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Written on: 08/09/2020 by OldWomble (35 reviews written)
Purchased this machine 3 months ago as I thought I was trading up to a quality product. Unfortunately it isn’t. It is poorly made, only produces lukewarm coffee and you cannot fit anything bigger than a very small espresso cup under it. How coffee experts consider this a good machine is completely beyond me! Very very disappointed. I have also found it needs de scaling every week. A very expensive mistake… Read Full Review
Written on: 06/04/2013 by diffenthal (4 reviews written)
I don't want to put anyone off buying this machine, but let's be clear, most people in the UK don't actually like espresso that much - they seem to prefer the milky rubbish which the coffee chains like to pretend qualify as sophisticated drinks. This is a semi automatic machine although several of the reviews here describe it as a manual. Your espresso will require patience and practice to get to the point you are genuinely happy with the end result. Beans, roast, fill and tamping all have… Read Full Review
Written on: 06/04/2013 by diffenthal (4 reviews written)
I don't want to put anyone off buying this machine, but let's be clear, most people in the UK don't actually like espresso that much - they seem to prefer the milky rubbish which the coffee chains like to pretend qualify as sophisticated drinks. This is a semi automatic machine although several of the reviews here describe it as a manual. Your espresso will require patience and practice to get to the point you are genuinely happy with the end result. Beans, roast, fill and tamping all have… Read Full Review
Written on: 27/10/2012
I bought mine off Ebay for £110. There's lots of them about as a lot of people just can't persevere and learn how to use them. You need to buy a quality milk jug and also a tamper. You also need to watch a few videos on Youtube to get to know how to foam milk. A temperature guauge for the milk is also a must. You can choose your own coffee and it is a lot cheaper than buying pods/sachets etc. Gaggia owners who have taken the time to learn how to make coffee properly would not revert to one of… Read Full Review
Written on: 26/12/2011 by jeui4n (1 review written)
It was a gift, and it was easy trying to decide if I should plug it in or send it back. (I don't like the way it looks) It's a 30 year old machine with a 30 year old design which is cheap. Most importantly, The bottom piece just slips out and does not stay put. I can imagine spilling the coffee every morning ~ I just don't like the way this drip tray dislodges itself so easily. There is nothing really to hold it and It seems so cheaply constructed. I hate the way you need to pull parts… Read Full Review
Written on: 31/10/2010
I don't mind the fact that making coffee on this machine takes a little time. Indeed ,as several reviewers have mentioned, this aspect is part of the pleasure in making a decent cup of coffee. When it worked, it produced a fine espresso and can make good cappuccino.
It's the quality of the machine which i take issue with. It's badly made . The instructions are less than clear. Were they translated from italian into serbo croat before being "translated"into english?
Its temperamental, needs…
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Written on: 25/09/2010
Once we got it going the espresso coffee was good but there are some poor design features! The top of the machine gets extremely hot, dangerously hot! To attach the filter holder it is necessary to hold the machine steady with the free hand and with all that heat this is potentially uncomfortable. Our experience with the new owners of Gaggia - Philips has been very bad. They stonewall on the phone and suggest writing but then don't respond to letters!
Our filter holder cracked quite early…
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Written on: 22/09/2010
I love my coffee machine more than I ought and more than I thought. It is a bit fiddly and took a while to remember the procedure, but now making it is all part of the process to enjoy a good cup of frothy coffee. I even take my Gaggia on holiday to France, much to the annoyance/amazement of my kids, so I can have a good cappucino first thing in the morning. One of life's simple pleasures! Being reminded to clean it for good flow of water would have been useful.
I have managed to lose both…
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Written on: 24/08/2010
The Gaggia Classic makes good coffee it is a bit fiddly to set up, and tricky to re-load water from empty. Unfortunately the warranty does not match the quality of the coffee! My filter holder is broken but Philips, who now own Gaggia, do not recognise this as part of the machine - even though you can't make coffee without it.
I am very happy with the machine and the coffee it makes but frustrated by the stonewall tactics of the 'support' staff. Remember to set aside £30 when you buy the…
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Written on: 25/09/2010
I found this review very helpful because... it reflects our own experience with Philips (the owners of Gaggia) as poor on customer relations.
