As a classic restorer, modded, servicer and seller this is what I’ve been saying for a while. My Classic is from 1997 and had pid, dimmer, pressure gauge etc and produces the most stunning coffee. For a few coffees a day there’s not much better when not wanting to spend thousands

As a Gaggia owner, I'd unequivocally say that I'd go with the Linea Mini if I had the money and perhaps the space. I can say, though, that the Gaggia has provided 100+h of hands on experience for improving technique and understanding limitations by noticing improvements when I've made certain upgrades. I feel like it acts best as an entry-level learning tool that even someone with the money for a Linea Mini may find some benefit in learning from to start off.

An interesting comparison to highlight more for those getting in to home espresso, the differences between price ranges. I’ve got fond memories of the used Gaggia Classic I bought from eBay as my first espresso machine (after the obligatory Moka Express, of course). I slowly bought my collection of tamper, grinder, VST filter basket and other hardware to help me build the marginal gains towards espresso nirvana. After 2 years I eventually had enough money and need to buy a new machine. Sold the Gaggia for nearly what I paid for it and landed a Bezzera BZ10. This machine was bullet proof in terms of build quality, heat stability and out put, it was a big jump up but my skill set had grown with it. I attended an SCA barista course (I would urge anyone with a mild interest in home espresso to do this) and learned a lot more again about how to make good espresso. At around the same time I was fed up with my career in advertising and made the bold move to jump into coffee as I bought and built a nifty coffee trailer with the Marzocco Linea 2 Group as it’s centrepiece. Sadly, that lasted 6 months as business and my location became untenable. I sold the hardware and was left with the experiences and scarring of a small business owner. Recently I sold my Bezzera BZ10 and pushed into an Ascaso Steel Duo as I wanted more variables to work with. I wanted to explore what changes in pressure, pre-infusion and also a machine that didn’t waste as much energy as my 9 year old, solid as a rock Bezzera. I managed to get back what I paid and put in enough to upgrade. I had already upgraded my old, noisy but pretty baby blue Eureka Mignon grinder to a Niche Zero in the summer. What strikes me about home espresso is that you will constantly have to learn and adapt and find the sweet spot of what you can output. It’s a hobby as much as those people who buy cars that they tinker with. I love dinner parties when my guests have their after dinner coffee and exclaim ‘it’s the best coffee they’ve ever had!’ And I’m immensely proud of my skill set and when they ask me how I do it and show genuIne interest. You may not be able to afford a Linea Mini but start with the Gaggia, drink espresso at home and compare it with cafes that you like. Buy beans and a grinder and slowly get the filter basket, tampers etc and enjoy the journey. Just like buying a Ferrari won’t make you a Lewis Hamilton, the same goes for the La Marzocco. Start a journey instead.

This is a fantastic video. I love how straightforward and open the information you present is. It is like getting a review from a friend!

It's all perspective here. I started making espresso 26 years ago using a plastic unit that my daughter gave me for Christmas. Since that time I have gone through several plastic units up to 2020. I decided to buy something more substantial and settled on the Gaggia Classic. The first thing that I noticed is how heavy and rugged the machine is compared to what I had been using. The unit is so heavy that it doesn't even move when I put on or take off the portafilters. I am very happy with this machine that has been serving me well for over two years now. The thing that is amusing to me is that this gentleman has the same experience only ten times more in cost. It's all relative!

I have a “Gaggia Espresso” from 1996 that still produces amazing shots with daily use!

Spro, great video with your, as always, worthwhile to hear commentary. I still have our Gaggia but modified by the Shades 9 bar OPV spring and with the Shades PID, and noted that with each mod there was taste improvement much like your observation. The best mod for overall taste consistency was the addition of the PID for much improved temperature consistency. I eventually added an E61 group double boiler to our machine mix which further improved the taste consistency and improved our espresso experience. Having a decent grinder like our Niche, and your Niche was probably, at least for me, the best investment, dollar for dollar, for tasty espressos. After those pump machine experiences, I then took a tangential trip into the world of lever machines being further delighted with a La Pavoni direct lever machine and then with a spring lever Profitec Pro 800. I am so impressed with the taste experience of lever machines, so much so, that I urge you to try them too, then expect to be seduced by the lever profile brews dropping into your cup. It will be a worthy diversion from your Linea Mini, and I suspect that we would all enjoy your commentary on your own personal lever experience. I have to thank you and James Hoffmann for taking me down this most fascinating of rabbit holes, the amazingly tasty world of espressos. Thanks, and Cheers.

Not sure why Gaggia simply doesn't make an upgraded version of their Classic Pro that includes the correct spring, PIP, and a better tamper and porta filter, and charge around $900.00 for it. I think it would be a super product.

