Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine, Includes Steam Wand for Manual Frothing for Lattes and Cappuccinos with Programmable Options,Black
About this item
Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
MANUAL FROTHING FOR MILK-BASED DRINKS: Pannarello steam wand for frothing milk
PROGRAMMABLE: Programmable brewing options for espresso and espresso lungo
TEMPERATURE CONTROL: 3 different temperature settings. Min/177.5 °F, Med/182.9 °F, Max/184.5 °F
EASY ACCESS TO WATER RESERVOIR AND BEAN HOPPER: Features a removable 60 oz water reservoir that can be accessed on the top left of the machine, and an 8.8 ounce capacity bean hopper with access from the top right of the machine
RuralJuror123 –
1.5 years in — love this thing!
We spent more time looking at espresso machines than we did our new house…. Anyway, after much back and forth, we went with this one. It does not disappoint. It has been used daily (or more) for 1.5 years and still going strong. The weekly cleaning does not take long. The machine has a prompt for when to replace the filter and do the calc clean. The de-scaling and lubrication I do once a month (reminder on the calendar). The only problem is finding the right beans without oils (Lavazza Super Crema from amazon work great). Anything too oily and you’ll have to grind it separately and put in the pre-ground area. Sometimes I wish I would have gotten the model where the milk sits in front so I wouldn’t have to froth/steam my own milk, but that is just extreme laziness on my part. Great machine. The videos on Whole Latte Love are very helpful getting to know your new machine!!!
42 people found this helpful
Sandie L Watkins –
Great little machine!
Granted we’ve only had it for a few days now, but this machine is amazing. It’s very quiet (especially compared to our old machine), and makes a really great espresso. You can adjust the water that passes through the grounds, so you can actually pull a real ristretto shot with this machine, and the crema is amazing too. It is really easy to set up and use – we love it!
C. Thomas –
Automation and quality well blended in this machine
What this machine lacks in versatility it makes up for in simplicity. While I prefer stronger and longer shots than this one will by default settings provide, I get what I want by programming the machine for stronger shorter shots and simply make a double-double shot.The ease of cleaning is a testament to the amazing engineering that went into the design of the guts of the machine.I am very happy with the way it quickly froths. The requirements for cleaning are well balanced against the ease of use and near total automation of drawing shots.
John Pacelli –
Very nice and compact. Super easy to use and maintain.Gaggia is the best!
Very easy to use and naintain
D. Barrett –
Really Nice Machine
Had to replace my Gaggia Titanium when it literally began to fall apart. After a lot of research decided to go with the Anima. Could not believe the taste this machine extracts for delicious lungos and espresso. Took a little time to practice with the steam wand for cappuccinos and lattes but it was well worth it. Overall I’m pleased with the Anima and look forward to my morning brews. Only downside is the auto-rinse feature as I’m refilling the water tank more frequently than I’d like. On the upside, the water is always fresh for my coffee drinks. I’ve had several super-autos over the years and each time there is process involved as I learn each machine. Gaggia has always been my favorite and I’m glad I chose to stick with the brand. I’d recommend this machine to those who enjoy espresso/latte/cappuccino. You’ll find that what you can make in your jammies at home is superior to what you can buy at coffee shops.
3 people found this helpful
k.hansen –
I don’t need anyone now that I have this.
I never knew how much I could love something until I bought this. I may have espresso instead of blood, but I regret nothing.It cleans super easy, works fast, is easy to adjust and produces a great cup of espresso. It makes life worth living.
BH –
It looks great and it works wonderful
I purchased this for work and everyone here loves it. It looks great and it works wonderful.
Joseph Bauschelt –
Fresh coffee all day long
No more wasting money at Starbucks
kindlenerdkindlenerd –
Easy To Use And Consistent–Works Great Every Time!!!
I did a lot of research and found that America’s Test Kitchen (which is a pretty good authority on kitchen equipment) rated this unit very highly. It is not cheap, but actually one of the lowest price fully automatic espresso machines. I have not been disappointed–it is extremely easy to use and works great every time. Very consistent. I’ve already saved about $30 over the past two weeks by NOT going to Starbuck’s. The product is every bit as good as what you’d get from a barista at any coffee shop. So I figure I should save somewhere in the neighborhood of $750 or $800 by not going to Starbuck’s over the course of a year. I think you’re not supposed to put the dollar amount of a product in these reviews, but suffice it to say I should easily recoup the cost of the unit and begin saving money significantly in year two. Thank you Gaggia and whole latte love for an excellent product!!!
2 people found this helpful
Terry Hancock –
Five Stars
Great machine!
2 people found this helpful
Dora Allen –
Five Stars
We are lovers of good coffee and this machine fills all our needs. We highly recommend it.
Mikey –
Gaggia Espresso Super Automatic
Love products from Gaggia. I have a semi auto as well…….
One person found this helpful
Steve –
Great
Easy to clean. Much better than Jura !
mike –
Recommended by “America’s Test Kitchen” (TV)
I finally found one that works. I have bought and returned other espresso machines because they were too hard to get to work or because the coffee tasted bad. This one was recommended by “America’s Test Kitchen” TV show. They obviously did their testing, because this is an excellent espresso machine at a reasonable price.
50 people found this helpful
DJW –
Machine is good once you figure out the quirks
This is the second one that we own. Machine is good once you figure out the quirks. Reliable. Just be careful with the beans that you purchase. Do not use beans from Costco or any that are shiny. Bought this for vacation home.
6 people found this helpful
Thelilleypad –
Easy to use
My husband loves this machine. It replaces Saeco of 13 years.
