The Italian Ferrari of coffee machines-brilliant when they work, but spend most of the time at the service-centre
Positive Product Points
It's a good looking machine with a good instruction manual (in Multi-language). Makes a Not-too-bad espresso for a super-automatic machine. Steam production is adequate as compared to thermoblock type units.
Negative Product Points
Drip Tray is inadequate. Drip tray indicator not really useful. Dregs draw indicator not consistant. Inernal water lines are silicon tube.
Detailed Commentary
This is the top of the line "you beauty" Gaggia super-automatic espresso machine. Although I know that no super-auto can and will beat a pf machine, this does a good consistant job of producing a shot.
I mainly make cappucinno's so tastewise it's not noticeable that quality is down.However the machine set on maximum dose is not adequate and I find that I have to consistantly use double dose on everything. The machine does produce adequate crema and the steaming of milk is good.
Cleaning the machine is easy, thanks to the group assembly being removable(similar to other SAECO machines), However, the clasp that holds the front door of the machine is a joke and only just catches. This machine will not work and displays a door open message on the LCD panel if the front door is ajar (Have to push the door closed again) Annoying!!
The Dreg draw will activate a message "Empty Dregs" when full and will de-activate all functions until this is done. I thought this was a good feature until I found out that this can occur with anything from 2-8 pucks being created.
The drip Tray is a bit of a joke as it is too shallow and a little red indicator that is supposed to rise when full is virtually useless. If I were to wait for the button to rise, then the tray would be so full that I'd make a helluva mess trying to remove it. I now just religously empty the tray and rinse after each use of the machine.
The cup warmer (Top of the machine) is not really a dedicated cup warmer at all and only relys on the heat generated from within. Read-Usless!!
At about 800 shots (internal counter) the machine started to leak from within. OK so it uses a little more water and I have to mop up afterwards. I can live with that. At about 1000 shots the group mechanism has jammed in eject-the-puck mode and begins it's cycle from there!! i.e. the machine is useless as its inended use. The machine is currently back with authorised repair people under warranty. They have had the machine now for 5 weeks!! This may only be an Australian problem with time delay for service. (This machine really is Italian. Like A Ferrari. More time off the road than on).
In terms of super-automatics, this machine does the job well. Quick coffees in minimal time. But the price to pay is in quality of taste. I can still make a better shot with a PF machine. However this machine does produce a better coffee than local stores around my area so it is good (or are my local stores that bad?) Am I dissillusioned by super-autos? Not sure. Maybe my unit is a dud as I can't compare with other reviews on this unit. Next Machine..ECM VENZIANO A1
Buying Experience
This machine was purchased at a homegoods type store and the salesman was of limited intellect (Coffee wise). I didn't bother going back to the store with the warranty claim and just contacted the Gaggia nationwide importer for help. They put me onto the repair centre for my state. From what I here, service support for Gaggia is very poor.
