Good Budget Entry, but you will need to learn the tricks to get decent espresso and microfoam milk, However Gaggia Careezza are pretty cheap now on ebay
Positive Product Points
Cheap, well built for the price, can make decent espresso and microfoam with lots and lots of practice
Negative Product Points
High learning curve,small aluminum portafilter, leaky steam wand, need to temp surf to get decent espresso sometimes, to much work to make espresso for more than two people
Detailed Commentary
I have to say the gusto has served me well and I would reccomend to others.
However, here are some things I learned to get the best out of this machine
Make sure the machine and the portafilter is warmed up, pull a blank shot with the portafilter before pulling any espresso
make sure you temp surf, meaning when you fill the portfilter with coffee and attach it to the machine turn the steam wand on warmup mode for ten seconds before pulling the shot, the gusto does not get hot enough to pull a 25 second shot so this needs to be done
If you havent heard the coffeegeek mantra "get a good grinder", then make sure you do, because you wont get any quality espresso without one
Get a 51mm tamper, the correct size tamper makes a huge difference with these portafilters
You can make really good microfoam with good practice, take off the rubber froth attachment and use the bare steam wand, just skim the surface until you get the right feel (this will take some time to learn!!!)
dont bother with the single basket, its to difficult to work with
Home roast your beans, the sight of the crema alone will never make you go back to store bought coffee again (unless it was freshly roasted in the past 7 days)
Even though it served me well you might want to look at a Gaggia Carezza on ebay, they go for about $115 and is far more superior to this machine
