Hi SLL, Thanks for the comment! Typical upgrade from a single boiler is to HX Boiler machine for simultaneous brew and steam. But a wide range in that class. From value in Expobar Pulser: www.wholelattelove.com/expobar-office-pulser-espresso-machine to something like the rock solid Profitec Pro 500 PID: www.wholelattelove.com/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine We've done some upgrade videos in the past but some may be a bit dated as new machines have rolled out. Thank you for the suggestion will see if we can get a new done! Marc

Hi John, You are welcome! A couple of people have mentioned the resemblance. Marc

Hi Dune, Everything covered in the video is true for the US/North American Gaggia Classic. Marc

Te classic pro is in europe know. and very good

Hi z, Thanks for sharing your experience! Many are disappointed with revisions to the Classic in EU. Classic has not changed in US/North America.

Hi MM, You are welcome. Depends on your flavor preferences, but most wanting a large cup would make it as an Americano. For that, pull your shot (single or double to your preference) then add hot water from the wand to the volume/taste your desire. You can certainly just let a double shot run longer and put all the water through the coffee but that tends to over-extract and produce bitter flavors. If you always want the larger cup you can grind coarser to avoid over-extraction. FYI I drink a couple of Americanos everyday and it's what many coffee geeks prefer for larger cups. Produces a purer flavor. Hope that helps! Marc

@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you, just ordered Gaggia Carezza Deluxe and I hope it'll be a good adventure. For many years I've been using an automatic machine (Nivona) with in-built ceramic grinder and so on, but I think it's much more staisfying to make coffee "manually". We'll see :)

Hi j,m Thank you for the comment and questions! It may be possible to use a bottomless PF with the Carezza. 1. Gaggia does not make a bottomless PF specifically for the machine but people do hack the PFs of machines using pressurized PFs all the time. Basically just cut the bottom out of a stock PF. 2. The Carezza uses a thermoblock boiler. It's a stainless steel lined tube embedded in a spiral through an aluminum block. It's low volume so not like boilers in higher end machines with a pool of water inside. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions. Marc

Now everything is very clear. (I will try to find a Baby Twin, at the very least take the Classic or Sylvia). Thank you very much, Marc.

Hi wired, I'd go with the Gaggia Classic Pro. Does the hot water and is capable of making a better espresso base for your Americanos! Marc

Hi KR, The SGP can service the Classic. Be sure to dial in your grind size! Here's a video on dialing-in: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n914l9BmrNqyeH0.html

Hi Andrei, Thanks for the question. I prefer the Carezza pressurized brewing system to that of the Dedica. Being that I'm in the US, I can't speak to the EU Classic. I've never used one - sorry.

Hi drax, Thanks for the comment and question. For pressurized brewing systems which have the restriction after the filter basket I get better results (like you!) when tamping. Marc

@@Wholelattelovepage Great, ok. Thank you very much for your reply!

Hi KF, Classic is a home use machine. Not intended for commercial service. Have a look at the Gaggia TS. It's about as budget as it gets in a machine appropriate for commercial service: www.wholelattelove.com/products/gaggia-ts-espresso-machine Marc-

Hi NS, Yes, pressurized basket in Carezza are single walled and look like a non-pressuriezed filter basket. It's dual walled in the Classic. Marc

Thank you for your quick response. On the Carezza, can the "restriction plate" in the portafilter be taken in and out to switch between pressurized and non-pressurized brewing? If not, can a non-pressurized portafilter be bought and installed later?

Hi Jason, Thanks for sharing your experience with the Encore and Espro. The Encore can service pressurized basket brewing with the Classic. I do not recommend it for non-pressurized basket brewing.

Hi Daniel, It's 58mm. Sorry if I misspoke in the video. I sometimes transpose PF basket sizes with burr sizes of my favorite grinders! I just turned 55yrs old so a lot of numbers in this old head in the 50-60+ range :).

Thanks Marc, I've got a decade on you and I can tell you that it doesn't get better 🤣

Hi John, Sorry for the delayed response. I've been offline on vacation for a week. The Carezza uses a stainless steel lined thermoblock boiler. The Gaggia Classic has an aluminum boiler. Marc

Hi ec, Thanks for the question. The Infinity works best grinding for pressurized basket brewing as it lacks super-precise grind size control required to get the best results in standard non-pressurized filter baskets. Both the Carezza and Classic come equipped to brew in pressurized baskets. The Classic also has non-pressurized baskets so if you may upgrade to a better grinder down the road the Classic is a good choice. Do keep in mind the Classic is a machine. In the long-term it's more serviceable and robustly built than the Carezza. Marc

Hi Lulu, Thanks for the comment and question. I know some love their Mazzer grinders but personally I think their are some better options for less money. I'd have a look at the Baratza Sette 270 or 270Wi: www.wholelattelove.com/baratza-sette-270wi-conical-burr-grinder . They are a little more plasticy but have incredible grind quality and distribution, ultra-low grind retention (Mazzer retains a lot of grinds) and are less than half the price. They are solid for regular home use. For a more commercial style grinder it's hard to beat Ceado E5P: www.wholelattelove.com/ceado-e5p-electronic-coffee-grinder or E6P: www.wholelattelove.com/ceado-e6p-electronic-dosing-grinder-v2. Same internals in both grinders 25-40% lower price than the Mini-Electronic Type A. I think Ceado grind quality is better than Mazzer. I'm not a fan of Mazzer's top burr which floats on 3 springs. Grind adjustment threads in Mazzers are not sealed from grinding chamber so coffee dust/oils get in there and adjustment will get jumpy. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have more questions. Marc

Whole Latte Love Thank you for the great recommendations, Marc. I'll definitely reconsider getting one of the Settes!! Was thinking about getting the 270 but got overwhelmed by the vast number of options!

