Ive had my gaggia for over 2 years. the Solid build and 58mm portafilter for the vast assortment of possible tools of the gaggia were what sold me when I first bought it. I've been a barista for a few years and think the breville would be very limiting, particularly with the grinder. I used to have the breville smart grinder pro but outgrew it and upgraded to a Eureka mignon since its stepless. I think the gaggia is a better choice for people that want more room to grow in the future but don't necessarily want to spend thousands on a machine. The gaggia is a very capable machine when paired with a great grinder.
Hi MrTwins, I also bought a Gaggia Evo Pro and would like to combine it with a grinder. For the same price, I could get a Lelit William with 64 flat burrs or a Eureka mignon Perfetto with slightly smaller flat burrs. Which one would you recommend? Thank you!
Hey Joe, thanks for this comparison. After a couple of years researching I got my new Gaggia Classic Pro in January. Very happy with my purchase. There is nothing at this price point with the Classic's potential. I found that Gaggia made some compromises but there is a dedicated owner community for mods and tips. The machine is practably rebuildable. The Breville seems to be disposable. Machine vs appliance. I bought most of the accessories before I got my machine. First mod was a "tune up" kit. It has a brass shower plate, presision shower screen and a silicone group gasket Next I shortened the OPV spring to get the pressure down to around 9 bars. There's a guy named Andy who has a channel here who explains how to fine tune the temperature using the steam switch. Using a temperature gage on the boiler and the group head enabling him to tweak the temperature a degree or two. I just ordered a dual probe temperature gage with timer and a bottomless portafilter. With a small investment I'll have a machine that competes with those costing twice as much or more. I'll check back when I get everything together. I subscribed to your channel and will look forward to more great content.
That’s awesome to hear and you’re right about the great mod community! I will look forward to you checking back with all your modifications, but in the mean time... happy brewing!
Hi Joe, I just received my bottomless portafilter from Espresso Store in Milano Italia. Found it on Ebay and cost with shipping here in Costa Rica was $45. The handle is plastic but much more robust than the original. My first shot pulled well coming together nicely with no spurts. Is ran too fast and I've heard you need a finer grind with the bottomless. I probably need to go to 20g up from 18 as the basket has straight sides and the coffee sits lower. The first puck was well formed but with little depth. I'll try to dial it in and get back to you.
Dude, I’ve seen several comparisons and yours is the best. Easy, direct and to the point. I didn’t feel like I needed to fast forward because it was way too wordy as some are. Great vid and review. Thanks for sharing.
@@karlproksch1350 yeah I mean you can try and unscrew everything and get in there but those machines are much more complex in the inside but heck you might be able to figure it out quick
i do understand from the upgrade perspective or parts replacement Gaggia is good, but don't forget that you can control dose by Breville, which is a big plus. Moreover, as the beginner, you don't have to buy grinder separately, it grinds sufficiently to pull out good espresso. i'm planning to buy Niche grinder as upgrade :)
I totally agree with you I have been super impressed with Breville. And they just purchased lelit which makes me feel even better about the upcoming quality
I purchased the Gaggia in November and am SO glad I did. I love that it's more manual as I enjoy the tinkering and the process. I do wish that the steam wand angled out a bit so it was easier to get the frothing pitcher out. I also wish the steam knob was more of a toggle handle like the Breville has. But those are more wants than complaints. The best comparison I've ever heard was Breville is an appliance, whereas Gaggia is a machine. You made the right choice 😀
Yeah I’m a fan of it so far but I do plan on buying another machine for a comparison. If you have any you want me to buy and compare to this machine let me know. I plan on running a contest on ig to determine what machine I buy and review next
@@JoeyVaracalli ~$200-300. Hopper I don't want to have to weight it I just want to input how many shots or grams I want and press a button. Is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro good enough?
Is it the v6 which would you get and does the water leak on its own?Does your portafilter stick is it tight hard to put in? How long have you had it .? Is it hard to use without a pid How does the coffee turn sour. Thankyou
Yeah this is the newest gaggia. Water doesn’t leak but small amount of water gets put into the protea filter to keep it hot like other e61 espresso machines. My portafilter doesn’t get stuck in. I had the gaggia about a year. It’s not to hard to use without a lid but your shots won’t be quite as consistent. Espresso shots can be sour if the shots come out way to quick. Many times it means its very under extracted
Yeah this is the newest gaggia. Water doesn’t leak but small amount of water gets put into the protea filter to keep it hot like other e61 espresso machines. My portafilter doesn’t get stuck in. I had the gaggia about a year. It’s not to hard to use without a lid but your shots won’t be quite as consistent. Espresso shots can be sour if the shots come out way to quick. Many times it means its very under extracted
After doing a lot of research I am thinking of getting the sette 270 grinder and breville infuser. Also confused if flair with pressure gauge will get better espresso and also bit more control. Soooo confusing. How is your experience with temp control on the gagia- that’s the only point why I am not considering the gaggia
Much has been written about the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine but no one I know has seriously questioned the non-stick coating inside the boiler. Gaggia uses Exelia 3010-B242. Exelia is used in the cooking and baking industry. The Food & Drug Administration has also approved the use of Exelia 3010-B242. Does it matter? The FDA also approved the use of Teflon and which has been proven to cause cancer. Boiling water is not as hot oven temperatures but it does not mean using Exelia 3010-B242 is safe either. Fluctuating water temperature, from refrigerated to near boiling, sits inside the boiler for multiple hours, days, and weeks, nor is there long term durability testing on the use of Exelia. Can the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine cause cancer? Where is the data proving that Exelia 3010-B242 is safe? What is the list of chemicals in Exelia 3010-B242? Why isn't the list of chemicals used in Exelia publicly available? How are the chemicals bonded together? How is Exelia 3010-B242 bonded to the aluminum boiler? If Gaggia used Exelia 3010-B242 to save costs then is the cost savings at the expense of the consumer? Finally, why doesn't Gaggia simply use a stainless steel boiler? Stainless steel would put this issue to rest and buyers would gladly pay the increase in material costs for this iconic machine.
@@JoeyVaracalli Thank you, Joey. I've already been vilified on Reddit for my thoughts. I don't get it. There is no price to be paid for good health. My mom died of cancer and I'll never know why. The use of unknown and untested chemicals in our food specific appliances has no end, nor are there safeguards. It's upsetting to me that Gaggia would bury the non-stick coating inside the boiler, an area impossible to access for most users and not thought about at the point of purchase.
I've had my gaggia for around 2 months now, and I'm absolutely in love with it. I've only ever used the stovetop mocca pots in the past (or one of those awful crappy drip filter machines) but this has really opened my eyes to what I've been missing out on. As you say, not everything is perfect, but for me, it's a wonderful machine and so quick (2-3 minutes for a flat white and that include cleaning).
@@lama8198 it probably takes just under 2 - 2 1/2 minutes from turning on the machine. I like to pre-heat the filter basket first and I usually get boiling water out of the steam-wand to heat up my cups just after that. With the added time for steaming my milk, I've usually finished within 3 1/2 - 4 minutes (and that's including clean up)
Sorry for all the questions, you mentioned that there are "better steps up", wou,d you share which machines you think might be a bit better step up? Any of them under $1000? Thanks
such a great question. yeah I would say the Silvia is a step up but not a giant one. also the bezerra hobby is a great step up. and if your feeling artisanal the la pavoni in my opinion is a step up.
Great review...As always...I have Barista Express at home and just bought the Gaggia Classic for my office. I paid a little extra for an upgraded wooden handle portafilter and tamper. I also bought the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I've only had them for two days but I love the purchase and the price I paid for both. I find the Gaggia to be an upgrade to the Breville as I have more control plus the small footprint of the machine and grinder are perfect for my office.
