Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Small, Black, 40 fl oz
The Gaggia Brera is a compact, high-quality super-automatic espresso machine that blends convenience with premium espresso-making capabilities. Designed for home baristas, it offers one-touch brewing, programmable settings, and a built-in grinder, making it an excellent choice for espresso lovers looking for a balance of affordability and performance. With a sleek stainless steel front panel, front-loading accessibility, and user-friendly interface, the Brera makes café-style coffee effortless at home.
Key Features
1. Advanced Brewing & Grinding Technology
- Integrated Ceramic Burr Grinder: Ensures consistent grinding with 5 adjustable settings for different coffee bean types.
- Bypass Doser: Allows the use of pre-ground coffee for added convenience.
- Gaggia Adapting System: Learns and adjusts the grinder settings based on your preferred coffee beans.
2. One-Touch Espresso & Coffee Customization
- Programmable Brewing: Easily set up and save your preferred espresso or coffee strength, volume, and temperature.
- Two One-Touch Beverages: Brew espresso and espresso lungo with a single touch.
- Adjustable Coffee Length: Customize the shot volume to suit your taste.
3. Premium Milk Frothing for Lattes & Cappuccinos
- Pannarello Steam Wand: Designed for effortless milk frothing, creating smooth and velvety foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
- Hot Water Dispensing: Ideal for tea, Americanos, or hot chocolate.
4. Sleek & Compact Italian Design
- Stainless Steel Front Panel: Durable and stylish with a modern look.
- Compact Size: At just 12.4” in height, it fits easily under kitchen cabinets.
- Front-Loading Water Reservoir & Dreg Drawer: Makes refilling and maintenance hassle-free.
5. Easy Maintenance & Cleaning
- Removable Brew Group: Allows quick rinsing for optimal performance.
- Automatic Rinse & Descaling Cycles: Ensures cleanliness and prevents buildup.
- Mavea Intenza Water Filter Compatibility: Reduces scale buildup and improves water quality for better coffee flavor.
Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Machine Type | Super-Automatic Espresso Machine |
| Beverage Options | Espresso, Espresso Lungo, Cappuccino, Latte, Americano, Hot Water |
| Grinder Type | Ceramic Burr Grinder with 5 Settings |
| Bean Hopper Capacity | 8.8 oz |
| Water Tank Capacity | 40 fl oz (1.2 L) |
| Milk Frothing | Pannarello Steam Wand |
| Adjustable Coffee Strength | 3 Aroma Strength Settings |
| Adjustable Temperature | Yes |
| Drip Tray Capacity | 28 oz |
| Used Coffee Grounds Drawer | Holds up to 8 pucks |
| Materials | Stainless Steel & ABS Plastic |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.4” x 10” x 17.5” |
| Weight | 18 lbs |
| Power | 1250W, 110-120V |
| User Interface | LED Display with Multi-Color Indicators |
| Maintenance Features | Automatic Rinse & Descale Cycles |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
Pros & Cons
Pros
✔ Super-Automatic Convenience – One-touch brewing simplifies the espresso-making process.
✔ High-Quality Italian Espresso – Consistent extraction with great crema.
✔ Integrated Grinder – Built-in ceramic burr grinder for fresh coffee every time.
✔ Milk Frothing for Lattes & Cappuccinos – Easy frothing with the Pannarello steam wand.
✔ Compact & Sleek Design – Stainless steel accents and front-loading for easy placement.
✔ User-Friendly Interface – Simple LED indicators for effortless operation.
✔ Easy Maintenance – Removable brew group and auto-rinsing features.
Cons
✖ Small Water Reservoir (40 oz) – Requires frequent refilling, especially for multiple users.
✖ Non-Programmable Temperature – No precise control over brewing temperature.
✖ Limited Customization – Less flexibility compared to higher-end machines.
✖ Lower Cup Clearance (4.5”) – Not ideal for large mugs.
Final Verdict
The Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine is an affordable, user-friendly, and stylish option for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Italian espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes at home. While it lacks some high-end customization, its compact design, ease of use, and premium milk frothing capabilities make it a great value for coffee enthusiasts. If you’re seeking a reliable, well-built super-automatic machine at a reasonable price, the Gaggia Brera is a fantastic choice.
👉 Best For: Everyday espresso drinkers & casual home baristas.
💰 Price: ~$429 USD
⭐ Overall Rating: 4.9/5 (Great balance of quality & affordability)
Would you like recommendations on accessories to enhance your experience? 😊
RW –
Can’t say enough!
This machine is awesome and worth every penny! Easy to use and has already paid for itself! Would definitely purchase again!
Badger –
An incentive to get out of bed in the morning!
At this price, quite a find: turn on the machine and in a minute you have an espresso shot. I had to use the finest grind setting to get a good crema (you need to set it while the grinder is on). The grinder is very noisy, but that’s to be expected. Note that you can’t use dark roast, oily beans, or the machine (like other automatics) will clog. My only reservation so far is that there are lots of icons on the screen, and the meaning of their combinations aren’t always clear: you need to keep the manual handy. I used to use a de longhi manual machine; getting the beans from the grinder to the machine always made a mess, and if I turned away for a few seconds the espresso cup overflowed. I don’t have to worry about any of that with this machine.
One person found this helpful
J. Banks –
He wanted a fully automatic machine that made two to four shots of espresso at once that was easy to clean and not crazy expensive
My husband researched fully automatic espresso machines for over a year before he settled on this one. He wanted a fully automatic machine that made two to four shots of espresso at once that was easy to clean and not crazy expensive. This was the winner so I bought it for him for Christmas. I think my husband may actually love this machine more than he loves me at this point.It makes an amazing espresso shot with the most beautiful crema you have ever seen. The flavor rivals Starbucks for quality (depending on the beans you use of course). The machine is fully bean to cup…all you have to do is fill the bean holder and water carafe and empty the puck container when full, its that easy. The water carafe and puck containers are easy to access at the front of the machine and slide in and our easily so you don’t have to fumble around to remove them. The frothing wand works very well heats a container of milk quickly for cappuccinos and lattes and is easy to clean.At less than $500 I would recommend the quality of this machine to anyone who is a serious espresso connoisseur and know they will not be disappointed.
M. ChristianM. Christian –
LOVE THIS MACHINE!
I’ve had this machine for 8 months now, and I love it! I’m not one to write reviews, but this espresso machine deserves one. 🙂 The semi-automatic is great if you want a no-fuss, clean machine. No portafilter to clean out, just empty the puck container on the right when full. This machine looks sleek – love the modern stainless look. It auto-cleans out the lines once turned on and again once it turns to stand-by mode. I keep a 12oz frother pitcher underneath the dispenser to catch the water, although there is a basin that collects it as well. The espresso and Americanos are fresh with perfect crema. We use Lavazza beans which are so good! The only minor complaints I have is that 1) the ‘drain cover’ where you set your cup scratches easily. It’s not really noticeable, but when I wash it, I always feel the grate should be a higher grade of stainless. Also, 2) it doesn’t have an indicator that the water level is too low before making your beverage. Instead it will make a partial-cup. Still a 5 out of 5 in my book. Hope this review is helpful!