Written on: 13/11/2009 by vickidavies (14 reviews written)
I find this product really hard to use. the instructions that came with the product are not very easy to understand. When using the product it takes a lot of time and effort. i wouldn't advice any one to buy this product. it isn't easy and very time consuming. I just gave up in the end and put it in the cupboard. I never really used it properly i dont think. i wish i would have read a review or 2 before i brought the product… Read Full Review
Written on: 07/07/2009 by gaylard (1 review written)
I have had my gaggia classic since january find very easy to use with perfect foam, the foam came with practice and I bought the gaggia jug which holds the this machine is used daily and holds the heat… Read Full Review
Written on: 03/02/2009
The Gaggia classic is well worth buying and better than expensive pod versions I prefer to grind my own coffee and my wife loves the mess I leave behind, I get away with it because I make her such good black coffee with a creme to die for. Would and will buy another one when this packs up, not worth getting fixed considering the price and I have seen them for £150, servicing is about £60-70 which isn't worth it… Read Full Review
Written on: 16/12/2008 by rogthedodge62 (4 reviews written)
I'd echo other comments on the Gaggia Classic - the bad reviews are very probably from people who haven't learnt to use their machine.
I've had mine for over 7 years and it's fantastic. I can make espresso, cappucino or latte at least as good as any coffee bar in Leeds. There's certainly enough steam pressure to froth the milk!!
Good coffee beans (Whittards for me) and a decent grinder (ascaso for me) are needed to get the best out of your machine. It's a manual and a single boiler so you need…
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Written on: 18/02/2011
It offered an explanation as to why some reviews were so bad. I can understand that if someone is like me, a complete coffee making novice then I am not to expect a rival to my fav starbucks latte overnight.
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<br/>I would like to have had this person come and spend an hour with me as they clearly know what they are talkingabout :-)
Written on: 16/10/2008 by Bikerbird (1 review written)
I think that any bad Gaggia Classic reviews may be because people don't realise when they buy them that there is a fair amount of work involved in producing a good cup of espresso with a manual pump machine. Personally, I enjoy the fact that it is a bit technical but this may not be everyone's cup of espresso.
Also I'm sure there are few 'Friday afternoon' machines out there but mine doesn't seem to be one of them.
I managed to get a great latte at my second attempt. The first one was a bit weak…
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Written on: 27/08/2008 by Loon326 (1 review written)
I have had this machine for 4 years now and continue to love using it. The manual controls give a greater sense of satisfaction when everything comes together.
TIP: Remove the black Gaggia plastic frother to 'stretch the milk' ('frothing' is so yesterday) directly from the steel stemer.
If you're worried about cleaning, I recommend the backflush device you can buy to clean the system every week or so…
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Written on: 02/06/2008 by uklincsman (2 reviews written)
Well capable of producing good shots of espresso coffee.
Not possible to back-flush so coffee residues end up inside machine, shower plate needs cleaning often
Milk frothing hopeless - too long to reach steaming temperature and attachment feeds too much air - result is more like shaving foam where it should be a micro foam
Good cappuccino should be 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk and 1/3 foamed milk. Only way to get close is to preheat milk in microwave to reduce effects of the Gaggia foaming…
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Written on: 22/05/2008 by fatherches (1 review written)
My advice is ignore reviewers who can't use this machine : it's EXCELLENT. Great espresso with wonderful thick crema (sugar won't sink through it !). I use cheap(ish) Lavazza Espresso beans, and a an excellent Gaggia grinder. I'd buy another Classic tomorrow if (heaven forbid) mine gave up the ghost. Easily cleaned (quick flush with water after emptying the holder) Mainly, excellent / wonderful/better than British coffee-house espresso and easily on a par with real Italian cafe offerings… Read Full Review
Written on: 31/05/2008
Saying that though it isn't hard to beat British coffee houses, I have often wondered whether Britain is the worst country for coffee, I think the fact that most people prefer instant coffee (which they call 'real') to that 'black machine stuff' says enough! Thanks for your review.
Written on: 24/01/2008
buy this machine a bit expensive but you won't regret it!… Read Full Review
Written on: 23/12/2007 by MikeFP (1 review written)
I would avoid this machine. The cheap De Longhi I had before made better coffee than the Gaggia. I've had mine back to the outlet at Glasshoughton three times. They're not helpful - full of lame excuses. They even had the cheek to charge me for the descaler when I brought it back for the third time!… Read Full Review
Written on: 25/06/2007 by alicp (1 review written)
Have now bought another make, Briel Versatile Due, which was excellent to start with but now milk steamer has broken. Store unable to get spare part necessary to fix… Read Full Review
As rated by our community of reviewers
" At our nearest Starbucks, we visited the drive-thru and ordered two... " Read More
Written by sdamon
" No pressure " Read More
" Good but only if you like cold coffee " Read More
Written by OldWomble
" Watery coffee with a bit of foam on top " Read More
" Poor " Read More
Stanleymatthews's Comment
Written on: 04/09/2010
I found this review very helpful because...I also had difficulty getting the warranty to work!