I still prefer the Breville barista express if your machine is going to be used by someone other than yourself. both myself and my best friend are professional baristas but the Gaggia has a steeper learning curve because it doesn't have a PID controller or programmable shot buttons. The Gaggia definitely needs its upgrades to make it a great espresso machine but a programmable shot button mod would definitely take it to the next level especially if you don't want to be the one to make everyone's coffee at home.
Thank you for a great review Joe. Could you please let me know how long it takes before you can pull your 1st shot after switch-on on the Gaggia. Is it possible within 5 minutes, if you flush the grouphead?
Yeah the temperature surfing and inconsistency is a bit annoying… can be fixed with an after market pid but the temp surfing is real it has about a 10 degree move
Thank you for the video and great content. Can you advise how the Breville Barista Express compares to a superautomatic? I purchased a superautomatic but had to return it because I was not happy with the espresso shots.
Barista express if you use the non pressurized espresso basket you will be good 👍 makes wonderful traditional espresso ☕️. I explain that in this video here ruclips.net/video/_Zcgwu7VUyQ/видео.html
Hey man! Great explanation! Got a question: 1. You pull a shot 2. You steam milk 3. You want to pull a shot Between 2. and 3., how long before you can pull your next shot? Noone talks about this. Hope you can help Im in between these 2 machines. Cheers from Croatia!
Croatia 🇭🇷 how cool. Yeah so on the breville I’d say it’s almost instant because it’s using a thermo block. On the gaggia it’s pretty close to instant but you need to let out all the pressure from the the boiler which takes like 10 seconds. The breville is a bit easier to switch back and forth from for that exact reason. But honestly if you doing multiple drinks I would make ur shots first if you can
That’s the million dollar question. My quick answer is either a double boiler like the breville dual boiler or the lelit Elizabeth. Maybe a heat exchanger something like the rocket apartmento or bezzera bz10
As for me, i like gaggia minimalism, including cheap handle and knob. For me it feels natural for this minimalist model. Most important that it's well built and has good ergonomics.
Sorry about that. I normally do a taste test side by side. The hard thing is that to make it fair I would need to use the grinder from the breville barista express but it makes it very difficult since they have different portafilter sizes
I'm just starting to look at a home espresso machine. My sister has a Breville. I want to buy an ECM Synchronika, but don't want to spend over 3k right now. My plan is to buy the Gaggia for now and sell it in a year or 2. I think it will hold more value over time vs. the Breville because it can be repaired. The Breville looks like an appliance and it seems like trying to resell it would be pointless.
Would you say the coffee from the Breville is good enough? Although I'd love to geek out learning all things coffee related I also want my wife to be able to make a coffee. I also like the idea of being able to leave it to pull my shot and come back to it if I'm busy getting ready in the morning etc. The Gaggia with a decent grinder seems the better option for the best coffee but I just wonder how much more convenient the Breville is?
I mean I don’t think either are good enough for an actual cafe but the gaggia I think is faster. If you want a good cafe use machine I would look to a heat exchanger machine or dual boiler
Not sure if you've done a comparison of the la specialista by delonghi vs the breville express ? Also, the breville has temp control. So you can raise the temperature of the water to get a hotter espresso
yup I do know that the temp can be increased but that doesn't change the fact that the ports filter is a lower temp even at the highest temp the breville can be set to. also I did a review of the delonghi and wanted to love it really bad because I loved the look of it but I really hated that machine. you can check out my full review video I will say it was my first review and it wasn't the best quality but I think you will get the idea.... my buddy over at lifestyle labs did a comparison and I would assume we would have very similar points
@@JoeyVaracalli thanks for the reply ! I will check out that video for sure. I appreciate your personal touch so would rather give you my views. I was flip flopping between the two and just need validation that I made the right choice!!! Lol!!
@@PM.0000 delonghi had a real chance to make a lot of fan boys but the screwed up by nerfing the grinder so it can’t go fine enough for a non pressurized filter basket so basically everyone who is into espresso uses non pressurized and it simply can’t do it without getting a separate grinder
I do not understand why Gaggia, as well as Rancilio with their Silvia single boiler, simply don't have a version of their coffee makers with PID out of the box. For example lacking PID is one of the main reason why I didn't go with the Classic Pro, nor Silvia. If it was equipped with PID for a few hundred dollars more, I most probably would have purchased it. Yes, mods can be done, but that voids the warranty. Have it available with it already installed. The Classic Pro and Silvia are for coffee hobbyists and Breville coffee makers are for the rest of us..
I've owned & used a Breville Barista Express since 2015. Has built in 16 step stainless steel burr grinder (& the grinder can be adjusted internally for finer or coarser grind .. & no separate electric cord for electric grinder), water pressure gauge & steamer. The machine can be operated manually wrt pre-infusion & infusion times. Also features a sealed bean hopper, drip tray with float & water tank has a filter feature. It is easy to remove water tank & fill. Breville has very good support for descaling & cleaning products. 54mm portafilter is what it is - but seriously 4mm diameter difference to 58mm is not significant. The Breville steam wand also has a ball joint & can be disassembled to clean thoroughly. Milk caking has never been issue if you clean it after steaming - as you should. After-market 3rd party options are good - bottomless portafilter, better baskets & steamer lever. My household has 2 pro-trained café experienced baristas, (my son & myself), one aspiring home barista, & a casual user. I can set coffee bean grind size, basket dose, adjust temp, manually time & pull shots, steam milk & Breville also has hot water dispenser. The portafilter, tamper, basket depth tool & cleaning kit make the Breville Barista a very good semi-auto espresso machine for the price range. Do I want a Gaggia? Yes. I like the idea of tearing down, modding & paring it with better espresso grinder. But for very good, all-round household espresso machine - Breville is hard to beat. Also - members of household only drink coffee morning, lunch & late afternoon so there is no need for always on function of Gaggia. Gaggia is behind-times romantic espresso machine but value for money for serious coffee afficionados - get manual coffee bean grinder & Flair 58, or pour over filter like Hario V60. If you want high end machine espresso - go to café with $30K classico espresso machine & super modella barista. But do not wear beanie hat.
I can't even get a decent tasting cup of espresso out of the Gaggia. I've installed the 9 bar spring, bottomless portafilter with a IMS 22g nanocoated basket, PID controller and using fresh local roaster espresso coffee beans. I'm ready to just find someone who I can bring the machine to that knows what there doing to help me figure this thing out.
@@JoeyVaracalli I may need to do that as I seem to be going wrong some where. Using the 1zpresso jx pro, which I had read was a great manual grinder and others seem to had no issues making espresso with it. Every shot I get out of it seems to be bitter or sour, I've had a really great looking counter ornament for 4 months that I keep trying to understand where I am going wrong. My wife and kids all spit it out as soon as they taste it, can't say I know what espresso should taste like but this definitely is not it.
@@MrCt333 Is your timing correct getting 2:1 ratio in ruffly 30 seconds? also espresso is a very acquired taste 👅 so it’s very possible the family doesn’t like it. Might want to try some milk based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos to get started
@@JoeyVaracalli Yeah putting about 18g in and getting 36g out in roughly 30 seconds. My puck is soppy and wet after the pull, my shot I don't believe is pulling evenly either. Watching the bottom of my bottomless portafilter it seems to flow more from one side. After grinding and dumping the grounds into the portafilter I've even used a paperclip to break up any clumps and try to distribute equally before tamping. I can try to shoot a video of the process to see if you can spot anything, may be a bit hard since I don't have a tripod to set my camera on.
@@MrCt333 ok so the soggy thing is that your using 22g basket and only putting 18 grams in I would say min 20g in but in general it should affect the shot that much in terms of flavor. My thought is try doing the recommended dose of 22 grams so you will have to go slightly corser to get the same ratio and timing. Again I would probably do milk based drinks and or americanos to start if your not use to espresso yet
At a 600 price range, I have been considering both of thse machines. Since you have scored both of these machines at a 7, are there other machines you would reccomend buying over these two at the price range I am looking at?