74 people found this helpful
PDXVJ –
Great coffee, great look!
Love my Gaggia Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine.I purchased this machine after having used one at my brothers house while visiting him. I instantly fell in love with it. It produces wonderful coffee, espresso, and latte, and is easy to maintain. The fresh grind flavor for every cup far surpassed all my expectations. I have been making drip coffee for years, but never got a cup as flavorsome with either a regular percolator or French press. The latte wand functions perfectly for heating and frothing the milk, and the espresso comes out strong and frothy. I have no complaints what-so-ever about this product. It looks great and works great. I highly recommend.
One person found this helpful
trev –
my brera coffee machine
I bought the brera approx 6 months ago, i am pleased with the machine.It delivers a proper cup of coffee everytime,youve obviosly got to find the right coffee and make sure you get the grind set corectly.I use Coopers coffee, its called lieu mio, set grind to finest,spot on.I cannot fault the coffee this machine delivers and the throffing wand works a treat.Sadly there are issues with the machine, build quality could of been better.I paid top wak for the machine and too much plastic as been used on the unit.The throffing wand arm is coroding, coroding stainless steel arm would you believe.Also the display could of been designed better, can be confusing especially when you first start using, should be using text rather than flashing red lights. But, apart from this i am still very happy with the machine .I give the machine 5 STARS for the coffee it makes and 4 STARS for quality.I would recommend this machine..
2 people found this helpful
GG –
I like it so far
The coffee machine is built very solid, I like the lid seal so that coffee stay fresh longer in the container. I like very simple control, and steam wand that makes good milk foam.1st time I prepared ground coffee and it tasted very well, then I prepared coffee from the beans and it tasted not strong at all, I hope it’s because grinder adjusts over a time of usage as manual says. I noticed when I used ground coffee the pressed tablet was dry opposite the coffee beans which contained wet tablet and some water in a tray, I saw ppl complain on water in tablets can, I think it’s fine.
cookie1cookie1 –
Great automatic machine
I did alot of online research before I went with this machine and I am so happy I got this for my husband as a Christmas present. I needed a machine that was fully automatic and very easy to handle otherwise he would quickly lose intrest. Another important thing was making sure the espresso was hot and this machine does that. I read reviews on other machines and that was the number one complaint. He previously used a Tassimo machine which was very good but I wanted him to experience freshly ground coffee. This machine is super quiet, easy to clean and the milk frother is great.
2 people found this helpful
Michael Walsh –
Couldn’t be happier!
Okay, I have only used the machine for a week. Most helpful to me was going on You Tube and finding a few tutorials on the Brera. before starting.Once I went through the start-up procedures, the daily use is much less time consuming.The machine is well built, fits perfectly on my counter top, has thoughtful design features, and allows you to customize the strength and size of your cup. Also, frothing milk turns out effortlessly and just right. Warning lights will let you know if you need to add more beans, add more water, empty the compartment with the used coffee grounds, etc.THE BEST ADVICE is to use freshly roasted beans. Find a coffee roaster locally and try their espresso beans,. Big difference. I purchased Lavazzo Italian beans. Manufacture date was July 2016 (3-months old) and sell by date was March 2018. The beans were stale with poor flavor.Happy espresso and
One person found this helpful
Keys Curry –
Good coffee, but some annoying issues
I’m pretty happy with the coffee produced by this machine. I have had it for a few months now and it works pretty well. I have purchased more expensive machines in the past, but they seem to have problems that require repair after a few years and the repair is ridiculously expensive. None the the Italian manufacturers seem to have a good support network in the USA. Anyway, I decided to stick with a relatively cheaper machine and if it goes bad in a few years, I’m just going to replace it. I want to point out a few downsides to this machine to save people some heartache:1. The manual descaling process in the manual is incorrect. There is an automated descaling process that is not documented in the manual. There is a YouTube channel called “Whole Latte Love” that can show you how to perform the automated process. Apparently, this process has existed on all models of this machine manufactured after 2013. I couldn’t get the manual process to reset the descaling light and had to seek out the solution on the internet. Why the company has not updated the manual is beyond me.2. I ran out of beans one day and decided to use ground coffee. I used the spoon they provide. I filled the spoon and leveled it. The machine dumped these grounds without producing any coffee. Apparently, the machine does this if you pour in too many coffee grounds. After experimenting, I found that you cannot fill the provided spoon. It works when you fill it about 3/4 full. I wasted a fair bit of coffee this way and I found the resulting coffee to be weak by comparison with using the beans. In addition, the inside of the machine where the brew unit is was filled with dry grounds, so the machine wasn’t managing to get the dumped grounds into the grounds container. I don’t recommend using ground coffee with this machine. It didn’t work out well for me at all.3. I had a big problem trying to put the brew unit back in while trying to get the ground coffee option to work. Turned out the machine needed to be reset. Again, nothing in the manual about this, I had to go to the YouTube site mentioned above to figure out how to resolve this problem.So, the machine makes good coffee with whole beans. The ground coffee option doesn’t seem to work nearly as well. The manual leaves a lot to be desired. As with my experience with Saeco and Delonghi, the repair options are limited and, I imagine, expensive. In my case, I would have to send off the machine to another city to get it repaired.Update: Machine stopped pouring coffee from the front. Had to contact support. After several weeks of back and forth, where they had me clean various bits of the machine that could be disassembled easily, they finally set up a support number and I sent it in. It’s due back today. The total time it has taken to get this fixed has been a month and it cost me $100 in shipping. This is, again, one of the great drawbacks with these European machines as none of them have great support here in the USA. Most of the companies that provide services are small companies that sell the machines. Anyway, before purchasing any of these automated espresso machines, you might want to consider the costs invovled in repair if something goes wrong.
26 people found this helpful
Sean Lambert –
This machine is a great deal for what you get
This machine is a great deal for what you get. Our DiLonghi Gran Dame slowly fell apart over 5 years, and after a new circuit board and several of the plastic beauty parts breaking off, when the grinder died we gave it away. This machine makes almost comparable coffee, but doesn’t auto-froth the milk; a feature we almost never used anyway. This machine seems to need much more frequent filling and emptying and cleaning, but that seems like a fair compromise for the price. The drip tray gathers a LOT of water, even when we catch the rinse water from the front; it must rinse a lot internally, and the grounds are always very wet as well. It takes way less time to become ready than the old machine, and if you turn it back on right after it times off, it’s almost instantly ready.The biggest difference is that it uses two full brew cycles (grind, pack, brew, clean) to fill up a large cup rather than just doing one big brew cycle. We’ve noticed some grinds in the cup as well.
