In this video, we experiment with both the pressurized and non-pressurized filter baskets of the Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine. Gaggia promises crema on the first attempt with their "Crema Perfetta" filter basket. Let's test both baskets, and check our results! 0:00 Intro 1:02 The Gaggia Crema Perfetta pressurized filter basket 3:20 Trial 1: Pressurized basket as designed 5:21 Trial 2: Pressurized basket in bottomless portafilter 8:09 Trial 3: Unpressurized basket in bottomless portafilter 11:14 Bonus Extraction 11:49 Summary: Pressurized vs Non-pressurized filters

You have no idea how useful this video was for me Tom! I bought a used machine off ebay and it only came with the pressurized basket. I couldn't figure out why my shots kepts spraying everywhere...until I realised the seller didn't send me the nozzle!!

Tom, thanks for this video. Just got a Gaggia Classic Pro and already figured out the classic basket gives a better expresso, even with regular pre-ground coffee. Further experimentation awaits…

Thanks a lot for the video! I finally trashed the toy DeLonghi Stilosa for this beatiful piece of hardware (and a Simonelli grinder): other planet, other galaxy! :) You forgot the combination non-pressurized basket and "crema perfetta" filter (I did it by mistake): a mess!!! :) All coffee splitted all over the kitchen! One cup full of coffee and the other was empty! IT WAS FUN! 🙂

I started with the De'Longhi $150 amazon machine and a Mr. coffee burr grinder with an "espresso" setting, first shot using the non pressurized wasn't even as strong as drip coffee it went through so fast. Had to basically double my budget to order an actual espresso grinder Eureka Mignon Facile and getting it in a coupe of days. The pressure basket is a must if you don't have a specialty espresso grinder and the espresso isn't much better on the Gaggia Classic than the cheap DeLonghi without being able to use finer grinds and honestly would just go that route if you don't have the budget for a good grinder. From my research about the cheapest grinder I could find that could work was $200 for an electric and about $100 for a hand grinder

It's nice to see that you can get decent shots from the pressurized basket. I just switched from a Starbuck's Barista (Saeco) to the Gaggia. I'm using the same Costco beans and grinder and the espresso (used in Lattes) is bitter with the Gaggia and not with the Saeco. I've played with different grind settings from choking the machine to very fast extractions and they all taste bitter. I don't understand why grind size would make such a difference in extraction rates with the pressurized basket. And I don't know why it's bitter coming out of the Gaggia and not with the Saeco. I understand better beans would produce better results, but I'm just trying to understand the difference between the two machine with the exact same beans.

Sehr gut Tom! Memories of Germany!

how much gram was it on the last attempt 15?

Thank you for shooting this great and very useful video Tom! Which grinder setting did you use for the bonus finer extraction?

Hi, which one do you prefer, gaggia or dedica?

Thanks 100000x for this video! Are the pulls with the pressurized filter actually as short as they appear? I just pulled like 60ml in 15 seconds and am wondering if this is normal or if my grounds are too coarse.

is there a scenario where i could use a single wall basket without a grinder? i usually get my coffee beans from a roastery where i ask them to grind them for me

Hi, thanks for qualified video, Im using timemore slim plus hand grinder, have you ever been used this? I wonder which level suit for gaggia classic Pro, thanks.

You started at grind setting 0, isn't that close to the burrs touching? I'm almost at 0 on my specialita and think it should be finer bc it's still flowing too fast. And your result is closer to a espresso lungo?

Hi Tom, great video! I have a question, how many grams did you put into the non pressurized basket?

Did i miss the Amazon Link for the bottomless portafilter mentioned at 5:33? Not sure if it' s an aftermarket or a true Gaggia portafilter.