Well I will say the gaggia doesn’t have a grinder so you will need to allocate some cash toward that. If you were to buy the Breville bambino that’s a pretty good option since it has the internals of the barista pro just without the grinder. So you could allocate maybe 300 400 bucks toward a great grinder like the df64 or sette 270
So frustrating that the Gaggia Classic Pro EU version which also ships to AU, turns itself off after 20 mins or so. So annoying. But there is a jumper wire hack to stop it
@@viking.designs I got the jumper from shadesofgrey. Super easy install and fully reversible. So good, now my Gaggia stays on! I believe they also ship it with the purchase of a PID for free, if you're after that mod.
I have been using my Gaggia (Model 9304), since 2015. I bought it with missing parts and sourced them myself. I paid not very much for a new machine. Between all these newer Gaggia classic releases many changes were made. Some models have an automatic shut off feature was not required by law in Europe before 2017 or so. The aluminium boiler was also replaced to a stainless steel boiler and then back to aluminium. Anyway, the Gaggia is more solid machine. The coffee is great. The Breville is just crap. To many computers in that Breville. Maintenance is required on both machines. Daily/Weekly cleaning, replacing seals and o-rings or a valve. The Gaggia can be modded and repaired very easily. After 6 years of use I have changed the seals, the valve, both thermostats. Those repairs were not very expensive but required, maybe 50 bucks. I did some mods: I replaced the steam wand with one of the Rancillio Silvia (If you have the money, this is is also a very nice machine) The porta filter, got a lower drip tray, so I can use the Gaggia with a scale, extended release tube, a better shower screen... maybe something else....?
Gaggia Classic Pro with 9 bar and a Baratza Sette 270 and you are making quality espresso. And for less than $1000 you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from a Linea Mini.
Yeah I think the linea really isn’t a home machine and it’s over priced but lever machines or flow control machines might be worth upgrading to if your really into espresso as a hobby
Yeah I’d say because of of the bigger porta filter and heat retention the gaggia is better with just shots alone. That said it is harder to pull a shot with as well.
I’ve had both and by far prefer the Barista Express. It’s not even close. Few mods like single dose zero retention hopper, new steam/hot water switch and some ims gear and you’re on a winner for the price.
Yeah they are fun machines to tinker around with for sure I keep going back and forth on what I prefer. Right now I’m messing with the oracle but I’m wanting my lelit back
Hi glad you found this video!!! That’s what I’m all about trying to get the information to people. Do you mind clarifying the question. I want to answer correctly and thoroughly
@@JoeyVaracalli Great that you asked for accuracy in defining the question If we make espresso in both machines using the built-in grinder of the Breville Barista Express machine, which one makes the best espresso? "I use Google translator"
@@Steve.Jawed.Chad.05 all good 😌. Yes I would say the gaggia classic pro will end up pulling you a better shot mostly because of the 58mm portafilter having more surface area and it retains more heat. it’s only marginally better though keep that in mind....
@@josemartins9651 ohhh this is actually a very easily replaceable item. Check out this video ruclips.net/video/-OPZT8bgs7g/видео.html Then you can buy this gasket amzn.to/3jmCDmu Or buy a whole new ims screen with gasket that will greatly improve shot quality like this one amzn.to/3YRa7dg
One thing I dont like about the breville is the portafilter size. Ur absolutely right. The frustration with this. I had no idea before I bought it. I was a noob and now I kinda regret it
Yeah same sort of situation I knew it would eventually be a draw back but when I bought this machine my wife was very accustomed to a super auto so having to tamp and stuff was a big step
Also as far as rust is concerned the internals are not stainless except for the body of the machine. The rest is aluminum alloy and screws are steal. Aluminum won’t rust but it will oxidize and the steal screws will most certainly rust
@@JoeyVaracalli I think my comment was missed on the live today, super fun btw. But you know the plastic disc that goes under the puck in the porta filter on the breville. Would you remove that piece ? Does it affect taste at all ?
@@PM.0000 ohhhhh very sorry we missed that. I don’t think it affects taste but might be worth removing and trying. I’m not really sure what the purpose is other then keeping it clean. Personally I prefer no heated plastic touching my espresso just out of principal lol
Made in ITALY (Gaggia Classic Pro) vs Made in CHINA (Breville Barista Express). Does it not mean something? Everyone loves having choices and dislikes monopoly. Try buying something that is not made-in-China and one will quickly realise that his choices have become so limited. Isn't that another form of "monopoly"? We can make a difference by making conscious purchase. 😊 I love my Gaggia Classic Pro by the way. A solid espresso coffee machine made in Italy without breaking the bank. 💖
bro you just blew my fukin mind... I mean I never thought about it before lol, but that "milk build up" on the breville wand being due to longer steam times! I never thought about it like that! as a side note, on freakin christmas day my breville got destroyed, had it for almost 6 years and used multiple times every day. So now time to upgrade I suppose (I say while my wallet weeps)
Wow that’s really sad it broke Christmas Day but 6 years is pretty decent amount of time. And yeah the longer the steam time the more build up unfortunately. What you thinking to buy
Still undecided just trying to get the same flavor of Cuban coffee that I get from my family's Cuban bakery at a fraction of the cost lol anyone use this for cafecito? If so let me know which one to buy
@@ricardoj8860 I think thin the classic pro is pretty great but maybe take a look at the Turin legato it may be the best entry level right now. Full review coming soon
The Gaggia is 15 bar pressure if I recall? I have a Mr coffee Cafe baristA (don't hate on me lol- I've never had a good 'espresso' from this machine, and even the froth is kinda awful too, but 'acceptable' I guess for lattes. Wannabuy a Mr coffee? Lol), and it's 15 bar too, and I can't run it with a non pressurized mod on the portafilter basket (basket is In 3 pieces, which can be disassembled so that it is no longer a pressurized filter), and due to the high pressure the water just flies through the portafilter way too quick. I know the Gaggia can be molded for lower pressure, b8ut that supposedly voids the warrenty? Also would like to see a copper boiler, not crazy Bout aluminum that is constantly heated up. Wish they'd create a version with copper boiler, and pid, and timer for shots, as well as an easy way to adjust bar pressure without having to buy a kit- i wou,d happily pay another hundred or 2, maybe even 3 for those great additions on the Gaggia. Would make for such an awesome upgrade I think if they created such a beast.
Some reason i can't edit, so I'll just add my question here. I've read that 15 bars pressure is too high for good pulls, have you found that to be the case or not? Or does the bar pressure lessen when using the non pressurized baskets? I'm new to all this, so not too up on what's what with various machines
@@Nazareth434 ok so my guess is it’s 15 bar but closer to 13 or 11 at the group head that’s generally what happens. But I will say it does promote channeling at that high of pressure so yes worse espresso generally then 9 bar at the group. I did do the OPV mod on my gaggia so check that video out basically I just cut the spring. And as far as pid is concerned I will be doing that in the near future and showing people how to install but with a machine that has a boiler that is only 3oz I’m not sure how truly useful it will be but we will see
@@JoeyVaracalli Hey Joe- thanks for replying- Yep- i saw your mod video- I will probably try that if i end up getting the gaggia classic pro- trying to decide between this classic pro and the Sylvia Pro double boiler, which is a whole lot more expensive of course- Trying to decide- Think I'm leaning towards the Gaggia for now, and maybe another machine later- The boiler on this is only 3 oz?
@@Nazareth434 yeah it’s only a 3oz boiler. But I’d recommend other things if you go up in price to the Silvia pro. Like look at the bezzera bz13 de or pm I think those are nicer for the same price or even less or maybe even the crem one hx again around the same price but better machine functionality I think.