One person found this helpful
Linda Larrymore –
I was skeptical,
But, when you read the manual, there are things you can fine tune to your taste.Being European, I need strong coffee! The first cup my husband made was disappointing. He used the initial setting.First, if you want strong coffee, choose the 3 beans. Next I changed the grinder setting. Coarse coffee makes weak coffee, so I put the grinder to fine.So far, the coffee is much stronger than on the first try. The machine is easy to clean, my Son has the same one and when we were house sitting there I practiced it.So far, it is a good purchase, knowing that Gaccia is the most used espresso machine in Europe.
MINMIN –
Cant beat the value and quality
***Update November 2017***This machine is a workhorse on a daily basis with no issues so far. It continues to make amazing coffee and I still love it.******Original Post******I’ve only owned and used it for 2 days now. So far, I am really enjoying the machine very much. It’s a great transition between Keurig and super fancy super automatic espresso machine. My initial runs out of the box created very wet pucks which was weird but after running it multiple times in days the pucks are looking much better. Overall quality of the machine is great and it’s giving me daily enjoyments. I’ll be learning for awhile….
11 people found this helpful
Neeraj Jain –
Great machine but for plastic safety valve
I bought this machine from a specialist dealer. I find this machine excellent as to the ease of use and quality of espresso as well as frothing milk. It is very easy to use and the only effort it requires is to fill up the water tank and empty the waste bin.However after a year of use, this machine stopped working and ultimately it was diagnosed that a safety valve has broken. Turns out that this problem has plagued some other machines also. Gaggia diagnosed that use of plastic in the safety valve was responsible for the fault and after 9 months a steel safety valves was used for replacement and for the past one month it is again working perfectly.One other niggle is that side door does not align perfectly with the machine body and appears to be half open but it is not causing any problem.
3 people found this helpful
John Green –
Easy To Use, Well Designed – But Very Small Capacities
In 2006, I bought a Saeco V’Spresso superautomatic espresso machine, expecting it to last about four years. In 2017, it finally gave out. So naturally I decided to try Saeco again. I found that Gaggia is actually manufactured by them, so this was the model I ordered. I find it to be really quiet and very efficient, with great coffee taste, but that it is a bit bulky, takes a bit of maintenance and has small capacities for water and coffee.First, the coffee. It really does a great job. You can program the amount of liquid (up to 8 oz for a large cup), and can adjust the strength. It is simple to use in the morning, when complex is bad!Here is what I like:+ The cost – this is one of the cheapest superautomatics around, and yet it looks good and feels solid.+ It works quietly and looks nice. The reservoir for water is on the front left (behind the frothing wand), and there is an identical reservoir that holds the “pucks” that come out after making a cup. The tray slides out easily to remove the water (more on that later). This is easily the quietest superautomatic I’ve used. It automatically pauses for a couple of seconds to pre-moisten the coffee.+ You can adjust the grind of the coffee in addition to the strength settings on the front (though it takes a bit of care, since it can only be adjusted when actually grinding). If you push the button twice, it does a double. Hold in the button, and it begins to “remember” the amount of liquid for that button; press it again to program the amount. There are three buttons, for small, medium and large.+ There are a number of cryptic symbols on the front, but I actually like that – I soon got to know each of them. There is a red dot on the top left (out of water), a similar one on the top right (empty the bean hopper), and an exclamation point type thing to indicate you need to prime the machine.+ To prime, simply turn the square knob in the middle to the right. Turning that knob to the left will put out steam from the wand. The normal position is as shown on the product page – facing up.+ The spout moves up and down easily, making it possible to put a full coffee cup under there.+ I especially like the coffee bin. It holds a couple cups of coffee, and the transparent lid makes it easy to see when you need more beans. There is a slot for using pre-ground coffee inside this area.+ The machine is programmed to last a long time. When it starts up, it rinses the mechanism. Then when you power down (or it powers down automatically), it rinses again. It will also warn you when it needs descaling – I highly recommend using the Saeco descaling solution. It will work with or without a water filter, but I like using it (mostly because I always used one for the V’Spresso that lasted so long).+ The brew group is easy to remove and clean – it is behind the door to the rear of the “puck” drawer. It is an ingenious design, and is meant to be cleaned weekly with water, and then air dried. They supply a small amount of grease to be put in one location every 500 cups or so.There is one thing I didn’t really like, although it isn’t a deal breaker. The machine constantly rinses water down into the base. If you remember to put a cup under the spout when you walk away, it isn’t too bad, but if not, you will find yourself changing out the tray often. You have to pull it out the front, take it to the sink, and then both rinse and (often) clean it. They many rinsings are the price that is paid for keeping the internal workings rinsed and lasting longer.IMPORTANT NOTES:- This machine is suitable for limited use. The water only holds about 20 oz, and the puck drawer holds 5 – yes, only 5 – pucks. You will find yourself constantly filling the water and emptying the puck drawer if you use this for more than a couple of people. It isn’t really a failure, it is just the design. Saeco makes several more expensive models with 60 oz water and 15 puck drawers. I would recommend that if you have a larger family.- This particular model is wider than it is long. Most superautomatics are long and narrow – this one is the opposite. You should consider this when ordering. It takes up more space on the counter top.Summary: Great tasting coffee, easy to use, looks great. For a couple of people, this is a really great design.
338 people found this helpful
Alex B.Alex B. –
Like a germaphobe, this machine washes itself every time it is turned on or off. For someone who…
…buys water for coffee machine to get the brew I like it was a lot of waster water. And money. So it was a big turn off regarding this coffee machine for me. That was up until I figured out that rinsing can be avoided easily. On startup you have to push any the two left-side buttons as soon as rinsing does or about to start. When you pish OFF button twice turning unit off, there will be no rinsing on turnoff.Rinsing was the only issue I had with Brera. Hence, 5 stars, instead of two. It replaced Philips-Saeco Vienna Plus that had identical brewing unit. I loved the coffee that Saeco unit was making, as well as the one I had prior in Solis espresso machine. I got exactly what I was looking for the price is hard to beat. I could afford more expensive machine, but Saeco unit was my objective, plus I do not like the bells and whistles some expensive unit offer. They have little to do with espresso quality and tend to fail to operate. I do not repair failed espresso machines, since I live in relatively remote area, away from a city.So, after 3 years in service, aggravated by recent COVID19 lockdown, the Brera performed admirably.
cookie1cookie1 –
Great automatic machine
I did alot of online research before I went with this machine and I am so happy I got this for my husband as a Christmas present. I needed a machine that was fully automatic and very easy to handle otherwise he would quickly lose intrest. Another important thing was making sure the espresso was hot and this machine does that. I read reviews on other machines and that was the number one complaint. He previously used a Tassimo machine which was very good but I wanted him to experience freshly ground coffee. This machine is super quiet, easy to clean and the milk frother is great.
