Review Summary
Looking for the best entry-level coffee machine? Well, we’re happy to tell you that you’ve found it. It is the Gaggia Classic Pro coffee maker, and this Gaggia machine can be compared with some higher-end machines.
The Gaggia Classic Pro coffee machine makes the best-quality espresso on the market. The espresso that this machine makes will remind you on the Italian espresso made by professional baristas. Other than that, the machine is well-built, easy to use, and is pretty fast.
Did You Know?
Gaggia Classic Pro’s predecessor, the Gaggia Classic, was the Consumer’s Digest Best Buy back in 2011. The Gaggia Classic Pro is an upgraded version of the Classic model, and it is one of the most demanded entry-level coffee machines.
Key Features:
- Rocker switch controls
- Steam wand
- 58mm portafilter made of chrome-plated brass
- Single and double shot baskets
- Three-way solenoid valve
- Blowout tube
- Passive cup warmer
Pros
Can make two shots of coffee
Great for latte art
Great design
Works quietly
Heats up fast
Cons
The machine doesn’t have a built-in grinder
Sturdy, Stainless Steel Housing
The Pro might be less expensive than the Gaggia Accademia, but it does keep quality close to its design.
The internal components of the Gaggia Classic Pro are enclosed in a stainless steel chassis that starts from the top and goes all the way down to the bottom of the machine. The housing looks a bit robotic and edgy which adds to the overall charm of the Classic Pro. Gaggia Classic Pro’s drip tray surface is also made of stainless steel and it will not rot once water gets on it.
The Simplest Control Panel
The control panel on the machine is very simple. In comparison to other Gaggia machines, like the Gaggia Brera, for example, the panel on the Pro has nothing more than three simple rocker buttons. The first button turns the machine on and off, the second gets it ready to brew coffee, and the third button turns on the steam. Each of the buttons has a light underneath it that indicates whether one of these two functions or the machine itself is on or off.
Aside from the buttons, there’s a dial that controls the steam located on the right-hand side of the machine.
Water Tank
The water tank of the Gaggia Classic Pro is placed in the back of the machine. You can clearly see the amount of water in the tank from the front of the machine and from the cut-outs on the sides of the machine. Once you need to refill the tank with water, you can get it out from the front or from the top of the Gaggia Classic Pro.
Commercial Steam Wand
To help you make coffee with milk, the Gaggia Classic Pro comes with a commercial steam wand. This steam wand has two holes on the its tip through which steam is forced. There’s also a rubber protector on the wand that prevents you from getting burnt when you steam or froth your milk.
The commercial steam wand works great and can steam your milk in such a way that you’ll be able to create latte art. The frothing is also very good, so you will for sure enjoy many good-quality cappuccinos with the help of the Gaggia Classic Pro coffee machine.
Make sure that you run some hot water through the steam wand before and after frothing milk. Once the wand is rinsed, wipe it with a towel or a cloth.
Portafilter and Filter Baskets
The portafilter that comes with the Gaggia Classic Pro is made of chrome-plated brass and measures 58mm. Shipped in the box with the portafilter are the three filter baskets. With this machine, you get a double pressurized, a single commercial non-pressurized basket, and a double commercial non-pressurized basket.
If you have a good grinder, the non-pressurized basket will do great for you. However, if you’re using pre-ground coffee or coffee pods, it is best for you to use the pressurized basket to get a great coffee flavor.
Blowout Tube and Three-Way Solenoid Valve
This machine comes with a three-way solenoid valve. The valve connects to a blowout tube that dispenses the water from the coffee grounds into the drip tray. This way the coffee grounds that you’ll later dispose off will be dry and well-formed.
Passive Cup Warmer
The Gaggia Classic Pro coffee machine has a passive cup warmer on its top to help you heat up your cups before you make coffee. This improves the flavor of the coffee and lets you enjoy your coffee even more.
On the Quality of the Coffee
When Gaggia makes their coffee machines, they have the quality of the coffee as their top priority. Besides its features, this is one more reason why the Gaggia Classic Pro is often considered equal to the brilliant Rancilio Silvia. You can see how the two machines compare in the review that we did on them.