Mag F. –
Fully automated machine
Excellent machine fully automated
AK –
Great, push button espresso/coffee
I have been using this daily now for a couple months and it is outstanding. I wanted good morning coffee/espresso without effort and this delivered. Highly recommend! Easy to use, easy to clean–though remember to disassemble once per week and clean thoroughly the mechanism inside under the faucet.
Adela Cruz-Linder –
creamy taste and full bean flavor
I only have coffee once a day. This machine makes the best coffee ever!!!
Andrew D. RodneyAndrew D. Rodney –
Superb and affordable super automatic
Yes, I did state affordable but let’s put this into perspectives. I’m coming to the Anima from a Gaggia Titanium which I purchased here on Amazon in 2005 and at the time, paid $1499. I loved it and made over 25,000 cups until last month when the water pump finally died. I was told by Gaggia it would be too expensive to ship and fix and that the Anima was the ‘replacement’. So at more than half the price of the Titanium, and considering what other super automatics can cost, I found this unit ‘affordable’.It makes superb coffee, perhaps better than the Titanium. There are mostly pro’s, a few con’s in comparing the two. I talked about price. Further:1. Quality of the coffee. I think this unit grinds and thus produces a better, stronger cup. I’ve played with the various controls and nailed how I like the coffee. The quality is outstanding (see below, comparison to French Press and Chemix).2. The unit appears to hold a bit more coffee beans and the same amount of water as the Titanium.3. The coffee dispensing spout has a wider range than the Titanium and allows very tall mugs which is a major plus for those of us wanting coffee.4. The control panel is icon based and attractive. It’s a bit more descriptive.5. The unit is smaller in footprint than the Titanium. It doesn’t swivel on it’s base which I could care less about.6. The unit has a more robust “reactivation” (energy saving) mode which is programmable by time. When the unit first wakes up and cleans itself, it uses far less water than the Titanium which makes the water in the tank go longer between refill.7. Once you set the desired amount of product with one push of the button, two pushes produces twice as much like the Titanium. I like the progress dialog on the LCD letting you know how much longer the process should take. More about this in #2 below.Possible cons:1. Build quality isn’t close to the Titanium**, but with careful use, I don’t think that’s going to be a factor. The Titanium was solid with lots of ‘metal’ while the Anima has a lot of (what some might call) flimsily plastic instead. And that’s what one would expect at half the price. I believe if a user is careful with the parts that need to be removed, cleaned and handled, this will not be an issue.2. The Titanium had three “coffee” buttons, this unit has two. Not an issue for me. Both are programmable for the amount of product and thus strength. I have one for espresso and one for ‘coffee’. So you can program the amount of product to dispense and double that by clicking on one of the two buttons twice. Titanium also had a cup warmer I never used; not necessary IMHO.3. Seems to require a bit more maintenance. One has to ‘oil’ the brew unit occasionally and once a month, it’s recommended it be ‘cleaned’ with a Gaggia tablet. That wasn’t the case with the Titanium. I don’t know yet if this will be a factor. Both units need occasionally to have a descaling.4. This unit is a bit slower in dispensing the coffee perhaps due to the strength of the pump or, it just has to do this to make a better, stronger cup of coffee. Hardly a con but I wanted to mention you’ll wait a bit longer for one ’round’ than with a Titanium. Both produced lovely creama.5. To alter the grind with the supplied tool, you’re told to start the process of making a cup of coffee and turn the dial while grinding. That’s not possible as when the door to the coffee beans is open, the unit stops so I can’t figure out how to follow the instructions. None the less, I was able to carefully turn the dial to the desired grind and now it’s perfect.All in all, I’m very happy with the unit after a few weeks of use. I miss (and loved) my dear Titanium but I’m very happy with this unit. I hope I’m lucky enough to brew 25K cups of coffee and get 13 years out of this unit. There doesn’t appear to be a number of coffees produced menu option but that’s not a big deal.When my Titanium died and while waiting for this unit, I went back to a French Press and a Chemix (my backups) and it only took a few days to want my super automatic back. Grinding the coffee, boiling the water (to ideal temp) and clean up was a major hassle compared to having a super auto. Push one button, you get a superb cup of coffee. And I really prefer the taste of the coffee from the Anima from either backup method. So if you’ve never had a super automatic, go for it. If you think it’s too expensive, you can spend a LOT more.**EDIT: purchased in 2018, it is now nearly the end of 2023 and the machine is still running as good as the day we got it.
60 people found this helpful
Pup –
Great little machine got 2
Perfect machine, best is you can clean everything easy and fast love the side acess
Randall Catalano –
Love this machine
I have purchased (3) of these systems in two of my homes and one for a relative. We fix Lottes every day and the only maintenance that’s required is an occasional cleaning of the water, coffee and waste containers. Plus an occasional descaling using an available descaling kit. Once in a while the actual internal cycling system needs cleaning along with the coffee grinder. Very dependable, good flexible coffee brewing size, strength and steam output.
tonya –
Easy to use! Delicious coffee!
East to use after watching a couple of short videos!
Christine A. –
Love it so far
I’ve had the machine about 2 weeks. It makes mornings a dream. It is by no means a maintaince free machine but the convience of being able to clean it and get everything ready the night before, and only have to hit a few buttons in the morning to have pretty much any coffee drink I’d want makes it worth every penny.
Sane Citizen –
RICH, SMOOTH ESPRESSO, PERIOD.
