Product Features

• 1425-watt espresso machine with 17-1/2-bar pump and 64-ounce reservoir capacity
• Commercial-style chrome-plated brass grouphead and portafilter; self-priming pump
• Turbo Frother steam wand for frothed milk; simple fingertip controls; built-in cup warmer
• 2 stainless-steel filter baskets, coffee tamper, and 7-gram measuring scoop included
• Measures 25 by 13 by 12 inches; 1-year warranty

From the Editors

The Gaggia Espresso is a great choice for an espresso machine in the low $200 price range. No other espresso maker will bring you the pump power, heating capacity, brass components and pure results at this price. Hi-tech performance combined with simplified fingertip control takes the guesswork out of making delicious espresso and cappuccino at home or in the office. Each cup will be creamy, tasty, robust and rich with flavor. Gaggia is in the process of rolling out a new Turbo-Frother wand replacing the metal frothing wand and sleeve. Your Gaggia may have shipped with the Turbo-Frother wand or the frothing wand. Both are designed to help you get great froth with minimum fuss. Includes two stainless steel filter baskets (one and two shot), coffee tamper and 7g measuring scoop.
Product Description

Customer Response

terrific upgrade
First, thanks for all the great reviews. This was a pretty significant cash outlay and it was great to hear what you all had to say about this machine before I took the plunge.
Like many of the other reviewers, I've been making espresso at home for some time, and upgrading my machine each time one breaks down. Having been happy with a couple of starter-level Krups models, I bought the XP4030. The espresso was not appreciably better than I'd had with my older model, and the steam nozzle was ridiculously short -- impossible to use without the foamer attachment, which would frequently pop off into the milk pitcher.
After doing more consumer review research, I landed on the Gaggia machine, & bought the Capresso 560 burr grinder to go with it. What a world of difference. I'm using the same beans as before, but the espresso I brew now is unbelievably mellow. READ the instructions &/or watch the video even if you think you know what you're doing. I was frustrated by losing pressure for frothing milk until I watched the video & realized that I was not priming the boiler as directed. D'oh. The video also helped me to figure out which setting on the grinder was the right one.
I haven't had any of the other problems people mentioned: messy portafilter (then again, I always steam milk, and I think that tends to dry out the espresso grounds by the time I go to dump them), dripping steam wand (just swing it over the drip tray until you're ready to use it, although I never notice it dripping much anyway). By the way, I never use the Turbo Frother attachment - don't seem to need it.
I couldn't be happier with this machine.

Great home espresso machine
I have enjoyed excellent espresso at home for a long time now with this Gaggia Espreso machine. I have not had any problems with it. I do routinely clean it out with the recommended boiler cleaner stuff every couple of months. I have a good burr grinder too which is important to make good espresso. I recommend this machine. I don't use the frothing part; but I did try it out twice and it worked fine.

Gaggia Espresso Machine
This is our (wife and self) 5th espresso machine in 12 years. This included De Longhis, Mr. Coffee and Capresso. Four wore out, mainly in the area where the coffee holder is inserted - never the pump (even though one was accidentally run dry all night). The last one (a Capresso semi-automatic) self-destructed when the rotating shaft snapped and the entire mechanism exploded.
The Gaggia took a few days to get used to - fineness of grind, pressure when tamping and experimentation with the "Perfect Crema" device. It now delivers reliable espresso and cappucino with very finely ground regular coffee solidly packed in, or decaf ground somewhat less finely and packed in less solidly. Both give a good crema without the "Perfect Crema" gadget.
So far we are quite pleased with this machine and would rate it as very good.

It has made excellent espresso every time; it looks good too.
The Gaggia Espresso machine works well and mine has made excellent espresso every time. It makes perfect shots at 20 seconds of pump on time.
I do have a good "Solis" burr coffee grinder. It is important to have a good burr grinder when using a true pump espresso machine like this one. I heat the machine a few minutes before I use it. Then I run an empty shot to warm the group and the demitasse cups before I make my first double or single espresso. I usually make double espressos. It has worked great every time. The used coffee bean ground's (puck) falls out as mostly one chunk.

I use the steam wand source to create hot water for tea. It works fast and fills up an entire tea cup with hot water. I have steamed milk before with the steam wand and it works fine; but I rarely use it for that purpose as I drink my espresso coffee without any additives.

The machine looks elegant in all black plastic. I prefer it over the metal covering ones which are more expensive and have nothing different about them other than the exterior housing. I recommend this espresso maker. I have not found any problems with it and I have had it a long time with daily use. I run a boiler cleaner through the system a few times a year; so my machine has never plugged up with the hard water deposits common to my local water source.

I enjoy espresso at home every day and it is better than I could get at the cafes as I can make my double espresso's long or short and use what ever beans or roast that I want.

Gaggia Espresso Machine-
The machine works as advertised but I was very dissapointed in the quality of construction. While I fully understood that the machine was constructed of plastic and not metal i did expect that the plastic pieces comprising the body of the machine to properly fit together. The machine was a gift and so I could not return it otherwise I WOULD HAVE!