Hi Tom, can I ask? I have no money for a true espresso grinder but I own a Timemore C3 pro manual, and yet it's too 'hit an miss' Should I order freshly roasted ground coffee from roasteries and use it in non-pressurised basket? I have Gaggia Classic and E&B 20g basket. Vielen Dank

Hi there, any clue or tip what can be wrong please. Brand new GCP, straight out of the box. Coffee is specialty freshly roasted and ground at local roastery as I don't have my grinder on me at the moment. Outcome staggering. From 15g of coffee 52g yeild in 12s, yes that's correct 15g/52g/12s. It's not a flow it's a waterfowl what runs from bottomless basket. There is neither difference nor improvement when pressurised basket is in use. I'd be grateful for any thoughts.

Was the non pressurized bottomless done with an unmodded machine at the 15 bar pressure?

Hello, I'm using a sage dose control pro grinder (this is on close to the finest setting) but even using 18g of coffee, i'm pulling 72g of liquid in 25s which is way too much? Is this a machine issue or ?

Hey Tom, love your videos. I follow your suggestion to upgrade a bottomless portafilter and non-pressurized basket. However, the extract time is now much less comparing to the basket coming with the EC685. I tamper very hard, use wdt, dose more coffee into the basket but does not seem to help. I also got channeling too. 😭😭 I understand that oem basket is not as good as high quality brand. But does not expect it is this bad. Is it me or the basket? 😢

To me it would make more sense to use the original porta filter that came with the Gaggia classic pro using pressurized vs non pressurized baskets that also came with the unit. Instead this test included a bottomless filter that I don’t currently have.

HI Tom, thanks for this video. I have the unmodded machine with a dose pro grinder. Currently, I am using the pressurized basket but the espresso runs way too fast. However, my grind size is very fine. Could the issue be the 15 bar water pressure the machine has?

Hi! What is the link for the non pressurized?

I understand you are using different beans for comparison. Don’t think it’s a fear comparison pressurized vs non.

Nice!👍

No matter what I try; different grind levels, with or without crema parfetta, different weight when tamping, the machine always rushes coffees through in well under 20 seconds. Either I am utterly useless or the machine is faulty.

With any pressurised and non pressurised buckets, different grind.. got 18g in as 50g out in 8-10 seconds. Can't understand why. Maybe it is simply machine malfunction

did you modify the opv when you pulled these shots? or is this the standard 15bar pressure?thanks!

How fine do you grind your coffe for the presurised ? I know that for the non presurised you need to experiment do get the grind right, but for the presurised is there a standart?

My pressurized baskets went to the trash as soon as I got the machine. They were never used.

With the same Gaggia and pressurized filter my double shot is ready in 13 seconds. Anyone knows why?

Your a cool guy You would make a good hippie 😂

First like, then look...

I’d recommend to buy a good grinder before buying an espresso machine. Life’s too short for mediocre coffee. 😉

Keep in mind that with pressurized you don't have to tamp hard, only a little leveling needed P s. Don't use the pressurized 😂

"ingenuitive"? The word is "ingenious".

Crema adds nothing to the flavor of the espresso.

What you do is completely unprofessional. First of all, when you did your first espresso, you didn't use any stainless steel screen over that coffee basket, you didn't do any pre-soak of that coffee in the coffee basket, you didn't do any test regarding the extraction time of the coffee, which shoukd be between 18-22 seconds, you didn't do none of these operations. By the way, do you know when to use pressurized baskets and when non-pressurized baskets???? Please document yourself coz you don’t know basic things regarding the making of an espresso. And i can see that having in view the way you speak about this topic. Like an amateur. Without any basic knowledge. When you did the 2nd espresso, you used pressurized basket on a bottomless portafilter, which is a huge mistake, that's why the maker of that espresso coffee maker advised you not to use pressurized basket on that bottomless portafilter. On that bottomless portafileter ONLY NON-PRESSURIZED BASKETS should be used, and you should keep this in mind. And you use that non-pressurized basket coz it's supposed the espresso coffee maker gets enough pressure to extract the coffee and make a nice espresso. If you intend to make professional presentations of espresso coffee makers. Otherwise, you will only remain an amateur.