GAGGIA CLASSIC PRO - Small But Mighty Home Espresso
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- After the recent side by side of the Gaggia and the Mini, I felt like it was definitely worthy of its own stand alone review. Plus there were quite a few topics that didn't make the comparison that I think are relevant to those considering getting a Gaggia Classic Pro. Topics like temperature surfing, steaming milk and a good old fashioned list of pros and cons.
↓CHAPTERS↓
[0:00] INTRO
[0:45] PROS
[2:03] CONS
[5:35] FINAL THOUGHTS
↓INSTALLED MODS↓
- Basket: store.vstapps.com/products/vs...
- Screen: www.amazon.com/55-Precision-G...
- Springs: www.shadesofcoffee.co.uk/opv-...
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↓COFFEE ROASTED BY ME↓
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↓THE MUSIC↓
Cold Island - Mansij
#espresso #gaggiaclassic #sprometheus
I agree with the you on everything but the disposable comment. I've been to a certified repair shop, they carry everything! Even the smallest of o-ring! These machines will outlast every appliance grade machine hands down. Only thing to consider is your own ability to repair, versus paying.
i upgraded my dead gcp to an ecm classica and yeah its 3x the prices, but i would say its atleast 4x the built quality as well and you are just getting a better machine in absolutely every aspect, i expect to have it my whole life so i just dont see a reason dinking around and spending money to keep a little beater machine full of cheap parts alive.
Everything can be fixed if you fix it.
I had a breville dual boiler. Outstanding machine…til it broke. Took it to a espresso repair guy well known in the Philly area, and upon disassembly he said it was literally entirely plastic inside. He said her a gaggia or something that uses brass parts. And my gaggia classic pro has been serviceable and reliable for 3 years now
@@joshk528 Yeah OK... that means nothing at all tho. We all know that manufacturers of everything and anything are betting on planned obsolescence to sell more products.
“Our bespectacled messiah.”
-Sprometheus 2022
How is this not getting any attention in the comments. Great and informative video about the Gaggia Classic Pro. I’m on the hunt for a new machine and this definitely influenced my decision.
LOL. Some of us are atheists... 😁
Was it some irony?
I started my espresso journey with a Gaggia Classic. Once I got accustom to using it and upgraded a few things, it made pretty good espresso. Somehow though I grew out of it and upgraded to a Rocket. I gave that machine to my son and it’s still going strong. For what it is and it’s price range it is in a class of its own.
Great video! As one of the viewers who wasn’t in complete agreement with your initial disposable claim, your explanation is completely fair, and honestly something I hadn’t considered. Even though you can keep it alive doesn’t mean it’s meant to live forever. And the older machines don’t run as long as they do without the handy work of their owners. Big fan spro!
Thanks Seth! I appreciate you, and thanks for hearing me out on the disposable thing. I definitely failed to properly explain my thought process on that first go around. Have a great weekend!
I have a fairly small kitchen with limited counter space, so I love how the GCP has a small foot print, not only in width but also in depth. The counter space in front of the GCP is still usable for other tasks. The same can't be said almost any other machine that is as good or better than the GCP.
I didn't think I would do it, but I bought myself the Gaggia classic pro limited edition version celebrating their 30th anniversary. And I am very happy with this purchase!
Ive had the Gaggia for few months.
I changed OPV spring to 9 bar & changed the filter basket & shower screen.
Using temp surf the cappuccino & lattes I make are as good as any cafe Ive been to & better to many Ive been to.
The steam wand is easy to use.
No need to spend double or more on another machine.
I think the GCP is the perfect starter machine since it can basically do everything but allows users to figure out what bottlenecks they want to improve on. All of the GCP flaws can definitely be fixed with some mods that are cheaper than direct upgrades or people can choose a machine to upgrade to that prioritizes their preferences. In my own experience, the GCP has a pretty good resale value so I was able to effectively rent the GCP for a year and half at a low price to learn the techniques and then buy a "better" machine that came with the features I wanted.
Yeah I think that’s definitely true, and a lot of the flaws have workarounds as well. Not everyone will want it even need to upgrade to another machine, but having been into espresso for awhile now I don’t know how anyone avoids upgradeitis.
@@Sprometheus I'm obviously not the majority, but owning a modded Gaggia Classic, I find it difficult to think of an upgrade at a reasonable price.
I really like that my machine is small, somewhat automated (electric pump, PID) and fully warmed up in less than 10 minutes, and any large chunk of metal like an E61 group or a large HX boiler makes the latter impossible. The Decent would be a splendid upgrade, but it's way over my budget. The BDB is a bit large and I don't really need the separate steam boiler (milk is low priority). Levers are probably fun, but I want something less dependent on my own performance (especially in the morning).