Great video. I’ve owned two Gaggia Classics, with the first being my first proper home espresso machine. For me it was the door to the rabbit hole and for that I owe it a lot, but it was also just a great little machine to learn on. I learnt both about coffee and espresso machines and ended up refurbishing and modifying both Classics before selling them. I can assure you that there are Gaggia Classics out there that are over 20 years old, but most of the working parts in them will have been replaced at least once in that time. I’d agree with your summation that the Gaggia is just as capable of producing stunning espresso with a couple of basic mods, but where more expensive machines win every time is with work flow and user experience. That was the single biggest win that I got from upgrading.

The most honest video I see in KZfaq! thank you!

Excellent! With each upgrade I've made over the years, including many prosumer machines, it gets more expensive with less bang for the buck (now have a Linea Mini.) I appreciate this video as it points out how much you can do with a small budget. I also like that you didn't make a final judgement. The analogies with tampers and cars are poignant. And gotta love "barista tingles"!

I know it isn't probably wouldn't be a big hit for viewership, but I sure would love machine breakdowns where you go bit by bit like you mentioned in this video. I love that stuff.

amazing video...thanks so much for making this and doing the 6bar gaggia comparison

Love these type of "versus" contents. It shows that if you only want great espresso then you don't really need to spend that much. I actually saw another youtube vid comparing the Cafflano Kompresso and a commercial La Marzocco, and the Kompresso even won some rounds.

I have a 2006 Gaggia Classic, it was my entry into home espresso and cost me the grand sum of £30. It was barely used and considering it was 15 years old just needed a little clean inside and out. I initially paired it with the Sage/Breville grinder and have now just upgraded to the Eureka Mignon Specialita, next job will be adding a PID so that I can remove most variables from my shots. I've found the machine a great learning experience and it has the ability to grow with your skills. What I like most about it though is community of Gaggia owners who share such a wealth of knowledge about them and their maintenance, upgrades, repairs etc. They also seem to hold their money very well so when the time comes to upgrade the machine I feel like it will return me what it's cost me.

Great video! I started my espresso journey with a GCP/Sette 30 and was hooked by the great shots I got out of it. It's been a long road filled with many machines (multiple DBs, HXs, Cremina, Maximatic x2) and I'm now very happy with my combo of an older Londinium I, WUG2 DAI grinder, and a 1983 Olympia Maximatic. My parents went from a La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II to a Linea Mini and while they generally enjoy the LMLM, they miss the convenience and consistency they got with the Mini Vivaldi. I had a Mini Vivaldi across my bench as well and I thought it was an awesome machine that was so easy. Value wise it sits between GCP and LMLM (more GCP than LMLM after price hike...) and should satisfy most DB cravings most people have with some extra convenience features, along with good durability and relatively easy serviceability.

Thanks for this, and what a surprising conclusion! I guess your assistant is also rather good at temperature surfing on the Gaggia (or just lucky!). I would add a few more machines that are in the same class as the Gaggia Classic: namely, the Rancilio Silvia, and the Lelit Glenda (58mm group). These machines are relatively inexpensive, durable, easy to maintain (parts are available) and modify (if that's your thing, though upgrading filter baskets is easy enough). They sold many units that can be found on the second-hand market at affordable prices. I strongly recommend buying one with a PID (one of the Lelit Glenda variants has one built-in), or adding a PID yourself (this is rather easy, you just have to be careful enough with cables on mains power). This makes the temperature consistent enough that you no longer have to do any temperature surfing. These small machines come up to temperature much faster than more "advanced" machines, because they have much less mass to heat up. Many (most?) E61-like groups need about 30 minutes to be warm and stable. My own Gaggia with PID is warm and stable (including the PF) in about 7 minutes (and I think it could be faster with better PID tuning). There are limitations of course: no preinfusion, no timer or volumetric dosing, for milk drinks you need to juggle with steam mode, and no pressure profiling. For me, my Gaggia Classic with PID is still better than most "better" machines (including the Linea Mini), due to its small footprint (my kitchen is small) and short warm-up time (I don't drink coffee at predictable times). If budget were not an issue (it is), I think the only upgrade I would consider would be the Decent ; and then, the new issue would be finding time to geek out with this crazy machine. But as you said, different people have different views! To each their own. Good news is, there are options for almost everyone. Same as with cars: I guess the LM would be a Bentley, the GCP would be a Lotus Super7, and the Decent would be a Tesla (?). And lever machines would be bikes. ;-)

I'd love to see more videos on the GCP - your experience with steaming, modding, temp surfing, etc. I do think it's a bit unfair to knock the GCP as something that won't be on your counter for a decade, though: its repairability and robust community give it plenty of staying power, and a quick trip to r/gaggiaclassic will show you that there are plenty of 20+-year-old Gaggia machines still pulling great shots on counters around the world. I'm a new owner of one, and expect to have it for many years to come. (Plus, I don't think I'll ever have the kind of disposable income required to buy a LMLM, beautiful though it may be!)

