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Add to SafariWhen comparing Gaggia Classic vs Bezzera Strega, the Slant community recommends Gaggia Classic for most people. In the question“What are the best home espresso machines?” Gaggia Classic is ranked 2nd while Bezzera Strega is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Gaggia Classic is:
This machine is great if you're looking to get your feet wet in coffees. It's powerful enough that with a decent grinder (which has to be purchased separately), it can pull espresso shots on the same level as most cafes. With more time and practice, you'll be able to do better. It's also modular enough for tinkerers to experiment with, and the fact that it doesn't come with a grinder means you can change things up without buying a whole new espresso machine.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Great starter machine for exploring the world of coffee
This machine is great if you're looking to get your feet wet in coffees. It's powerful enough that with a decent grinder (which has to be purchased separately), it can pull espresso shots on the same level as most cafes. With more time and practice, you'll be able to do better. It's also modular enough for tinkerers to experiment with, and the fact that it doesn't come with a grinder means you can change things up without buying a whole new espresso machine.
Pro Easy to clean and maintain
Maintaining the Gaggia Classic isn't difficult thanks to its modularity. It can be cleaned partially or fully disassembled for thorough cleaning, and the parts can be replaced, which makes repairing it a breeze.
Pro Sturdy coffee head professional size 58mm.
Pro Fast ready temperature
Pro Great coffee quality
This machine can make great coffee, even without specialised barista knowledge. With some practice, you can pull espresso shots on par or even better than cafes.
Pro Powerful and value for money
The Gaggia Classic is hard to beat at <$400 for an espresso machine of its caliber.
Pro Sturdy build
Gaggia products have a reputation for being well-built and easy to maintain. This machine can last for a long time if taken care of properly.
Pro Cafe quality
Real barista coffee.
Pro Solid reliability
Could be serviced to last longer than the user's lifetime.
Pro Powerful steam
To make frothing milk easily.
Cons
Con Operating it requires more effort and know-how
For novices, this machine can be rather inconvenient and hard to use at first. You need some knowledge of espressos to utilize the Gaggia Classic to its full potential.
Con Frothing wand is unreliable
The Pannarello wand on the Gaggia Classic can be unreliable for steaming milk. It is not as powerful as other steam wands and requires a little practice to get right. The attachment is made of plastic, instead of the more common stainless steel found in other wands.
Con Space between the portafilter and drip tray is quite small
The space between the portafilter and drip tray is designed to hold small coffee mugs or shot glasses. It might not be able to fit a standard-sized mug without removing the drip tray.
Con Needs a grinder
Needs to match with a separate grinder.