Maybe Breville (good UX) acquiring Lelit (good build, small machines like the GCP) could lead to interesting developments, but it will probably take a few years to see if something happens at all.
@@Sprometheus It all starts with upgrading the tamper from the box.
What did you upgrade to?
@@tehgusbus2716 I ended up upgrading to the Breville Dual Boiler. The main features I wanted was the PID and preinfusion features which are able to be done with mods however I also wanted a dual boiler, a steam wand that can be used in a better angle, and faster warmup times.
It definitely wasn't a "necessary" upgrade but to me, the small stuff was worth it especially since I usually make milk based drinks with light roasts throughout the day.
I've had my Gaggia Classic for about 5 years. I love it. Works good. I enjoyed learning about the bar spring. I might try that.
"Bespeckled messiah" -- had a genuine laugh out loud moment at that one. Thank you.
Shades of coffee's extended slim drip tray is a very nice solution for the issues with clearance below the group. That + a bottomless portafilter + a slim scale allow for most reasonably sized cups.
This is the exact setup I use. The slim drip tray needs to be emptied a little more but the QoL improvement over the OEM tray is well worth the small inconvenience.
For people into 3d printing, you can also print the slim drip tray, which workd pretty well (I printed mine with PETG and it works perfectly).
I use a very similar glass (double spot) as in the video. The one I have us just larger than the double spouts on the portafilter and will allow a scale under it with standard drip tray.
Yep, Mr Shades' slim tray, bottomless portafilter, and Timemore black mirror scale make my life much easier
The Shades regular slim drip tray is also very nice and makes a little extra space for steaming with the jug in front
I'd agree with just about everything in this review. A Gaggia Classic has been my daily driver for a decade, and I bought it cheap on the used market, so I'm unsure of it's age. The lack of clearance, even with a bottomless portafilter, is by far my biggest gripe. In order to make a travel coffee in a keep cup, I need to remove the drip tray. Hardly elegant. And I've never been able to get perfect, insta-worthy milk, though friends and family are still impressed by the latte art when they visit.
As for longevity? My machine has not been offline for a single day in 10 years. A small sample size, I admit, but I'm currently replacing the grinder that I purchased new at the same time (Breville Smart Grinder) as it's now having issues. The Gaggia? Still rock solid. Buy with confidence.
My Gaggia Espresso (the the plastic cheaper version of Classic Pro) is now 23 years old. So far I have replaced the pump (3 years ago) and recently upgraded to have adjustable OPV. Admittedly it has many more professional grade brass fittings than today's Classic Pro. Will keep using it as its small footprint works well in the kitchen. Coupled with equally small Eureka Manuale it produces great shot/$ ratio.
As always precise like a japanese knife when coming to describe it,pros and cons,good length of a video and nice b-roll, especially those where you see the shots with that naked portafilter 😎🤗
Thank you my friend! I appreciate the kind words!
I recently purchased a Rancilio Ms. Silvia for home and love the machine. This was a huge upgrade from my old Krups 964 that I have used for 30 years. My office wanted an expresso machine but limited to a budget of $500 with tax. This narrowed my options considerably and chose this Gaggia classic. Going from the Rancilio to the Gaggia was like going from a 2023 Toyota Corolla GR to a 2012 Nissan Versa. Everything about the Gaggia was lower grade - from the porta filter, to the weight, to the clearance beneath the portafilter, and most frustratingly the steam wand and steam power. The Gaggia takes considerably longer to steam milk. The boiler simply does not have the staying power for even one drink, no way can it do two drinks back to back. My Rancilio has sufficient power to produce steam for multiple drinks. So yes, if you are single - this is perfect. But if you are a family or one that entertains many people - you will struggle with the Gaggia.
I agree. I have an old Saeco manual machine which sounds very similar to the Gaggia. The steaming is similar. I struggled with making multiple coffees for people, but on my own that is all I need. Will go for the Gaggia to replace mine for that reason, otherwise the Rancilio was my second choice.
The Silvia is certainly better in stock form! But with some cleaer mods like boost box and dimmer switch you can get that steam going very well!