2 people found this helpful
IzabelaIzabela –
The Only Esspresso Machine You Will Ever Need
If you are coffee lover and can’t stand typical drip coffee and finally want to have an Experience every time you drink coffee at home get this Machine.Once you try it there is no going back to anything but your home made espresso.All you have to do is to pour fresh hole beans into a top container, fill up the water container and chose the strength and size of your coffee. It’s simple as that. It may take few tries before you will dial your Perfect size and strength.You can also use grinned coffee in here but it’s not the same flavor.Remember – do not use Dark roast coffee since it may clog your grinder.Always release steam after using frothing wand to make sure you wont blow rubber seals.Don’t forget to clean it weekly and do descaling when necessary.Enjoy your perfect espresso or cappuccino.
Vanessa B.Vanessa B. –
Love this little machine
UPDATE: I’ve had this machine for nearly a year and I love it. I use it every day and it makes great tasting espresso and has been working well without any issues so far. The milk frother works great- I took the auto frother off to make it into a manual frother so I could get microfoam and a smoother, sweeter milk. Once you get your settings dialed in so your espresso tastes the way you want and you find good, fresh (non-oily!) beans, this thing works like a dream. I’ve almost completely stopped going to the coffee shop.Original review: I really want to like this machine. I have been using an inexpensive Nespresso U for years and it did a great job, but I was tired of being a slave to pods and was looking forward to getting a little higher quality of espresso at home, so I made the investment. Upon opening the box, I discovered my drip tray was cracked and the dull drip tray indicator was broken into pieces. A couple of calls to Gaggia and Amazon and they took care of that issue and paid to send out new pieces. Good customer service on both ends so far.The machine looks nice, and is fairly easy to use and set up. My issue is the espresso… I was disappointed the first day for sure. I had read the first few shots you pull could be watery, due to the unit’s “adapting” process, so I pulled shot after shot of under extracted espresso- like 12 shots. After speaking with Gaggia customer support again, they suggested I customize the single shot setting to pull less water through, lowering the fluid oz amount of the shot. This DID help slightly. The shots started tasting more concentrated, and I got a slightly better crema. However, it’s still missing that syrupy, concentrated bittersweet espresso flavor. I spoke with customer service again today, after noticing it was only taking 9 seconds to extract the shot. No wonder they are lacking flavor. The support personnel I spoke to said that the timing is irrelevant with a superauto machine, since it’s doing all the work for me. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, maybe it is. Maybe my expectations were too high for what kind of espresso I could get from a super automatic machine but all the other reviews I read had basically rave reviews about the espresso the machine produces. I’m hoping that it’s either user error or that my machine is still “adapting”.I’ll keep at it for another week or so… and update the review as needed.UPDATE: I’ve had this machine for about 5 months now. I really do love it. It makes a coffee shop quality milk based drink (usually a latte) with great frothed milk for way less than I was paying for my daily Starbucks run. I would even say that it tastes better than Starbucks does. I’m changing my original 3 star rating to a 4 star rating. It works very well- and has held up well. (I do a weekly maintenance cleaning: rinsing of the brew group, cleaning the interior as much as I can, washing the dispensed pod container, water container and the drip tray. I feel that helps contribute to a good tasting espresso). The convenience of a one touch machine makes this a worthwhile purchase for sure. I wouldn’t say it creates as good of an espresso as a semi automatic, and I don’t get a lot of crema with my espresso (even after switching my beans to a more local, freshly roasted bean) but it makes a killer milk based drink. Worth the money.
29 people found this helpful
77 –
Great price, it’s very convenient and quiet, and makes good coffee. Wonderful for the non-connoisseur!
As an owner of a Gaggia Titanium for over a decade, I’ve been sold on superauto coffee machines for a long time. So when my Titanium finally died, I knew I’d be getting another superauto. But the Titanium had some quirks that annoyed me. And it was quite noisy. So I was totally open to other brands and my hunt for my next superauto would involve a TON of research as there are WAY more superautos out there than there were when I got my Titanium!Being that I live in Hawaii and no brand of superauto is serviced here, I opted for a 4-year warranty at checkout that includes shipping both ways. Also, as it seems no superauto lives much longer than a decade, I didn’t want to spend over $1,000 like I did on my Titanium. So what really brought me to the Brera was price. This is what I think:PROS:1) PRICE, obviously! Very affordable so long as it lasts a long time.2) It’s quiet! The burr grinder is WAY quieter and so is the rest of the process compared to the Titanium. And overall, it’s not that noisy.3) Delivers a decent crema. Not as thick as a pro espresso machine, but still quite nice and on par with pretty much all but the top superautos.4) Very quick and easy access to the water reservoir and dregdrawer right in the front of the unit.5) Still has customizable cup size. In other words, you can program how much coffee comes out when you press the small cup (espresso) button and also for the big cup (cafe crema) button.6) Relatively compact size. A fair amount smaller than the Titanium.CONS:1) Water reservoir is too small. It’s way too small. You’ll need to keep a 2L bottle of water next to the machine or you’ll be constantly going back and forth to your water source.2) Lots of rinsing cycles (I’m not talking about descaling). When you turn it on, it spits out water. When you turn it off, it spits out water. With a tiny water reservoir, this sucks. It’s probably a good thing for the machine and the quality of coffee, but it drains the tiny reservoir quickly.3) Can’t adjust coffee temperature. I’m not a fan of really hot coffee. While the Brera doesn’t make it scalding, it’s a tad hotter than I prefer.4) No clock. I like having clocks on my appliances.5) Dispensing spout is not quite tall enough to accommodate my favorite coffee mug. Granted, it’s a relatively tall mug but not giant. The Brera will accommodate big squatty Starbucks mugs like the kind that has the name of the city of the shop you’re in though.All in all, if you love your coffee but you’re not a genuine for real coffee connoisseur, you’ll love this simple effective, and convenient, machine. High quality coffee that utterly outclasses drip coffee+espresso machine combos ($100ish). If you simply must have the best coffee possible, well, this is certainly not the machine for you. But if really good, 1-button ease coffee appeals to you, this one’s pretty much a no-brainer.Cheers! :)EDIT: Added a photo for Jeff of my programmed Big Cup amount of coffee brewed. A little over 5oz.
25 people found this helpful
C Catterson –
Nice machine
This is my 2nd machine. My husband and I (mostly my hubby!) drink A LOT of espresso! Our first one lasted us 3 years… but we use ours about 3-4 times more than the average household. This makes a great cup of coffee. Cleaning it is not too bad as long as you keep up on it. I would definitely buy again when we wear this one out.
Amazon Customer –
Great machine. Works very well and coffee is amazing
Great machine. Works very well and coffee is amazing.The best alternative to capsules, better coffee and environmental friendly.The only downside is that the descaling cycle requires you to be there during the process.Otherwise highly recommend. Brand seems solid too compared to other ones.
trooktrook –
Love, love, love this!!!