You are welcome - so many grinders to choose from!

Hi TS, Thanks for the question. The answer... one of these, the Gaggia Classic is an actual machine. The Barista Express and the Carrezza are appliances. Lot's of plastic included in the construction of those and they use thermoblocks instead of an actual boiler for heating water and creating steam. That's why they are ready yo use faster - also why they are not as stable brew wise as the Classic. Classic uses a commercial size and weight portafilter and group head for commercial size coffee dosing capability and temperautre stability. Classic is hand built to last and very user serviceable with readily available replacement parts. Others are not user serviceable. Marc

Not made in China?

Hi Timothy, Some personal preference involved but with an 18g dose in the portafilter a 2oz/60ml finished espresso is a good place to start. Marc

Thanks Marc! Much appreciated!

I have just got a Sage barrista express to re-place my Gaggia classic, it is more or less the same as the Duo temp, but with a grinder, the duo temp is not available in the UK. The steam wand is a normal wand, so is capable of doing Latte art, not that I can do it, no matter how much I try :)

Hi Alexander, I have not personally used the Puccino or even seen one in person - hopefully someone else can chime in. I did a search and the machine has a similar look to a Classic. It appears to have an autofrothing wand. You'd should ditch that if you want to learn how to steam manually. But I don't know if that's even possible on that machine like it is on the Classic. Also found this thread on Home Barista about the Puccino which may help: www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/la-pavoni-puccino-pcl-t8126.html Marc

@@Wholelattelovepage thanks so much for your answer! I'll be checking that link later... And I really hope it is possible to remove the autofrothing wand. Let's see if someone has anything to add!

Hi b, Thanks for the question. Well, those are 2 very different machines! Nespresso uses capsules which give convenience and an okay espresso. But, those capsules can be pricey! The Dedica uses pre-ground coffee or ESE pods. Nespresso probably makes a better coffee than an ESE pod in the Dedica. But go pre-ground and Dedica probably better than Nespresso but far less convenient. Marc

Thank You

Hi there Scs, People do PID the Classic. We don't carry a kit for that and be aware it would void the warranty.

Hi David, Thanks for the question. Yes it does! Marc

Hi JK Thanks for the questions. The Gaggia Carezza is a pressurized portafilter brewer. It's a little unique in the segment as it uses a filter basket with many 100's of holes like a standard filter basket but then has a restriction after the basket to create pressure. It's my favorite pressurized PF espresso machine. You can to some extent control the extraction flow even if using pre-ground coffee by changing your tamping pressure. It's not the same as using a standard non-pressurized basket but there is some control. The Gaggia Classic comes with pressurized single and double shot baskets as well as a standard non-pressurized double shot basket. It's a machine you can use without a grinder to start and then add a grinder down the road and produce a much better espresso. The Classic's double basket is standard 58mm commercial size and has a capacity of 17-20g depending on coffee and grind. Marc

Hi c, Thanks for the question. The Gaggia Classic using a quality fresh ground coffee in non-pressurized filter basket is capable of producing a better espresso. The Carezza uses a pressurized basket only which is a compromise for convenience. Marc

@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you Marc! Greetings from Warsaw.

Miguel Ruiz yeah same with me

These are definitely creamy enough. It's not just about the pressure, the brewhead design and basket construction plays a part!

Hi John, Thanks for the question. Not that I'm aware of. Sub $200 products are appliances. Usually with auto frothing steam wands incapable of the fine milk texturing required for latte art. Marc

@@Wholelattelovepage hey, I have my eye on the breville bambino plus. I wanna make latte art for my own enjoyment. Will that machine do the job? Will u do a review on it?

I doubt it, it would have to be a really small business, you would be always refilling the tank and I doubt the machine would be able to cope.

No. You would really want at the very least a double boiler machine.

And that as well :)

Not rated for commercial use. The Gaggia TS is a lower cost commercially rated machine appropriate for lower volume applications: www.wholelattelove.com/gaggia-ts-espresso-machine

Hi Vv, Thanks for the question. Current pricing for all products available here: www.wholelattelove.com/ Marc

Hi George, Breville products have their place. They offer a lot of desirable features at a lower price point. They get there by using more plastic in construction and appliance graded parts and construction. But they are not designed for decades of service and user serviceability. If you expectation is a few years of service from the Breville that's doable with proper maintenance. Marc

Hi a, Thanks for the comment. For espresso machines this is on the low-end cost wise.