I’ve only used this machine for a short time. I put off using it because it looked complicated…it’s not.The espresso is dark, smooth, and rich. The flavor is fabulous. I’m in love with the espresso this machine makes.A friend at work said to only buy Gaggia for espresso. So far, I’m glad I did.
One person found this helpful
adonjuanb –
push one button and you have coffee fresh and nice crema! I had a Gaggia classic before and …
I have had this machine for a week now and this is exactly what I was looking for, push one button and you have coffee fresh and nice crema! I had a Gaggia classic before and I loved it but needed to have my coffee faster. This gives me the same quality of coffee if not better than my Classic and faster. The milk frother is nice and allows you to control the amount of foam you want in your milk based coffee drink. Very easy to set up, I did not move the grinding settings, currently set to number 3 out of 5, coffee strength is set to 3 for the wife, but I change it to 4 for me. Cleaning us very easy and the machine tells you when you need water, coffee beans or when to clean the coffee residue. Also as a plus it looks gorgeous in our kitchen. I will update more when i have had it more time, but so far we love it!
8 people found this helpful
Twila Chambers –
Wonderful product
We just returned from Italy when I ordered this. It makes espresso as smooth as that served in Italy!
2 people found this helpful
Jane Doe –
Insanely happy with this machine
Insanely happy with this machine! Upon receiving I was a tad overwhelmed with the instruction manual and the thought of how often it needed to be cleaned/maintained but honestly it’s been a breeze! The coffee that is made with this machine is superb compared to local cafes and I love the many options available; strength, brew time, size, etc. I’ve only used whole beans, so I can’t speak to how well it is with pre-ground coffee, but I can’t imagine it’s much different! So happy with this!
6 people found this helpful
Ms_BryttaMs_Brytta –
Amazing Espresso Machine!
Love the Gaggia Anime… It’s very simple to use—simple to clean—simple to fill. I watched a video on YouTube to understand how to take the grinding mechanism out to clean it and lubricate it. And that’s it. Easy Peezy and makes delicious espresso, cappuccino, latte, any coffee you want, any combination you want, any kind of milk you want any kind of beans you want (specifically don’t use any oily beans, and they recommend a medium roast). It also has the ability for you to override the bean grinding—you simply put a measuring scoop of coffee in it which will turn into espresso whether it’s regular or decaf! So fun and straightforward to use … we haven’t turned a regular coffee maker on since we got it!
Raccoon –
Temperature adjustment.
Love this machine it makes coffee hot and you can adjust temp and the amount of water you put in the cup. Love it
One person found this helpful
M. –
Exceeds Expectations
This machine exceeded all of my expectations. The lattes are delicious, even when using generic espresso. The frothing wand turned out to be the biggest surprise, as it heats the milk quickly without the loud noise of other machines that I’ve used.I had debated between this model and the Brera. I’m glad that I chose this model. I appreciate having the LCD display, as it is simple to understand. In addition, the water container is larger. I also appreciate the longer warranty.
19 people found this helpful
Wes –
Great Product
We have owned this product now for 2-1/2 years. It’s been a fantastic purchase.We have a water filtration system; so, do not have to deal with hard water. We try to do routine light breakdown, cleaning and re-greasing at least every three months. Twice, we’ve done a pretty comprehensive disassembly and cleaning. The latter is non-trivial. If you attempt your own cleaning (and you should), take lots of pictures to help with re-assembly. The available online help is limited.
One person found this helpful
LISA M FRANZE –
Best coffee ever
I do not drink coffee but my husband does. He LOVES this machine so much I had to get him one for work too. Now they are all addicted to the best coffee ever. Yes, you need to read the instructions. Yes, there is frequent maintenance involved. Yes it always seems like either the water or coffee beans need filled or something needs emptied BUT I am told it is the best coffee ever! I would also highly recommend the LaVazza Italiano Espresso beans for the machine which smell wonderful.
J. Friedman –
Works great . Makes a great cup of espresso
Great quality. Looks and feels high end. I love the simplicity of operating it and it makes great espresso!
SFW –
Nice machine, elegant design
Beautiful design, makes wonderful coffee beverages as advertised, intuive, easy to use. Cleaning is easier than other systems I’ve used. Have enjoyed ours for about a month. Would buy again.
Russell McFatter –
Best coffee you’ve had. Far more enviromentally sound than single-use pod machines!
We had an order in for a Breville Espresso machine at the same price until a review on a cooking show rated that machine as #2, and this Gaggia Anima as #1. This to replace a Bosch Tassimo machine that started leaking.Those TV reviews are correct. While I’ve gotten reasonably good at pulling shots with a manual espresso machine like the Breville, the Gaggia is a “super automatic” machine that just does it all for you. It makes fabulous coffee: the ceramic burr grinder is quiet and top-notch, the default (“medium”) grind is perfect out of the box.Basically, you press the “power” (standby) button on the front to start. The machine takes about 30 seconds to warm up, after which it flushes the water lines with a small amount of water. Then put your cup under, and select your beverage. It’ll make great espresso or a long expresso, and either of those can be doubled by pressing the button twice. Two long espressos makes a beverage close to an Americano (standard coffee), and it’s ready in less than a minute.An internal container catches ground coffee, the water the machines uses for self-cleaning, and any drips. If you’re on a municipal sewer system with a garbage disposal, you can just dump the grounds down the drain and feel good about not sending tons of coffee-wrapped-in-plastic to landfills; you can also compost coffee grounds).Frothing milk is easy: the “steam” button makes steam in about 20 seconds. It’ll also make hot water (fairly slowly) that dispenses through the same frothing nozzle.There’s an adjustable standby setting (15 minutes to several hours): if no buttons are touched in this time, the machine goes through a self-clean cycle (flushes the water lines again) and shuts itself off.Cleaning is relatively easy. Once a day you empty the drip tray and waste coffee bin; once a week you remove the brew group from the side of the machine and rinse it: once a month you clean the system with a cleaning tablet (“degreaser”), and grease the moving parts of the brew group (the food-safe grease is included with the machine; the degreasing tablets aren’t). Every so often (based on your water hardness) the machine, like most, will ask for a decalcification cycle.We look forward to getting up in the morning!
