits...OUCH!
So, I think you will be happy with this purchase as long as UPS doesn't drop it off a building before delivering it to you.

Oh, yes, there is crema. And do me a favor, try something other than Starbucks please. I use Illy which is good...my favorite is Seggafreddo which I just can't find in any store...maybe I'll look online. But really, please, just try something different, you might like it, and you might help keep Starbucks from taking over the world!!

Haven't tried the machine yet, but it arrived with the top ajar obviously having taken a hard shot somewhere along the line. The exterior isn't scratched or cracked. I contacted the supplier and they quickly put me in touch with a service tech., who told me how to remove and reinstall the top. Now we'll see if the unit works.

Rec'd this item in time for Christmas, but upon opening the box, doing the setup, reading and re-reading the poorly written instructions, only to find that the machine is defective. The pump doesn't operate at all. Of course, customer support is closed for the holidays.

Mine came with one tip of the housing cracked.
With the perfect crema device, I get no extraction.
It seems that mine is defective... Which can mean poor built. I was so excited to finally get this well reviewed machine, but very disappointed.

After many happy (and dare I say, naive) years with our DeLonghi Caffe Espresso, it was time to replace our old workhorse. Having just spent the summer in Spain, where no bar is complete without the standard superautomatic Gaggia espresso maker, I decided that truly great espresso was a daily necessity. I was tired of incompetent teenagers / college students who work at local coffee shops mangling something as simple as a cappuccino (one part espresso, one part milk, one part foam) into a milk-drowned latte with no foam.

I wanted something in the range of $200, with a dependable track record and plenty of power to spare. I waded through a myriad of reviews for the Gaggia Carezza, hailed as a champion of its class, but read a number of negative reviews concerning design shortcomings.

Enter the Gaggia Evolution. Although the Gaggia Carezza and Evolution share the same innards, the Evolution boasts several improvements in design. With its 17.5 bar pump and high wattage, dual element boiler, the Gaggia Evolution is ready to brew in around 5-10 minutes (I always prime the boiler first).

Design improvements over the Carezza include: a larger drip tray, a cup warmer (although, as usual, it's more effective to preheat your cups by filling them with hot water, which can be done during priming), anti-vibration mounts (once primed, the Gaggia Evolution is nearly whisper-quiet), and a brass commercial portafilter (the spouts on the Carezza were changed to plastic). My Evolution came with the Perfect Crema device (which is supposed to go under the single filter basket in order to create additional pressure/allow a coarser grind), but having read numerous negative reviews of the ineffective device, I simply left it in the box with the packing material.

Five stars for the instruction manuals and CD-ROM: the Gaggia Evolution comes with not one, but two instruction manuals: one from the manufacturer (Gaggia), and one from the North American importer (Importika). The Importika manual is intuitive, easy to read and injected with coffee humor, although the Evolution is not among the Gaggia models listed in the Appendix. The included CD-ROM walks you through setup in the form of short movies and narration, along with more advanced tips and techniques for coffee connoisseurs. We put our laptop on the kitchen table and followed along after unpacking our new Gaggia (thankfully, nothing was broken in the mail, as happened to several Gaggia Carezza owners). Although the manual hinted that your first coffee might not be potable, we'd followed various tips online (prime your new machine several times to remove any residue and plastic-y taste), and our first espresso was laden with crema. The Turbo Frother attachment made the creamiest, densest microfoam I have ever seen-it looked more like meringue (hint: use skim milk for best results). My only complaint would be the cheapness of the included coffee scoop, and you definitely want to invest in a better tamp for maximum extraction (the Gaggia takes a 58 mm tamp at a recommended 30 pounds of pressure).

If you're not in the market to buy a $200-300 grinder (Rancilio Rocky or Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder) to go with your new Gaggia, Illy makes a delicious, dependable espresso grind, available in tins (decaf, too) or Pods. The Evolution is Pod-ready, simply use the single shot basket with the portafilter. Tip: "classic" double shots should take around 20-25 seconds to extract.

The Evolution is a steal for the current price, since it contains the same innards as other Gaggias in the $400-500 range. Although it runs around $50-100 more than the Carezza, I appreciated the design improvements, stylish lines (I have a Tuscan kitchen with hand-painted ceramics and terra cotta tiles and was afraid that the "modern" styling would stand out, but the Evolution is much more traditional-looking and unobtrusive than the Carezza), and performance. (Note: the Evolution is also available in an all-silver model, but it will set you back another $50. The black model features a black base and sides and a silver front and silver drip tray.)

Excellent for the espresso novice or connoisseur, easy to use and clean, and it makes better espresso than some $500-1,000 machines I've tried!