Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel

I just bought a Gaggia Classic after extensively reading online about which machines were the best pick (thanks to N. Caine for his excellent reviews and suggestions - you made the choice a lot easier). After much research, I chose the Gaggia Classic and I'm glad that I did. This machine is very impressive: sturdy housing, 3 way solenoid valve and crema laden expresso that's liquid gold. It's easy to use and clean up is also a breeze. Although I looked at the Gaggia Carezza as a possible candidate, I was turned off by the plastic housing and the lack of the solenoid valve. The Gaggia Classic is worth the extra money and is a pleasure to use. I highly recommend this machine for anyone who is looking to upgrade from otherwise disappointing machines such as Krups or Delonghi. Look no further: the Gaggia doesn't disappoint!

For the price, I'd give the espresso making part of this machine 5 stars. The portafilter and brew group are substantial and well-made. I've worked at two espresso shops with commercial machines, and the parts on this moderately priced Gaggia are nearly as heavy and substantial as the big multiple-thousands of dollars machines. I've had the machine for 4 days and have been brewing shots with Starbuck$ pods. The toggle switches are easy to use, the reservoir is easy to fill, and the shots are aromatic and full of crema every time. However, the steaming wand takes a star away from this machine. It does not rotate in every direction like the comparably priced Starbucks machine. This makes it hard to remove a cup full of frothed milk from under the wand without spilling. Also, the plastic frother contraption is silly. Actual frothing capability is pretty good, though the plain metal tips on the commercial machines produced finer microfroth, and were more fine-tuned to the trained barista's hand. Overall, it's a good-looking machine, and I'm satisfied with it for my main purposes - iced lattes and americanos, and straight double shots, all of which do not require use of the steaming attachment. This is a good entry-level machine that will brew you good shots, and look good on your countertop. However, I'm expecting to outgrow it and move up to an Isomac with more refined steaming capability within a few years.

The machine produces an extremely wonderful cup of espresso. It's main and constantly irritating flaw is this turbo frother sleeve. It has too many pieces to clean, and worst of all, the sleeve does not remain securely attached to the the metal steam pipe. Several times I've had the frother explode off the machine in a cloud burst of half-steamed milk that sprayed all over the kitchen. I've had various other problems with this complicated design. In fact, the company provides a detailed, additional page of instructions on how to troubleshoot with the frother sleeve, which suggests to me that the company is already aware that the design is flawed. I have to ask the question: why not produce a simple, metal frother that doesn't break and require such special care?

This is the second Gaggia machine that I have purchased this year (the previous was a full automatic with a faulty sensor), and this is the second Gaggia that has left me disappointed. I agree that the espresso quality is very good - but I remain underwhelmed for the prices I've paid, given the design flaws I've encountered.

I have had the classic for about 4 months. It replaced a Gaggia Carezza that made good esperesso but had a weak steam chamber that made steaming milk an major exercise. The best part of the machine is the quality of the brew group like all Gaggia products. The pump system works well and you can pull very good shots. The suck back valve is problematic and doesn't work so well but isn't needed either. As so many people have noted the frother is pretty cheesy and will wear out after a while. They are cheap to replace and I keep one around the house for repairs/losing it down the dispos-all. The machine builds up steam nicely and will heat a 20 oz pitcher to 140F in about 1 minute with good steam pressure the entire time

The only other minus that I see is that the valves are hard to get at to clean and I'm not sure what I will do when they start to leak. I haven't been able to figure out how to get at them yet

I have had this machine for about a month now, I love it! I have had other slightly lower end espresso machines (pump driven, $250 range) and after repeated issues I felt it was time to upgrade. I drink cappuccino every morning, the espresso from this machine is fantastic and the frother is both easy to use and clean. I just got back from a trip to Italy and the cappuccino I make with this rivals anything I had on vacation. Assuming this machine holds up long term, it is well worth the money!

Probably the single most important investment I have made this year! Delivers deeply satisfying espresso with rich crema every time. I have used the more expensive manual pump machines and the fully automatics--the Gaggia Classic delivers as good or better than those more expensive machines. And, it's built like a tank--very sturdy construction, feels and acts industrial grade, and looks great in the kitchen. Fits under kitchen cabinets nicely. had it for a month and I am completely sold! Oh, and I have not been to Starbucks once...no comparison.

After much research we were down to the Gaggia Classic vs the Rancilio Silvia. The Gaggia won out for two reasons: a) 20% discount from BB&B b) Most reviews on the Silvia mentioned finickey coffee grind issues.

THE PROS: We just received this machine today (12/21/06). We got an AWESOME cup of coffee right out of the box! If you follow the directions you will too.

THE CONS: The plastic parts. Although I can understand they make for easy cleaning (the water tank and the drip tray) they seem to be made of inferior plastic.

We will not be using the frothing device except for dispensing hot water. But that too seems to be a flimsy plastic device.

I still highly recommend this product as a step up from steam machines. It's also a nice looking design and will look good on the counter.