85 people found this helpful
CarlosCarlos –
Fast shipping, delicious coffee, easy to use and clean with an attractive price!
I’ve owned this product for about a week and a half purchased it after watching lots of review videos online. Really wanted the Cardona but it’s just too pricey for me at this time. After doing some research I figured out that this machine the Anima and the Cardona basically have the same Brew group. This is mostly an entry level espresso machine one touch and you have expresso it grinds and it brews fast, adjustable strength and adjustable temperature. So far I’m very happy with this and I’m just very concerned that I might not go back to the coffee shop again! this machine makes it so easy to go in these stores that sell coffee beans and pick up a new blend a new flavor just to take it home and try it out it’s kind of addicting to be honest with you but it’s still a lot less expensive than any pod-based machine plus well the grounds are recyclable. I did buy the extended warranty as well which I think is a good move. I don’t think you can go wrong on this machine for the price again I would have liked the more expensive version, the Cardona, because it has one touch settings for coffee drinks like Americano which I usually drink they even higher versions of this one and the Cardona have one touch settings for frothing milk and making coffee so you don’t have to do anything manually except for touch a button they’re a lot more expensive but if I could have afforded them I would have gotten it it’s that good! The picture that I have put in this review is of a cappuccino that I made and drank while I was writing this and it tasted so delicious and I’m sitting here looking at it and it still got froth!!
5 people found this helpful
JimBob1 –
Love this thing! [Update in braces]
[Bought one of these about four years ago, and use it constantly! We average 8 brew cycles daily. Yeah, we love the coffee from this machine. After much experimenting, we settled on an Italian dark roast bean coffee, and stopped sampling once we found this flavor. It is worth testing to find your favorite! Anyway, we clean and lubricate the machine as required, and it just keeps working! Four years, 8 pucks brewed daily, and not one repair needed. We use the Gaggia descaling liquid, and rinse well afterwards. Maybe once or twice a year, I’ll brew a pot of French press coffee, but wonder why I bother. Yeah, the French press makes a fabulous brew, but I find it hard to get the smell and the oils out of the French press itself without MUCH fuss and bother. Makes cleaning the Gaggia brew group easy and time saving by comparison. I’m doing the update here because the machine solved my coffee cravings for over four years to date, and is still my favorite machine by far.]Wonderful how easy to use this thing proved to be. You can do other things while this brews your coffee for you. Grinds beans, packs the puck, does the brew, ejects the puck, and continues as directed. Used coffee grounds hopper is super easy to empty, while the drip tray is just as easy to rinse out when you are finished. Even the coffee brew mechanism is easy to clean, once you figure out how to prepare it to go back in the machine. Takes a gentle second to push a part in place if it shifted during cleaning, then the whole init goes right back into the machine. No degree in mechanical engineering required after all. LOVE THIS MACHINE!
6 people found this helpful
Raquel –
Better then Starbucks
Make sure you read all the instructions for this machine and clean regularly. Usually there is product failure because the machine isn’t maintained properly. I don’t use pre-ground beans for making espresso on a regular basis but it can do this. Be careful to only put in one scoop at a time for the pre-ground stuff. I made that mistake when trying to make an espresso and overfilled the machine. So happy with this machine!
33 people found this helpful
FusciahFusciah –
Really nice super automatic espresso machine!
Recently Won one of these from WholeLatteLove.com gotta say, I love this Gaggia Anima. Works great! Coffee tastes excellent, as good as kookaburra and Starbucks.Definitely read the manual and prime the machine first before using it. Or the machine will not function as designed. I did the cleaning cycle with tap water. The chlorine removes the gunk before first use so the water heats up fast to 170, then higher for nice and hot for espresso making.After the cleaning cycle which is how the machine is primed, I refill the tank with purified water. Turn off, unplug, plug back in and turn on machine. It is then ready to brew!Since advice ….Don’t use flavored beans or oily dark beans. They will break the grinder. Be sure to adjust grinder setting for correct courseness or fineness of grind depending on what your brewing.During shipping the magnet broke off the lid. Seems this has happened to other people. I just taped it back on. Machine works perfectly! ☕😘
3 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
High Quality
It’s very simple to operate and produces a high quality product. It requires some relatively significant maintenance but you get used to it. It’s speed and quality make up for it. Happy with the unit.
One person found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Great machine
I love this product
Ericu –
Fantastic machine
Have had it almost a year. Love it. The only thing to note is that it takes a little while for the strength of the coffee pour to settle down. It started a little weak, had to put it on the strongest settings. A month later it was making very strong espresso at the medium settings.
2 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Very satisfied
Bought as a gift for our daughter. She loves it for coffee and espresso
SBerhane –
3 years, and still going.
3 years later, this baby is still going strong. I’m very diligent with the maintenance of the machine, when the notice comes on. In fact I run the descaling cycle twice. Makes good espresso, and nice thick foam for my steamed milk. I use it at least 3-5x/ day. Lately my boys discovered vanilla steamed milk,so I’ve been using it even more often. Great investment. Saved my family a whole lot of $$$.
