Ive tested 13 coffee makers over the last year, but this Gaggia machine is still my all-time favorite

Date:
Thu, 19 Jun 2025 23:30:00 +0000

Description:
The Gaggia Classic Pro has developed a cult following, and if you want to really tinker with your espresso, it's the machine for you.

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I've tested a new coffee maker every month for the past year here at TechRadar, and there have been some real gems.

The Jura J10 , for instance, is a fully automatic powerhouse for creating hot and cold beverages at the touch of a button, while the manual Smeg Mini Pro
is frankly gorgeous, and excellent for consistency.

However, no matter how many other machines I try, there's still just one sitting on my kitchen counter at the end of the day: the Gaggia Classic Pro.

It's a very popular little manual espresso machine, and for good reason. It's a lot of fun to use, it's a tinkerer's dream and at around $500 / 400 / AU$800 it's moderately priced, too.

There's a lot to like about this machine. In our Gaggia Classic Pro review , we stated that it's a "good-looking, well-built appliance" and that "it
proved super-easy to brew intense, smooth espressos with very little experimentation required."

However, when new, Lady Gaggia (as we call her at home) isn't without her quirks.

For example, there's not masses of space between the portafilter and the drip tray, which means you can only fit small cups underneath (I usually use a
shot glass with measures printed on the side). Plus, the tray is so narrow
you can forget about putting a scale underneath to weigh the coffee as it drips out.

There's no PID controller to keep the temperature stable like you get in some premium coffee machines, either, and the Gaggia's small boiler means you
might run out of steam (quite literally) before you've finished preparing
your milk.

The upside is that there's a great community of hobbyists tinkering with this hugely popular little machine, sharing advice, and even selling kits that let you modify it to your heart's content like the example in the Reddit post below. Guys I finally made the upgrade to a PID from Barista Gadgets. from r/gaggiaclassic

For example, US-based Barista Gadgets and UK site Shades of Coffee sell
longer drip trays that can accommodate a scale, and shallower trays so you
can use a larger cup. There are also devices that continually add a small amount of water to the boiler, so you can keep steaming milk for longer without it running dry.

Shades of Coffee makes and sells heads for the machine's steam arm too, plus colored lighting kits to illuminate the water tank so you can see the level more easily (and that make it look like a gaming PC). And if your Gaggia
still doesn't look cool enough, you can even pick up a wooden knob to replace the plastic one that controls the steam pressure.

Feeling really geeky? Take a look at Gaggiuino , which is an open source project that aims to make your machine as consistent as possible, letting you control the pressure, temperature, and flow of each shot.

Want to learn more? Take a look at the Gaggia Classic subreddit , where
you'll find a whole community of friendly coffee-lovers sharing their tips
for mods, maintenance and repairs, and generally having fun. If you're
looking for a new hobby, this is the best coffee maker for you. You might
also like I test coffee makers for a living, and this machine is my top pick for delicious cold-brew this summer 5 things to look for when buying a home coffee maker, according to a trained barista De'Longhi just released a new version of its best compact espresso machine, and it's frankly adorable



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/coffee-machines/ive-tested-13-coffee-makers-ove r-the-last-year-but-this-gaggia-machine-is-still-my-all-time-favorite


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