What type of rancilio silva, sir? I’m in doubt deciding between these two
My first machine, did all the usual mods including a PID kit from Shades of coffee. It was great for me but ultimately trying to do milk drinks for multiple guests is its achiles heel. What a great machine to learn on and although I replaced it with an ECM Synchronika I have kept it as I just can't part with it
I’m a Classic junkie. I search online for deals and buy every machine I can. I’ve owned 31 machines and currently have 3. I love modding them and repairing them. It’s part of the deal when you become a fan. It’s a cool community.
it''s a particular kind of person that enjoys doing that, for me things just need to work out of the box otherwise I won't bother buying it. Hence this gaggia won't ever work for me.
Do you sell any nodded ones?
I think you are spot-on regarding the intended longevity and its position in the market from a big-picture POV. We humans so often only see things within our own microcosm, and don't do a good job of taking a step back and seeing a broader view. Indeed, probably most people with this machine on their counter have never gone down a video rabbit hole on espresso nor read articles on distribution.
BTW, did you see, Hoffman mentioned you in a recent video?! Shaweeet!
Would be interested to see your take on the Rancilio, also.
When researching online almost a decade ago as to what to purchase as my first proper home espresso machine a Gaggia Classic (modified) was one of the main contenders. Ended up opting for an Expobar Office Leva mkIV Dual Boiler plus a Ceado e37 commercial grinder instead.
Went all in! Thanks for watching and commenting my friend!
My first espresso machine was a late 70s Gaggia Classic, paired with a Gaggia MDF grinder (a bad choice!). Making good coffee consistently was impossible, but OK sometimes. My first upgrade was to a better grinder, a Mazzer Mini Doserless (Type A I think), which gave significantly better results, but still many hit or miss shots - grind timer setting a PITA. Back-to-back 'decent' (for those days) shots not often possible. I would estimate 4/10 sink shots, with 2/10 'good' and 4 'barely palatable but drunk anyway' (my tastes more forgiving in those days because of necessity). When you are using a Niche Zero, a grinder that costs twice as much as a Gaggia Classic Pro - I find that interesting (no problem, the Mazzer was also more than twice the price of the old Gaggia Classic). Steaming milk gave good texture sometimes but often not, but luckily I like black coffee, zero milk or sugar, so that was OK. Got tired of the effort and unreliability and have ended the search with a GS/3 and a great grinder, which makes fine, fine coffee every time with zero fuss and finagling. Zero sink shots once a product is dialed in, mostly the result of very accurate brew temps with a saturated group, an 'aces' grinder and better coffee these days than those days.
Certainly a lot of little upgrades to the Gaggia Classic in the last 25+ years with the Gaggia Classic Pro. Nice review.
Letting the machine warm up for 20-30 mins really makes a difference in a tasty cup. As for the wand it would be preferable to have it more adjustable, but over all easy to steam or froth with. Haven't pulled the trigger for a bottomless portafilter yet.
Solid review. The GCP is a classic and it's hard to get away from. It hits a sweet spot. My son just got one. It's the price point and the fact it's small enough for a small kitchen. I looked at them but once I upsold myself to a Mazzer I went full E61 and got a Expobar Office lever. I had that for about 10 years and just gave it away to my brother in law. I am going to replace it with a dule boiler machine. I am lucky enough to be in a position to do that but I get that not everyone is ever going to want to drop 3 grand on an ECM or even have the space for it.
I really love my GCP and since now it's fully modded. :) I did the 9 bar mod, auto off-timer disable mod, PID, bottomless portafilter with IMS basket, IMS shower screen and silicone gasket, slim drip tray, one hole steam wand tip, and replaced the steam knob with a wooden steam knob. ❤
Should do a video on your channel of your setup :-)
All you need is the flow control witha dimmer knob and a pressure gage added to it.
@@CH-yp5by yeah, that'll be endlevel. But I don't want to screw up the aesthetic look of my gcp, so I'm not a fan of the dimmer knob. 😅
Really loved my Gaggia Dose. A lot of the negatives were solved on those machines (clearance, watertank, steamwand). They were even a bit cheaper than the classic and also used the standard portafilters. Unfortunately they are not made anymore.
Our Gaggia Classic Pro has been upgraded with the indispensable Mr Shades 9 bar spring and most importantly with the Shades PID kit. Then with the inevitable upgraditis setting in and with its inevitable replacement by more heavyweight espresso machines, our little Gaggia began to be passed onto various welcoming family members and and to various enthusiastic friends, and thus became the portal for each user to begin to learn and to appreciate the tasty art of espresso. Even though many of us have graduated to other machines, every single one of us in my family and of my friends using the Gaggia had come to love "the little fellow" which still continues to be a just dandy teaching machine being used still daily by one of us. The Gaggia has just been a great machine with very decent espressos and has introduced us all to an interesting cast of espresso characters like yourself "The Spro", "the Lance", the Big Daddy Hoff, the Hoon, the "Espresso Couple", various Australian Espresso mates, John Buckman, and , of course, Scott Rao among others. The little Gaggia gave and continues to give us an interesting universe of "Espresso Use and Taste" well exceeding its relatively modest price. Is it perfect, hell no, but it has been perfect for teaching every single one of us especially when paired with our Niche.