2 people found this helpful
Jane B –
Love it, Love it, Love it!
This is my second “Does everything” coffee machine. My other brand quit and there was nothing to be done about it. The repair would have been astronomical. I love the Gaggia! First of all it is a great size, the instructions setting it up were extremely easy to understand, and make GREAT coffee. I use the Lavazza beans because they are not oily and have a great flavor with my Gaggia. No bitter flavor. If you buy this machine, I think you will be very pleased. It is quiet, easy to clean and empty the coffee pods. The water compartment is very easy to maintain as is the bean container. You can set the strength of coffee you like, and the amount of coffee. Great Espresso and Great Coffee. I have no complaints. Five Stars or more! Just be sure to use a dry bean, NOT OILY. Oily beans will ruin this type of machine.
One person found this helpful
AlanAlan –
Pros, you would love the machine, cons, you will drink more coffee than you can handle. Advice switch to de caffeinated coffee.
Very happy with the ease of use, speed of brewing, quality of milk frothing and taste.
33 people found this helpful
Dianne Wright –
FANTASTIC AUTOMATIC MACHINE
My last espresso/cappuccino machine that I had for 20 years finally went to coffee heaven so I had to find another one. I first found a manual one and made 2 cappuccinos and never used it again. I felt guilty that I spent a couple hundred bucks and let it sit there so it took me a very long time to buy another one.I’ve been researching and finally decided on this Gaggia. I LOVE IT!! The water reservoir is a bit bigger and it has lots of buttons (I Love buttons!) it’s easy to use and it makes a perfect cappuccino each time. It also is very attractive. You can also adjust the heater. It’s just a GREAT machine.
Delzen –
Great coffee.
This machine makes amazing coffee.It’s not as easy to use as our old Gaggia and it needs to be clean more frequently.However,the quality of the coffee is worth the effort.
Amazon Customer –
Gaggia Coffee Machine
This is very nice machine,the coffee comes out of it tastes great ! Easy to use and easy to clean.
One person found this helpful
Kindle Customer –
Superb machine for home use
Holding up great through first 4 months.
Ramon F Ibarra –
Great machine
Beautiful and great machine
Victor S. Aramati –
Excellent new model from Gaggia.
I have been using the machine for a couple of weeks. It is an impressive espresso maker. I like the degrees of freedom to adjust the espresso shots: the bean grinding’s coarseness, the shot’s temperature, the coffee’s strentgh (aroma) and the amount of water to dispense. These adjustments should deliver a cup of coffee to anyone’s liking. I like the fact that I can use the ground coffee feature as it is handy at night for a de-caf espresso without having to remove the regular beans from the dispenser. The Panarello frothing wand works well but a successful outcome needs practice and patience. In fact that’s why I bought this model vs the two other two models (the Deluxe and Prestige) as it allows me to control the frothing process and amount. The machine is very easy to use (intuitive), has a small foot print and looks great on a counter. The various removable parts are easy to clean and re-assemble. There is plenty of steam pressure through the wand, and the hot water is quite hot. The instruction booklet is clear (disclosure: I am an engineer), although the drawings could use a bit more clarity. I do not know about long term reliability as it is a new model; consequently there is little experience out there about long term use. There are three major systems in that machine: the brew group, the electronics and the boiler. Just in case, I bought the 3-year warranty. Down the road, it might be worth the investment.A warning: the grinder has difficulty with oily beans like the Starbucks Espresso beans or any other “Dark” beans from them, it jams. At the advice of the US distributor, Importika, I bought the italian Lavazza brand and have had no such problems since.The user needs to be aware of the various default settings which can be easily adjusted through the menu. The default setting for a shot of espresso is 40 ml (120 ml for the espresso lungo); however that can be easily adjusted down to the standard 30 ml; I do like the taste of the 40ml amount.In summary, it is an excellent machine that makes a delicious cup of coffee.
14 people found this helpful
CautiousBuyer –
I Own Two Now
I have owned several espresso machines and semi-automatic espresso machines, but this is my favorite, yet. It is quieter than some. It is attractive. I like being able to press the button twice for a double. The bypass feature is important to me. The frothing wand works very well. What makes this the best machine I’ve owned, however, is the flavor. Even friends and family remark on the quality of the espresso they get when they come to visit. For the money, this is about as good as it gets.
3 people found this helpful
Richard Young –
Fabulous Machine! From the company that pioneered the espresso machine!
Recommended machine by America’s Test Kitchen several years ago. Purchased from WholeLatte Love and have been very pleased with the machine, as well as customer support. Our family prefers coffee drinks made with the Gaggia over Starbucks ( our machine has more than paid for itself with the savings!. As one reviewer said, be sure to read and follow directions; esp. for the correct beans to use (no oily residue) and the cleaning processes.Interesting trivia – Achillle Gaggia, the Italian man who founded the company in Milan, was the pioneer who developed the first piston driven, espresso machine in 1948. The piston he used for his machine was from a WWII US Army Jeep.
5 people found this helpful
dordor –
Low-maintenance Espresso Machine
I bought this as a recommendation from America’s Test Kitchen (ATK). At the beginning of the covid, I used to grind my beans every morning by hand, boiled water, and brew my coffee with my Aeropress. After a couple of months, I wanted something simple and easy that brews a great strong cup of espresso brewed coffee.When I received my machine I was not pleased to find out that I have to clean the machine at least once a month. But after 2 years of owning this machine, it is worth deep cleaning the machine once a month vs every morning.I enjoyed making Cafe affogato in the summer (1 scoop of Ice cream & espresso), & my daily cup of long black (Hot water & espresso). This machine overall saves me so much time, stress, and money in the long run.