When I got my Gaggia more than several decades ago, it was not yet called a Classic. It was called a Coffee Gaggia. About 20 years ago, some minor changes were made, and the unit was renamed Classic. The new "Coffee Gaggia" is not the same as this machine.

This machine has a robust build, and high quality parts. Its tank heats the water quickly, and to a proper temperature, and the pump is powerful enough to do the job properly. I would strongly recommend using filtered water, especially with a low mineral content, so that deposits do not build up in the tank.

My version has an all metal frothing wand, which does as good a job as the skills of the operator will allow for. The newer versions have a "turbo frother," and an optional milk frother that will take the guess work out of frothing and place foamed milk directly into the cup. I can't comment on these newer features, but perhaps they will allow a better job to be done by those with less experience.

The newer models are brushed stainless, while the original models had an appliance enamel finish. Since the old finish allowed water to penetrate under any scratches or imperfections in the finish, this was a particular problem near the portafilter holder and underneath the drip tray. The new version should retain its finish far longer, although the old one still does not show any wear in places that are visible with the machine assembled.

Minor differences are that the new machine has a more robust looking steam knob that was moved to the side, and the thermostat light, which indicated that the unit was heating, has been replaced with a "ready" light that is integrated into the coffee switch and signals the opposite.

In the time that I've had my machine, I've had only minor problems with it. My steam thermostat needed to be replaced once, and the light on my power switch stopped working. These were larger issues before the Internet made it easy to find parts, as these items are hard to find locally. The other problem is that if the unit is not used for extended periods, and the tank is allowed to dry out completely, and the water used was hard, then some parts are subject to clogging. The troubleshooting steps in the manual are not helpful for these sorts of problems. The machine can be disassembled for cleaning by somebody who is mechanically inclined, but unless you feel comfortable with appliance repair, you are better off avoiding the situation by using filtered water, and/or descaling regularly, especially before any long term storage.

The other "parts" issue is that the gasket for the filter basket should be considered a consumable part, and should be sold by every dealer as an accessory, rather than just by repair facilities. The machine really should have included an extra one since this is the only part that will definitely wear out with regular use. It might take a few years or longer, and is easy to replace, but it will wear out.

Overall, this is a well built machine that should last you many decades. Although it seemed expensive when I bought it, it has averaged out to about 6 cents a day to own it, which was well worth the price, and I'll probably get another few decades out of it.

If you have used cheaper espresso makers, you will appreciate the robustness and quality of this unit. Features such as the three way solenoid controlled valve might be transparent to the user, but the lack of them become clear when you use a cheaper machine. This one just keeps going and going.

I have had the classic for about 4 months. It replaced a Gaggia Carezza that made good esperesso but had a weak steam chamber that made steaming milk an major exercise. The best part of the machine is the quality of the brew group like all Gaggia products. The pump system works well and you can pull very good shots. The suck back valve is problematic and doesn't work so well but isn't needed either. As so many people have noted the frother is pretty cheesy and will wear out after a while. They are cheap to replace and I keep one around the house for repairs/losing it down the dispos-all. The machine builds up steam nicely and will heat a 20 oz pitcher to 140F in about 1 minute with good steam pressure the entire time

The only other minus that I see is that the valves are hard to get at to clean and I'm not sure what I will do when they start to leak. I haven't been able to figure out how to get at them yet

I have had this machine for about a month now, I love it! I have had other slightly lower end espresso machines (pump driven, $250 range) and after repeated issues I felt it was time to upgrade. I drink cappuccino every morning, the espresso from this machine is fantastic and the frother is both easy to use and clean. I just got back from a trip to Italy and the cappuccino I make with this rivals anything I had on vacation. Assuming this machine holds up long term, it is well worth the money!

Probably the single most important investment I have made this year! Delivers deeply satisfying espresso with rich crema every time. I have used the more expensive manual pump machines and the fully automatics--the Gaggia Classic delivers as good or better than those more expensive machines. And, it's built like a tank--very sturdy construction, feels and acts industrial grade, and looks great in the kitchen. Fits under kitchen cabinets nicely. had it for a month and I am completely sold! Oh, and I have not been to Starbucks once...no comparison.

After much research we were down to the Gaggia Classic vs the Rancilio Silvia. The Gaggia won out for two reasons: a) 20% discount from BB&B b) Most reviews on the Silvia mentioned finickey coffee grind issues.

THE PROS: We just received this machine today (12/21/06). We got an AWESOME cup of coffee right out of the box! If you follow the directions you will too.

THE CONS: The plastic parts. Although I can understand they make for easy cleaning (the water tank and the drip tray) they seem to be made of inferior plastic.

We will not be using the frothing device except for dispensing hot water. But that too seems to be a flimsy plastic device.

I still highly recommend this product as a step up from steam machines. It's also a nice looking design and will look good on the counter.

When I got my Gaggia more than several decades ago, it was not yet called a Classic. It was called a Coffee Gaggia. About 20 years ago, some minor changes were made, and the unit was renamed Classic. The new "Coffee Gaggia" is not the same as this machine.