I don't have time in the morning .. LOL I'm not at home all day either. I have a Breville Barista Touch it's hot in 3 seconds, I can run water to really heat my cup and bottomless portafilter which loses nearly no heat add to that it automatically froths my milk. Cost difference $300. I've looked at $2,000 and $3,000+ espresso machines with a $1,000 grinder and so on .. I don't need a new hobby.
Yeah that’s why I gave the breville a higher score no hobby necessary and I think it’s better for the average person. I’m home all day and I like tinkering plus I have been using the breville for a while now so it’s time to move on
@@JoeyVaracalli .. I wasn't making a judgment, instead pointing to the fact of my mornings. Playing with the espresso machine was interesting for about a week or two... However, since we prefer milk drinks or the occasional Frappuccino, in either case loaded with sugar and flavorings, the minutiae of nearly imperceptible changes in espresso is irrelevant.
@@DJaquithFL yes yes couldn’t agree with you more. honestly that’s why I recommend super automatic machines for a lot of people because it takes the hassle out of it for a the fast paced life style and if you aren’t drinking straight shots of espresso it’s not a big difference in my opinion
@@JoeyVaracalli .. To be clear .. I have a Timemore B22 scale (17.5g to 19g depending on the beans) which is good enough, I also have a properly sized distributor/tamper .. and I shot for a 2:1 to 2.5:1 in about 25-30 seconds. However, I'm not to the insanity past that point especially when I never drink espresso straight. I can look at a shot to know if it's bad... My worst is better than the local Barista shops.
The most successful thing Breville did was marketing so that consumers believe their machine that is only expected to last 2-3 years with very little replaceable parts is a better value than machines that are made to last upward 10 years or more and easy to fix. Not saying Breville is a bad product, because in exchange for durability they offer consumers a lot of features that you won't be able to get at the same price point such as a barely serviceable grinder (that isn't even stepless) and temperature control from the cheaper built thermal block. It's just that people really should know what they are buying into. You buy the Breville for the a few years experience and then they expect you to just buy a new Breville after that once you got sick of things not working, because truth is these things really don't last very long.
@@JoeyVaracalli true. But I bought some third party bottomless portafilter that was wooden and it was so dry to hold, I really hated it. So I bought official gaggia bottomless and much better even with crappy plastic lol
You forgot the most important difference, The boiler!!!! More consistence water, better temperature and better steaming. The breville...... entry appliance for make coffe Gaggia...... high entry level expresó Machine
I talked about the steaming pressure. I should have talked about the boiler though that’s a good call out. Sorry this was a very very late night of recording trying to get this video complete. I did talk about Temperature a bit especially when it came to how hot the liquid is that comes out but I don’t have a skath system to test temp at in the group head during brewing. I will say though I think the breville has less temperature surfing anecdotally speaking I haven’t fully tested that yet
for me, this was the most useless comparison. I say this because why are you not also comparing the espresso shots ...i think this would be the most essential aspect of these machines.
@@JoeyVaracalli temperature adjustment. Actually I would love a review on that one. My focus from my experience is you need temperature control, and a digital readout of the temperature would have made it better.
I did. It’s still garbage though atleast the one from gaggia is. So frustrating they still put the cheap plastic on it when your spending 50 plus bucks
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Ive had my gaggia for over 2 years. the Solid build and 58mm portafilter for the vast assortment of possible tools of the gaggia were what sold me when I first bought it. I've been a barista for a few years and think the breville would be very limiting, particularly with the grinder. I used to have the breville smart grinder pro but outgrew it and upgraded to a Eureka mignon since its stepless. I think the gaggia is a better choice for people that want more room to grow in the future but don't necessarily want to spend thousands on a machine. The gaggia is a very capable machine when paired with a great grinder.
Yeah I totally agree. This is basically exactly how I feel. Breville is great for people that aren’t looking to grow into the hobby as much
How about streaming in gcp
Hi MrTwins, I also bought a Gaggia Evo Pro and would like to combine it with a grinder. For the same price, I could get a Lelit William with 64 flat burrs or a Eureka mignon Perfetto with slightly smaller flat burrs. Which one would you recommend? Thank you!
Hey Joe, thanks for this comparison. After a couple of years researching I got my new Gaggia Classic Pro in January. Very happy with my purchase. There is nothing at this price point with the Classic's potential. I found that Gaggia made some compromises but there is a dedicated owner community for mods and tips. The machine is practably rebuildable. The Breville seems to be disposable. Machine vs appliance. I bought most of the accessories before I got my machine. First mod was a "tune up" kit. It has a brass shower plate, presision shower screen and a silicone group gasket Next I shortened the OPV spring to get the pressure down to around 9 bars. There's a guy named Andy who has a channel here who explains how to fine tune the temperature using the steam switch. Using a temperature gage on the boiler and the group head enabling him to tweak the temperature a degree or two. I just ordered a dual probe temperature gage with timer and a bottomless portafilter. With a small investment I'll have a machine that competes with those costing twice as much or more. I'll check back when I get everything together. I subscribed to your channel and will look forward to more great content.
That’s awesome to hear and you’re right about the great mod community! I will look forward to you checking back with all your modifications, but in the mean time... happy brewing!
Hi Joe, I just received my bottomless portafilter from Espresso Store in Milano Italia. Found it on Ebay and cost with shipping here in Costa Rica was $45. The handle is plastic but much more robust than the original. My first shot pulled well coming together nicely with no spurts. Is ran too fast and I've heard you need a finer grind with the bottomless. I probably need to go to 20g up from 18 as the basket has straight sides and the coffee sits lower. The first puck was well formed but with little depth. I'll try to dial it in and get back to you.
@@danjv wow very nicely done. And 45 bucks ain’t bad at all.
I was going for a walnut handle but the cost was much higher and the seller charged way too much for shipping. I'm happy with the quality of the item.
@@danjv very very good and I bet you can get amazing coffee in costarica
Dude, I’ve seen several comparisons and yours is the best. Easy, direct and to the point. I didn’t feel like I needed to fast forward because it was way too wordy as some are. Great vid and review. Thanks for sharing.
Wow thank you very much for the kind words. Yeah just trying to put out my thoughts and be objective as possible
My breville barista leaks water badly. So im yhinking is worthwhile finding the leak or go gaggia?
@@karlproksch1350 yeah I mean you can try and unscrew everything and get in there but those machines are much more complex in the inside but heck you might be able to figure it out quick
i do understand from the upgrade perspective or parts replacement Gaggia is good, but don't forget that you can control dose by Breville, which is a big plus. Moreover, as the beginner, you don't have to buy grinder separately, it grinds sufficiently to pull out good espresso. i'm planning to buy Niche grinder as upgrade :)
I totally agree with you I have been super impressed with Breville. And they just purchased lelit which makes me feel even better about the upcoming quality
I purchased the Gaggia in November and am SO glad I did. I love that it's more manual as I enjoy the tinkering and the process. I do wish that the steam wand angled out a bit so it was easier to get the frothing pitcher out. I also wish the steam knob was more of a toggle handle like the Breville has. But those are more wants than complaints. The best comparison I've ever heard was Breville is an appliance, whereas Gaggia is a machine. You made the right choice 😀
Yeah I’m a fan of it so far but I do plan on buying another machine for a comparison. If you have any you want me to buy and compare to this machine let me know. I plan on running a contest on ig to determine what machine I buy and review next
This was super helpful in my decision to pick between the two. Thank you so much for being so thorough!
No problem I try to do that as often as possible even though it can end up being a bit boring
What's a recommended grinder? Thinking about getting the Breville Bambino Plus as a newcomer to espresso.
Single dosing or hopper? And what’s your budget
@@JoeyVaracalli ~$200-300. Hopper I don't want to have to weight it I just want to input how many shots or grams I want and press a button. Is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro good enough?
