Gaggia Espresso Dose, recommended?

bren2002

All

Thinking of buying a Gaggia Espresso Dose for home use. Big coffee fan, but this would be my first espresso maker, also first time posting on this forum.

Can pick one up for €240.

Thanks
Bren

RE*AC*TOR

Hey Bren the standard reply to this kind of question is: it's more important you get a good grinder than a good espresso machine.
The Gaggia Espresso dose will be fine - but if you're putting pregound stuff through it, it won't be great.

bren2002

Thanks for the reply.

I actually have a cheap grinder, that I've had for years for cafetiere. The thing that interests me is that it is well made and will last. I'm very much a fan of pay double, or you'll buy twice. I know the sky's largely the limit with this.

BTW - it's for sale in House of Fraser for €240.

RE*AC*TOR

OK - well all the domestic Gaggia machines have the same pumps, same boilers and are more or less identical apart from the Gaggia Classic and Gaggia Baby lines which have 3-way solenoid valves and heavier brass portafilters (some of the cheaper one may have these also). If you pair this with a good burr grinder you should be able to make good espresso, if you don't you won't. You could buy a €7000 espresso machine that will still produce muck unless you have a decent grinder. The good news is you can get a decent grinder in the €100-€150 range.

fourmations

hi

im not familair with the "dose" model but i would really aim
for a model with a 3way solenoid, its really worth it imo

the 3way sucks the water off the puck and lets you knock out
with ease leaving a clean pf

you can also backflush which is essential in my opinion

rgds

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