advice on gaggia

pmcf

Hi was hopeing somone would be able to give me some advice im looking to get my gf a coffee machine as she loves her coffee and has always wanted a gaggia machine.i found a Gaggia Classic RI8161 on the net for around 250 is this a good entry level machine ive seen cheaper machines but from reviews ive read the classic is the one to go for id just like to get a second opinion before i go spending all that money.

Skill Magill

I posted a very similar thread to you a couple of months back and was advised to go for the gaggia classic, which I did. No regrets,
in fact the coffee is so much better than any of the shops downtown that I have to drink tea in them. Its a bit noisy but I've used it at least three times a day since i got it, so its well worth the price. I bought a burr grinder (delonghi) off amazon for about €40 which was affordable and does a grand job. There are other way more expensive grinders out there but I'm happy enough with this one. Also I started getting my beans from that market at the back of the film centre on Eustace st of a Saturday. The classic has been knocking around for about 30 years(i think) which says a lot for it in my book.

pmcf

Thanks eoing1 for the quick reply sounds like i picked the right machine,if you dont mind me asking did you buy your machine online ? id prefer to buy it from an actualy shop if i could but trying to find anywhere near me that actually sells them seems impossible i thought for such good machines it would be easy to find stockist.

Skill Magill

I got it from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000C72XS/ref=wms_ohs_product which I found to be considerably cheaper than in a bricks and mortar shop. Only took about 4 days too. Just realised your in Donegal, there are shops in Dublin selling them alright, I think theres one in the Dundrum towncentre but they/re a rip off. Definitely get one online. Besides we don't like you Donegal heads comin up to Dublin taking our things haha

chevy

Bought a gaggia baby dose recently from watermark in city west. It makes a super coffee. They are the main dealers for gaggia in ireland so you can get what you want there.

http://gaggia.ie/machine/gaggia-new-baby-dose/

pmcf

eoing1 wrote: »

I got it from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000C72XS/ref=wms_ohs_product which I found to be considerably cheaper than in a bricks and mortar shop. Only took about 4 days too. Just realised your in Donegal, there are shops in Dublin selling them alright, I think theres one in the Dundrum towncentre but they/re a rip off. Definitely get one online. Besides we don't like you Donegal heads comin up to Dublin taking our things haha

Ah ere leave it out eoin us doneagl heads arent the worst lol .you are right about the prices think ill just stick to amazon they seem cheapest if you can call gaggia machine cheap lol.

thanks for the link chevy but think ill give amazon try for now.

PPC

Make sure you buy a decent grinder too, no point buying a nice machine and not being able to have a consistent grind for it.
http://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtobuyanespressomachine/getagrinder

murphyebass

PPC wrote: »

Make sure you buy a decent grinder too, no point buying a nice machine and not being able to have a consistent grind for it.
http://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtobuyanespressomachine/getagrinder

Felt I had to reply here. If you buy a gaggia classic and dont buy and Gaggia MDF grinder or something better your disappointing yourself.

I learnt this the hard way by buyin cheap grinders.

1st priority Grinder. 2nd priority machine.

llatsni

Please, please listen to the grinder advice... The cheapest, most basic grinder you should be considering for espresso is the Baraza Virtuoso. It's in or around the 200 euro mark generally. As with everything - especially coffee equipment - the sky is the limit thereafter.

murphyebass

llatsni wrote: »

Please, please listen to the grinder advice... The cheapest, most basic grinder you should be considering for espresso is the Baraza Virtuoso. It's in or around the 200 euro mark generally. As with everything - especially coffee equipment - the sky is the limit thereafter.

I didnt know about this grinder when I bought mine...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81191096#post81191096

But I have to say for me the Gaggia MDF grinder has been superb so far and thats without any modifications.

And at €175 its slightly cheaper.

Is the Baraza €25 better? Whats the differences can anyone tell me just out of curiosity to be honest.

raytaxi

I have one and i think it has more settings also it has no doser. Its very simple to go from expresso to french press

llatsni

@murphyebass: There's not a lot in it really. Both are good value entry level grinders. Personally I think the Virtuoso is a bit nicer looking. I actually went from an MDF to an Iberital because for some odd reason my MDF was very very slow, turned out the Iberital was more annoying in different ways, so eventually I went for a Vario. Best decision ever.

pmcf

thanks for the advice guys she has a grinder already but im not sure what type it is,the machine is all i can afford to get her for the min but im sure she will get a new grinder once she sees that she got a gaggia for xmas.

murphyebass

pmcf wrote: »

thanks for the advice guys she has a grinder already but im not sure what type it is,the machine is all i can afford to get her for the min but im sure she will get a new grinder once she sees that she got a gaggia for xmas.

Check what grinder she has. It could be a blade grinder which really is not for espresso as it can't grind fine enough.

Having gone years withthe wrong/cheap grinder I'm tellin u getting that right is no 1 priority. That's were the budget should go. Couple it with aeropress if u have to at first machine then later.