Is it the v6 which would you get and does the water leak on its own?Does your portafilter stick is it tight hard to put in? How long have you had it .? Is it hard to use without a pid How does the coffee turn sour. Thankyou
Yeah this is the newest gaggia. Water doesn’t leak but small amount of water gets put into the protea filter to keep it hot like other e61 espresso machines. My portafilter doesn’t get stuck in. I had the gaggia about a year. It’s not to hard to use without a lid but your shots won’t be quite as consistent. Espresso shots can be sour if the shots come out way to quick. Many times it means its very under extracted
Yeah this is the newest gaggia. Water doesn’t leak but small amount of water gets put into the protea filter to keep it hot like other e61 espresso machines. My portafilter doesn’t get stuck in. I had the gaggia about a year. It’s not to hard to use without a lid but your shots won’t be quite as consistent. Espresso shots can be sour if the shots come out way to quick. Many times it means its very under extracted
After doing a lot of research I am thinking of getting the sette 270 grinder and breville infuser. Also confused if flair with pressure gauge will get better espresso and also bit more control. Soooo confusing. How is your experience with temp control on the gagia- that’s the only point why I am not considering the gaggia
Much has been written about the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine but no one I know has seriously questioned the non-stick coating inside the boiler. Gaggia uses Exelia 3010-B242. Exelia is used in the cooking and baking industry. The Food & Drug Administration has also approved the use of Exelia 3010-B242. Does it matter? The FDA also approved the use of Teflon and which has been proven to cause cancer.
Boiling water is not as hot oven temperatures but it does not mean using Exelia 3010-B242 is safe either. Fluctuating water temperature, from refrigerated to near boiling, sits inside the boiler for multiple hours, days, and weeks, nor is there long term durability testing on the use of Exelia.
Can the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine cause cancer?
Where is the data proving that Exelia 3010-B242 is safe? What is the list of chemicals in Exelia 3010-B242? Why isn't the list of chemicals used in Exelia publicly available? How are the chemicals bonded together? How is Exelia 3010-B242 bonded to the aluminum boiler? If Gaggia used Exelia 3010-B242 to save costs then is the cost savings at the expense of the consumer?
Finally, why doesn't Gaggia simply use a stainless steel boiler? Stainless steel would put this issue to rest and buyers would gladly pay the increase in material costs for this iconic machine.
Wow very indepth thought I like where your heads at with this
@@JoeyVaracalli Thank you, Joey. I've already been vilified on Reddit for my thoughts. I don't get it. There is no price to be paid for good health. My mom died of cancer and I'll never know why. The use of unknown and untested chemicals in our food specific appliances has no end, nor are there safeguards. It's upsetting to me that Gaggia would bury the non-stick coating inside the boiler, an area impossible to access for most users and not thought about at the point of purchase.
A barista named Joe! ☕️
The parallels are perfect ha ha!
I wish you could/would compare the GCP to the Rancilio Silva sometime 🤷🏻♂️
Great comparison man! Have you made a review on the Lelit Anna? I think it would be interesting to compare the Gaggia Classic and the Lelit Anna :)
I haven’t reviewed the lelit anna but it loooks pretty nice. I have done a comparison with the quick mill silvano though
I've had my gaggia for around 2 months now, and I'm absolutely in love with it. I've only ever used the stovetop mocca pots in the past (or one of those awful crappy drip filter machines) but this has really opened my eyes to what I've been missing out on. As you say, not everything is perfect, but for me, it's a wonderful machine and so quick (2-3 minutes for a flat white and that include cleaning).
Thank you for the above. How long do you wait before 1st shot, after switch-on?
@@lama8198 it probably takes just under 2 - 2 1/2 minutes from turning on the machine. I like to pre-heat the filter basket first and I usually get boiling water out of the steam-wand to heat up my cups just after that. With the added time for steaming my milk, I've usually finished within 3 1/2 - 4 minutes (and that's including clean up)
@@SabotPottery Thank yo, much appreciated.
Sorry for all the questions, you mentioned that there are "better steps up", wou,d you share which machines you think might be a bit better step up? Any of them under $1000? Thanks
such a great question. yeah I would say the Silvia is a step up but not a giant one. also the bezerra hobby is a great step up. and if your feeling artisanal the la pavoni in my opinion is a step up.
Great review...As always...I have Barista Express at home and just bought the Gaggia Classic for my office. I paid a little extra for an upgraded wooden handle portafilter and tamper. I also bought the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I've only had them for two days but I love the purchase and the price I paid for both. I find the Gaggia to be an upgrade to the Breville as I have more control plus the small footprint of the machine and grinder are perfect for my office.
Yeah the gaggia is great but the Breville is great too ya know. Glad your loving your espresso set up colin
I still prefer the Breville barista express if your machine is going to be used by someone other than yourself. both myself and my best friend are professional baristas but the Gaggia has a steeper learning curve because it doesn't have a PID controller or programmable shot buttons. The Gaggia definitely needs its upgrades to make it a great espresso machine but a programmable shot button mod would definitely take it to the next level especially if you don't want to be the one to make everyone's coffee at home.
Yeah I agree that’s why I rated it as the better machine. I kept it cause I liked some of the customizations I could do to it
Thank you for a great review Joe. Could you please let me know how long it takes before you can pull your 1st shot after switch-on on the Gaggia. Is it possible within 5 minutes, if you flush the grouphead?
No the water doesn’t heat up quite that fast I’d say 7 to 10
How about the PID on the Breville Barista Express vs no PID and uncertain temperature on the Gaggia? How have you found that?
Yeah the temperature surfing and inconsistency is a bit annoying… can be fixed with an after market pid but the temp surfing is real it has about a 10 degree move
Thank you for the video and great content. Can you advise how the Breville Barista Express compares to a superautomatic? I purchased a superautomatic but had to return it because I was not happy with the espresso shots.
Barista express if you use the non pressurized espresso basket you will be good 👍 makes wonderful traditional espresso ☕️. I explain that in this video here ruclips.net/video/_Zcgwu7VUyQ/видео.html
@@JoeyVaracalli OK, thank you!
Hey man!
Great explanation!
Got a question:
1. You pull a shot
2. You steam milk
3. You want to pull a shot
Between 2. and 3., how long before you can pull your next shot?
Noone talks about this. Hope you can help
Im in between these 2 machines.
Cheers from Croatia!
Croatia 🇭🇷 how cool. Yeah so on the breville I’d say it’s almost instant because it’s using a thermo block. On the gaggia it’s pretty close to instant but you need to let out all the pressure from the the boiler which takes like 10 seconds. The breville is a bit easier to switch back and forth from for that exact reason. But honestly if you doing multiple drinks I would make ur shots first if you can
Hi, what would you recommend the next step up from the gaggia classic pro would be? Thanks!
That’s the million dollar question. My quick answer is either a double boiler like the breville dual boiler or the lelit Elizabeth. Maybe a heat exchanger something like the rocket apartmento or bezzera bz10
As for me, i like gaggia minimalism, including cheap handle and knob. For me it feels natural for this minimalist model. Most important that it's well built and has good ergonomics.
I agree the only thing I might disagree with is the minimilist thing since you need a grinder to pair with it
Lots of technical talk but how is the espresso tasting.
Not a word about that.
Sorry about that. I normally do a taste test side by side. The hard thing is that to make it fair I would need to use the grinder from the breville barista express but it makes it very difficult since they have different portafilter sizes
Fantastic video! Very helpful.
That’s 80’s really appreciate the kind feedback
I'm just starting to look at a home espresso machine. My sister has a Breville. I want to buy an ECM Synchronika, but don't want to spend over 3k right now. My plan is to buy the Gaggia for now and sell it in a year or 2. I think it will hold more value over time vs. the Breville because it can be repaired. The Breville looks like an appliance and it seems like trying to resell it would be pointless.
