Just saw a great deal for this for £189 ($222)
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Gaggia+Gran+Prestige/214713374,default,pd.html
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Espresso Enthusiasts
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Just saw a great deal for this for £189 ($222)
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Gaggia+Gran+Prestige/214713374,default,pd.html
Personally, I love heat, dry heat, that warm balmy heat, and sitting in the shade, sipping (yes), coffee or espresso. None of that iced nonsense for me, no matter where I am; hot espresso and hot coffee, but cold water to accompany.
Gaggia are very good, and are vastly experienced in the manufacture of espresso and coffee equipment.
The Gaggia Baby Class is a fine machine; I've been quite happy with it!
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I'm not familiar with this particular one, but I'd be inclined to say 'yes' given my experience with the brand.
Agree. De'Longhi's are ok starter machines...but require more than a bit of grinder adjustments to get the proper grinds. Gaggia's are also good starter machines. I don't think you can really go wrong with either on which to learn the necessary espresso skill set.
I don't know that particular machine per se, but going by name recognition and price, I'd say it may be a good starter machine. It doesn't use a standard portafilter and uses some kind of pressurized filter head. That's fine I guess, but its not going to be interchangeable with other machines and you will need to get used to a portafilter in the event you decide to upgrade to a better machine in the future.
I would question the use of any machine that does not use a standardized portafilter size as in learning dosage size and grind in a nonstandard portafilter will make the transition to any better machine much more difficult y than if you learn your proper skills on a standardized machine. I'm not sure exactly what a pressurize filter head does, but once again getting a machine with standard features will make learning the skill set more effective.
I would look for a machine with a standard 52 mm or 58 mm portafilter, and other more standardize features to learn the espresso skills so that a transition doing upgraded machine, when the time comes, is not too confusing.
Also remember that the grinder is far more important than the espresso machine in an initial espresso setup. Being able to make fine adjustments when making espresso is crucial.
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Making my own coffee liqueur. I'm getting tired of paying for overpriced stuff I could make on my own. Decided to go into work late today so I could bake something. I've been keeping away from sweets for a few months but I began thinking the moment I woke up. MiL came to look after the children while I whipped up a simple chocolate torte, then made a caramelized coconut creme type of thing (I'm not sure what I shall call it) and then covered it with ganache after it had cooled down and adhered to the torte. Now to wait 24 hours for it to set firmly. Obviously made one for the in-laws as well.
Wanted to top off with caramelized chopped nuts, but we seem to be fresh out. I'm trying to remember what we did with the 5 lb of almonds we bought the other month.
Wanted to top off with caramelized chopped nuts, but we seem to be fresh out. I'm trying to remember what we did with the 5 lb of almonds we bought the other month.
Indeed, or convinces you buy kitchen hardware you don't need but want simply because of aesthetically value.
Ever tried salted caramel? Mmmmmm.
Sweet and salty........(like, but yet, unlike, Parma ham). Delicious, in other words. Not entirely unlike butterscotch (which I also love).
Thanks for your advice, as always, greatly appreciated. Can you (or anyone else) recommend an espresso machine for around the same $222/£170 price?
I don't know many owners who like or liked theirs when they had it.
I don't know that it matters much since you ordered a grinder that is inadequate for proper espresso production. I wouldn't expect very good coffee from this machine or my $1,400 Expobar when used in combination with an inferior grinder.
The two most important things in espresso making are using the freshest beans possible and using a high quality grinder, as best as one can afford, with at least 50 grind settings. Everything after that is irrelevant if the first two things are skimped on. One can perfect their skills and have a $7,000 espresso machine, but if you use stale beans, you'll get bad tasting, stale coffee. If you use a grinder that cannot grind to the right coarseness for espresso and make minute adjustments or can make consistent particles, you'll produce bad tasting coffee.
It may be raining, - well, something wet is descending in the unwelcome form of a persistent drizzle, - outside, but to my right hand is a mug of freshly made Ethiopian coffee.
And - this is not usual, but I fancied it - perhaps that unwelcoming sky has something to do with it, but I have just made myself another mug of lovely, freshly ground Ethiopian coffee. And am consuming it with half of a small French apple tart.
It's a bit difficult to make too many judgments about the machine since the spec sheet gives no information about the internals.
Also, I'm sure you noticed that on the link you provided the machine is "Out of Stock".
I'll try to do some looking around to see what's available in your price range (~200 pounds) a bit later. It's a little difficult since I'll need to try find vendors in the UK. but I'll give it a try.
Not to be an nag, but you do need to a few posts and read @SandboxGeneral's Post. (#6539).
Well, @Shrink, you can take a bow.
Reading that post, I was very much struck by the notion that @SandboxGeneral has proved a most worthy and attentive pupil, of yours, demonstrating with this post his mastery of the fine art of making and preparing good coffee.
Nagging again...spend the £200 on the grinder, and less on the espresso machine.
Our friend, @SandboxGeneral, knows his stuff!
Nagging again...spend the £200 on the grinder, and less on the espresso machine.
Our friend, @SandboxGeneral, knows his stuff!
But a good student needs a good teacher to wish to learn - and to be able to learn - what needs to be learnt properly.
For what it's worth...this was my first machine. I learned my skills on this machine.
Is it a great machine...no. But a great grinder, with this machine, will give you all you need to learn to make good espresso.
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Hey, thanks for looking for me, I really appreciate it. Sorry for being a bit of a pain with any dumb questions! Have put one of those in my Amazon basket while I continue to look. Just home from work now so i can have a proper look. Thanks again.
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Evening folks, it's me again! I don't know why but Gaggia's in the UK are, for some reason, hard to come by. I have, however, found this one and it has the right size portafilter (as mentioned before). It also seems like a good price £208.or $277. Thing is, is that I'm not aware of the seller? Has anyone had dealings with them before? See here; http://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=a-classic
And also (and please don't jump down my throat!) but this is my first result from grinding. Is this a fine grind? Can you tell from the pictures? Thanks.
And also (and please don't jump down my throat!) but this is my first result from grinding. Is this a fine grind? Can you tell from the pictures? Thanks.