I’m so happy with this! After hearing what is ground up with pre-ground coffee beans, I can’t…Love this is everything I need to make my morning addiction. I used to stop every day on my way to work to get a mocha but the one I make at home is sooooo much better.You must rinse and wipe down the steamer after each use and remove and rinse the silver tube thingy (removed in my photo), otherwise it will smell gross very quickly. I keep a cup under the dispenser because it will run through rinse cycles and the tray will fill up fast.This is my favorite kitchen item, hands down.
CeciliaCecilia –
5 years later and it is still great!
Five years later, and I am still very happy with my machine.The ink has worn off on the espresso button, but no biggie.I do like that the machine self cleans, but you do need to descale it periodically as well like any other espresso machine.We downsized from a larger more expensive machine for this one, and it works just as well.We live overseas in Japan, and it works fine with a plug adapter.
One person found this helpful
C. Claudio –
Good machine, still learning…
Had to adjust dosing down to 1 Oz. For a creamier coffee. Machine is still in the learning process.
AB –
Delicious espresso, perfectly found milk.
I can’t say enough good things about this espresso machine. Having three coffee drinkers in the house it certainly pays for itself in just a month flat. The espresso quality significantly improves after you watch instructional videos and decrease the volume of the espresso. Foams Dairy and non-dairy milks Equally well.I spent a year working as a barista love this machine. The only feature that becomes challenging for a busy morning and making coffee is the need to refill the water canister. Probably makes 5 to 8 espressos Before needing to be filled.
RyanRyan –
Great addition to morning routine, but came with crack
This espresso machine is a great addition to our mornings! We love getting to make lattes and love the taste the machine provides. Unboxing and setup was easy, and we’ve enjoyed using it each day since. Provides multiple options and customizations to give you the perfect cup each morning!Upon further inspection we did notice that the drip tray cover was cracked and scratched. Does not effect the performance of the machine, but frustrating to pay good money and it come damaged. Hoping contacting the company can fix that quickly!
One person found this helpful
Isaac –
Great machine!
Great machine! I used to with on a semi automatic and I have made literally thousands of lattes on superautos. They take a lot of adjustment, maintenance, and love to make the perfect shot.I was worried that this machine wouldn’t be adjustable enough for the price. Was I wrong: Perfectly adjustable for a super automatic machine from grind, dispensing quantity, and use your own coffee. Dispenses hot water, takes care of itself, and I use the bypass scooper for darker espresso and decaf. This machine is perfect in almost every way. A definite intro superauto for basic needs and limited space.Update: Over four years later, and it’s still kicking. I recommend regular servicing, including the oil remover tabs (put in bypass doser, run bypass luongo shot unplug halfway through, let machine sit for 15 minutes. Then plug back in and run 3 luongo bypass doser shots, and then pull out brew group, rinse, and allow to dry overnight), descaling, and using either filtered water or AquaClean. I also use SuperGrindz to keep the grinder free of oil.It’s showing no signs of slowing down.
poo_bear –
Instructions Need to Be Followed for Results.
Loving it so far. I bought a used one through Amazon warehouse deals and it was in excellent condition. It however, came with the instruction booklet for the Gaggia Anima which confused me at first but, a quick Google search lead me to a pdf of the correct manual. If you are buying this machine for making espresso drinks, it is absolutely imperative to program it to adjust the “length” of the coffee that is brewed. The settings that the machine was previously programmed to was brewing a very long, watery espresso. A single shot of espresso is only 1 oz. You have to get a measuring glass and program the machine or you will not like the results. Also, the machine really needs to be cleaned everyday, which involves cleaning out the grounds drawer, drip tray, disassembling the frothing wand and cleaning the components. Some of the reviews on here mention that the wand “inevitably” cakes up with milk. Not at all, if you disassemble and clean after each use. Not doing so is gross and unsanitary, not to mention contrary to the instructions in the manual.A Note on Frothing: After experimenting for a while I have finally figured out how to froth my milk correctly. I like a very creamy latte and cappuccino so I like to use whole milk. The milk I use has very high fat content (Strauss Creamery whole milk) and has a cap of cream on top of the bottle. When I first started using the frothing wand, I was not able to get good foam at all and was overheating my milk in the process. From what I gathered on online blogs/instructions was that you should insert the wand about 1/2 inch under the surface of the milk so that you don’t get big bubbles and eventually get a swirl going in the milk. I did all that but, no foam resulted. One of the blogs even claimed whole milk was difficult to foam and may not foam at all. After a while, by trial and error, I figured out these instructions are incorrect and that whole milk is indeed capable of producing a thick stable microfoam. So, what I have figured out is – insert the wand just below the surface of the milk to where it just barely won’t sputter all over, it’s the only way to get enough air into the milk to make foam. This results in large bubbles on the surface at first and they eventually break down and stabilize into microfoam. As the foam gets thicker I move the wand down further into the milk. This has allowed me to gently heat the milk to a perfect temperature without over heating and I get a beautiful silky dense creamy thick microfoam.
6 people found this helpful
T V –
Four Stars
Great machine, easy to use, makes an amazing espresso and cup of coffee
MaLaK PloppyMaLaK Ploppy –
Great machine, but typical ‘italian’ quirkiness…
I bought my Brera from Amazon Italy, as I need a 230v model… But I understand the internals are the same, just the power supply is different.Well, out of the box it didn’t work. After reading the manual and following the pump priming instructions, it still didn’t work. It seems that post 2013 models may need to be descaled before first use… So after an hour of messing around, it finally produced a coffee…Which was GREAT!!!I’m using Lavazza Espresso beans which are not oily, but produce a thick and creamy crema.The silly pannarello wand is easily removed for those who want to have a shot at some latte art, or can be left on if you’re only interested in milk texture, not style.It seems to use a lot more water than my previous machine, and has a ludicrously small water tank. But, it’s not that much of an issue.At under $400 this machine punches well above its weight.
15 people found this helpful
Someonemysterious –
Coffe on demand with ease
I have a friend who had this machine, and served my wife and I several different coffees, ranging from espresso, to cappuccino, to regular coffee. Certainly outcomes are determined by the coffee or coffee beans used (it uses both ground or bean coffee), but the ease of use governs how often you decide to enjoy different coffee brews. My wife was hooked, the old espresso machine has been retired and replaced with this wonderful replacement. It is stylish and adds a nice accent to your kitchen, while standing by to provide fresh beverages. We are very pleased with our purchase, as I am any coffee drinker will enjoy having this machine to satisfy their coffee cravings.
Nicholas T. Danger –
… for a few weeks now and so far I love it. When looking for a machine I couldn’t …
I’ve had this machine for a few weeks now and so far I love it. When looking for a machine I couldn’t bring myself to buy the cup (kcup) style system with all the waste of the cups, but wanted something simple to use. Unless you really enjoy the act of making espresso you run the risk of not using it if it’s too complex. This machine delivers on ease of use. Water + Beans + push of a button and you have espresso.I’m not an expert on espresso by any means, but this machine replaced going to the expensive coffee shops with no regrets.My fingers are crossed that this machine will last, so far it has been working great running around 6 cycles a day.
