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More on this product: Features | Accessories | Similiar Products | Editorial Review | Description
Customer Reviews of Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine, Black
Customer Rating:   Summary: A Fair Review From a Esspresso Fanatic Comment: This machine is not for beginners as they will most likely get pretty discouraged at the first dozen of pulls that they do. It does require some expertise to get a perfect shot (ESE Pods make it a little easier. Very straight forward in terms of setup and use. It does require tinkering with the amount of coffee and setup but that's expected of any semi-automatic machines. The machine warms up quickly so you can get a quick shot if you know the steps. If you don't put in correct amount of coffee and right grind level it will either be too bitter or too weak and/or no espresso "krema". It's also very stylish it blends in nicely in the kitchen. It does produce fabulous shots and will last you a long long time if you care for it. The machine is a little messy and can require some patience but for the price you really do get the Gaggia's finest inner workings. I would say in the price range it gives the best overall quality of craftsmanship and delivery of espresso. It has a nice CD guide for beginners but you really need to dedicate some time to learning the whole process. If you are a type of customer that just like to get a quick shot then I would recommend saving up just a tiny bit more and get a Super Automatic (e.g Saeco S-SPV-BK Spidem Villa Super-Automatic Espresso Machine) its around 400-500 bucks but it grinds the coffee and prepares the espresso for you perfectly and neatly every time. A good buy for the money if you really want to learn the esspresso pulling process this is the machine for you. Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent Product, Highly Recommended Comment: I'm now on my second machine, and with proper cleaning and care, these things last really quite long. This particular machine has a much better steamer than any other espresso machine I've ever used. The espresso it produces for the value is well worth the price. I highly recommend this product. Customer Rating: Summary: Religious faith Comment: I bought this machine a year ago. It was a matter of religious faith. If I would pray hard enough it would work. I stopped 'believing' yesterday when, while TRYING once more to make myself an espresso, the machine started to make a loud noise as if it would explode in a few seconds. I didn't want to risk my integrity once more, so I finally threw it away. Customer Rating: Summary: Not perfect, but a solid machine that you'll like Comment: I've had this unit for about 10 weeks now. I've made over 100 shots of espresso in that time. Pros: - Plenty of pressure. Has no problem extracting a double shot of espresso in 25 seconds provided you have your grind setting correct. - Serious steam wand pressure. Easily takes 8 oz. of milk up to 150 degrees (and would easily go beyond if I let it) in under a minute, with a lot of foam (can easily double or triple the milk volume in that time). - Easy to use. One button to start warmup, one button to draw the shots of espresso, and one button to produce steam for the wand. Dial to adjust steam amount. 15 seconds from pressing the steam button to having lots of pressure available at the wand. - Produces nice espresso. With fresh beans and the right grind (burr grinder a must; you -will- get poor results with a blade grinder), really nice shots with lots of crema. The temp is right, it's not watery and it's not bitter/burnt. With old beans or a poor grind, still makes average to good shots. - Perfect Froth wand. Purists hate this and insist that you should change out the steam wand with a standard one (which will work fine - check out forums on wholelattelove for the recommended replacement part). However, I actually like the froth wand. While I do like taking the purist approach to frothing sometimes, on some mornings I just want a pitcher full of froth without having to think about it, and the Perfect Froth wand will deliver that every time. - Cleanup easy. Can clean up in a minute (bang out the coffee puck, rinse head under water, pop off Perfect Frother, rinse that, blast of steam out the wand, wipe the wand down, rinse out frothing pitcher, done.) - Warmup time. Ready to use in as little as 5-6 minutes. By the time I've ground the coffee, got the milk out, prepared the frothing pitcher, found my mug, put a flavor shot in it, and run a blank shot through the unit (to get fresh water in the pump and heat up the head and glasses), it's pretty much ready to go. If you have time, give it 10 minutes to be sure, but works with 5-6 in a pinch. Cons - Can be drippy. I empty the drip tray twice a week, that's with making 2-4 shots per day. Doesn't really bother me. - Water tank could be larger. Refill every 3-4 days. Slightly awkward to slide full tank back into place and manage the intake tubes. (Not really a big deal, may splash a few drops of water on you) - Perfect crema device - could never get it to fit in the head, but haven't needed it. Unit generates good crema as-is. - Casing not as sturdy as it could be. It does flex a bit as I'm tightening the head. Filter head handle has a little play in it. - Tamper is cheap plastic. I bought an aluminum one from Amazon. Of the cons, the only ones that concern/annoy me are the slightly small water tank size, and to a lesser extent, the sturdiness of the casing. The other things are either to be expected, easily remedied, or easily ignored. People complain about the unit being drippy, but I'd rather have that than a unit with too little pressure - it's the residual pressure that causes the drips. That's what a drip tray is for. Espresso is a slightly messy hobby, it comes with the territory. Overall I am extremely happy with the unit. The internals are identical to units much more expensive. Results are consistent each time. The unit isn't fussy; it's fairly forgiving if I rush it in the morning or use older beans. This is a great unit to graduate up to from an entry-level unit, when you start to get serious about making espresso and espresso drinks. For the price, the quality can't be beat. I researched units for about six months before I bought, and I am very happy with the decision. Final note - you definitely also should consider getting a burr grinder if you don't already have one. You can't generate the consistency and fineness of the grind with a blade grinder, and if you buy pre-ground beans, that'll work in a pinch but you'll lose a lot of flavor and crema within minutes of grinding. Since buying this unit and a burr grinder, I now buy my espresso blends from local roasters directly because I finally have a unit where the quality of the beans does show through. Customer Rating: Summary: Buyer Beware Comment: This machine is horrible and was eventually returned. The steam wand malfunctioned all the time, even after having it replaced. It would repeatedly blow off into my steam milk pitcher. I even had the hot milk and espresson dump down the front of me while attempting to juggle the pitcher and turn off the steam post blow out. It also barely remained hot enough to make two lattes. Purchased a Breville machine instead for a fraction of the price and love it! More Reviews Where form complements function. The Evolution has updated, modern lines, yet the simplistic and unique exterior houses commercial components that make this a coveted machine. The high-end look of black and silver comes at an affordable price, so it appeals to the home barista while performing at professional standards. Features include a 1425 watt boiler, 17.5 bar pump, commercial chrome plated brass portafilter handle, commercial brew group, 44-oz. reservoir, improved turbo frother, coffee pod ready, single and double stainless filter baskets, coffee tamper and coffee scoop. Achille Gaggia, driven by passion and inspiration, became the Father of the Modern Espresso Machine in 1938. Gaggia the company continues to be the leading maker of espresso machines in Italy, birthplace of espresso. All Gaggia brewing components are specifically manufactured to last through years of top quality espresso-making, with more flavor per ounce than other home machines. 
Choosing Appliance -> Cooking Pans This is another area where spending money is justified. The best pans combine different metals like aluminum or copper on the outside and stainless steel on the inside. Aluminum and copper are valued for their ability to spread heat evenly over the entire pan, and stainless steel is valued for its non-reactive qualities. Buy pans which are heavy and thick with solid handles that are well fastened to the pot. As with knives, buy the highest quality cooking pans you can afford one at a time, starting with a saute pan and a 3 qt. sauce pan. They will last forever. At some point, a stock pot (which will be especially pricey) should be considered for serious cooking. Choosing Appliance -> Fridge / Freezers A large number of freezers have eliminated defrosting by continually circulating the air inside the freezer compartment, thus avoiding frost build-up -- a feature well worth paying a little extra for. Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine, Black
Tips How to Maintain Appliance -> Preventing Damage Granite To keep your Granite Worktop in the best possible condition, the following points should be observed:
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