Great review. My Gaggia is so customized - 9 bar spring, wood handles and knobs, 3d printed lower/extended tray (for scale to fit), shower screen, baskets, SS group head, single hole steam tip, etc. Even if I could grab a 3-5k machine….would I? I have even cleaned the solonid valve and replaced the thermo-fuse…. I am dialed in and so is my espresso! Ha

Thanks for the comparison! For me the gcp has been a great way to get into espresso. Similar to a lot of other things, it's a road of diminishing returns. A Gaggia will never be a linea. With all the mods and grinder improvements I'm coming closer to great espresso every day. It gives me something to tinker and learn with as well as something to aspire to. In my mind that is a decent paired with niche. Upon until I have the financial means to afford this setup this journey is nice to be able to appreciate the improvements they will make.

As a long time Classic owner, the main reason to upgrade to something like the Linea would be making coffees for larger groups of people. Larger boiler, larger pump, smaller stress, greater speed.

Fair and balanced, greatly appreciate your truth and integrity. Superbly done, superbly fun. Beautiful espresso machines and grinders in white.

I love my Gaggic CP. I have done all the mods that Spro has done and am happy with it with my current circumstances with no desire to upgrade. I hope it will last but I must confess it has already required a major repair by the distributor after only a year. This isn't quite the durability that others have advertised. Parts may be readily available but breakdown within 13 months is not good from what is often touted as the rugged and durable option of the entry level machines. And yes, it was regularly maintained. HOWEVER, if/when my situation changes to one where I want to be regularly pulling more than 1-2 milk drinks back-to-back then this is where I would want something like the Linea Mini. The Gaggia simply isn't designed for that and this is where I feel the Linea really shines. Yes, there are other options but the 1-2k machines don't look like enough of an upgrade over the (standard mods) GCP to be worth it.

Great video, Loved it👍

I own a second hand 2012 Gaggia Classic and it's mine since a year and an half. I'm really happy with it, I've set my opv to 9ish bars, I've done a DIY PID as Christmas holiday project and bought some bits and bobs to fine tune mi workflow. Now I feel I'm quite consistent even with light roasts. I don't think I would upgrade to a such expensive machine, because I wouldn't like to invest all that money in this hobby, since all in all, my GC satisfies me.

Most honest review I've watched.

I grew up with a Gaggia classic, my dad has three of them now, one in the garage, one in the summer home, and at my parents house. When I studied abroad I bought one of the second market and when I moved back to Norway I got one again off the second hand market. It is just so easy to buy parts, build, modify and make great espresso with for three to four cups per day without busting the budget. One negative aspect is the one boiler as this makes it harder to steam with perfection, however, with some patience and practice, the machine and you will end up with great results. Gaggia have created a machine that can be repaired forever and still keep running. My dads first one has been running for 20+ years now and still makes great espresso. So hand down to them for that. I know I will buy a high end espresso machine at some point, but I dont think I will ever throw away the Gaggia!😅🤙🏼

Fair and balanced, greatly appreciate your truth and integrity. Superbly done and superbly fun. Beautiful equipment in white.

Thank you for showing what I've known for a long time. A machine 1/10th the cost can equal and best flavour wise. Dose, yield and time. Gaggia Classics are renowned for longevity, availability of parts and ease of repair. That said, at party time, the Mini surpasses hands down because of its ability to pour multitudes of shots back to back.

Hey Spro, while you've got both machines on your bench, I'd love to see this video: Most people say that if you have to make a choice between upgrading your grinder or upgrading your machine, then replace the grinder. I'd love to see that put to the test. I, for example, have an older Gaggia Classic and a Breville Smart Grinder. So I'd like to see what makes better espresso: a Gaggia with a Niche, or a Linea Mini with a Breville SG. (I have a Lagom P64 on the way, btw)

One good sweet point is dual boiler PID machines around $1500. Many machines more expensive than that usually only improves non functional features like nicer materials and finish quality.

I pulled my first shot on a Gaggia Classic over 30 years ago. So I have a soft spot for it. It’s a great first machine for someone just getting into espresso.

Love the honest content! Thank you! I have a Bezzera BZ13 and I enjoy the Italian “classic” look!

Great review, and glad you didn’t choose a winner. In my case, everything I make is a milk (oat) drink. When family visits, I’m making 6 or 8 back to back, including some 12+ oz lattes. The 3.5L steam boiler in the Mini stands above most every prosumer machine, and handles this load without breaking a sweat. The Gaggia would be frustrating as hell in this Thanksgiving host role. But for a single, espresso drinker on a budget, it’s a great value. So, I wish you had evaluated the steam limits of each. Clearly, the Mini can serve a long line of milk guzzlers. I’m not sure where the Gaggia can compete and where it, um, runs out of steam.