The Gaggia has given us all a very welcome espresso journey that we've all enjoyed. It's been fun. Spro, thanks to you for your contribution to our espresso fun experience. Cheers.
Love this! Mine arrives today. My first espresso machine. Can’t wait!
Thank you for the detailed explanation
Re: the steam pressure. Start steaming 25 seconds after turning the steam switch on from a machine warmed up to brew temp.
The steam-ready light won't be on but there will be enough pressure to steam milk and the heating coil will stay on for all or most of a pitcher of milk giving you strong (for a consumer machine), consistent pressure.
Great video. I was planning to upgrade from a cheap OEM espresso machine. Unfortunately, the Gaggia Classic Pro has the same problems as my $100 machine, so I'll have to increase my budget and get something that actually solves my daily problems.
My GCP, with 9 bar springs, and Sette 270 grinder have meant great tasting espresso at home for myself and my partner :) Though I'm likely to end up setting up the Gaggiuino modification to really turn it into something fancy!
It’s a solid workhorse. I need to make the pressure mod for the last improvement. I got mine used…and for free over ten years ago. Don’t know how much use it got before me. I use it daily but that’s only two shots a day. I like how compact it is on my crowded countertop. I think the Gaggia Classic is a gateway drug for home espresso machines.
"Our bespectacled messiah..."🤣🤣🤣🤣. And on good Friday no less.
Nice reviews. You have to start steaming about 10 seconds before the light comes on to maximum pressure. If you wait until the light it loses strength quickly.
I totally agree with everything you've said here. If I was single and all I wanted was espresso for myself it would probably be my last machine. But we want more, we want the whole gamut of the coffee shop experience in our home and that's why after a year we have moved to La Spaziale Lucca A53. The Gaggia is going off to our son's best friend along with its accompanying Eureka Mignon Notte grinder. I've done the basket/shower screen/ spring mod and the Gaggia makes excellent espresso but once you try to make multiple cappuccinos with it you quickly find it runs out of steam. Literally.
'Our bespectacled messiah' I nearly spit out the americano I was drinking.
I think it’s the perfect beginner machine. One of my friends wantedto buy a delonghi dedica and I talked him out of it and into getting this machine instead. Because with this machine, if you just want to drink coffee and don‘t care about upgrades: fine. But if you get into it, then as you outlined you can make so much more out of it with the 9 bar spring, an ims shower screen, a vst basket and a bottomless portafilter. Plus I think it really looks really sleak in combination with an Eureka Mignon grinder paired in colour.
I see the passion and loyalty behind the machine, but I also wanted something a little bit more convenient for everyday life. I know that Breville machines are frowned upon but personally I've recently only had to change the gasket during two years of ownership. Lance Hedrick also is positive especially about the BDB (mine is the BE) but I digress.
I hope that their community and after market grow into a similar size as the Gaggia, if we want our machines to last as long as the other cool cats.
To hell with people who frown upon other people's gear. They are just snobs.
Whatever gives you a coffee and a user experience you like is good.
GC is the entry drug to espresso world. Afordable, can be good enough out of the box if you learn to use it. If not good enough simply mod it.
I opted for this machine because I didn't know if semi-automatic prosumer machines would stick with me. For me buying and modding the hell out of it was the cheapest option, and honestly a good learning curve.
I stopped using 6.5bar spring simply because the steam wand doesn't produce the desired power I want it to have. 9 bar is ok.
I can always use my Flair for lower pressure shots.
Soon it will be time for entry level prosumer machine :)
Love my GCP and I know I’m the minority that you talk about, bouncing between you, lance Hendrick, xris, and mr. Hoffman but I enjoy the experience and experimenting. While not exactly a “throw away” I def see myself upgrading in the next two years or so. That being said, this is a good entry level machine to find out what you like, what you want in a future machine, what you can upgrade now to use later (bottomless, baskets, WDT, etc).
Literally just ordered one for Xmas 🎅🏻
As a Gaggia owner and follow the forums and groups pretty heavily it basically goes like this: buy Gaggia, then do mods after 6months - 1.5 years of normal use. Then mods. Then live with it for a few years. Then they buy something in the 1500-3000 range for home and this becomes a work machine for office
I don’t follow the forums and all that very closely, but I can definitely see that being a pretty standard timeline.
