The 6 Best Gaggia Espresso Machines

This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in December of 2018. Lovers of Italian coffee know that it can be nearly impossible to get an authentic cup when they aren't in-country or at one of those fancy — read "really expensive" — cafes. Luckly, Gaggia, a company founded in Milan and still producing their machines there, has come to the rescue. With one of these in your kitchen, you'll be able to create espressos to match those you had on your Rome vacation. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in December of 2018. Lovers of Italian coffee know that it can be nearly impossible to get an authentic cup when they aren't in-country or at one of those fancy — read "really expensive" — cafes. Luckly, Gaggia, a company founded in Milan and still producing their machines there, has come to the rescue. With one of these in your kitchen, you'll be able to create espressos to match those you had on your Rome vacation. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Velasca Prestige

The Velasca Prestige (around $899) is a fully featured model that offers simple, one-touch brewing for the most popular drinks. It has 10 grind settings, though you can bypass that entirely if you want to use pre-ground coffee, and programmable buttons for customized beverages.

Convenient front-loading reservoir
Sleek and attractive design
Fits under most kitchen cabinets

2. Classic Semi-Automatic

If you don't have a lot of counter space and like the idea of manually frothing your milk so you have complete control over the consistency, then the Classic Semi-Automatic (appx. $379) is for you. It can brew either single or double shots through its chrome-plated, brass portafilter.

Brushed steel housing
Commercial-quality components
Includes a tamper and a scoop

3. Babila RI9700

The Babila RI9700 (around $1870) is a bean-to-cup machine that is pricey, but worth every penny for true coffee aficionados. It gives you the option of automatic or manual milk frothing, and can make espresso lungos, ristrettos, macchiatos, and more.

Can also dispense hot water
Handy flow control knob
Self-cleaning function

4. Brera Super

The Brera Super (about $459) makes it easy to pre-warm your mugs with hot water, since it dispenses it right from the pannarello wand. It features a bypass doser that lets you use ground coffee for those times you need a cup of decaf and don't want any regular to get mixed in.

Beautiful steel front panels
Convenient dregs access
Brew group comes out for cleaning

5. Anima Standard

The Anima Standard (about $613) accepts cups of up to 5.9 inches, so even your tallest mugs should fit under the spout. At less than nine inches wide, most people will find that it easily fits between their other appliances, making it great for tight kitchens.

Three temperature settings
Large 60-ounce reservoir
Low water and empty hopper indicator

6. Carezza De Luxe

The Carezza De Luxe (appx. $329) may be affordable, but that doesn't mean it can't produce a great coffee-based beverage. It accepts grounds and ESE pods, automatically powers itself down after a period of inactivity, and has a visible water level.

Can create tight microfoam
Heats up and brews quickly
Must manually prime the pump

Last updated by Brett Dvoretz

A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.

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