Yeah I can understand that for sure. But if you plan on selling in 2 years it should definitely last that long
Thanks for a good content !
Thank you for the kind comments always appreciated
Love your content. Keep up the good work!!!
Thank you 🙏
Would you say the coffee from the Breville is good enough? Although I'd love to geek out learning all things coffee related I also want my wife to be able to make a coffee. I also like the idea of being able to leave it to pull my shot and come back to it if I'm busy getting ready in the morning etc. The Gaggia with a decent grinder seems the better option for the best coffee but I just wonder how much more convenient the Breville is?
yeah I agreee I would keep them separate so either the gaggia or maybe a bambino paired with a nice grinder
which is better for cafe use for fast brew and steam ?
I mean I don’t think either are good enough for an actual cafe but the gaggia I think is faster. If you want a good cafe use machine I would look to a heat exchanger machine or dual boiler
My breville is same one did not come with the level warning
Yeah I think they may have changed it
Thanks for the great review. Which produces better tasting espresso/latte?
I think the gaggia is just a hair better but it’s maybe less repeatable
Not sure if you've done a comparison of the la specialista by delonghi vs the breville express ?
Also, the breville has temp control. So you can raise the temperature of the water to get a hotter espresso
yup I do know that the temp can be increased but that doesn't change the fact that the ports filter is a lower temp even at the highest temp the breville can be set to. also I did a review of the delonghi and wanted to love it really bad because I loved the look of it but I really hated that machine. you can check out my full review video I will say it was my first review and it wasn't the best quality but I think you will get the idea.... my buddy over at lifestyle labs did a comparison and I would assume we would have very similar points
@@JoeyVaracalli thanks for the reply ! I will check out that video for sure. I appreciate your personal touch so would rather give you my views. I was flip flopping between the two and just need validation that I made the right choice!!! Lol!!
@@PM.0000 delonghi had a real chance to make a lot of fan boys but the screwed up by nerfing the grinder so it can’t go fine enough for a non pressurized filter basket so basically everyone who is into espresso uses non pressurized and it simply can’t do it without getting a separate grinder
I think gaggia is the machine for me in my budget. I’d like a Rancilio Silvia V6 but it’s really out of my budget.
Yeah I honestly don’t think you get that much more value for money anyways with the rancilio other than build quality
@@JoeyVaracalli Thanks. Nice to know!!! :3
I do not understand why Gaggia, as well as Rancilio with their Silvia single boiler, simply don't have a version of their coffee makers with PID out of the box. For example lacking PID is one of the main reason why I didn't go with the Classic Pro, nor Silvia. If it was equipped with PID for a few hundred dollars more, I most probably would have purchased it. Yes, mods can be done, but that voids the warranty. Have it available with it already installed. The Classic Pro and Silvia are for coffee hobbyists and Breville coffee makers are for the rest of us..
Totally agree it’s really dumb honestly
I've owned & used a Breville Barista Express since 2015. Has built in 16 step stainless steel burr grinder (& the grinder can be adjusted internally for finer or coarser grind .. & no separate electric cord for electric grinder), water pressure gauge & steamer. The machine can be operated manually wrt pre-infusion & infusion times. Also features a sealed bean hopper, drip tray with float & water tank has a filter feature. It is easy to remove water tank & fill. Breville has very good support for descaling & cleaning products. 54mm portafilter is what it is - but seriously 4mm diameter difference to 58mm is not significant. The Breville steam wand also has a ball joint & can be disassembled to clean thoroughly. Milk caking has never been issue if you clean it after steaming - as you should. After-market 3rd party options are good - bottomless portafilter, better baskets & steamer lever. My household has 2 pro-trained café experienced baristas, (my son & myself), one aspiring home barista, & a casual user. I can set coffee bean grind size, basket dose, adjust temp, manually time & pull shots, steam milk & Breville also has hot water dispenser. The portafilter, tamper, basket depth tool & cleaning kit make the Breville Barista a very good semi-auto espresso machine for the price range. Do I want a Gaggia? Yes. I like the idea of tearing down, modding & paring it with better espresso grinder. But for very good, all-round household espresso machine - Breville is hard to beat. Also - members of household only drink coffee morning, lunch & late afternoon so there is no need for always on function of Gaggia. Gaggia is behind-times romantic espresso machine but value for money for serious coffee afficionados - get manual coffee bean grinder & Flair 58, or pour over filter like Hario V60. If you want high end machine espresso - go to café with $30K classico espresso machine & super modella barista. But do not wear beanie hat.
Glad you love the barista express it’s a great machine
I can't even get a decent tasting cup of espresso out of the Gaggia. I've installed the 9 bar spring, bottomless portafilter with a IMS 22g nanocoated basket, PID controller and using fresh local roaster espresso coffee beans. I'm ready to just find someone who I can bring the machine to that knows what there doing to help me figure this thing out.
Damn that’s a bummer. If you ever want to do a live stream session we can try and trouble shoot… could be fun. What grinder are u using?
@@JoeyVaracalli I may need to do that as I seem to be going wrong some where. Using the 1zpresso jx pro, which I had read was a great manual grinder and others seem to had no issues making espresso with it. Every shot I get out of it seems to be bitter or sour, I've had a really great looking counter ornament for 4 months that I keep trying to understand where I am going wrong. My wife and kids all spit it out as soon as they taste it, can't say I know what espresso should taste like but this definitely is not it.
@@MrCt333 Is your timing correct getting 2:1 ratio in ruffly 30 seconds? also espresso is a very acquired taste 👅 so it’s very possible the family doesn’t like it. Might want to try some milk based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos to get started
@@JoeyVaracalli Yeah putting about 18g in and getting 36g out in roughly 30 seconds. My puck is soppy and wet after the pull, my shot I don't believe is pulling evenly either. Watching the bottom of my bottomless portafilter it seems to flow more from one side. After grinding and dumping the grounds into the portafilter I've even used a paperclip to break up any clumps and try to distribute equally before tamping. I can try to shoot a video of the process to see if you can spot anything, may be a bit hard since I don't have a tripod to set my camera on.
@@MrCt333 ok so the soggy thing is that your using 22g basket and only putting 18 grams in I would say min 20g in but in general it should affect the shot that much in terms of flavor. My thought is try doing the recommended dose of 22 grams so you will have to go slightly corser to get the same ratio and timing. Again I would probably do milk based drinks and or americanos to start if your not use to espresso yet
At a 600 price range, I have been considering both of thse machines. Since you have scored both of these machines at a 7, are there other machines you would reccomend buying over these two at the price range I am looking at?
Well I will say the gaggia doesn’t have a grinder so you will need to allocate some cash toward that. If you were to buy the Breville bambino that’s a pretty good option since it has the internals of the barista pro just without the grinder. So you could allocate maybe 300 400 bucks toward a great grinder like the df64 or sette 270
So frustrating that the Gaggia Classic Pro EU version which also ships to AU, turns itself off after 20 mins or so. So annoying. But there is a jumper wire hack to stop it
Yeah it’s a big pain. That or you can just buy a different switch
I was wondering what was going on with my machine 🧐
@@viking.designs I got the jumper from shadesofgrey. Super easy install and fully reversible. So good, now my Gaggia stays on! I believe they also ship it with the purchase of a PID for free, if you're after that mod.
@@sAmiZZle82 that's good to hear! Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely look into it. 👍
I have been using my Gaggia (Model 9304), since 2015. I bought it with missing parts and sourced them myself. I paid not very much for a new machine. Between all these newer Gaggia classic releases many changes were made. Some models have an automatic shut off feature was not required by law in Europe before 2017 or so. The aluminium boiler was also replaced to a stainless steel boiler and then back to aluminium.
Anyway, the Gaggia is more solid machine. The coffee is great. The Breville is just crap. To many computers in that Breville.