One person found this helpful
KBaxter –
You’ll love the lattes!!
I purchased the Anima Deluxe and LOVE it. The milk frother is more automated (pulls the milk through a tube) and dispenses froth right into your coffee cup. Amazing.Great unit for the price.I first read about it in Cook’s Illustrated magazine, where they did a comprehensive review. It’s perfect. I’ve had it 90 days and love it. Pay attention to the cleaning/maintenance instructions. I’ve had lower quality Braun espresso machines before, and wish I had bought my Gaggia first.
2 people found this helpful
David Simmons –
Makes a good cup of coffee
Ground coffee selection doesn’t always work. Wasted allot of grounds
Amazon Customer –
Gagglia Anima and espresso machine
We had purchased a Gagglia machine 8 or 9 years ago and really enjoyed everything about it, so decided to buy a new one. We gave our old model to our daughter. They enjoy it now and we are very pleased with our new one as well.
One person found this helpful
Elizabeth J. Spirig –
A Beast of a Coffee machine that delivers!
This is a gorgeous and functional coffee grinder, brewer of espresso or full cup of the most heated, foamy, delicious cup of coffee — one cup at a time.. frothing ability included. I have been through a (mostly 1st and 2nd generations of Swiss coffee machines) of this function and caliber. But this is such an upgrade that is such an affordable and wonderful treat. I love it !!
2 people found this helpful
Ella –
Best coffee ever
Used to want to go out for a latte once in a while — no more. This makes amazing espresso.
LARRY –
Great Machine
I have the Gaggia Anima for about 10 days now. I am a big coffee drinker and this machine fulfills everything I want. The taste of the coffee is excellent. I like my cappuccino strong and my wife likes it moderate. The settings allow you to make any strength very easily. I haven’t mastered the frothing yet, but I need a bit more practice. I recommend this totally.
Bob –
Fast and Easy
Alas, we can’t use our favorite coffee beans (note: instructions say only light/non oily coffee). The build quality is not great so I’m thinking 6 months-a year? But it is fast and easy to use if you drinking tons of espresso (we make about 10 a day). So far so good!!! And yes it uses lots of coffee beans unfortunately. We have to fill it up frequently and dump out the espresso picks too — but for ease and speed — wonderful!
One person found this helpful
Miro Bashev –
Highly recomened.
Just like many others, I did an extensive search for my next coffee machine. I got the Gaggia Anima as it had some of the best reviews. I wanted to get an automated one as I never had one of these before and I wanted to have the easy life like others do lol. I’ve had the machine for couple of months now and the whole family loves it. We use it 4-5 times a day. Very easy to clean and maintain. I was not worried about receiving a none working machine because its Amazon and they make it easy to get a replacement. Luckily I did not have to worry about that because the machine arrived in perfect working condition. I wanted a simple version that just gives you basic espresso, as I do the rest myself. I make my coffee like the baristas at the coffee shop do. 4 shots of espresso, mix in the caramel flavor in it, add oat milk and then ice. Perfect every time!
3 people found this helpful
MoReyna –
Easiest one-touch espresso machine
I was looking for something that would make lattes without a fuss and I found the perfect product. I played around with the aroma and grind settings and voila! Perfect lattes every time! I love this machine.
Kirby D. Rankin –
Simple to use.
Simple to use and keep clean. Makes great coffee.
One person found this helpful
Nick –
Five Stars
Best coffe I ever had
4 people found this helpful
L K – Amazon Buy GuyL K – Amazon Buy Guy –
Excellent espresso maker
Excellent espresso maker and top notch customer service. Purchased this unit several months ago and have really enjoyed it since. Last week it started throwing an error which I got concerned about but I contacted customer service who walked me through correcting the issue and promptly sent me out a part I needed to replace, no cost, no hassle. Great product with a great company to stand behind it.
One person found this helpful
ColoradoMountainMan –
This is the best coffee machine I have ever owned
It’s been running flawlessly for 3 years now and makes the best tasting Americano’s I’ve had besides a $3000 system I had built in to my old homeUpdate: 4 years still going strong, $650 felt pricey years back when I bought it but it has pid off. I’ll be sad when it encounters issues. Love this machine.
One person found this helpful
Shimi –
Love this machine!
I’ve always been a fan of Gaggia espresso machine. My old one broke (after 15 years!) so I thought I would replace it with more modern version with a self bean grinder function. I’ve been using it everyday now ever since I bought it, and I absolutely love it! The steam is very easy to use and it comes out perfect every time. I’m forever a Gaggia fan!
R. Nelson –
I’m becoming a coffee drinker
Im not even a coffee drinker and I think this thing is great. Fresh ground espresso with easy maintenance and minimal cleanup. Only thing I’d wish for is an option to hook up to a water supply so you don’t have to keep filling the water tank. Bought it for my wife but Im beginning to use it more and more.
David Y –
Great automatic espresso machine
This is a great machine. It easy to use and makes a high quality espresso. The frother is also very good. I have had it for 6 months and no issues. It is also fairly compact and doesn’t take up much counter space.
Amazon Customer –
Great start to a professional espresso
This machine was highly rated and now I know why. It’s a great ‘entry level’ machine that delivers consistent results.It’s hard finding a small machine like this that can produce good crema espresso and have self grinding features. I love that I don’t have to keep feeding beans or tamping down espresso. The machine does it all!The drawback I have found is the single delivery design. It would be great to be able to steam milk AND get a cup of espresso at the same time. This, like many small machines, will only do one of those tasks at at time.