One person found this helpful
Ana –
This coffee experience is amazing! Getting great capuccinos every day
Read all the instructions and got a handle on it after a couple of days. Main thing if you get a warning sign read the manual! Mine was telling me to take off the waste and replace water. Overall so happy toget rid of kcups waste and major plus is to get grinded coffee (fresh!!). So worth the price!!
Tiny Campers –
Makes good coffee, but I wish I had more control over cup size. Small tank
Cup size selection suck. Small water tank, but it is a compact version…
Justin P Walsh –
Great superautomatic at a great price point!
Smaller footprint than we thought would be the case, which is helpful in our small kitchen. The hopper is a little small, holding about half a bag of beans. However, only my partner and I are coffee drinkers, and the hopper and water volume are enough to get us through the day with minimal effort. If you’re looking for more customization on your pressure and beans, you may want to go with something a little higher end, but for us the ability to select three settings on the strength of the coffee, and to adjust the grind, is more than enough for us. It pours a great shot with a nice crema. Super easy to clean.
Natalie P.Natalie P. –
Surprisingly compact, sleek, solid Espresso Machine!
Bought this for my twin brother and his family for Christmas. We’re all coffee lovers, and I own a great espresso machine that isn’t automatic. They have a busier lifestyle so I wanted something a bit quicker for them since they are always on the go. This thing is awesome. They use it all the time. Takes a minute to figure it all out but once you have it’s clear and easy. Machine lets you know when beans or water is low, and when it’s time to descale the machine. Pour in beans And water, and choose setting, and it does All of the messy work for you. No measuring or tamping required. Steaming the milk is manual, but, I myself enjoy the process. I’m thinking about retiring my espresso machine eventually for this one. Cleaning and descaling is easy once you get the hang of it, just have to read the instructions a couple of times. Also I was very impressed with the size. I wasConcerned it would be a monster and take up too much space or be too tall to fit nicely on a countertop underneath kitchen cabinets, but it is actually quite compact with room in between cabinet and top of machine. You need to pull it out to pour in beans or fill with water if you have it in a spot like that, but otherwise don’t need to move it and looks really sleek and smart. Picture is a weird angle but it actually doesn’t touch the cabinet at all- room between. Good get!
5 people found this helpful
B. Frei –
Great machine
This is a great coffee maker. It took me a while to get it started at the beginning as the instructions weren’t really that clear for when the red warning triangle came on. Anyhow, eventually I figured it out and it works great now. The brewing unit can be taken out of the machine completley for cleaning under running water. Everything can be adjusted to your taste, so you may have to play around a bit in the beginning with the grinder setting and the type of bean you use. I only use light and medium roast beans which don’t have a lot of oils on the outside. This may help keep the grinder clean (also I prefer the taste of light and medium roast coffees and they also produce a nice foam). I love this machine. I had a Nespresso machine before, which also made great coffee, but when my sons started to drink coffee it became too expensive to buy capsules and also, I always felt bad about the environmental aspect of using capsules. I calculated that it would take about 8 month of using this machine to break even, compared to continue using the Nespresso machine.
2 people found this helpful
Mickie –
Must buy
It took my time picking a good machine for a good price and I will certainly say this is THE ONE. great power. Easy to clean, manual gives you all the info you need.
Nick Clay –
Served me well
As of today my brera is 6 years old and I have put roughly 550 lbs of coffee through it. It has served me very well. The only downside we found with this machine is that it tends to leak occasionally. Other than that minor issue I have had ZERO issues with the machine. I was diligent about descaling about 4 times a year. I have found that after putting so much coffee through it that the burrs seem worn, and no longer produce fine grounds even at the lowest setting, I will replace them and pass this machine onto a friend. If you are in the market for an inexpensive super auto this is a great option.
One person found this helpful
justmattb –
Great machine!
Love this thing! I’ve had it for a few weeks now and have been using it religiously. The frothing wand produces great froth and the machine itself produces some great coffee (given the right beans and your own preferences). Great value machine that does what most of the other higher priced systems do. Definitely a smaller water reservoir than I’m used to, but if you save $1K, I’m okay with filling up the water a little more often. That really is the only trade-off I’ve found so far with more expensive machines I’ve owned from the Jura line.
One person found this helpful
J Power –
Still love it but after 1 year short coffee quit working and gives as much as tall.
Love this machine. No problems. I clean it frequently and do not use oily beans. I also check the beans for the occasional pebble that can break the grinder. The water container and puck drawer are much smaller than my old krups, but the coffee is worth the extra effort.Update 9/2016 Have had it for a few months now and I still love it. I am comparing it to the Krups fully automatic that recently broke again. The placement of the water drawer is critical since it is completely removed from the area of the bean hopper, this is great. You can refill it with a water bottle if you don’t want to remove the drawer to the sink and not worry about getting water in or around the bean hopper. This is the newer gaggia with the brera writing on top of the gaggia writing. Therefore the instructions for descaling are not in the book that came with the machine. Watch descaling on Youtube. You have to put machine in standby and then press and hold the two coffee buttons to put it in descaling mode. Very convenient. You do not have to run descaling liquid through the coffee spout as this is automatic with this machine. I have had zero problems, great coffee, good crema.
6 people found this helpful
Nelson –
Two minor fixes for fresh espresso
I love my super automatic espresso machine but found a couple problems. The finger guard over the grinder seems to have been added as an afterthought probably for insurance and UL certification. It prevents beans from moving into the grinder. The best fix is to simply remove it, provided there are no children using the machine who might stick their fingers into the grinder mechanism. After that, the beans actually make it into the grinder.Secondly, the top panel that covers the bean hopper tends to fit loosely and has air gaps. Your beans will go stale in a matter of hours if not properly sealed, so either make sure to jam that top panel down firmly and check for gaps – or – remove it. A simple piece of plastic cling wrap and a rubber band gives a much more air tight seal and is easier to work with than the loose cover.Now you have a working machine and fresh espresso on demand.