@@Sprometheus regarding the steam wand did you try surfing that too but what you do is start about 5-8 seconds before the light goes on. Only way to get consistency there. It’s a bummer
With good beans and water, i'm consistently amazed by the quality espresso that the GCP produces. It has no bells and whistles, but produces quality drinks. My real complaint is lack of vertical space between the portafilter and tray, which means the tray is always left out of the machine, replaced by a paper towel and some messiness.
Would love to see a review of the updated Gaggia Classic Evo Pro…
I’m thinking I’m gonna pull the trigger on the updated version of this as my first home espresso machine ☕️
I love my classic. I modded it out with a preheat coil before water enters the boiler and a PID. It's so temperature stable and reliable, most e61 machines on the market look like a downgrade. I'd have to look compare it to a Decent or La Marzocco to see any reason to upgrade - and that's a tough jump to make.
Ditto. Preheat coil, pid, dimmer with punp stop pushpot, pressure gauge, passive timer, tank lights to bounce light onto the bottomless PF. No plans for anything bigger, heavier, and at least five times the cost. It does everything I want
Beautiful view of the bottomless plull!
The thing I like most about the Gaggia Classic is how unintimidating it is. From the start I was comfortable cracking it open and doing maintenance and tinkering that I would hesitate to do on a fancier machine. Thanks for the video!
After owning the gcp for 3 years, I’ve found the best way to steam the milk is to flip on the steam switch and then you want to start steaming about 10 seconds before the light turns on, so about 25 seconds or so after you flip the switch which for me is just enough time to grab my milk from the fridge and pour it into the pitcher, because this way the boiler is still going to be heating up while you’re steaming and you’ll have enough steam power to last till your milk gets hot enough.
Thanks for sharing! 👊
I'm about to do the Gaggiuino mod on my GCP. Can't wait to get more control over temp, pressure, and steam. Such a cool mod if you have time to check it out.
Yeah I’ve definitely seen it, seems pretty cool. But didn’t want to mod it too much as I’m going to give the Gaggia away on IG pretty soon.
@@Sprometheus curious why on IG, rather than Patreon? Asking as a backer that doesn't use IG
@@whosgonnadotcom well, you’d never know because of how many creators do it, but giveaways are against the terms of service on Patreon. blog.patreon.com/patreons-stance-on-raffles-lotteries-and-giveaways
Also, doing it on IG allows me to bring in more partners for the giveaway. So with the Gaggia I’ve got Slow Pour Supply putting in a pitcher, cups and maybe some other tools. And Sworksdesign is putting in a WDT.
I chose the gagia because it allowed me to upgrade and tinker haha. Very happy ever since.
Tip for those that hate the default steaming experience on the GCP, but don’t want to mod to a PID: Get a higher temperature thermometer for the steam. The default thermostat is too low for powerful steam. Increasing the temperature increases the steam power. It’s an easy and inexpensive mod. I’ve done it and it makes a huge difference.
Edit: Grammar is hard...
That would definitely help, I hadn’t considered that one.
You can start steaming before the light comes on you’ll have plenty of power for microfoam.
Oh and the Shades PID is a fossil, it utilizes a SSR which can be off by as much as 10 degrees, if you’re staying with the Gaggia long term look up the Gagguino. 👍🏻
@@AdastraRecordingsYep I agree it’s enough to do microfoam if you time it correctly. The thermostat change just gives a bit more power and a little less fuss.
Thanks for the recommendation on the Gaggiuno. Shades seems to be the most popular and time-tested but I love the modern take using ardiuno with more functionality.
I've just pulled my third shot on mine - bought used on ebay for $315. US. A big part of the reason I bought it is because it is so modeable.
Great sum up of a great machine. 👍 (for the price point). Had mine just over a year and still learning. Now using vst basket, ims shower screen ,silicone gasget and bottomless when my daughter not waiting for her weekend latte! Just thinking about the 9bar spring now that the warranty is up. Seems everyone is doing it but wondering if it will have any negative effect on the pump long term as its designed for 15bar. And Fyi- There is also a good trick to get max steam by timing the ready light and then next time start steaming about 5 seconds before.
Thanks Mark! And I don’t think there is any real negative effect to the pump by changing the spring, but a new pump is about $24 so it won’t be a massive expense when it eventually does go out down the road.