Maintenance is required on both machines. Daily/Weekly cleaning, replacing seals and o-rings or a valve. The Gaggia can be modded and repaired very easily. After 6 years of use I have changed the seals, the valve, both thermostats. Those repairs were not very expensive but required, maybe 50 bucks.
I did some mods:
I replaced the steam wand with one of the Rancillio Silvia (If you have the money, this is is also a very nice machine)
The porta filter, got a lower drip tray, so I can use the Gaggia with a scale, extended release tube, a better shower screen... maybe something else....?
I just bought the gaggia classic pro!
Nice Josh hope you love it. I have had great experience with it
@@JoeyVaracalli I just subscribed too 😃
@@joshbonner9409 wow thanks so much did you enter our df64 giveaway
Gaggia Classic Pro with 9 bar and a Baratza Sette 270 and you are making quality espresso. And for less than $1000 you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from a Linea Mini.
Yeah I think the linea really isn’t a home machine and it’s over priced but lever machines or flow control machines might be worth upgrading to if your really into espresso as a hobby
Which one pulls better shots?? Had to be a winner
Yeah I’d say because of of the bigger porta filter and heat retention the gaggia is better with just shots alone. That said it is harder to pull a shot with as well.
@iBi AhIVIeD yeah I’ve noticed that the gaggia definitely pulls a better shot but it’s hard to be super consistent because the temperature surfing
@iBi AhIVIeD how do you get temp right?
@iBi AhIVIeD what is a good PiD and where can I get it from?? I’m interested I already did the 9!bar mod.
I’ve had both and by far prefer the Barista Express. It’s not even close. Few mods like single dose zero retention hopper, new steam/hot water switch and some ims gear and you’re on a winner for the price.
Yeah they are fun machines to tinker around with for sure I keep going back and forth on what I prefer. Right now I’m messing with the oracle but I’m wanting my lelit back
I was searching 🔍 a lot on RUclips for this comparison
Which makes better espresso, using Breville two machine grinder?
Hi glad you found this video!!! That’s what I’m all about trying to get the information to people.
Do you mind clarifying the question. I want to answer correctly and thoroughly
@@JoeyVaracalli
Great that you asked for accuracy in defining the question
If we make espresso in both machines using the built-in grinder of the Breville Barista Express machine, which one makes the best espresso? "I use Google translator"
@@Steve.Jawed.Chad.05 all good 😌.
Yes I would say the gaggia classic pro will end up pulling you a better shot mostly because of the 58mm portafilter having more surface area and it retains more heat. it’s only marginally better though keep that in mind....
@@JoeyVaracalli
appreciate it you ☕
@@Steve.Jawed.Chad.05 Gaggia deserves a better grinder than the built in grinder on the Breville.Something like a Baratza Sette 270 or Eureka Mignon
Wear can n I get my Caggia fixed?
What city you live in
N.Y. Nassau county
@@josemartins9651 I’ll look into it but you unfortunately might have to send it in to a repair shop
@@JoeyVaracalli thank you so much, if you can help I appreciate.
Love my machine,the problem is a gasket.
@@josemartins9651 ohhh this is actually a very easily replaceable item. Check out this video ruclips.net/video/-OPZT8bgs7g/видео.html
Then you can buy this gasket
amzn.to/3jmCDmu
Or buy a whole new ims screen with gasket that will greatly improve shot quality like this one
amzn.to/3YRa7dg
This one is easy, THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE GRINDER!! That junk on top of the Breville says it all.
Yeah the breville grinder isn’t the best that’s for sure
Excellent review.
Thank you really appreciate the kind words
One thing I dont like about the breville is the portafilter size. Ur absolutely right. The frustration with this. I had no idea before I bought it. I was a noob and now I kinda regret it
Yeah same sort of situation I knew it would eventually be a draw back but when I bought this machine my wife was very accustomed to a super auto so having to tamp and stuff was a big step
Also as far as rust is concerned the internals are not stainless except for the body of the machine. The rest is aluminum alloy and screws are steal. Aluminum won’t rust but it will oxidize and the steal screws will most certainly rust
@@JoeyVaracalli I think my comment was missed on the live today, super fun btw. But you know the plastic disc that goes under the puck in the porta filter on the breville. Would you remove that piece ? Does it affect taste at all ?
@@PM.0000 ohhhhh very sorry we missed that. I don’t think it affects taste but might be worth removing and trying. I’m not really sure what the purpose is other then keeping it clean. Personally I prefer no heated plastic touching my espresso just out of principal lol
@@JoeyVaracalli I appreciate your response ! I'll take it out and give it a whirl. Worse case scenario I put it back lol
Made in ITALY (Gaggia Classic Pro) vs Made in CHINA (Breville Barista Express). Does it not mean something?
Everyone loves having choices and dislikes monopoly. Try buying something that is not made-in-China and one will quickly realise that his choices have become so limited. Isn't that another form of "monopoly"? We can make a difference by making conscious purchase. 😊
I love my Gaggia Classic Pro by the way. A solid espresso coffee machine made in Italy without breaking the bank. 💖
What I meant is that Chinese products can still have good build quality but I agree with you about choice
The burrs of the Breville smart grinder and the built-in grinder are not the same.
You are my favorite hat wearing barista. I know precisely one.
Lol idk if that’s a compliment or me getting made fun of but either way I like it hahahaha
any cheaper ones for a beginner
Cheapest I’d go that’s an electric machine would be the bambino
bro you just blew my fukin mind... I mean I never thought about it before lol, but that "milk build up" on the breville wand being due to longer steam times! I never thought about it like that!
as a side note, on freakin christmas day my breville got destroyed, had it for almost 6 years and used multiple times every day. So now time to upgrade I suppose (I say while my wallet weeps)
Wow that’s really sad it broke Christmas Day but 6 years is pretty decent amount of time. And yeah the longer the steam time the more build up unfortunately. What you thinking to buy
FYI the GCP portafilter is not stainless steel, it's chrome-plated brass.
Makes sense with the weight. Caa as n u send me a link to someplace that has that information
Still undecided just trying to get the same flavor of Cuban coffee that I get from my family's Cuban bakery at a fraction of the cost lol anyone use this for cafecito? If so let me know which one to buy
Yeah I think you can get something similar. Just play with the ratio to get a similar strength that your use to.
love this video!!!
Thank you 🙏 really appreciate it. Put a ton of time into this one
Does it say how many grams you get with the Gaggia
The portafilter it comes with is 15 to 17 grams
You can get a VST or IMS basket in whatever capacity you want for a 58mm portafilter.
@@sAmiZZle82 that is absolutely correct where as the 54 mm you can’t really
@@sAmiZZle82 yeah pretty much
I can't believe I watched this whole video and the guy doesn't even mention the most important thing: espresso flavor ! Go figure.
Yeah I’m mostly not good at reviewing
The flavor is largely dependent on the user
@@JoeyVaracalliI'm think that is a good review but Expresso is essential, Expresso takes hearts of people like me
How is the Expresso in Gaggia Joey?
@@ricardoj8860 I think thin the classic pro is pretty great but maybe take a look at the Turin legato it may be the best entry level right now. Full review coming soon
I can see the problem with quality.but overall they are nice.
Which one do you prefer?
At the end I explain why I’m keeping the gaggia classic pro but I think the breville is better overall for most people
@@JoeyVaracalli I agree with why you are keeping it.
Okay the beanie and pink shirt is a serve
What’s serve mean ?