One person found this helpful
NAsbury –
LIFE CHANGING! (for the coffee lover)
This machine is life changing! It’s ruined me, haha. Easy to use, once you experiment. Took me half a day to get the hang of it and setup preferences.
Igor –
Great Espresso
Great machine, better then Jura C5
J. Myers –
The Gaggia Anima – excellent espresso, easy to maintain, easy to love!
Just as the pandemic kicked into high gear, both of our Nespresso machines died. We had never taken to newer models, and were still using 2 D290 machines. We replaced one with the Creatista Uno machine, which we like very much. But we’ve used Nespresso machines for over 10 years, and have watched the cost of the capsules rise from 50 cents each to almost 80 cents each. When I looked at what we spent on Nespresso capsules in 2019, I decided it was time to consider a superautomatic. The difference in the cost of the coffee would pay for the machine in around a year.After researching many different machines, we settled on the Gaggia Anima. I was concerned that the maintenance on a superautomatic would be burdensome, or would get away from me, causing the machine to break, but honestly it’s pretty easy to care for (more about that later). Though it is expensive, Nespresso espresso is excellent, to match the quality would not be easy. Luckily we chose well, and we love this machine!On the Anima, we set the grind to fine, and set the amount of coffee to 5 – the highest. We’re lucky to know someone locally who roasts his own coffee, we buy regular medium roast coffee from him. We use half caf, mixing the coffee we buy locally with Don Pablo decaf we buy on Amazon. Between the two, my husband feels the espresso is even better than Nespresso, I think it is as good. We have cappuccinos with 2 shots every morning. The crema is great, and the Panerello milk wand makes the microbubbles in the milk, the consistency of the frothed milk better than the wand on our Nespresso D290 was. Overall our cappuccino from the Anima is at least comparable to cappuccino from a great coffee shop.As to the maintenance, it’s easy peasy. Every day I clean the removable milk wand, and the under wand. I pull out the drip tray and wash it. Once or twice a week, I pop out the brew group, rinse it in the sink, and pop it back in. None of these tasks takes more than 5 minutes. There is additional maintenance, including decalcifying the machine, but most of it you do once or twice a year. There are videos on you tube to run you through it, so it’s pretty simple.The one thing I would recommend is using the available filter for the water tank, and using only filtered water in the machine, or frankly any good espresso machine. The quality of the water has quite a bit to do with both the quality of the espresso and the longevity of the machine. We’ve had water filters on our kitchen sinks for years in an effort to wean ourselves off bottled water. The filters get changed infrequently, no more than once every 1 to 5 years, depending on the filter system you choose.Anyway, that’s our story. We’ve had the Anima for 4 months now, and we love it! I will update this review if that should change.6/2024: We’ve now owned the Anima almost 4 years, and still love this machine. We’re still using Don Paulo decaf coffee medium dark mixed with Ruta Maya Organic coffee beans (medium) for a satisfying, rich cappuccino every morning. We did have a little trouble with the coffee grinder while the machine was still under warranty, we managed to get water in the coffee compartment, it turned to paste in the grinder. We sent it to be repaired, now it’s been fine and we’ve kept it dry ever since. The grinder was making a funny sound a month or so ago, so I took the coffee out of the compartment and vacuumed out the grinder with my vacuum hose. Voila! No more issue. The drip tray gets a little gooey, after I clean it I give it a short spray of Lysol, that seems to help. Also when the milk wand drips water, it means the machine needs to be decalcified. We probably pull 10 shots a day with it, using Nespresso instead would cost $7/day. When we bought this machine we paid about $699.00 for it. Now a shot probably costs us about 20 cents, so really the machine has paid for itself. It was a good choice.
23 people found this helpful
SWFL Mikki –
Excellent and easy to use super-automatic espresso machine
Pros:Compact size. Easy initial set up.Produces excellent results with both whole bean and pre-ground coffee (using the bypass hopper). Both breve (espressos) and longo (full cup) brews produce a rich crema and the intelligent brew automatic adjustment ensure a very satisfying aroma and taste.Recommend using medium roast non oily beans for consistent results and I’m currently enjoying consistently excellent results with Kirkland’s whole bean Columbian.Maintenance is easy with daily cleaning of the drip tray and weekly removal and rinsing of the brew group. Either use the Mavea water filter that fits into the water tank or use water that has been filtered through a Brita filter as untreated tap water adds an unpleasant taste to the pour.The milk steamer/frother is simple to use and clean and produces a rich and long lasting foam for cappuccinos and macchiatos.The unit operates relatively quietly compared to my previous Saeco Intellia machines.Cons:The lower front piece of the machine is permanently attached to the drip tray and it impedes easy cleaning of the tray. The water tank is a little small requiring frequent refilling.
3 people found this helpful
marshal501 –
No need to go out for coffee again!
What a great cup of coffee
One person found this helpful
Tatyana –
Automatic an easy
Loved automatic and easy
Diana –
Convenience
I love the convenience of this machine. It’s easy to make a cappuccino and other drinks. The espresso tastes great and is the perfect portion. I would always order a cappuccino and end up with a latte when ordering out but this solved that and I rarely buy coffee drinks anymore.
gus –
Easy all the way around
I bought this machine about 5 years ago (paid less that 5 hundred) and the only thing I get out this machine is the BEST coffee, love it
One person found this helpful
Satisfied Milwaukeean –
Dead Simple to Use
I bought this particular machine at the suggestion of a friend. Online reviews don’t do it justice. This espresso machine is super effective and efficient, while also being very quiet. Maybe I’m just in the honeymoon phase still but I’m so thankful for this machine. My wallet will be a little more full every morning when I don’t have to run to Starbucks.