I’ve definitely heard of they steaming technique, I tried a few of them. If you look through the comments a lot of people have their own thoughts on the best steaming process, but in the end if you can get the texture you want it’s a win!
Strongly recommend replacing the OPV spring unless you're using the pressurized basket. It's a cheap option and makes a fairly large difference. Probably a bigger difference than a basket upgrade even. (But still, upgrade the basket, too).
Upgrade that spring pony boy. That way you get faux pre infusion as you’ll be waiting for around 6 seconds before first drop, it’s a 2 minute job and don’t be freaked out by the change in tone of your machine even my ECM sounds different at lower pressure.
My Gaggia Classic Pro is awesome. It’s a true workhorse. I use it everyday and haven’t had a problem in 7 months of ownership.
I do agree with you about it not being made to last. You certainly can and I plan with mine but, I do wanna upgrade to a dual boiler machine. Other than that I still love my Gaggia. It’s a great machine for anyone getting into home espresso, if it’s just for fun or you wanna deep dive into the hobby you can’t go wrong with it:)
Hello there
I'm currently browsing the market for my first espresso machine. My main contenders are the Gaggia Classic Pro and the LaPavoni Europiccola. I am somewhat charmed by the lever experience and the apparently tank build of the Europiccola. Any thoughts on these two machines?
Cheers 🙂
The Classic Pro was my first espresso machine. I quickly got frustrated with temperature surfing and the frankly abysmal steam power. Mods are easy, but the problem is that people recommend it to beginners - which I think is a mistake.
Great video, I want the LMLM, but I am likely going to learn first on a GCP. Have you considered the Shades of Coffee upgrade of a single hole for the milk throther?
Thanks Mark, and I think the GCP is great learning machine. You’ll have the basics nailed down after some time using it. I thought about getting a different tip, but decided I wanted to keep it as stock as possible to keep the review as baseline as I could.
You can unscrew the two cup spout off the stock holder and get some additional clearance
Torn between one of these and a Breville Bambino Plus for my first machine
Every day I look at my unused Silvia and wonder if I'll ever get the desire to surf espresso at home again. Many of the same shortcomings as the GCP, of course, and basically hit-or-miss without adding a PID.
I have Gaggia Classic Pro which I modded with a BoostBox. It has a PID, a pressure gauge, and dimmer switch for pressure control. It's basically a very cheap Lelit Bianca at this point and there probably isn't any machine that can come close to what this machine can now do at this price point ($800 total after adding the BoostBox).
The steaming is a bit frustrating, not the power as the PID fixes that problem. But the want mobility is a bit annoying as mentioned in the vid. And the open water tank is very frustrating. But all in all, definitely the best entry into prosumer espresso because of all the modifications and support online. Would love to upgrade to a Lelit Bianca though to have the dual boiler, better steam capabilities, and a sealed water tank. And it's damn pretty.
I take the drip tray off and put a cylindrical Greek/Turkish coffee cup under the pressure release/3 way solenoid outlet. Allows me to put scales and bigger cups underneath.
I've had a Gaggia Classic since 2011 and a Dalla Corte Mini for about as long. With a good digital thermometer mod you can temperature surf with the Gaggia and produce first rate steamed milk, at least good enough for decent lattes and cappuccinos. It's easy to maintain, easy to use, and built to last. What is not to like? Oh-- and it costs a fraction of machines that don't necessarily produce better coffee.
Bespectacled messiah lol.
If James is the messiah you are definitely one of the apostles 😂 keep up the good work!
Thats the great thing about the majority who dump their machines after two or three years of use, its so easy to buy cheaper on ebay and fix up. I would never buy one brand new one I might get the pro second hand one day but I'm pretty happy with my classic made in 2006, after buying at auction for only £183, a full clean up and several MODS it works good as new :) With A Eureka Specialita as its sidekick its pulling great espresso.
Truly amazing device by the OG gaggia
It really is an impressive machine!
@@Sprometheus man I hope you make df 64 grinder video, i want to see your opinion of that grinder because here the price is very affordable
@@HaekalAlchatieb it’s definitely one that’s on my list. Hoping to get ahold of one.
@@Sprometheus noyce, thanks a lot man 😉
The Gaggia was my first real espresso machine. at the time (20 years ago) it was a very cost effective unit for decent espresso. But with today’s new options like the Flair. You can spend less money, have more control, and better tasting espresso. Plus I can make better microfoam in a French press then what you can with a steam wand on the Gaggia
I do think the manual machines are great options for espresso beginners and veterans a like, but they aren’t for everyone. Manual espresso is like a niche within a niche haha. Personally I like them, but they aren’t what I’d want ti use daily.