2 people found this helpful
John Green –
Easy To Use, Well Designed – But Very Small Capacities
In 2006, I bought a Saeco V’Spresso superautomatic espresso machine, expecting it to last about four years. In 2017, it finally gave out. So naturally I decided to try Saeco again. I found that Gaggia is actually manufactured by them, so this was the model I ordered. I find it to be really quiet and very efficient, with great coffee taste, but that it is a bit bulky, takes a bit of maintenance and has small capacities for water and coffee.First, the coffee. It really does a great job. You can program the amount of liquid (up to 8 oz for a large cup), and can adjust the strength. It is simple to use in the morning, when complex is bad!Here is what I like:+ The cost – this is one of the cheapest superautomatics around, and yet it looks good and feels solid.+ It works quietly and looks nice. The reservoir for water is on the front left (behind the frothing wand), and there is an identical reservoir that holds the “pucks” that come out after making a cup. The tray slides out easily to remove the water (more on that later). This is easily the quietest superautomatic I’ve used. It automatically pauses for a couple of seconds to pre-moisten the coffee.+ You can adjust the grind of the coffee in addition to the strength settings on the front (though it takes a bit of care, since it can only be adjusted when actually grinding). If you push the button twice, it does a double. Hold in the button, and it begins to “remember” the amount of liquid for that button; press it again to program the amount. There are three buttons, for small, medium and large.+ There are a number of cryptic symbols on the front, but I actually like that – I soon got to know each of them. There is a red dot on the top left (out of water), a similar one on the top right (empty the bean hopper), and an exclamation point type thing to indicate you need to prime the machine.+ To prime, simply turn the square knob in the middle to the right. Turning that knob to the left will put out steam from the wand. The normal position is as shown on the product page – facing up.+ The spout moves up and down easily, making it possible to put a full coffee cup under there.+ I especially like the coffee bin. It holds a couple cups of coffee, and the transparent lid makes it easy to see when you need more beans. There is a slot for using pre-ground coffee inside this area.+ The machine is programmed to last a long time. When it starts up, it rinses the mechanism. Then when you power down (or it powers down automatically), it rinses again. It will also warn you when it needs descaling – I highly recommend using the Saeco descaling solution. It will work with or without a water filter, but I like using it (mostly because I always used one for the V’Spresso that lasted so long).+ The brew group is easy to remove and clean – it is behind the door to the rear of the “puck” drawer. It is an ingenious design, and is meant to be cleaned weekly with water, and then air dried. They supply a small amount of grease to be put in one location every 500 cups or so.There is one thing I didn’t really like, although it isn’t a deal breaker. The machine constantly rinses water down into the base. If you remember to put a cup under the spout when you walk away, it isn’t too bad, but if not, you will find yourself changing out the tray often. You have to pull it out the front, take it to the sink, and then both rinse and (often) clean it. They many rinsings are the price that is paid for keeping the internal workings rinsed and lasting longer.IMPORTANT NOTES:- This machine is suitable for limited use. The water only holds about 20 oz, and the puck drawer holds 5 – yes, only 5 – pucks. You will find yourself constantly filling the water and emptying the puck drawer if you use this for more than a couple of people. It isn’t really a failure, it is just the design. Saeco makes several more expensive models with 60 oz water and 15 puck drawers. I would recommend that if you have a larger family.- This particular model is wider than it is long. Most superautomatics are long and narrow – this one is the opposite. You should consider this when ordering. It takes up more space on the counter top.Summary: Great tasting coffee, easy to use, looks great. For a couple of people, this is a really great design.
338 people found this helpful
MINMIN –
Cant beat the value and quality
***Update November 2017***This machine is a workhorse on a daily basis with no issues so far. It continues to make amazing coffee and I still love it.******Original Post******I’ve only owned and used it for 2 days now. So far, I am really enjoying the machine very much. It’s a great transition between Keurig and super fancy super automatic espresso machine. My initial runs out of the box created very wet pucks which was weird but after running it multiple times in days the pucks are looking much better. Overall quality of the machine is great and it’s giving me daily enjoyments. I’ll be learning for awhile….
11 people found this helpful
Sheila SennaSheila Senna –
Amazing cup of coffee
The media could not be loaded.
I like the fresh flavor the expresso machine produces. Easy instructions and ready to use. The cleaning is simple and the light guidance is easy to know when to add water and to fill with coffee grounds. I feel like I have a coffee shop in my house.
3 people found this helpful
lanajannelanajanne –
Great machine for super automatic. Basic but does all what you would need.
Awesome machine. Easy initial setup. And and works great. Use fresh medium-dark beans and youll have great tasting coffee for sure. Also, by default the espresso button is too much and it tasted diluted in my opinion. i would advise to reprogramming it as it does i believe 9-11 grams of espresso powder. I have the strength of coffee set at highest level, and reprogrammed it to 24 grams of espresso. Super easy to reprogram it also if you think need be as espresso taste varies. Steam funtion is also pretty decent. Im pretty experienced as far as steaming so i like that you’re able to remove the panarello wand. Love the machine so far, and i think price wise compare to others its a great deal. Keep in mind it does have a small water tank and drip tray so know that refilling the tank and emptying the drip tray will probably be a daily thing you have to do. Enjoy your coffee. 🙂
3 people found this helpful
King Arthur –
The Taste of Italy with Just the Push of a Button
Let me tell you about this machine right here: This is the best espresso machine for those of us not blessed to be “morning people.” I lived in Italy for a couple of years and became a coffee snob — regular American drip coffee just doesn’t do it for me anymore — so when I returned to the States I wanted, no I NEEDED an espresso machine but I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of having grind and pack and press my coffee in the morning. Enter the Gaggia Brera! This bad boy is automated and you get fantastic coffee with only the press of a button. It does all the work for you; and if something’s wrong it tells you. Run out of water? A little light comes on and the machine stops brewing until you add more water. Too many grounds pucks in the refuse tray? Another light comes and the machine stops brewing until you empty it. I cannot recommend this thing highly enough: For a modest price, you can have real Italian (The box and manual are in Italian for Pete’s sake) espresso conveniently in your home. Make sure you use real espresso roast beans as they’ll make the difference as far as texture, aroma, and flavor. For full authenticity, use these:
CAFFE MORENO USA, Super Bar roast, Espresso coffee whole beans, Made in Italy, 2.2 pounds – 1 Kg. Il Vero Espresso Napoletano.
Also, I bought a slightly damaged unit through Amazon Warehouse and I couldn’t be happier. I don’t know where this damage was, but it wasn’t on the machine itself.
77 –
Great price, it’s very convenient and quiet, and makes good coffee. Wonderful for the non-connoisseur!
