1: excellent shots
2: small
3; i like the look
4: full on machine in small shell
5: fast boiler cycle
6: solid where it matters -
7: commercial pf
8: solenoid

1: crap driptray with poor cover too!
2: crap stock wand needs mod
3: dubious switch construction (my steam switch was temporarily sticking)

let me just say that this review is relative to my experience
the baby gaggia is my first proper machine, so i cannot compare it to
an ECM or an Isomac, its all relative to the price too!

and i love it, as with all the advice here, when i try blame my entry level gaggia for
poor shots it ends up being my errors that cause them

the machine is well capable of pulling any shot type you like
(ristrettos etc) and has enough pump power

i like the 3way as espresso is a hobby and i have tasting nights
and in a multiple shots situation the 3 way is useful

i have had many people tell me that gaggia is a name for a reason
and they are bulletproof - i cant vouch for this six months later
but i can see this machine living a long life

there seems to be a hatred for the finish of this machine but i dig it,
i have the newer model in metallic silver and is so much nicer that  the white or black ones
i love the minimilism of it but its softened by the curves and has a retro feel
the classic can be had for an extra 100 bucks
Stainless steel is stainless, but its such a common feature in a kitchen nowadays

the baby is plastic, but its heavy, are you going to hit it with a hammer??

i cant  stick up for the drip tray though, it just poor in any mans language
its way way too shallow and with the solenoid, it fills up before you know it,
the holes in the cover are not right and you get water sitting on the cover,

as always this is for the buck!
it'll always bow down to hx machine

bought from a dep store