When a friend asked a two weeks ago what bigger level espresso machine to buy, I recommended to him the Gaggia Classic. I think it’s perfect for someone just getting into coffee, because it already delivers okay quality shots as it is out of the box. When you have matured in your espresso game you can easily upgrade the pressure spring and/or fit a pid. With that you have a pretty nice machine if you mostly drink pure espresso or americano. For a heavy consumer of milk drinks, I would probably recommend the Rocket Appartamento I still own. Fitted with a group thermometer you can control the temperature well and you can also adjust the pressure via the over pressure valve. And if you really want to have back to back repeatability and constant pressure and temperature you can still go for a linea mini, but I would definitely buy the grafitek kit and also get the paddle changed. Actually, both should be better right out of the box as a machine in this price range should not have a fake brew paddle and also the things you touch often shouldn’t be so flimsy (like the pid) or made of cheap feeling plastic (brew paddle). But still it’s an awesome machine and I know I will buy one some day.

My father owns a Gaggia and I own a GS3 MP, we did side by side blind tests and it was quite interesting. The GS3 obviously stood out, clearly thermal stability had a noticeable impact in both taste and consistency, as well as the better control over pre-infusion with pressure profile. Final result, the GS3 had more sweetness, more body and texture and a wider range of complexity. That being said, we were impressed with the quality of coffee that a Gaggia can produce, if you don’t have them side-by-side you can be very happy with the shots.

I've been pulling shots for many years on my Gaggia classic, I really haven't seen much need to upgrade. With a few minor modifications it makes espresso that tastes really close to what I've gotten at good coffee shops.

Excellent comparison. In the 1980's I owned a machine similar to the Gaggia, a Brasilia Club prior to the days of pressure, temp mania. The portafilter was the same as on their commercial machines and it pulled very nice shots. I was using a Gaggia MDF grinder. Gaggia may also use the same PF as on commercial machines. I am not surprised when properly setup the Gaggia can pull comparable shots at 1/10 the price. Like LM, Gaggia is also an old established respected Italian company that knows damn well how to build coffee machines.

good video Spro, looking foward to purchase a Gaggia this coming fall.

Spot on review

My first and current espresso machine is the Breville Barista express. It's the machine I've learned how to make espresso with. I like to bring it to potlucks at work and events with friends to be barisita for a day. It's a lot of fun and I make espresso that is good enough for me most of the time. If I had the money, I'd probably upgrade to a higher end machine like the Linea Mini or any of the other highly rated machines of that tier. If I started with a high end machine, it might have been more frustrating to get bad shots. In my early espresso days, I used most of a bag of coffee that I considered expensive at the time (it's pretty reasonable now) trying to dial it in. Exotic light roasts are not forgiving for the newbie barista.

Excellent review, great and balanced, as a good espresso.;) Cheers!

I have one of the older versions of the gaggia and when I had to change the brewing thermostat I found that the operating temp was close to 220 F and the steam temp was Close to 200 F, I changed those to the proper temp and improved my shots and steaming power significantly. I lower the brewing pressure to 9 bars and a got better shots. One las thing is I’m using a puck screen and has made a huge difference in my shots. Mine cost me $329 at the time but it is a very good machine for the price point.

Thanks for the comparison. I've had a GCP for almost two years. I bought most of my accessories before I got the machine. Wasn't really happy with the shots before cutting down the OPV spring and adding a bottomless portafilter. Before I used it I changed out the shower screen, plate and added a silicone gasket. I'm pulling nice shots and my family and friends are impressed. One of these days I'll probably upgrade to a double boiler unit with pid. Until then I know my machine is punching way above it's weight class

The old school gaggia’s stood the test of time. I have a 1997 ‘Gaggia Espresso’ machine (plastic entry level machine - same group as GC but no OPV or solenoid) still operating with original parts. But just sits on the shelf these days

I’ve been absolutely glued to my Flair 58. I’ve used the Rancilio Silva and it’s a 1-2 KO from the 58. I’m also a sucker for levers so I’d need a REALLY compelling reason to consider even the single or double boiler lever machines out there. If I really wanted one of those just for milk frothing, I’d get a separate, high end frother

Thanks, I used your video to guide my purchase for new Gaggia shower screen and 18g basket

I'm just a hobbyist at best, and got into making espresso almost two years ago. I started with a Breville (Duo-Temp?) machine, but quickly realized it wasn't for me, the quality wasn't that great. I upgraded to the Gaggia Classic Pro, and eventually made several of the mods you mentioned: a much better tamper, shower head, new gasket, VST basket, changed the spring to the 9 bar spring. I've been happy with the results. I can definitely see upgrading again sometime, but I don't think I would go for a $5K machine. Just too expensive for me. I would love something on that level, but it's outside of my realistic budget. But in the meantime, the Gaggia, with the easy mods makes a nice tasting shot. You're right, it does feel very lightweight though. That bothers me alittle bit, but I've learned to deal with it.