As an owner of a Gaggia Titanium for over a decade, I’ve been sold on superauto coffee machines for a long time. So when my Titanium finally died, I knew I’d be getting another superauto. But the Titanium had some quirks that annoyed me. And it was quite noisy. So I was totally open to other brands and my hunt for my next superauto would involve a TON of research as there are WAY more superautos out there than there were when I got my Titanium!Being that I live in Hawaii and no brand of superauto is serviced here, I opted for a 4-year warranty at checkout that includes shipping both ways. Also, as it seems no superauto lives much longer than a decade, I didn’t want to spend over $1,000 like I did on my Titanium. So what really brought me to the Brera was price. This is what I think:PROS:1) PRICE, obviously! Very affordable so long as it lasts a long time.2) It’s quiet! The burr grinder is WAY quieter and so is the rest of the process compared to the Titanium. And overall, it’s not that noisy.3) Delivers a decent crema. Not as thick as a pro espresso machine, but still quite nice and on par with pretty much all but the top superautos.4) Very quick and easy access to the water reservoir and dregdrawer right in the front of the unit.5) Still has customizable cup size. In other words, you can program how much coffee comes out when you press the small cup (espresso) button and also for the big cup (cafe crema) button.6) Relatively compact size. A fair amount smaller than the Titanium.CONS:1) Water reservoir is too small. It’s way too small. You’ll need to keep a 2L bottle of water next to the machine or you’ll be constantly going back and forth to your water source.2) Lots of rinsing cycles (I’m not talking about descaling). When you turn it on, it spits out water. When you turn it off, it spits out water. With a tiny water reservoir, this sucks. It’s probably a good thing for the machine and the quality of coffee, but it drains the tiny reservoir quickly.3) Can’t adjust coffee temperature. I’m not a fan of really hot coffee. While the Brera doesn’t make it scalding, it’s a tad hotter than I prefer.4) No clock. I like having clocks on my appliances.5) Dispensing spout is not quite tall enough to accommodate my favorite coffee mug. Granted, it’s a relatively tall mug but not giant. The Brera will accommodate big squatty Starbucks mugs like the kind that has the name of the city of the shop you’re in though.All in all, if you love your coffee but you’re not a genuine for real coffee connoisseur, you’ll love this simple effective, and convenient, machine. High quality coffee that utterly outclasses drip coffee+espresso machine combos ($100ish). If you simply must have the best coffee possible, well, this is certainly not the machine for you. But if really good, 1-button ease coffee appeals to you, this one’s pretty much a no-brainer.Cheers! :)EDIT: Added a photo for Jeff of my programmed Big Cup amount of coffee brewed. A little over 5oz.
25 people found this helpful
ramon –
Great coffee
This machine makes the best coffee if you like strong coffee, Relatively quiet grinding process; Water reservoir is too small because it wastes too much during the cleaning process.
M. ChristianM. Christian –
LOVE THIS MACHINE!
I’ve had this machine for 8 months now, and I love it! I’m not one to write reviews, but this espresso machine deserves one. 🙂 The semi-automatic is great if you want a no-fuss, clean machine. No portafilter to clean out, just empty the puck container on the right when full. This machine looks sleek – love the modern stainless look. It auto-cleans out the lines once turned on and again once it turns to stand-by mode. I keep a 12oz frother pitcher underneath the dispenser to catch the water, although there is a basin that collects it as well. The espresso and Americanos are fresh with perfect crema. We use Lavazza beans which are so good! The only minor complaints I have is that 1) the ‘drain cover’ where you set your cup scratches easily. It’s not really noticeable, but when I wash it, I always feel the grate should be a higher grade of stainless. Also, 2) it doesn’t have an indicator that the water level is too low before making your beverage. Instead it will make a partial-cup. Still a 5 out of 5 in my book. Hope this review is helpful!
74 people found this helpful
Vanessa B.Vanessa B. –
Love this little machine
UPDATE: I’ve had this machine for nearly a year and I love it. I use it every day and it makes great tasting espresso and has been working well without any issues so far. The milk frother works great- I took the auto frother off to make it into a manual frother so I could get microfoam and a smoother, sweeter milk. Once you get your settings dialed in so your espresso tastes the way you want and you find good, fresh (non-oily!) beans, this thing works like a dream. I’ve almost completely stopped going to the coffee shop.Original review: I really want to like this machine. I have been using an inexpensive Nespresso U for years and it did a great job, but I was tired of being a slave to pods and was looking forward to getting a little higher quality of espresso at home, so I made the investment. Upon opening the box, I discovered my drip tray was cracked and the dull drip tray indicator was broken into pieces. A couple of calls to Gaggia and Amazon and they took care of that issue and paid to send out new pieces. Good customer service on both ends so far.The machine looks nice, and is fairly easy to use and set up. My issue is the espresso… I was disappointed the first day for sure. I had read the first few shots you pull could be watery, due to the unit’s “adapting” process, so I pulled shot after shot of under extracted espresso- like 12 shots. After speaking with Gaggia customer support again, they suggested I customize the single shot setting to pull less water through, lowering the fluid oz amount of the shot. This DID help slightly. The shots started tasting more concentrated, and I got a slightly better crema. However, it’s still missing that syrupy, concentrated bittersweet espresso flavor. I spoke with customer service again today, after noticing it was only taking 9 seconds to extract the shot. No wonder they are lacking flavor. The support personnel I spoke to said that the timing is irrelevant with a superauto machine, since it’s doing all the work for me. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, maybe it is. Maybe my expectations were too high for what kind of espresso I could get from a super automatic machine but all the other reviews I read had basically rave reviews about the espresso the machine produces. I’m hoping that it’s either user error or that my machine is still “adapting”.I’ll keep at it for another week or so… and update the review as needed.UPDATE: I’ve had this machine for about 5 months now. I really do love it. It makes a coffee shop quality milk based drink (usually a latte) with great frothed milk for way less than I was paying for my daily Starbucks run. I would even say that it tastes better than Starbucks does. I’m changing my original 3 star rating to a 4 star rating. It works very well- and has held up well. (I do a weekly maintenance cleaning: rinsing of the brew group, cleaning the interior as much as I can, washing the dispensed pod container, water container and the drip tray. I feel that helps contribute to a good tasting espresso). The convenience of a one touch machine makes this a worthwhile purchase for sure. I wouldn’t say it creates as good of an espresso as a semi automatic, and I don’t get a lot of crema with my espresso (even after switching my beans to a more local, freshly roasted bean) but it makes a killer milk based drink. Worth the money.
29 people found this helpful
Brady Reed –
Great versatile and inexpensive home machine!
If you don’t want to spend $1000’s for a home espresso machine, I heartily recommend the Gaggia Brera. We’ve had ours for 1-1/2 years, and despite what other reviewers have said about some of the plastic construction, ours has held up very well. It does need periodic care and maintenance. Suggestions:- Learn what the multitude of display icons mean (vapor lock, empty pucks, decalcify, etc.)- In our machine, the decalcification instructions in the main manual were outdated. Be sure and follow the instructions in the supplied errata. There are also YouTube videos on how to perform this process. It can take about an hour. We always use the official Gaggia decalcification fluid.- Keep the brew group (the removable complex mechanism inside the right-hand door) and its enclosure clean.- At times, using the ground coffee chute can result in a weak, watery brew. We’ve found that it helps to (1) only put in a scoop of coffee after the machine is fully started up, (2) don’t use excessively oily or finely ground coffee (salt-shaker granularity works), (3) shake the machine a little to ensure that the scooped coffee goes all the way down the chute (4) keep the brew group and enclosure clean.- As another reviewer said, keep the milk spout clean of caked-on milk deposits, inside and out.A very good value!