The espressi have a nice consistency and the crema on top of the coffee is great. This because of the great brewing process of the machine which brews the coffee really well. Furthermore, cappuccinos and latte macchiatos also taste very, very good, with the commercial steam wand steaming and frothing the milk very well.
FAQ About the Gaggia Classic Pro
1. What are the dimensions of the Gaggia Classic Pro?
This coffee machine measures 8 x 9.5 x 14.2 in.
2. Is the boiler of the Gaggia Classic Pro made of aluminum?
Yes, it is.
3. Which accessories does the Gaggia Classic Pro come with?
The machine comes with a coffee scoop, a tamper, three filter baskets, and a portafilter.
4. Can I use this machine in my small coffee shop? I’d need it to serve from 15 to 20 coffee shots a day.
The Gaggia Classic Pro coffee machine was made for home use only. Don’t risk using it in a coffee shop since you might damage it.
Conclusion
Like many others, we think that the Gaggia Classic Pro coffee machine is one of the best entry-level coffee machines currently available on the market. This machine is easy to use, will not confuse you with many control buttons, makes great coffee, and is affordable. If you think that the Gaggia Classic Pro fits your standards, we recommend you buy it.
There’s one more thing to keep in mind when making your own personal conclusion about the Classic Pro, though: this is an espresso machine that made it on our best espresso machines under $500 list.
Can you upgrade teh steam wand?
Hi, Peter!! :)) ☕
You can upgrade the steam wand on the Gaggia Classic espresso machines. The Gaggia Classic Pro already has its steam wand upgraded since it practically is a newer version of the Gaggia Classic.
Thank you for your question and take care!! :)) ☕
I have a gaggia classic pro and I want to learn about some hacks I can do to the portafilter to get stronger coffee. my espresso seems to be unsatisfying sometimes any advice?
Hey there, Pedro!! :)) ☕
We want you to be able to make great espresso on the Gaggia Classic Pro and we think that making a good shot of espresso exceeds beyond the way one uses the portafilter. Because of this, we’ll share with you some tips that will help you make a great espresso which have to do with the entire process of making espresso, including the way the portafilter should be used. Here come the tips!! :))
1. If you are using whole bean coffee, make sure the beans are good for espresso. Espresso beans are usually dark roasted since dark roasted beans tend to be oilier than medium and light roasted ones and you want the oils for the crema. However, there are some good espresso blends that are medium roasted as well.
If you don’t have a grinder and want to use ground coffee for your espresso, you also have to pick a good espresso blend, meaning that the ground coffee is finely ground.
Here are some espresso blends that we recommend trying:
Verena Street Espresso Beans
https://amzn.to/2YijAiY
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend
https://amzn.to/3oylZ3R
Lavazza Espresso Italiano Ground Coffee Blend
https://amzn.to/3DcES0m
Lavazza Crema e Gusto Ground Coffee Blend
https://amzn.to/3Dfrx7L
illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee
https://amzn.to/3FdNKEV
2. Make sure you pick the right coffee grinder if you’re planning on using whole bean coffee because the Gaggia Classic Pro doesn’t have a built-in grinder. Remember, you’ll be grinding the coffee for espresso, so make sure that the grinder you pick can grind the coffee finely.
Good espresso grinders are usually more expensive, so if you’re not willing to spend extra money on one, we suggest you use ground coffee to make espresso with the Gaggia Classic Pro or get a budget grinder that will do a decent job. We’ll leave that decision to you and show you a few grinders that we thought are good for espresso:
Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
https://amzn.to/3D7s6QQ
Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill – ”Skreton Pro”
https://amzn.to/3ivXO2s
Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
https://amzn.to/3mrO9uX
Baratza Virtuoso + Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
https://amzn.to/3BbeFPo
Baratza Sette 270Wi Conical Burr Grinder
https://amzn.to/3uIttlZ
3. The Gaggia Classic Pro comes with one pressurized and two commercial filter baskets. If you are going to use ground coffee, it is better to use the pressurized basket, even if the ground coffee is an espresso blend. This is because ground coffee can still be ground a bit coarser than you’d like it to for espresso, and so you’ll need a pressurized basket that will help the water put more pressure on the coffee when it flows through it (the right amount of pressure is key for a great espresso extraction). If you are using a good espresso grinder, you should use one of the two commercial filter baskets that the Gaggia Classic Pro comes with.