This was awesome, spro. I would kill to hear your take on the Breville Dual Boiler with the Slayer mod

Very nice sensible video.

I am a proud owner of a ~25 years old Gaggia Classic. I have installed almost every (popular) upgrade: stainless steel brew plate, IMS shower screen, PID controller, bottomless portafilter, IMS filterbasket, silicone gasket. I can comfortably say that my espresso is the best I have ever tasted. Just recently I saved some money and was faced with the decision wether to upgrade my machine or my grinder (Bezzera BB05). I chose the grinder because I couldn't think of any espresso machine that would have been worth the upgrade. For me the GCC is perfect. It got me started into espresso and grew with me. Today it makes perfect espresso, every time.

Really good video and great opinion. Always love the videos you made. I have the same thoughts in espresso machine, its up to your skills for making espresso not in the machine. I hope you compare the expensive grinders to less expensive grinders. Thanks!

I'm using a cheap 20 years old bean to cup Jura Impressa machine which I got for free and refurbished it myself. It makes enjoyable coffee and for the price I can't complain. I've been lusting over the Linea Mini, but it's prohibitively expensive for me, so it was nice to see that a modded Gaggia can be "up there" with the performance of the Linea. As for longevity, a friend of mine (who handed me over the best shot of espresso of my life, and started my interest in coffee) is using modded a Gaggia Baby from the '90s, so with a bit of TLC these machines can last decades as well.

'Barista Tingles'. What a great term! 😄 Love your videos. Cheers.

I like your not-so-cut-and-dry approach. Not to get too weird, but most things in life are like that.

Awesome video. I agree with your thoughts cuz I’ve learned that in the world of espresso it kinda isn’t that easy to say what’s “better”. I am curious what the brewing temp differences they had and if that had anything to do with the blind tasting you did.

Interpretation is always interesting. You interpret the less than stellar accessories included with the Gaggia as meaning it’s a cheaper build. Whereas many of us think it is Gaggia’s way to keep a well-built machine, affordable to more people.

I went a different route. Got hold of an old Gaggia ELE that had a bad heating element. After a few repairs it has been my daily driver for the last 5 years or more. So far I have invested about $500 CAD (approx. $1.50 USD).

The Gaggia is “quirky:” having to Temp surf, dealing with clearance issues, and low steam pressure for back to back shots…then there are the upgrades like OPV spring swap, etc. But I have to say that all these things add to its character. So much so that months after upgrading to a quick mill, I do find myself missing the Gaggia. I think that says a lot!

I had the Gaggia for a year and sold it to upgrade to a rocket apartamento. Aside from the rocket looking a lot nicer on my countertop and it been a bit more robust to use there is very little difference in taste of espresso. Gaggia is a beast for the price. The Linea mini is a beautiful looking machine and if I had the type of money to buy a Tesla I would probably buy one one of them also. But unless you have tons of money it makes absolutely no sense to buy a machine for over 5k when you can make great espresso manually on the flair pro or on something like the an ECM or Rocket for less than half the price. It’s a luxury item at the end of the day, the exact same as buying designer clothing or anything with a premium price tag.

Awesome vid as always! Curious to know how you modded the LMLM to hold at 6 bars of pressure?

I bought my Gaggia Classic in 2010. I have the upgraded basket and screen which made a difference in shots and I upgraded the steam wand from the autofrother to the two hole. Those are my only upgrades. The fuse and boiler thermostat gave out last year and those are the only repairs I have had to make. They were really easy and inexpensive to do myself. I don't love my machine but it has been extremely reliable for twelve years and counting. I make a double latte/mocha every day which puts me at well over 4,000 shots pulled on the machine and less than $50 in repairs (Upgrades were probably $200 or so; can't really remember). I can repair/replace/upgrade anything on it for very little. Do I want a double boiler or heat exchanger? Sure. Will I ever pay $5,000 for one? Never. There are too many serviceable machines with PIDs in the $2,000 range which I would consider before I pay $5,000 for an espresso machine. I appreciate your doing a blind taste test and saying the Gaggia shot was a bit better for you. It can be so subjective and if you tinker with shots long enough you can get pretty good profiles from almost every $500 and up machine. Keep up the great videos! Appreciate your work in the espresso space.