This machine has a robust build, and high quality parts. Its tank heats the water quickly, and to a proper temperature, and the pump is powerful enough to do the job properly. I would strongly recommend using filtered water, especially with a low mineral content, so that deposits do not build up in the tank.

My version has an all metal frothing wand, which does as good a job as the skills of the operator will allow for. The newer versions have a "turbo frother," and an optional milk frother that will take the guess work out of frothing and place foamed milk directly into the cup. I can't comment on these newer features, but perhaps they will allow a better job to be done by those with less experience.

The newer models are brushed stainless, while the original models had an appliance enamel finish. Since the old finish allowed water to penetrate under any scratches or imperfections in the finish, this was a particular problem near the portafilter holder and underneath the drip tray. The new version should retain its finish far longer, although the old one still does not show any wear in places that are visible with the machine assembled.

Minor differences are that the new machine has a more robust looking steam knob that was moved to the side, and the thermostat light, which indicated that the unit was heating, has been replaced with a "ready" light that is integrated into the coffee switch and signals the opposite.

In the time that I've had my machine, I've had only minor problems with it. My steam thermostat needed to be replaced once, and the light on my power switch stopped working. These were larger issues before the Internet made it easy to find parts, as these items are hard to find locally. The other problem is that if the unit is not used for extended periods, and the tank is allowed to dry out completely, and the water used was hard, then some parts are subject to clogging. The troubleshooting steps in the manual are not helpful for these sorts of problems. The machine can be disassembled for cleaning by somebody who is mechanically inclined, but unless you feel comfortable with appliance repair, you are better off avoiding the situation by using filtered water, and/or descaling regularly, especially before any long term storage.

The other "parts" issue is that the gasket for the filter basket should be considered a consumable part, and should be sold by every dealer as an accessory, rather than just by repair facilities. The machine really should have included an extra one since this is the only part that will definitely wear out with regular use. It might take a few years or longer, and is easy to replace, but it will wear out.

Overall, this is a well built machine that should last you many decades. Although it seemed expensive when I bought it, it has averaged out to about 6 cents a day to own it, which was well worth the price, and I'll probably get another few decades out of it.

If you have used cheaper espresso makers, you will appreciate the robustness and quality of this unit. Features such as the three way solenoid controlled valve might be transparent to the user, but the lack of them become clear when you use a cheaper machine. This one just keeps going and going.

For the price, I'd give the espresso making part of this machine 5 stars. The portafilter and brew group are substantial and well-made. I've worked at two espresso shops with commercial machines, and the parts on this moderately priced Gaggia are nearly as heavy and substantial as the big multiple-thousands of dollars machines. I've had the machine for 4 days and have been brewing shots with Starbuck$ pods. The toggle switches are easy to use, the reservoir is easy to fill, and the shots are aromatic and full of crema every time. However, the steaming wand takes a star away from this machine. It does not rotate in every direction like the comparably priced Starbucks machine. This makes it hard to remove a cup full of frothed milk from under the wand without spilling. Also, the plastic frother contraption is silly. Actual frothing capability is pretty good, though the plain metal tips on the commercial machines produced finer microfroth, and were more fine-tuned to the trained barista's hand. Overall, it's a good-looking machine, and I'm satisfied with it for my main purposes - iced lattes and americanos, and straight double shots, all of which do not require use of the steaming attachment. This is a good entry-level machine that will brew you good shots, and look good on your countertop. However, I'm expecting to outgrow it and move up to an Isomac with more refined steaming capability within a few years.

The machine produces an extremely wonderful cup of espresso. It's main and constantly irritating flaw is this turbo frother sleeve. It has too many pieces to clean, and worst of all, the sleeve does not remain securely attached to the the metal steam pipe. Several times I've had the frother explode off the machine in a cloud burst of half-steamed milk that sprayed all over the kitchen. I've had various other problems with this complicated design. In fact, the company provides a detailed, additional page of instructions on how to troubleshoot with the frother sleeve, which suggests to me that the company is already aware that the design is flawed. I have to ask the question: why not produce a simple, metal frother that doesn't break and require such special care?

This is the second Gaggia machine that I have purchased this year (the previous was a full automatic with a faulty sensor), and this is the second Gaggia that has left me disappointed. I agree that the espresso quality is very good - but I remain underwhelmed for the prices I've paid, given the design flaws I've encountered.

I just bought a Gaggia Classic after extensively reading online about which machines were the best pick (thanks to N. Caine for his excellent reviews and suggestions - you made the choice a lot easier). After much research, I chose the Gaggia Classic and I'm glad that I did. This machine is very impressive: sturdy housing, 3 way solenoid valve and crema laden expresso that's liquid gold. It's easy to use and clean up is also a breeze. Although I looked at the Gaggia Carezza as a possible candidate, I was turned off by the plastic housing and the lack of the solenoid valve. The Gaggia Classic is worth the extra money and is a pleasure to use. I highly recommend this machine for anyone who is looking to upgrade from otherwise disappointing machines such as Krups or Delonghi. Look no further: the Gaggia doesn't disappoint!