One person found this helpful
SeeYouToo –
Returned for Gaggia Velasca
Be patient. There’s a learning curve. Buy cheap beans until you get it down. Loved it but after watching one too many YouTube videos I saw the Velasca. Basically same machine minus nice trim and adjustable spout to accommodate large cups. BUT front pull out water and puck unit. I didn’t like pulling long drip tray that includes puck bin. Got used to just adding water once a day or so to top water unit instead of pulling it out. Gaggia has it’s own YouTube channel which really explain a lot. Expect daily maintenance of some kind for these types of machines. I’m sold on Gaggia brand.
Anne Brunhart –
Heavenly Coffee Available In Your Home
Love this machine. My husband and I have a love affair with coffee. After having traveled Europe and Melbourne, Australia (which does AMAZING coffee) we simply could not “settle” for American style coffee anymore. This is our second Gaggia machine. The first one lasted us YEARS and close to 10,000 cups of coffee (there is a counter on the machine – the actual number 9112). Multiple that by $3 per cup at starbuck and you can see the coffeemake easily pays for itself. And it makes coffee that is far superior to starbucks.This machine has a few improvements over the last. It looks better, it is smaller and lighter, the water refill is easier, it is quiter. My only design improvement suggestion would be to fix the “spurts” of coffee it puts out. There are tiny coffee drips/spurts on my counter that come out leaving tiny drip stains that need to be wiped up. It is easily fixed by putting the whole machine on a kitchen towel and the COFFEE is worth a few spurts!! Think of all those messy industrial coffee machine at starbucks. Coffee making is inherently messy so the tiny spurts are really nothing against a good cup of coffee.
17 people found this helpful
Waller –
1yr ownership
Context:Only RO water is used to fill mine up (ultraclean water).Lavazza super crema bean (how oily the bean is matters for the machine, dont touch the coffebeans with your hands)About 6 average expressos made everyday for around 1 year.Machine alerts you when to clean/re-grease, youtube videos show how to do it.Every month or two, take off the milk frothier and clean it, the machine wont tell you to do it.
2 people found this helpful
Boo AngellBoo Angell –
Can’t wait for my morning cuppa!
I’m falling in love with this machine. First seemed a bit needy- always wanting water, coffee, cleaning but we’ve adjusted to each other. Watched a lot of YouTube Videos to figure it all out and had Amazon support call me twice but seems like we’ve settled into a happy routine- coffee & lattes outstanding and all seems easy now I’m familiar with the machine!
3 people found this helpful
John T. Laskey –
Excellent all-in-one!
Highly efficient coffee maker. Easy to use. Exceeded all my expectations. I give it a thorough cleaning every Sunday. Very happy with my purchase.
Amazon Customer –
it is so easy to make a great coffee
loviin’ it… it is so easy to make a great coffee drink
One person found this helpful
J. W. KJ. W. K –
Paying for itself. NOT Made in China!
So who can make a better Cappuccino, Latte, Espresso than Starbucks for less than 10 cents a cup? This guy and of course you can too. I replaced my 9 year old Saeco Italiano machine with this Gaggia Anima. Did you know Gaggia, Saeco and DeLonghi are all the same company and when it come’s to Gaggia and Saeco, the machine’s are often identical but for the name? Just compare the Gaggia Anima with the Saeco Incanto, looks the same to me but the price can vary by up to $100.00 Also, a certain company which will remain nameless is now collecting Sales Tax and other web sellers do not. On a purchase like this it could be the difference of $65 for my State, maybe even more for yours!While the machine was expensive my logic is that it will pay for itself over ordering at Starbucks to the tune of $20+ per week. My last machine which I mentioned already was 9 years old and made thousands of cups. Starbucks $4 a cup X 2,000 = $8,000 for a massive savings. Makes buying an expensive machine a minor point, doesn’t it?While trying to decide what to buy I was tempted to buy a more expensive model with the built in milk frother but decided I would prefer doing it manually and saving some money, and I do on both counts. This milk frother by the way works exceedingly well to the point where I am trying to figure out how to heat the milk without so much froth. It’s only been a few days and I’ll figure it out but maybe you could message me with the secret.Some interesting facts. The machine is NOT made in China. It’s not made in Italy. Guess where? Yes, you got it, made in Romania! I looked at another machine by another maker, it was cheaper and I messaged the manufacturer and their model was made in China. I avoid China made stuff as much as possible. I’m fine with Made in Romania, fine with Made in Anywhere but China. Feel free to feel differently about that.A water filter is optional and does not come with the machine. Using the filter will greatly reduce the build up of calcium in the machine and since the Mavea Intenza filter should last around 5,000 cups is well worth getting. If you did not know it, using filtered water from brands such as PUR and Brita will not remove the calcium. Also, knock-off filters are cheaper but may not work at all or need to replaced more often. Spring water is not a work-around, it contains minerals so that won’t help. Get the Mavea Intenza filter and protect your investment.It’s only been a few days but the machine is fantastic and now the center point of my home coffee center.
6 people found this helpful
Lane Swall –
… cups through a Gaggia Platinum – the Anima works better and makes better coffees
We put 9200 cups through a Gaggia Platinum – the Anima works better and makes better coffees.
6 people found this helpful