I have a Gaggia classic 2019, and whilst using a hand grinder, the shots were almost impossible to dial-in consistently. I then bought a Eureka Mignon Manuale and this improved the whole espressp experience and workflow. Dialling in is now a breeze, although the grind settings are about 1 seconds wit each miniscule twist of the dial. I will buy a Niche next and sell my Eureka. Buy the Gaggia(even re-furbished ones) but more importantly, buy a quality electric espresso grinder. You will love it!

I recently bought a Gaggia & changed the opv spring, shower screen & filter basket. Using the temp surf method I consistently make cappuccino or latte as good as any cafe I’ve ever been to.$4500 differential I could never justify as its a cup of coffee & i can get many great life experiences for $4500 vs a machine that sits idle most of the day

Really appreciate how you give balance in perspective across the consumer base. The "right" or "best" choice will always be different for the individual. Love this channel.

Great video Asa. Love your aspect here with no hard verdict. As a GCP owner, I'm in love with it, but that doesn't mean I'm envious of the Linea Mini (I would love to own one someday). I feel that espresso can be a hobby or just a way to make coffee. If you're into it for just the coffee, you should get a cheap Breville product. But if you want enjoyment, get a Gaggia and tweak the hell out of it!

The GCP is totally in the same realm as my Saeco Via Venezia (the machine sold under a bunch of different names in the same base form since the 90's, maybe even the late 80's). Not necessarily the most advanced, but like the GCP, time tested -but with a few little cheap mod tweaks (ditching that awful "panarello" steam wand, non pressurized PF, utilizing WDT, etc) it was a baller on a budget, and super easy to maintain. Plus, the entire parts catalogue is available from Saeco/Phillips, so repairs shouldn't put you down. Sure, you'll do a touch more work to get there, but indeed you'll get there and it's a good skill builder if you're not working as a barista/coffee professional. I just got the Breville Dual Boiler/the niche for myself (and I'm absolutely loving it so far) but I'm tuning up the VV and giving it to a friend that was considering a GCP 😂👏

Enjoyed your video! I have just upgraded from the Gaggia Classic to a second hand Vibiemme Domobar Junior. Main reason was to just be able to steam and brew simultaneously as I make lots of milk based drinks so a SBDU just wasn't great. So far the espresso has been similar but that's if I used a temperature surf technique on the Gaggia otherwise often got sour shots!

Massive W for the Silvia having an adjustable OPV rather than needing a replacement part

Not a Gaggia, but I really enjoy my Breville Bambino Plus. The workflow is great-warms up in 3 seconds, auto milk steaming does a decent enough job at making good textured milk, and the final drink has a good, hot temperature. While the machine is doing the milk frothing, I can finish up cleaning the portafilter and the rest of the workspace. That paired with a Niche Zero makes some tasty drinks, and I find it hard to justify an “upgrade” given that

Terrific video. The Gaggia is the best you can get while still relying on the Philips - Saeco economies of scale for every single component. That's the main reason parts are so cheap. Having dabbed into manufacturing large quantities of items, this dwarfs R&D costs. This also explains why the Mini is on the other side of the spectrum It is also exactly what you said: the Classic is the best entry point for serious espresso. It also shows the limits of consumer-grade products and how a wider set of requirements (deal with badly grounded coffee, uneven distribution) affects component choice and ultimately translates to the cup. One final comment for future testing: always do a similarity/odd one out test between 3 cups, with either 2 cups pulled from A and 1 from B or 1 cup from A and 2 from B. This is actually easier to figure out differences and so much more scientific!

Great comparison! I’m curious about your shot timings when using 6 bars of pressure with the GCP, do you make any adjustments at all given the lack of pre infusion (compared to the LMLM that is)?

I love my Gaggia Classic Pro. I bought it refurbished from Whole Late Love actually. Like any piece of coffee gear, it takes time and practice. I love it more and more everytime I use it. I drink like 2 macchiatos a week so it being only 1 boiler doesn’t bother me, the one it has is consistent and stable. I’ve added a new shower screen, tweaked the brew pressure, and added a PID yes but, other than that it’s awesome. The Lena Mini also is a great machine. Probably would buy it just on the looks alone.

From my experience shots pulled from a rotary pump machine, always tasted better to me, assuming everything else remains equal. Also, steaming and the foam quality from the LMLM or anything of the same caliber is night and day compared to a single boiler or even a dual boiler like Profitec. Finally, if you entertain few times per year, the LMLM is already paid for in time savings and consistency. I have a BDB and that struggles to keep up with a line of 8 people waiting for their 11 oz lattes

Totally didn't expect you to prefer the Gaggia. Was that just 1 shot, or did you do several to rule out for the inconsistency? Another vector that I've come to understand, when you get into the higher priced machines, you're paying for consistency and repeatability. Curious if that one better (sweeter/brighter) shot was a fluke, or was a consistent outcome all day long.