@@Sprometheus agreed but I think your audience is probably looking for top shelf espresso and I think it’s a better option…just my opinion
I've had the GCP for 2 years. honestly never really got there on the stock steaming power. by doing the common, out of the box hack (steam before steam light comes on), I was able to get pretty consistent results but not always. it wasn't until I installed the PID where my steam power became really good.
I’ve got a Gaggia Classic and usually what I do for the steam is turn it on, wait for the light to come on, purge the steam wand until the light turns off, wait 5 seconds, and then open it up 100% and steam my milk. It maintains a higher steam pressure throughout my frothing.
For sure, there are a ton of different techniques out there, but I think there are multiple ways to hit that ideal texture with a little patience and a bit of milk.
I've used the GCP for 1 and 2/3 years and have had some good results from it. I do find some challenges with consistency, but then again I haven't modded mine at all. I did upgrade my grinder, and truthfully that made a massive difference. I think chasing consistent results is probably that last 15% to getting great espresso each time. I'm aiming to upgrade rather than try to mod the Gaggia at this point.
I just got my GCP and can’t avoid channeling no matter what I do or what grind setting I use! Using a precision basket and WDT. Using a breville dose control pro - is it just not a good enough grinder even with WDT?? Ordered a 9 bar spring so hoping that makes a difference, but interested to know how you manage without any mods
So would you say you prefer 6.5 bars over 9? Could you elaborate more on the pros and cons of using 6.5 bars?
I loved my Gaggia but I outgrew it mainly due to being dissatisfied with its solution for dispersion from boiler to brew group, thankfully it was taken by someone who will look after it properly, but that’s by far the best entry point into espresso, the latest Silvia is terrible, not sure what they were thinking.
I’m in the infancy of my espresso journey, the GCP is defo on my list to replace the heap of crap I have now but I think a decent grinder is higher priority. What the GCP equivalent in the grinder market? I’m running a blade ‘grinder’ at the minute.
A really cheap and useful mod is changing the steaming thermostat from 145°C to 155°C which results in much higher steam pressure
It truly is an incredible machine.
You can pick up a used one for around $250, and with mods totalling around $500 for a machine that rivals anything on the market. If you’re handy, it’s pretty incredible what you can do.
And I’m not even particularly handy, but a the minor mods I did made a massive difference for less than $100 and an hour of work.
I got mine for 20€, good working condition. :D
The seller was surprised by the number of offers she got on her ad: she told me that a friend of hers in Ireland had tried to give away her own machine for free, but couldn't find takers.
The Breville Barista Express has proven itself to be an incredibly capable home espresso machine for me ever since my purchase in late 2018. Sure, I can make a more sophisticated drink with the full on espresso machine and grinders we have in the office but I've gotten to the point where I can reliably make delicious espresso at home. Arguably I can make tastier espresso at home because they only buy dark roasts for the office haha
I dropped my breville's water tank and I found out the hard way that it is impossible to get a replacment in my country. And I really loved that machine up to that moment.
I have a Saeco Cafe Via Vinezia. I think it's going on twelve years old and other than flushing for hard water build up I haven't had to do anything else for it. Not sure if this is built on the same quality as the Gaggia but it does seem to have the same for factor. I'm not an espresso connoisseur but the Saeco seems to make decent espresso with its 53mm portafilter and I've never known enough to even consider temperature surfing. The only draw back I've found is the portafilter size. It was a little difficult to find a small distribution tool and I can't seem to find one of those precision porta-filter baskets for a 14gram 53mm basket.
Any thought on the Gaggia Classic vs. the slightly more expensive Bezzera Hobby 01?
Excellent ✌🏻
Thanks for watching! Cheers!
I was considering something like the Gaggia Classic or maybe something a bit more, but it seemed like a downgrade from my Robot. Eventually I went a little overboard and got an ECM Synchronika with flow control. Expensive but lots of control and will last forever I hear.
I'd say your review is accurate and I would add nothing more 👍
Similar to the first vibe pumper owned.Marking reads Coffee Gaggia, but looks identical to the Pro. Back in '81 a customer returned the newly purchased machine to my friends shop/bar. "Too loud...." He sold it to me for cost. Still have it. 3 decades sitting in storage. Needs a major descale plus ????
I wonder if it's possible to use velcro to put some sort of panel over the gap for the reservoir so you can still remove it for filling/cleaning.
Since there is no PID controller, how you managed right temps for espresso? I’ve been struggling with that and wanted to know you’ve done it.
