Gaggia Classic Pro Review

The world entry to mid-level espresso machines can be a bit daunting to navigate. Consumer-focused brands like Breville are a pretty safe bet.

Still, with a little bit of research, it’s possible to get better quality and performance for your money depending on where your priorities lie.

One of the names most commonly brought up in this discussion is Gaggia, more specifically, the Gaggia classic pro.

So today, we will take a look at the Gaggia classic and see if we can make proud the huge number of people who sing its praises.

Starting off with the build quality and finishing, it’s immediately clear that this unit is built to last.

The main chassis is an impressive piece of manufacturing made of one piece of metal, which can be seen more easily when you remove the drip tray.

It’s apparent that the designers were purposeful when selecting which components would be made from metal and plastic to save on costs.

An example of this is the drip tray. The top grate is made of metal, as it’s a high wear area, but the reservoir is made from plastic to save on weight and manufacturing costs.

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The cup warming rock is polished metal. The port filter has a good weight to it. The machine is very solid on your countertop, completely free of any creaking or bending you might experience in lower-end offerings.

I think Gaggia did not nail the balance between quality and cost in two areas: the portafilter and the steam knob.

Both are made from a light and shiny plastic material that detracts from the otherwise premium feel of this machine.

With that being said, the actuation of the steam knob feels robust. It’s just the superficial feel I wasn’t a huge fan of. A knurled metal finish would’ve made a world of difference.

Appearance is, of course, completely subjective. However, I feel like I need to share my experience with this particular machine.

Looking at the photos online, and when I first unbox it, I wasn’t a huge fan of the very classic boxy appearance.

But each time I went into my kitchen and looked at it, it started to grow on me, especially I think thanks to this dark blue color you can purchase it in.

The machine’s functions are controlled by three heavy-duty switches on the front, which have a satisfying feel and the knob on the side.

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The water reservoir is 2.1 liters and can be refilled either from a top-mounted access point or by pulling forward after removing the drip tray.

This is a great feature because it means you can slide the machine as far back as you want underneath your cabinets, and you can still refill it from the front without having to move the machine every time.

The Gaggia classic pro doesn’t have a dedicated hot water outlet, but the steam arm can be used to dispense hot water by activating both the steam switches and then opening the steam valve.

Milk Steaming

With any single boiler machine, there is that transition time between brewing and steaming. But with this one, in particular, you’re rewarded with very good steam pressure in a two-hole steam tip that can produce some great milk texture.

I’m not a huge fan of this steam workflow because the steam arm is not on a ball joint; it only rotates.

This might give some advantages in terms of durability but the sacrifice of positioning flexibility in the pitcher.

Espresso Performance

The first thing I noticed with this machine is that it very quickly and effectively warms up the portafilter when sitting in the group head.

Also, having a commercial-sized 58-millimeter basket is great because it makes buying aftermarket accessories an absolute breeze.

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Not like other entry-level machines that are up to use 54 or even 51-millimeter baskets. Not to mention the advantages that a 58-millimeter portafilter provide to the extraction itself.

I’ve been using this machine as my daily driver for the last week, and here’s what I’ve noticed.

Being someone who’s reviewed all the Breville machines and owns an Appartamento, the Espresso performance of the Gaggia is closer to the rocket than it is to the Breville. Here’s what I mean by that.

Once dialed in, the Gaggia classic pro was able to easily and consistently repeat the same shot time after time.

A quick purge of the group head resulted in a consistent temperature from shot to shot, and overall it was a more commercial feeling experience than other machines I have tested in this price range.

With that being said, it would be irresponsible of me to talk with performance in this way without mentioning the caveat that the performance will be directly linked to the quality of the espresso grinder you choose to pair with it.

If the Gaggia classic pro is already maxing out your budget, you may want to look somewhere else.

In order to get the most out of this machine needs to be room in your budget to parent an equally capable grinder.

It does ship with a pressurized filter basket if you want to use pre-ground coffee or espresso pods. But if you’re planning to go either of those routes, you might as well save your money and go with something less expensive like the Breville Bambino.

The advantage of this machine is producing true, non-pressurized shots consistently with a quality that makes you wonder why you would ever really want a more expensive machine.

As with anything, there is some give and take with the Gaggia class pro. The transition time between brewing and steaming is quite considerable, especially when you consider some of the innovative solutions that other brands are bringing to the market.

I really wish this steam arm was on a ball joint and didn’t just pivot, and I would like to see the great build quality carried through to the portafilter handle and steamed knob.

But these are all small trade-offs that the Gaggia is able to offer you in return.

So if you’re looking for your first espresso machine or even an upgrade from your first espresso machine, the Gaggia classic pro is a tough one to beat in this price bracket.

Thanks to its great espresso quality, good steaming, and bombproof build, combined with a company with a long, storied history.

If you’re a bit skeptical about the looks, like I was, be sure to check it out in this classic blue shade, I promise it’ll change your opinion.