3. Make sure your portafilter is clean before and after you use it. Coffee grounds and water that could be ‘hiding’ in your portafilter will affect the taste of your next espresso, and they will affect it in a negative way.
4. Use from 0.2 to 0.4 ounces of coffee for single and about 0.6 ounces for double shots of espresso (these quantities might slightly vary).
5. Watch the distribution of the ground coffee in your portafilter and the way you tamp it. Make sure the grounds are not unevenly-distributed before you tamp them and that you are tamping them with a force of about 66 pounds.
6. Make sure the edges of the portafilter are clean before you lock the portafilter into the group head of the Gaggia Classic Pro.
7. Clean the group head of the Gaggia Classic Pro by rinsing it to make sure that any coffee residue comes out of the machine.
8. Brew your espresso instantly to avoid burning the coffee grounds in the portafilter. Remember that the group head is hot at this time!
Good espresso takes 30 seconds to get extracted, but don’t worry if your espresso takes longer or shorter to extract. It might be a bit of a trial and error process at the beginning, but you will get there eventually!! :))
We hope this information helps you with your espresso!! If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to ask them!!
Have a great day and take care!! :)) ☕
IS it better to use it with or without a PID KIT?
Hey there!! :)) ☕
We think that the Gaggia Classic Pro is good to use with or without the PID. However, the PID can improve the temperature consistency of the brew water while your espresso is getting extracted, and, therefore, improve the quality of the espresso. Espresso, like other coffee drinks, needs the right brew temperature to be properly extracted, and if you want to improve its taste, a PID is not a bad way to go.
Thanks for your comment!! Take care and enjoy your coffee!! :)) ☕
I run a small business and my employees need their coffee. I have classic pro at home, is it good to have at work? Speaking about 9 people working for me.
Hey, James!! We’re happy to know that you own a Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine!! :)) ☕
Gaggia manufactured this machine for home use only, and we’re afraid that nine people would be a little bit over the limits of the Gaggia Classic Pro. Therefore, we think you shouldn’t use this machine at work.
There are, however, many other espresso machines and coffee makers that are designed to make a lot of coffee a day. When in a work environment, an automatic or super-automatic coffee machine or a coffee maker are all good choices. We recommend you take a look at these Keurig coffee makers that we’ve reviewed (the article where we’ve reviewed them is down below):
Keurig K-Elite
Keurig Office Pro
Keurig 525C
Keurig 575
https://morningcallcoffeestand.com/which-keurig-should-i-buy/
Thanks for reaching out to us!! We hope you have a great day ‘flavored’ with your favorite coffee drink!! :)) ☕
Could you compare the Gaggia classic pro with some of the Breville machines? People say good things about both Gaggia and Breville
Hey there!! Thanks for asking for our opinion on the Gaggia Classic Pro and the Breville machines!! :)) ☕
We decided to make a brief (or not so brief :)) ) comparison of the Gaggia Classic Pro, Breville the Infuser, and Breville the Bambino Plus for you, so here it comes.