Means you ate with that@@JoeyVaracalli
The Gaggia is 15 bar pressure if I recall? I have a Mr coffee Cafe baristA (don't hate on me lol- I've never had a good 'espresso' from this machine, and even the froth is kinda awful too, but 'acceptable' I guess for lattes. Wannabuy a Mr coffee? Lol), and it's 15 bar too, and I can't run it with a non pressurized mod on the portafilter basket (basket is In 3 pieces, which can be disassembled so that it is no longer a pressurized filter), and due to the high pressure the water just flies through the portafilter way too quick. I know the Gaggia can be molded for lower pressure, b8ut that supposedly voids the warrenty? Also would like to see a copper boiler, not crazy Bout aluminum that is constantly heated up. Wish they'd create a version with copper boiler, and pid, and timer for shots, as well as an easy way to adjust bar pressure without having to buy a kit- i wou,d happily pay another hundred or 2, maybe even 3 for those great additions on the Gaggia. Would make for such an awesome upgrade I think if they created such a beast.
Some reason i can't edit, so I'll just add my question here. I've read that 15 bars pressure is too high for good pulls, have you found that to be the case or not? Or does the bar pressure lessen when using the non pressurized baskets? I'm new to all this, so not too up on what's what with various machines
@@Nazareth434 ok so my guess is it’s 15 bar but closer to 13 or 11 at the group head that’s generally what happens. But I will say it does promote channeling at that high of pressure so yes worse espresso generally then 9 bar at the group. I did do the OPV mod on my gaggia so check that video out basically I just cut the spring. And as far as pid is concerned I will be doing that in the near future and showing people how to install but with a machine that has a boiler that is only 3oz I’m not sure how truly useful it will be but we will see
@@JoeyVaracalli Hey Joe- thanks for replying- Yep- i saw your mod video- I will probably try that if i end up getting the gaggia classic pro- trying to decide between this classic pro and the Sylvia Pro double boiler, which is a whole lot more expensive of course- Trying to decide- Think I'm leaning towards the Gaggia for now, and maybe another machine later- The boiler on this is only 3 oz?
@@Nazareth434 yeah it’s only a 3oz boiler. But I’d recommend other things if you go up in price to the Silvia pro. Like look at the bezzera bz13 de or pm I think those are nicer for the same price or even less or maybe even the crem one hx again around the same price but better machine functionality I think.
@@JoeyVaracalli Thanks for those recommendations- They look amazing-
Awesome video thank you. I was this close in getting the Breville express but I will give the Gaggia a try.
Ohhh yeah it’s pretty awesome just make sure you get a good grinder
@@JoeyVaracalli Yes I purchased the baratza sette 30 It will arrive soon I hope I like it and lasts a long time.
@@anorveaa it’s a good grinder and you can easily add the step less adjuster to it one day if you ever want to basically turn it into a 270
@@JoeyVaracalli Really?? Interesting. Thanks.
@@anorveaa no problem
I don't have time in the morning .. LOL I'm not at home all day either. I have a Breville Barista Touch it's hot in 3 seconds, I can run water to really heat my cup and bottomless portafilter which loses nearly no heat add to that it automatically froths my milk. Cost difference $300.
I've looked at $2,000 and $3,000+ espresso machines with a $1,000 grinder and so on .. I don't need a new hobby.
Yeah that’s why I gave the breville a higher score no hobby necessary and I think it’s better for the average person. I’m home all day and I like tinkering plus I have been using the breville for a while now so it’s time to move on
@@JoeyVaracalli .. I wasn't making a judgment, instead pointing to the fact of my mornings. Playing with the espresso machine was interesting for about a week or two... However, since we prefer milk drinks or the occasional Frappuccino, in either case loaded with sugar and flavorings, the minutiae of nearly imperceptible changes in espresso is irrelevant.
@@DJaquithFL yes yes couldn’t agree with you more. honestly that’s why I recommend super automatic machines for a lot of people because it takes the hassle out of it for a the fast paced life style and if you aren’t drinking straight shots of espresso it’s not a big difference in my opinion
@@JoeyVaracalli .. To be clear .. I have a Timemore B22 scale (17.5g to 19g depending on the beans) which is good enough, I also have a properly sized distributor/tamper .. and I shot for a 2:1 to 2.5:1 in about 25-30 seconds. However, I'm not to the insanity past that point especially when I never drink espresso straight. I can look at a shot to know if it's bad... My worst is better than the local Barista shops.
@@DJaquithFL well that’s great to hear that you have honed in the espresso nicely 👍 good work
Oh, and per usual, I'm a day late and dollar short, missed the contest, can you rerun it just for me 😆
we will do another big one around Christmas time I think.
If you're geting water inside the Gaggia, you need to work on your aim Joe ;)
Your right about that lol. So much coffee I get the jitters and water is flying everywhere lol.
Which machine would you give a 10/10?
Lelit Bianca is dang close. That review is coming over the holidays :)
The most successful thing Breville did was marketing so that consumers believe their machine that is only expected to last 2-3 years with very little replaceable parts is a better value than machines that are made to last upward 10 years or more and easy to fix.
Not saying Breville is a bad product, because in exchange for durability they offer consumers a lot of features that you won't be able to get at the same price point such as a barely serviceable grinder (that isn't even stepless) and temperature control from the cheaper built thermal block.
It's just that people really should know what they are buying into. You buy the Breville for the a few years experience and then they expect you to just buy a new Breville after that once you got sick of things not working, because truth is these things really don't last very long.
Very true! Great machines, but it only lasts 2-4 years if you are very lucky, and unfortunately not easy to fix.
@@lama8198 Have literally had my barista express for a decade.
Not crazy about gaggia aluminum boiler that's why I'm so undecided
that plastic portafilter feels much better to hold than wood ones tbh
If it was seeded better buts so loose and wobbly. If it was like the rocket one I’d agree
@@JoeyVaracalli true. But I bought some third party bottomless portafilter that was wooden and it was so dry to hold, I really hated it. So I bought official gaggia bottomless and much better even with crappy plastic lol
@@petervansan1054 yeah many third party ones feel very poorly made
You didn't even make coffee? Silly Billy!
Yeah sorry about that this is an earlier video of mine wasn’t thinking. I have a full review of both and where you can see shots pulled and tasted
You forgot to mention the gauge.
Good point
You forgot the most important difference,
The boiler!!!! More consistence water, better temperature and better steaming.
The breville...... entry appliance for make coffe
Gaggia...... high entry level expresó
Machine
I talked about the steaming pressure. I should have talked about the boiler though that’s a good call out. Sorry this was a very very late night of recording trying to get this video complete. I did talk about Temperature a bit especially when it came to how hot the liquid is that comes out but I don’t have a skath system to test temp at in the group head during brewing. I will say though I think the breville has less temperature surfing anecdotally speaking I haven’t fully tested that yet
عمل مميز
Coffee beans in a clear jar? Not good mate.
decorative lol
Haha so funny. Only idiot judges machine based on low quality portafilter handle😂😂😂
So true thanks for subscribing ;)
for me, this was the most useless comparison. I say this because why are you not also comparing the espresso shots ...i think this would be the most essential aspect of these machines.
@@Zzzzar yeah I kinda forgot to do that not sure how I screwed up on that
Brevillle Barista Pro.
Yeah that machine is better but they still didn’t include a 58 mm porta filter which is kinda upsetting
@@JoeyVaracalli temperature adjustment.
Actually I would love a review on that one. My focus from my experience is you need temperature control, and a digital readout of the temperature would have made it better.
@@nomadsolos absolutely that’s a super nice thing to have on any machine. Because inevitably machines change temp through use
Actually I wound up going with Ascaso Dream PID. It has a full size portafilter.
@@nomadsolos wow that’s a super nice machine congratulations 🎉🎊🎈 🍾
Ok.
k
Is there Gaggia Classic amater ?
Not that I know of lol but it’s a good question considering the naming convention
@@JoeyVaracalli i do my best. Hahahaha
Just get a bottomless portafilter for gaggia
I did. It’s still garbage though atleast the one from gaggia is. So frustrating they still put the cheap plastic on it when your spending 50 plus bucks