I've seen this result over and over. the moment you put ~$100 of after market love into the Gaggia, 6 or 9var OPV spring, IMS basket, IMS shower screen, metal tamper and a bottomless portafilter, on a blind taste, the Gaggia Classic more often than not wins against machines 4x and I guess even 10x the price. I own a Gaggia classic myself, and I have a lot of fun with it. Why would I want a La Marzocco? The one big reason is the steam boiler. With a little good timing and a bit of practice, you can get solid steam out of the Gaggia, but it's pretty finicky, and honestly, with some non-dairy milks (I'm a vegan), it's just insufficient to get a good micro-foam. In addition to that - it can take over a full minute to steam milk for a 16oz latte on the Gaggia if you time it slightly wrong you end up having to stop midway through, and wait for the boiler to build up pressure again. So the another reason would be time. Making a couple of drinks in the morning on a bigger machine will take roughly half the time. Not only that, but I can get hot hot water out of the Linea where I just can't out of the Gaggia when I'm making non espresso drinks like hot chocolate, matcha lattés and chai lattés. Also - for the serious coffee nerd, you'd probably not drop $5k on the La Marzocco, you'd go by a Decent Espresso machine anyway where you can control much much more precisely things like pre-infusion and flow rates. The La Marzocco just isn't _that_ machine. It's designed to come onto your countertop one day, and not leave for 40 years. And for the name, and the fact it's beautiful, and if I had inifinite money, I'd get one because they look amazing.

Loved my Gaggia Classic! Would've love to mod it more before letting it go.

I have pretty much done the same comparison from this video since it's been 3 years that I've had a upgraded "Rocket R58", and last week my best friend bought that Gaggia and we upgraded everything about it before even pulling a single shot. We took everything from Shades but just didn't do the PID and Pump Gauge installation yet cause when I saw hoe overly complicated this was with a 82 page manual, we were like O-M-G... Guess he'll pay someone instead to do it lol. I was HIGHLY surprised in a positive way when I tried on the Gaggia the taste from the same fresh roaster where we go, even the steam was much better than I've thought and wayyy superior to a 4x more expensive crappy "Breville Oracle" that my mom had a few years ago. It's just that you gotta wait for the only boiler to go from ~200F to 260F before steaming milk rate than do it immediately after. The main and only downside I had was the espresso was definitely too hot, so I guess even a 5 second cooling flush isn't enough without the PID and that in the meantime it gets installed, hence should prolly go for 10s. Otherway for being like 4x less expensive I wasn't expecting such quality, and nothing at all beats it at this price range, and it even bests stuff 2x pricier once upgraded!

After fixing multiple old Gaggias, they're one of the easiest machines to fix out there. You can literally find replacement parts for everything. And as the design is (pretty much) the same as 20 years ago, even the super old ones can be serviced! With a few modifications (OPV, basket and PID) This machine punches way above its price point!

I had a 10+ year old Gaggia Cubika which I thought was great. Managed to break it (in)sufficiently to cause me to upgrade to the Gaggia Classic Pro.... Immediate difference in espresso quality. Altered the OPV to 6.5bar, changed the shower screen and the espresso got better. Recently got the mobile espresso bug via the Wacaco Picopresso so decided to get a (mobile!) hand grinder to go with it, the 1ZPresso J-Max. Having dialled the grind in for the Gaggia Classic Pro, the espresso is remarkably better. I am now happy with my set up. Until the upgrade bug hits me again...

I don't know that i'll ever buy a Linea Mini, but i've had a GCP for the past 2 years. I've used it countless times, almost everyday, for my morning coffee. Its 100% been worth the money but i'll absolutely one day want to upgrade to a nicer machine. It can pull fine shots, but the steam wand is where it lags behind a more commercial like machine. Luckily, I primarily drink iced drinks so it doesn't make too much of a difference, but I do work part time at a cafe, where we use a la Marzocco, and occasionally I would like that cafe quality hot latte at home!

I’ve long anticipated this Gaggia versus Linea video! Interesting result of the blind test. The Gaggia doesn’t have a PID and requires temp. surfing, right? Even with PID, I wonder if you’d be able to pull consistent shots. I’ve had amazing shots from my Silvia (with and without PID), but the Linea can pull these consistently whereas the Silvia was hit and miss at times. Excellent content as always, thanks!

