Coffee Machines

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
Lovely coffee made easy!
By SallyAnn
I bought this coffee maker for my husband's birthday a couple of weeks ago. I loved the look of it but was a bit wary having read some of the previous reviews. However I have used it almost every day and would say that it gets easier every time. I now only ever use the double size filter as that holds enough for 2 or a pod (bought Kenya ones from Lidl - cheap and very nice!).The easy way, I find, to use it is: Fill up the tank with fresh water and leave it for the 6 minutes it takes for the water to heat ( that's only a bit longer than a kettle takes to boil!) Then "prime" the pump by discharging about half a cup of water into a mug bypressing the "brew" button with the empty filter holder in place ( then throw that water way!). You can then either fill the filter holder with a pod or loose coffee ( pods do make cleaning easier) and set either 1 or 2 cups under the spout and press the button. In a very few seconds you have a lovely espresso. Remember espresso is a small cup not a mug - use a filter machine if it's volume you're after! I prefer lattes so I make my espresso straight into a normal size mug - great that this machine can fit 2 mugs under the spout - I then discharge any water from the steam nozzle into the drip tray by opening the steam knob and closing it once the water is all gone. Turn on the steam switch for a minute as this ensures the milk gets nice and hot. Then I froth the milk by releasing the steam knob - make sure you turn the jug about to distribute the heat through the milk. Pour the hot frothy milk on top and it's done!Cleaning the frothier is simply a matter of pulling off the plastic cover and rinsing, then wipe down the inner nozzle and discharge a little steam to clean the inside in case any milk has got in to it. The drip tray lifts off and you can rinse it under the tap and ifyou've used pods the the filter holder just needs a rinse too.I really think this is not that much work and the end product is great!I noticed the comments about water dripping throughout the filter when you use the steamer but I can't see why that matters - you should take your coffee cup off the drip tray once it's made and that coffee shouldn't be used again anyway!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
A delight for Coffee Lovers........
By Bob's Mum
This is a brilliant machine for the real coffee lover - stunning good looks (mine is shiny red) combined with superb coffee making. It really is a machine for making the best coffee you can at home. I am delighted with it in every way, and look forward to my weekend treat now coming from my kitchen rather than being bought when out shopping. That said though, I have some recommendations to make.* Do give yourself plenty of time (and repeat attempts) to work through the machine and all its features before trying to make your perfect cup of coffee. It takes a little while to perfect the method and is worthwhile taking the time to do it properly.* Have a cheapy bag of espresso to try out first, as there may be failures in your first few goes (there was here and I didn't mind throwing out a few cups as it was supermarket espresso).* When confident and proficient, do make sure you use the finest espresso you can. Preferably grind your own beans to the finest setting (Australian beans are divine) with a burr grinder such as Dualit Burr Coffee Grinder 75002.* Think about the type and size of cups to use (mine were a touch too big so the espresso was a little dilute to start with until I swapped them for smaller ones).* Have a j-cloth or similar ready for wiping, especially for the milk frother.This coffee machine really does perform well, and is ideal for weekend indulgence of good, proper espresso. (I wouldn't recommend for weekday everyday use simply because I wouldn't have the time to perform the whole pleasing ritual of warming and brewing and the very important cleaning). The machine also has a pressurised frother which pleasingly makes delicious creamy frothy milk, perfect for capucinno, hot choccies or just warm milk (or water). Given enough time for 'playing' you will be a domestic barista par excellence!Top marks for style, substance and performance from me. I'd highly recommend this to any good coffee lover. Superb.

53 of 60 people found the following review helpful.
Very Disappointing
By Dr. M. Ronchetti
My wife bought me one of these for Xmas to replace a stove top espresso maker and whisk type milk frother.Initial impression was that it looked very cheaply made considering it is one of the more expensive models at the 'budget' end of the market. The top plate which is made of cheap plastic didnt fit from day one and the rest of the machine apart from the filter holder is cheap and plasticky with a very light weight feel.The first few cups of espresso were very good with a good Crema and the steam frother although also made of cheap looking plastic worked well.Unfortunately within a couple of weeks of being used 1-2 times most days the machine started leaking with a constant drip even when when the pump was turned off which overflowed the drip tray or diluted the coffee in the cup.When the steam nozzle is turned on then high pressure steam is also forced through the coffee filter and this remains under pressure for several minuted after it is turned off releasing a puff of scalding high pressure steam if the filter holder is removed.I think you are paying a premium for the Gaggia name - although it wont continue to command a premium if they keep producing machines as poor as this one.