☕ PRICE: all the espresso machines are about the same price
☕ COLOR: Gaggia Classic Pro – brushed stainless steel; Breville the Infuser – brushed stainless steel, cranberry red, black sesame; Breville Bambino Plus – brushed stainless steel, black truffle, smoked hickory, sea salt, royal champagne, damson blue;
☕ MATERIAL: all the espresso machines are made of stainless steel
☕ WEIGHT: Gaggia Classic Pro – 20 pounds; Breville the Infuser – 17 pounds; Breville the Bambino Plus – 3.1 pounds;
☕ DIMENSIONS: Gaggia Classic Pro – 9.5 x 8 x 14.2 inches; Breville the Infuser – 12.5 x 12.5 x 13.25 inches; Breville the Bambino Plus – 12.5 x 7.6 x 12.2 inches;
☕ PRE-INFUSION: Gaggia Classic Pro – Manual; Breville the Infuser – Yes; Breville the Bambino Plus- Yes;
☕ MILK FROTHER: Gaggia Classic Pro – professional steam wand with two holes; Breville the Infuser – 360-degrees swiveling steam wand; Breville the Bambino Plus – automatic steam wand;
☕ PRESSURE PUMP: all three espresso machines have a 15-bar pressure pump
☕ PORTAFILTER: Gaggia Classic Pro – 58mm; Breville the Infuser – 54mm; Breville the Bambino Plus – 54mm;
☕ FILTER BASKETS: Gaggia Classic Pro – double pressurized, double commercial, single commercial for ground coffee and E.S.E. pods; Breville the Infuser – one and two-cup dual-wall pressurized filter baskets for pre-ground coffee, one and two-cup single-wall commercial baskets for ground coffee, no E.S.E. filter basket included; Breville the Bambino Plus – one and two-cup dual-wall pressurized filter baskets;
☕ AUTO-PURGE: Gaggia Classic Pro – No; Breville the Infuser – Yes; Breville the Bambino Plus – Yes;
☕ VOLUMETRIC CONTROL: Gaggia Classic Pro – No; Breville the Infuser – Yes; Breville the Bambino Plus – No;
☕ TEMPERATURE CONTROL: Gaggia Classic Pro – Not a PID machine; Breville the Infuser – PID temperature control; Breville the Bambino Puls – PID temperature control;
☕ WATER TANK CAPACITY: Gaggia Classic Pro – 71 fl.oz.; Breville the Infuser – 61 fl.oz.; Breville the Bambino Plus- 64 fl.oz.;
☕ WATER LEVEL VISIBILITY: Gaggia Classic Pro – Yes; Breville the Infuser – No; Breville the Bambino Plus – No;
☕ SOLENOID PRESSURE VALVE: Gaggia Classic Pro – Yes; Breville the Infuser – Yes; Breville the Bambino Plus – /
☕ ACCESSORIES: Gaggia Classic Pro – tamper, ground coffee doser, filter baskets; Breville the Infuser – razor dose trimming tool, filter baskets, coffee scoop, cleaning brush, tool and Allen Key, stainless steel milk jug, water filter, water filter holder, cleaning disks and tablets; Breville the Bambino Plus – tamper, razor precision ground coffee doser, stainless steel milk jug, filter baskets, cleaning disc, cleaning tool;
☕ REMOVABLE PARTS: Gaggia Classic Pro – drip tray, steam wand, water tank; Breville the Infuser – drip tray, water tank; Breville the Bambino Plus – drip tray, water tank;
☕ CUP WARMER: Gaggia Classic Pro – passive; Breville the Infuser – pssive; Breville the Bambino Plus – passive;
☕ SETTINGS: Gaggia Classic Pro – none; Breville the Infuser – buttons for one and two shots of espresso, manual over-ride; Breville the Bambino Plus – buttons for one and two shots of espresso, adjustable temperature of milk, adjustable texture level;
☕ DELIVERS HOT WATER: Gaggia Classic Plus – Yes; Breville the Infuser – Yes; Breville the Bambino Plus – No;
☕ EASY TO USE: Gaggia Classic Pro – very; Breville the Infuser – very; Breville the Bambino Plus – very
☕ ESPRRESSO TASTE and CREMA: Gaggia Classic Pro – great; Breville the Infuser – great; Breville the Bambino Plus – great;
☕ MILK FOAM QUALITY: Gaggia Classic Pro – very nice; Breville the Infuser – very nice; Breville the Bambino Plus – very nice;
☕ DURABILITY: Gaggia Classic Pro – durable; Breville the Infuser – durable; Breville the Bambino Plus – durable;
☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕
You can find these three espresso machines on Amazon here:
Gaggia Classic Pro
https://amzn.to/2YeL9K2
Breville the Infuser
https://amzn.to/2ZPDDpv
Breville the Bambino Plus
https://amzn.to/3uLHdMT
We hope you’re now more familiar with the Gaggia Classic Pro, Breville the Infuser, and Breville the Bambino Plus!! Take care and tell us which machine stole your heart!! :)) ☕