I have an 11yr old Gaggia classic not working properly, & was going to buy the new edition, But was persuaded by a Gaggia engineer to instead to completely re build my 11yr old machine & add the new steam wand for about £300 in total...& it’s great now😁

My gaggia has probably been in use for 6 years or so. My uncle had bought it and used it regularly with no mods as is. He then passed it down to me where I have been using it for three years already. I have just started modding it and am installing a 9bar spring. I use it very often and love it. I’ve been pulling some awesome shots but I’ve been wondering when I’d need to repair something as I’ve been using it a lot!

Great comparison! The result does not surprise me. I had a La Marzocco G3 MP. After years of frustration I got rid of it. The preinfusion is soo short on this machine (the fake pre infusion: pre wetting does not work imo), i think it just trashes your puck. I suspect a vibration pump, natural line pressure, other kind of flow control works much better. The machine has however lot's of steam for making cappucini. I also did not like the plastic the drip tray was made of. After two years the pastic started to crack, this is just not durable. In the end I preferred the taste and consistency of my pid modded e61 vbm domobar. Now I use a Londinium R24 lever machine. Now it's so much easier to pull consistent shots. Making espresso should be fun, not a struggle.

LMLM will probably allow you for 200 shots back to back, being the first as good as the last one (assuming the barista does the job properly) while I struggle to see that Gaggia doing the same. For a couple of shots a day at home, both can yield equally good espressos… but how fun would be to have a LMLM at home!!!

Kinda wish you’d have linked the parts you used to upgrade the gaggia in the description. Thanks for the vid

Amazing video! I’m back and forth on upgrading the shower screen and it seems like it’s a purchase that most gaggia owners regret or find no improvement. Do you have any thoughts on this? I’m considering the IMS or BIT upgrade. I’ve done the gaggiuino mod and I’m trying to push the gaggia as far as possible!

Great info. I don't have either machine, but I do have a Silvia v3. I would like to have the mini it's my future machine to have but it's hard to justify the money. I only do my long black and wife's latte in the morning and that is all. O ly two cups a day. Also I just had a party and was surprised Silvia delivered lattes. They loved it and I was impressed that it delivered very well. So again I would stick with my least expensive machine for now.

I would be interested to see what you think the difference between a $2500 espresso machine vs a $5000 is. It seems to me like there are definite differences in quality and workflow between 500 and 5000, when you get a gaggia or something in that price range you are going to need to go the extra mile to get the best from it. But from what I see as far as features and build ,diminishing returns hits a cliff around $3000. How would say a Profitec pro 700 compare to a Mini? On paper they are very similar machines with a difference of $2000 on the pricetag.

I'd be interested in the links to the upgrade parts you installed on the Gaggia. My major concern is the aluminum boiler - from a health standpoint.

Since I work with a commercial linea every day I don't mind my gaggias shortcomings. If I were to not be a barista anymore, I'd definitely look into upgrading but for now It's more than enough for the 3-4 drinks a week I make at home vs my cafe.

My "verdict" personaly was Gaggia Gran Style. And answer to why i simple. It was only one I could afford to buy if i wanted to use good grinder along with it. It is not best by any means but with some effort I can pull great shots.

The Porsche vs. Honda analogy is all I really need to know. I get it.

Great videoand this needlevalve kit need a video there’s no video on internet talk about it only simple video out there hope you do it

I had a Gaggia and really enjoyed the coffee until I saw into that phizzing aluminium boiler. Sold it immediately and upgraded to a product with better boiler material.

I would like to eventually move up to a more high end espresso machine, however my Gaggia Classic just won’t give up, even after 20 years of daily use. Quite an impressive little piece of machinery.

I'd have tried to also level the playing field by installing into the Gaggia a PID and a rotary vane pump. Actually I don't understand why not more people nowadays have the courage to install all of these mods (including the rotary vane pump, the rotary dimmer mod, the PID, the basket and the screen) into the Gaggia or the Rancilio Silvia.

I started with a Bambino Pro which I quickly grew frustrated with. The shots were more or less OK, but the machine was unreliable and after the second replacement I threw in the towel. I then graduated to a Rocket Appartamento, which I liked much more and which produced better shots than the Breville. After a year with the Appartamento, I upgraded to a Rocket Mozzafiato Evo R, and was honestly surprised at how much better the shots were over the Appartamento. The addition of a PID and rotary pump made a noticeable difference. In the future, I wonder how much improvement I would experience with significant upgrades from where I am. This review has made me question some assumptions.

Great video, I have the exact GCP setup and I'm planning on upgrading it soon. I think the biggest problem with Gaggia Classic Pro is the steam wand capability and the single boiler. I don't think I would ever get the Linea Mini but I think a logical upgrade is to the Breville Dual Boiler. There are definitely mods I could do to the GCP like install a dimmer switch mod and PID but with the material cost, actual work in the machine, and time spent I think it would be worth spending the additional money since I would get all of those great features with a dual boiler.