What would you say is the pro to use the 6.5 bars spring apart from a clean pull? What's the difference in taste you have noticed?
I usually wait ~20s when I press the steam button, and start frothing before the light comes on. That usually gives me a pretty power froth. Hope this helps!
I use this trick on my machine and get pretty great steam pressure, I'm glad I found out about it or I may have just gotten rid of the machine
It’s funny with the Gaggia because it seems there are a lot of techniques and tricks. Some go into steaming immediately, before the light, after the light, and have specific time frames. The joys of a single boiler haha.
@@Sprometheus I find that let all the first lot of steam out till the light turns off again, and then when it goes back on for the second time I get a more powerful steam!
@@thomastaylor9600 I used to do that too, but I just didn't like the steam moisturizing my coffee station 😓
@@ihavenojjable yeh I get what you mean!
Ive been thinking of buying a budget espresso machine like the Gaggia but i wanted to know if there's any other machines you would recommend in the same price range. BTW Im a noob at coffee making.
Why did you go with the 6.5 bar spring instead of the 9 bar one?
Hi I enjoy your videos. I have a question. is this worth it or should I purchase something better.Modified Gaggia Classic Pro Evo w/Upgrade Kit for Brew, Steam, & Flow Control + 2 Puck Screens, WDT Tool, and Keychain, Pull $2000-$3000 Quality Shots with your Gaggia, Pro-Level Espresso Upgrade Kit
Hello @Sprometheus What would be a natural upgrade from GCP? Another single boiler? Dual boiler? what machine? I think this would be a nice video since a lot of your subscribe has Gaggia or at least had one.
Hey man, what are you toughts on the Ascaso dream PID? maybe a review? Please
Steam pressure problem can be sorted simply. start steaming just before steam ready light comes on and the heating element will stay on keeping the pressure high.
I agree with you, nut is is a great start. Now i am thinking to het the. Ascado steel duo pid the latent what is Youri thought of thuis machine?
It is said that the steam pressure drops significantly by using the 6.5 bar spring, did you test it with the 12 bar, or even 9 bar? @The Real Sprometheus
Love your frank review… definitely agree that this is a “disposable” appliance - but for $500 why would it not be…. So yes, enjoy if for several years, and if /when it breaks down replace with another machine …. Too bad that there is no market for used parts…
There is a market for used/broken machines. Check your local coffee forums, there's usually someone who wants Classics to refurbish.
Not sure in the USA, but in Europe its pretty easy to get all the replacement parts online (i'm one of those using and upgrading my GC for a long time) it definately is anything but perfect but after a quite some upgrades it made me dissapointed when i was gifted the mini, ending up selling that one too and getting a decent (yes more ugly but it opens so much more) but as you said if your willing to do a few quick upgrades i'm still advertising the GC/GCP to everybody who doesnt want to break the bank yet wants a decent espresso machine
I’m interested to know I how many GCP owners know their flow rate, mine was off the charts at around 20ml/S which rendered the IMS screen unusable, I ended up buying a Ricambi which performed a lot better plus the failure rate on the IMS screen is unacceptable as many are severely warped out of the box rendering the seal useless. Compared to my E&B Labs screen for an E61 they feel like knock offs or didn’t make the grade for higher end machines, just stamped out and thrown in a box with a hefty price tag.
Good
What do you think is the best machine for light roasting espresso extraction at home?((I like electronic control to a certain extent, except for Decent)
I wonder what you think.
Ex) Bianca, Synchronika, R9one, Crem-one, Londinium, LMLM with mod… etc
I wish I could tell you, but I haven’t tried all of the options out there. I think a lot of the things that help extract light roasts like temp control, pre-infusion, pressure profiling, and the like will always produce great shots when paired with the right grinder and some careful prep. In the end choosing between machines with these features will be more or less what you want in terms of the little things like aesthetics, availability, etc.
@@Sprometheus Thank you for your wise answer. You're all right. I'm sure you haven't used many machines yourself, but I'm curious if you could choose the one that you like the most when you think very subjectively.(Based on the information you know or hear)
When extracting light roasting
Thank you.
Thanks for watching and have a good weekend friend!
@@Sprometheus - You too Buddy! 👍🏻
Is James Bespeckled or Bespectacled? Hard to say? 🤔
I got a gaggia classic and a Sette 30 for a total of $550 on Facebook. Another $100 in mods and for a grand total of $650 I have some pretty decent espresso. Say what you will about the machine but that's hard to beat.
So, with your list of negatives, what is a better machine at the same price?